Hair Removal while Pregnant

Pregnancy should be an exciting and joyful time for any expecting mother. But it can also be a time of major change, bringing with it hundreds of questions concerning the health, safety, and comfort of you and your baby. With so many new factors to consider, it’s great to know that you don’t need to compromise on your beauty routine. Although there are some methods you may need to avoid, with a little extra care, there’s bound to be hair removal technique that will keep feeling smooth and sleek for the whole nine months.

Pregnancy and Hair Growth

During pregnancy, your body will go through many changes to accommodate your new baby. During this time, it is very common for women to report the appearance of darker, thicker hair, as well as hair in new and unexpected places.[1] No matter how alarming, the first thing to know is that this is perfectly common. This new hair is caused by hormonal changes (particularly a rise in oestrogen), an increase of blood-flow and a higher metabolic rate during pregnancy.[2] The good news is that there almost certainly will be a hair removal option to keep you groomed during this time. The best news? For most women these changes are temporary, disappearing within the first six month of giving birth, while your body restores its hormonal balance.

Tweezing

The appearance of unwanted hairs around the upper-lip, brows, and nipples is very common during pregnancy. For these niggling stand-alone hairs, you may wish to opt for a quick and precise method of hair removal. Good old fashioned plucking is a great option, allowing you very precise control. This method also avoids any contact with products and chemicals which could cause irritation to particularly sensitive areas such as the nipples.[3]

Shaving

Staying hydrated and avoiding getting overheated go hand in hand with a healthy pregnancy.[4]During the hot summer months, why shouldn’t you keep cool by showing off your smooth pair of legs? Shaving is one method that you could choose to keep yourself fresh and hairless. However, many women report their body-hair growing much more quickly during pregnancy[5], meaning you may having to repeat your shaving routine much more often, which can be inconvenient. Also, it is not uncommon to experience occasional difficulties with balance during pregnancy, so it’s very important to take extra care if removing hair in the shower.

Waxing

Waxing is a good option if you are looking for a more long term solution – after all, you have enough things to be getting busy with between baby showers and choosing baby names! Ideal for legs, underarms, and bikini lines, waxing can be done in the comfort of your own home, without having to worry about regrowth for up to four weeks[6]. One downside is that waxing may cause more apparent bruising for pregnant women, however it is essentially safe to use.[7]And if you are experiencing skin sensitivity during this time, you may want to opt for a wax designed for sensitive skin. Veet’s sensitive range contains nourishing ingredients such as Almond Oil and Vitamin E designed to ease any irritation you might be wary of.

Depilatory Creams

Depilatory creams are another great option for legs, underarms, and bikini-lines , perfect if you are looking to avoid  waxing and prefer a more long-lasting method than shaving.[8] Again, if you are concerned about irritation, you could try out a cream designed for sensitive skin. If you are not feeling at your most balanced, Veet’s Spray on Hair Removal Foam is perfect for a quick solution in the shower, without having to reach those tricky areas to remove the cream. Simply wash away the foam, and reveal your freshly smoothed skin! Remember - before use, test your skin reaction by applying and removing the product to a small part of the area you wish to treat and wait for 24 hours. For more information, read our article on depilatory creams here.

Laser Hair Removal

Although there have been major advancements in the field of permanent hair reduction , many doctors do not recommend this method to pregnant women, due to a lack of relevant studies . As such, it’s best to avoid this method until after your pregnancy.

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to any aspect of pregnancy, but it’s safe to say that most women still want to look and feel their best during these months. Remember that all these changes are very common, and there are many options you can try. Last but not least, you should always remember to check with your doctor if you have a particular concern about your body changes during pregnancy.