The Complete Guide to Nair Hair Removal Cream

By | April 6, 2020

What is Nair Hair Removal Cream?

nair hair removal creamNair is an at-home hair removal product called a depilatory.

A depilatory is a cream, lotion, or gel that temporarily eliminates unwanted hair on the face and body.

Nair and other depilatories are available at your local drugstore.

It is flattened onto the surface of your skin, breaking down or disintegrating the hair so you can easily wipe it away.

Nair, among other chemical depilatories, removes the hair shaft the part that’s visible on your skin.  They don’t remove hair below the skin or the hair root.

 

Chemical hair removal isn’t new. For example, Native Americans used a special chemical called lye to get rid of body hair. People in ancient Turkey used quicklime, or calcium oxide, to remove hair.

Chemical hair removers like Nair work by targeting the hair composition.

The hair is made of protein fibers called keratin. The keratin fibers are wrapped together like wool and held together by chemical chains.

The chemicals in Nair and other depilatories fade or destroy these bonds. This causes the hair to dissolve.

Nair typically removes the hair after about 3 to 10 minutes. All you have to do is spread the cream, gel, or lotion with a spatula.  Wait the recommended time, then wipe or wash away hair.

See the different varieties of Nair Hair Removal Cream On Amazon

Nair is composed of active chemical ingredients such as:

  • salts of thioglycolic acid: potassium or calcium
  • a base of calcium, potassium, or sodium hydroxide

The primary chemical in Nair makes the hair stem swell or open. This helps the chemical salts penetrate the hair and break down the links that make hair fibers stick together.

Nair targets sulfur bonds in the hair shaft. The sulfur reaction is what causes a rotten egg smell.

A lab study on Nair found that chemical hair removal doesn’t work on fibers like cotton, polyester, and rayon.  That’s because these natural and synthetic fibers don’t contain sulfur bonds.  Which is why Nair will likely not damage your clothing.

Nair products can also contain:

  • water
  • perfume or fragrance
  • calcium carbonate
  • cetyl alcohol
  • sodium lauryl sulfate
  • sodium silicate solution

How to use Nair Hair Removal Cream

The effectiveness of Nair creams can differ based on your hair thickness and skin sensitivity.  Generally speaking, coarser or thicker hair that is more prone to ingrown hairs and razor bumps will have better results from depilatories, and those with extremely sensitive skin may want to choose a different hair removal method that is possibly less irritating such as shaving.

Nair is popularly used to remove hair on legs and arms. It can cover large sections in a few minutes. If you have thick or coarse hair, you may have to leave it on up to 10 minutes. But before you do that:

See the different varieties of Nair Hair Removal Cream On Amazon

1) Do a Patch Test.

Apply a small amount of Nair to a small part of the area where you want to use it. Follow the rest of the directions normally.  Then wait 24 hours. If you don’t get any irritation, burns, discoloration, or other side effects, continue with the rest of the area.

2) Cleanse your skin first with water and a towel or a gentle cleanser.

3) Thoroughly cover the area with a thick, even layer of Nair, make sure you don’t rub it in.

4) Set a timer for at least 3 minutes. Put the lid back on your receptacle and wait.

5) After 3 minutes, wipe a little part of the cream off your skin with a towel and see if the hair is off with it. If so, wipe the rest of the product off. If not, wait another 1-2 minutes and do another patch test.

6) Make sure to have all the product rinsed off within a total of 5 to 10 minutes.  Some creams are stronger than others and should be washed off within 5 minutes.  Leaving Nair on for longer may result in burns.

7) Rinse the area thoroughly with lukewarm water. Use a soft cloth to get all residue off if necessary, but do not rub your skin. Do not use any soap or other products with perfumes after using Nair.

8) Pat your face dry with a soft towel.

 

How long does Nair Hair Removal Cream last?

When the product is removed, the hair should come along with it easily. But since this method doesn’t remove the hair from the follicle, if you have dark or thick hair some dots might be visible under the skin. The results usually last like shaving, giving you a couple of days of soft skin.

Nair recommends that you wait at least 72 hours between every hair removal. If you use it after less than the suggested time, you may experience a chemical burn or develop an allergy to the chemicals in the product.

This wouldn’t be a problem unless you don’t get all your hair removed from an area you used it on.

If that happens, 72 hours is not very long and you should be able to use it again after that.

After using Nair, it is also advised to wait 24 hours before using other products such as lotions, makeup, deodorants, or perfumes to the same area.

You should also wait 24 hours before getting too much sun exposure as your skin will be more sensitive.

See the different varieties of Nair Hair Removal Cream On Amazon

Nair Hair Removal Cream on your face and neck

nair hair removal cream for faceDepilatory creams like Nair melt the hairs close to the root. So unlike shaving, the hair tends to grow back thinner, with softer tips, and you don’t get that sharp kind of feeling the way shaving does.

Nair also has added components that make the skin softer, leaving you with a super smooth dewy soft finish.  Which is why it’s an amazing canvas for applying makeup.

Unlike many other hair removal methods on the face, Nair doesn’t hurt.  Since it’s not ripping any hair out, just dissolving it. It is the perfect hair removal plan if you are super sensitive to hair removal methods like waxing.

Nair recommends that you do not use their product around your eyes or eyebrows. As it contains many serious chemicals that you do not want to accidentally get into your eyes.

