How to: Get Rid of Back Hair

Removing your shirt at the beach should be a pleasant experience, both for you and those around you. If children flee in terror at the sight of your wolfman-esque hirsuteness, you should probably look into a solution. The bad news is, there’s no easy way to deal with back hair. The good news? You’ll get used to the routine. Mostly. Here are your best options:

Nair
Pros: Easy to use. All you have to do is slather on some cream, wait five minutes then wash it off. It’s also relatively cheap.
Cons: Hair regrowth typically takes two weeks, so this is a temporary solution.
Unpleasantness Level: *
People with sensitive skin may experience burns, blisters and rashes.

Waxing
Pros: Gets out every single hair, and fast.
Cons: Regrowth could occur in two weeks or two months, it varies from man to man.
Unpleasantness Level: * * * * *
Waxing hurts. A lot. Seriously. There are numbing balms to apply beforehand, but they don’t help much.

Laser Removal
Pros: Generally permanent, but regrowth has been known to occur on rare occasions.
Cons: It’s Expensive. Each session can cost between $200 and $2,000. At least five treatments are required and they’re usually four to six weeks apart. Scarring may occur.
Unpleasantness Level: * * * *
Many say each zap feels like a splash of hot grease.

Electrolysis
Pros: This gets rid of hairs for good.
Cons: It’s extremely time consuming. The procedure involves having a small, electrified metal probe inserted into every single hair follicle, so several sessions are usually required.
Unpleasantness Level: * * *
Some folks equate the feeling to having hairs plucked with tweezers.