How to Remove Belly Hair

As with all body hair, the choice to keep or remove stomach hair is completely up to you. Some women prefer to remove belly hair, whilst others choose to keep it au naturel.

Popular methods for female belly hair removal include:

• Shaving
• Waxing
• Hair removal cream (depilatory cream)
• Laser hair removal.

Here are some of the best ways to get rid of stomach hair.

Shaving your stomach hair is the quickest and easiest way to remove it. You just need a razor– and some shaving gel if you’re going to wet shave.

How to shave belly hair

If you’re shaving your stomach with a disposable razor, it’s best to shave in the shower. The steam opens pores and softens hair for a smoother, closer shave.

After applying shaving cream, stroke the razor gently across your stomach in the direction of hair growth, and it will cut hair at the skin surface. Make sure you rinse the razor blade between strokes.

How to prep your skin before shaving

Before shaving belly hair, you should take some time to prep your skin. This helps avoid skin irritation, like razor bumps and ingrown hair.

First, exfoliate your skin using a gentle scrub or body loofah. Then, if you’re shaving in the shower or bath, wet your skin before applying a shaving gel for sensitive skin and working it into a lather.

How long will it last?

How long shaving your stomach lasts depends on how fast your hair grows. Typically, belly hair will grow back within two to four days of shaving, but it can be visible after a day if your hair grows fast.

Post-shaving care

Don’t forget to care for your skin post-shave, too. After shaving belly hair, you should moisturise your stomach with a lotion or oil. This will soothe your skin and lock in moisture whilst also providing a protective barrier against dirt and bacteria.

Waxing stomach hair removes hair from the root, so the results last longer than shaving and depilatory cream. However, waxing can be painful – and it’s a bit trickier to get right.

How to wax belly hair

For flawless results, you can get your belly hair waxed by a professional. But if you want to save time and money, you can remove stomach hair with an at-home wax kit. Generally, wax kits involve heating a tub of wax before applying thin layers to your stomach in strips. These strips are then pulled off, taking your belly hair with them.

You can also get pre-made wax strips which don’t require any heating – perfect for beginners.

How to prep your skin before waxing?

Before waxing your belly, it’s important to prep your skin properly. If you don’t, you risk irritating your skin – and causing those dreaded red bumps and ingrown hair. Exfoliate your stomach gently in the shower using a scrub or body loofah. This gets rid of any dead skin cells that could clog your pores.

Make sure your skin is completely dry before waxing, or the wax might not adhere to your belly hair properly.

How long will it last?

The results of waxing last longer than other methods, as hair is removed from the root. Generally, stomach hair grows back three to six weeks after waxing. The more you wax, the slower your hair will grow back. Regular waxing should also make your belly hair grow back finer and softer than before.

Post-waxing care

Your skin is prone to irritation for the first few days after waxing your belly. Your skin is very sensitive post-shave, so avoid taking hot showers and baths, going swimming, and wearing tight or irritating clothes for a few days.

You can apply a cold compress and use a gentle moisturizer after a couple of days to soothe the skin.

Hair removal creams (or to use their proper name, depilatory creams) are another easy way to remove stomach hair. They work by using chemicals to break down protein in your belly hair, leaving it in a jelly-like state so it can be wiped away easily.

How to use hair removal cream

Hair removal creams are simple to use – just follow the instructions in the box. Generally, you apply the depilatory cream to your belly hair and leave to work for a few minutes, before scraping away the cream and hair using the tool provided.

Make sure you rinse your skin thoroughly after removing hair – depilatory creams can be irritating.

How to prep your skin before applying hair removal cream

Before applying hair removal cream to your stomach, make sure your skin is clean and dry. As with all hair removal methods, it’s good to exfoliate first. This removes any dirt and dead skin that could prevent the depilatory cream from working its magic (not to mention blocked pores).

How long will results last?

The results of depilatory creams last about as long as shaving. Belly hair is removed at or just below skin level with hair removal cream, so it’ll make a reappearance within a few days.

Post-removal care

After removing your belly hair with a depilatory cream (and rinsing your skin well), apply a clean, cold cloth to the area to soothe your skin. Hair removal creams contain chemicals that can irritate the skin – especially if you have sensitive skin.