Many people prefer shaving rather than going through laser therapy or using hair removal creams. They have their own beliefs, despite what the commercials tell them in magazines and on TV; and righteously so – women have good reasons for this. Although there are many products out there that could work for you, and that really could keep hair off of your body for longer periods of time than plain shaving, there are certain things that you should keep in mind when you buy hair removal cream.

First of all: be aware of the negative effects of hair removal creams. It makes some women itch, while others find it more or less comfortable. Is it worth having hairless legs for a week? It could be, if you’re willing to stand the stench.

Second of all: know your skin and hair type. Your local beautician can help you with that. You might not be aware of this, but you actually have two types of hair growing – vellus hair, and terminal hair. Both kinds are made of hard keratin, but they’re nonetheless different. Vellus hairs are those tiny arm and back hairs, and terminal hairs are thicker, like the ones on your head. Just to be sure you’re not wasting your money, you might need to buy hair removal cream based on what kind of hair you want removed. Ask your pharmacist for help if you need it.

Third of all: consider the alternatives first. While laser, photoepilation and electrolysis might seem too expensive right off the bat, keep in mind the quality of these procedures, and just do the math to see how much it would cost you over time. For example, one professional grade hair removal treatment might cost hundreds, but compare that to the frequency of use of products like Nair if you choose to buy hair removal cream instead.

Factor in components like time and comfort, and you might reconsider!