Hair's to summer

You might even still be clinging on to your tights and trousers in ignorant, fuzzy bliss. But once the barometer starts to rise, there's no place for your skin to hide.

According to a recent survey by beauty brand Escentual.com, women spend 72 days shaving their legs over the course of a lifetime.

What's more, shaving ranked as women's most hated beauty ritual, with 35% of those polled saying they loathed shaving their legs more than anything else in their beauty routines.

Hair removal can never be described as a happy chore but the pay-off is skin that you can whip out at the first sign of a heatwave. Follow our guide to be a carefree summer smoothie.

DE-FUZZ DILEMMA

We spend a whopping £528 million a year on waxing, shaving, plucking and depilatories in the UK, according to Sk:n clinics. But what method will shave the most time off your hair removal routine in the long run?

"Whatever you choose, with such a range of products now available there's no excuse not to have a good hair removal regime at home," says Veet wax artist Arezoo Kaviani. "All methods are effective but budget, removal style and time constraints should all be considered."

Shaving is easily the quickest and easiest method, slicing hair at the very surface of the skin.

"If shaving isn't executed properly, the area can become itchy and irritable," Kaviani warns. "Dry shaving is a definite no-no."

Depilatory creams dissolve the proteins in the hair and can last up to twice as long as shaving. Many brands are also addressing the pong associated with such creams, using technology to virtually eliminate the odour.

Waxing removes the hair from the root for longer lasting results, with skin staying hair-free for up to three to four weeks.

Kaviani says: "Over time waxing causes hairs to become weaker, thinner and easier to remove. Hot wax is better for more sensitive areas such as the face, armpits and bikini line as it is less aggressive. However, cold wax strips are a quicker alternative and great for legs."

PAIN GAME

When hair is being pulled out from the root, as is the case with waxing and epilating, the process is never going to be pleasurable.

More than a third (36%) of women want painless hair removal treatments, according to GentleLaser Hair Removal. Thankfully, there are ways to minimise the ouch factor as well as regrowth.

If you're a virgin waxer, visit a salon first in order to learn how to do it properly. Watching a professional will allow you to follow their expert techniques at home.

"Waxing your bikini area two days before or after your period can be more painful than other times, because your skin is more sensitive due to your hormones," advises Sue Ismiel, founder of Nad's.

"Also refrain from waxing if you're taking strong acne medications (which can make skin extra-sensitive), have sunburn or any sort of immune system or circulation issues."

Pre-treating the skin makes epilation easier. Rub the area with a dry towel immediately beforehand, to make hairs stand up from the skin's surface, for a perfect finish.

"Some women are put off epilating by the imagined discomfort, but are often surprised by the low level of pain experienced," explains Venus and Braun beauty therapist Nathalie Eleni.

"The second time you use your epilator, only 30% of hairs have re-grown so pain is diminished by two thirds."

Hold skin tightly and focus on small areas at first. Hairs should be short for epilating - if they are too long, shave first then wait a day or two.

HALT HAIR

When it comes to summer and daring to bare, stubble is the enemy. Hair inhibitor potions are the new kids on the block when it comes to the fight against fuzz, claiming to target the follicle and inhibit hair growth - for good. Check out Stophair (£39.95, www.stophairuk.com) and Inhibitif (£29.99, Boots).

Tom Heinar, cosmetic science advisor at DECIEM, the brand umbrella behind Inhibitif, explains: "Inhibitif targets the hair follicle directly to slow down the apparent growth rate and density of unwanted hair.

"As a result, many hairs seem to never grow back, while others seem to grow to a lesser degree thus drastically minimising the need for hair removal in weeks."

If you feel like you're losing the ongoing battle against excess body hair, laser hair removal is the obvious choice for longer-term results.

It works by focusing a laser beam at the base of the hair follicle, then zapping it to reduce growth. It can be used on any part of the body, including common problem areas such as the face, bikini area, legs and underarms, but is a pricier option.

Sk:n nurse expert Lisa Mason says: "For best results, six to eight treatments of laser hair removal are recommended, making the run-up to summer the perfect time to start a course.

"It's often a relief for women who have to shave or wax frequently. Not having to deal with unwanted hair can be a huge relief and makes a woman feel so much more comfortable in her skin during summer and beyond."