Some women do use it to re-shape the top of their eyebrows or to remove hair from between the unibrows. Nair strongly advises against doing this.  However, if you are going to use it only around the upper side of your eyebrows, those areas are the safest.

Make sure to not put it under your eyebrows. Our skin there is too thin and sensitive to handle any harsh chemicals.

Plus, it’s close to your eyes and eyelashes.  Meaning you could easily end up dissolving parts off of your lashes of severely irritate and hurt your eyes.

 

Luckily, Nair has milder formulas specially made for facial hair removal. This includes a brush-on facial hair remover which is also great to use if your skin is on the sensitive side.

How to Stop Facial Hair Growth in Females Naturally

See the different varieties of Nair Hair Removal Cream On Amazon

Is it safe to use Nair Hair Removal Cream on the Bikini area?

nair for bikini areaNair is very effective at removing pubic hair but it should be removed with a soft cloth rather than the plastic spatula.

If you followed the instructions and used Nair correctly, but still ended up with a burn on your bikini area, you should probably not use Nair again.  it means that your skin is too sensitive to the chemicals in it or you have an allergy to it.

you can do the 24 hours allergy test 24 before using the cream as listed above, even if you’ve used it before.  Your hormone levels can always change, and they cause your skin to change as well.

 

Nair works for your bikini area as well as other sensitive parts such as your underarm area, thighs, and neck without irritation or discomfort. The Nair Sensitive Formula Bikini Cream. It is a high-quality product that includes in its formulations the multiple benefits that natural elements such as cocoa butter, baby oil, and vitamin E provide, allowing you to remove unwanted hair in only 3 minutes.

This amazing product is created especially for extra sensitive skin like the bikini area and armpits. The combination of natural ingredients such as baby oil helps to avoid or minimize the irritation, leaving your skin feeling smooth, soft, silky, and moisturized. The cocoa butter with vitamin E reduces the discomfort that hair removal can cause. It is also scientifically proven and approved by dermatologists.

It is easy to use, just like regular Nair hair removal creams, apply a little of the cream in the area you want to target and leave it for 3 to 10 minutes and let it do its magic!  Make sure to always wipe it off it with a wet cotton towel or cloth to minimize any irritations caused by rubbing and you will see the great results.  When it comes to the bikini area or other sensitive parts, once finished rinse off with only warm water.

Tips for using Nair hair removal

Here are some tips to keep in mind when using Nair hair removal products:

 

DON’T USE NAIR FOR NOSE HAIR

Don’t use Nair to remove nose hair. The skin in and around your nostrils is very fine and thin and can cause more damage due to the inhalation of chemicals Also, always make sure to Use the facial hair remover on the face as the skin on your face is more sensitive than most areas of the body. Plus, the hair on the face is usually even finer than the hair on the body.

 

Wipe don’t rub

When removing your depilatory cream, it’s best to use a damp washcloth or sponge and gently wipe in the opposite direction of hair growth according to experts. Once all hair has been successfully removed, make sure to rinse off your skin thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry to ensure there is no more cream left that could irritate your skin.

 

Don’t exceed the recommended time

Although it can be alluring to leave Nair cream on longer just to make sure every last hair has been dissolved, exceeding the total recommended application time can irritate your skin and cause burns.

 

Wait between applications

If you still have some patches after using Nair for the maximum amount of time, it is very important to wait at least 48 hours to 72 hours before trying to remove the remaining hair.

 

Make sure your hair is long enough

When applying Nair hair removal cream, the reason why instructions call for a thick, even layer of the product is because it needs to cover the hair you’re trying to remove, This is best obtained if the hair length is at least a quarter inch. So, like waxing, if your hair hasn’t reached a certain length, removal may not be as efficient.

 

Use the right Nair product for each area

When removing hair from different parts of the body, you want to make sure you’re using a product that is designed for that specific area. That is, your bikini or facial depilatory cream is not strong enough to remove hair from your legs or underarms, and your leg or underarm cream is too harsh to use in your bikini and face area. See the different varieties of Nair Hair Removal Cream On Amazon

Despite this hair-removal method being delicate and sometimes tricky, these little tips can definitely help make it easier.

Conclusion:

In response to the question of how long does Nair last, we got to know many things about Nair. How to use it and where.

We hope you enjoyed this simple Nair hair removal guide and hopefully, this has made your life a little easier when struggling with hair removal methods.  After all, it’s simple, easy and effective! See the different varieties of Nair Hair Removal Cream On Amazon

 

Related Articles:

How to Stop Facial Hair Growth in Females Naturally

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Type the words ‘IPL hair removal’ into Google and you’ll be faced with a whole page of salons and hair removal brands trying to sell you their products.

The word ‘laser’ can be a bit intimidating. When it comes to the delicate topic of hair removal, even more so. We’ve created this uber-comprehensive guide on everything you could possibly need to know about laser and IPL. We’ve kept it as neutral, unbiased, and informative as we could, to help you understand all the facts before you go ahead with a decision.

Read the complete article here: Laser Hair Removal at Home – IPL Hair Removal

 

 

References

Chemical Technology of Cosmetics;  Kirk-Othmer; 2013

U.S. National Library of Medicine: Nair Cream Hair Remover for Face with Baby Oil

U.S. National Library of Medicine: Nair Hair Remover Precision Face and Upper Lip Kit

U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Removing Hair Safely

The Indian Journal of Surgery: Shaving Versus Depilation Cream for Pre-operative Skin Preparation