Threading is a hair removal gift, helping to pluck the hair out right from the root to leave the skin silky smooth for longer. Threading is traditionally used to groom eyebrows and manage facial hair, but because of its effectiveness, some people do choose to thread their legs.
For silky smooth legs, threading might be your best choice, but how do you do it? You can remove leg hair by using a threading machine. Hold the machine at a 90-degree angle to your skin, and do not push it into your skin. Rather hold it gently on your skin. Move it against the direction of hair growth, slowly, to ensure the machine is given enough time to pick up all of the hairs, including the smallest and finest of leg hairs.
Putting aside the traditional threading technique of using small cotton threads, you are able to purchase a threading machine, which gets the job done in next to no time, and the machines are really easy to use!
Threading Vs Waxing
There is an age-old debate on which hair removal method is better. While the main component is personal preference, there are some differences that should be taken note of before deciding which is best for you.
The pros of threading are that it pulls the hair right from the root, which allows the hair to grow back much slower than waxing. The cotton thread is also able to hold onto and pull out small hairs that are often missed with waxing, giving a more precise, defined finish.
Threading, while it does hurt, does not hurt as much as waxing. This is because the hot wax sticks to the skin and hair, and when ripped off, the wax pulls at the skin which can cause pain and discomfort.
Threading on the other hand only pulls out the hair and does not come into contact with the skin, only being painful or uncomfortable when the hair is pulled out.
How To Thread Leg Hair
Threading your leg hair might take a little time, as there is more area to cover. However, with the proper tools and techniques, you will soon have hair-free legs to enjoy for a few weeks!
Prepare – Before beginning to thread, you should ensure your legs are clean and washed. When the hairs are pulled from the root, the follicles and pores are left opened and damaged, and if there are any bacteria present on the skin, this could enter the pores and cause irritation and infection.
Make sure to wash your hands and your threading tools as well to ensure everything is as hygienic as possible.
Find a spot – Avoid standing while threading your legs. Constantly bending over will become really tiring and only cause some back pain.
Instead, sit on a chair and find something to put your feet up onto. This will allow you to stay seated, while still having access to all areas of your leg.
Device – Test out your threading machine to make sure it is working properly, and choose the lowest setting first. Check to see if your device has an LED light built-in, which helps illuminate even the finest of hairs, to allow you to remove all hairs on your leg.
Pull your skin – Before placing the threading device on your skin, pull your skin taut. This will allow the machine to grip onto the hairs better, and help ease the pain slightly when the hairs are pulled out.
Aftercare – Once you have finished threading your legs, apply an oil-free, fragrance-free lotion to your skin. One which contains aloe vera is ideal, as it will sooth your skin and also help protect against any germs or bacteria.
Benefits of Threading Legs
There are so many reasons why you should choose to thread your legs, compared to waxing and shaving. Here are some of the benefits:
- Threading is a safe method of hair removal. It does not harm the skin the way that depilatory creams and waxes do, as the top layer of skin is not damaged, and it does not include harmful chemicals or use heat. It is a great option for those with sensitive skin or acne.
- Threading only pulls at the hair, unlike waxing, which pulls and damages the skin and can over time cause wrinkles.
- Threading removes all types of hair, fine hair, coarse hair, long hair and very short hair, which is more than other hair removal methods do.
- Threading removes one clean line of hair at a time, which makes it ideal for shaping eyebrows or moving slowly down the leg in a methodical manner.
- Using threading helps to avoid skin rashes, irritation or excessive redness. The skin might appear red for a few minutes after threading, but this subsides quickly.
- Threading is considerably less painful than tweezing or waxing and is kinder to the skin.
- As threading removes the hair from the follicle, over time it weakens the follicle to the point where hair growth becomes less dense, and any new hair will grow sparser and finer.
- The regrowth of hair after threading is between 2-4 weeks. This makes threading an effective hair removal method, as skin stays smoother and hair-free for longer periods.
How To Care For Legs After Threading
Caring for your legs after threading is so important. These are some simple aftercare tips to follow once you have thread your leg hair:
Skip harsh soaps – Avoid using any soaps or body washes which can contain harsh chemicals in the 24 hours after threading. You need to give your skin some time to recover, to avoid having an inflammatory reaction to any product used. This includes exfoliating and using anti-aging products for 3 days after threading.
Redness – If you experience some redness after threading, wait to see if it goes away within an hour. If it does not, you can place an ice pack over your skin to cool the area. You may also use aloe vera or rose water to ease the inflammation and reduce redness.
Avoid the sun – After threading, your skin will be more sensitive to harmful UV rays, so avoid going into the sun for a few hours after threading. Protect your skin with sunscreen. This includes heat sources such as tanning beds, saunas, and hot baths.
Avoid touching the area – It might be tempting to touch the area, but you should avoid doing so for a few hours. This could cause a transfer of oils between your fingers to your skin which could cause clogged pores. Avoid wearing tight-fitting pants as well as this could irritate the skin further.
Avoid shaving – Do not use a razor to remove hair between threading. This could lead to stubble, ingrown hairs, and inflammation that will make the next session of threading difficult. It is also easier to plan threading sessions if no other hair removal method is used in between.
Related Questions
Does threading reduce hair growth?
Threading does cause a decrease and slow-down of hair growth. After frequent threading, the hair will grow back thinner, which in turn makes it easier and less painful to remove during threading.
This is best achieved if threading is the only method of hair removal used and waxing, tweezing or shaving is not done between threading sessions. Shaving between threading can cause hair to be coarser, darker or become ingrown.
Does threading last longer than waxing?
Threading does allow for hair to remain smoother and hair-free for longer. Waxing does last long compared to other hair removal methods but falls slightly short when it is compared to threading. Threading completely removes the hair from the root, where waxing can sometimes break the hair, not removing it from the follicle completely.
Does threading hurt?
This is a common question and one that cannot be answered with a yes or no. Threading has been found to be slightly less painful than waxing, as it does not pull at the skin. However, there is still some pain or an uncomfortable sensation that comes with threading, as the hair is pulled from the follicles, which does hurt.
Does threading damage the skin?
Threading does not damage the skin as much as waxing does, as the skin is not pulled or open to harsh chemicals or heat. However, the skin will be red and slightly irritated after threading, but this usually does not last long and does go away on its own if treated properly and with care.
Threading Leg Hairs
If you have decided that threading is the best hair removal option for you, there is no reason to hesitate to thread your legs. It allows you to achieve an almost perfect finish and will leave your skin smooth and hair-free for a considerably longer period compared to other hair removal methods.
What is even better, is that threading can be done from the comfort of your own home, either using the traditional technique or by using a threading machine, which is relatively cheap and can last for many sessions, saving you time and money from having to visit a salon every few weeks.
