You may adore your body hair, you may be completely indifferent to it, or it may be the bane of your existence. If you fall into the latter category, you might want to learn how to get rid of unwanted nipple hair, because it might be driving you wild, but not in a good way.
Nipple hair might be a taboo subject for some — particularly nipple hair on women. While not all men keep their nipple hair in tact, it's considered more "acceptable" for them to have it. For women, on the other hand, the presence of nipple hair could go hand-in-hand with embarrassment.
If you've got nipple hair, the first thing you should know is that you shouldn't be embarrassed: It's totally normal (more on that below). Obviously, considering we barely ever get to see women's nipples in mainstream media, there's little to no chance of spying a hairy nipple. Therefore, without positive attention to put nipple hairs, many folks might not be quite comfortable with the idea. If you've made the decision to get rid of your nipple hair, here's how the experts say you can go about it safely.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Janet Prystowsky, tells Bustle over email, "Many women experience dark hairs around their nipples. Even more so during periods of hormonal change like puberty, pregnancy, or menopause. Generally this growth of dark hair is harmless and easily managed."
"Plucking or shaving your unwanted hair is usually quick and easy," she explains. "However, if you have more hair than you’d care to pluck or shave, then consider electrolysis or laser hair removal."
“Laser hair removal is a great way to get rid of unwanted nipple hair,” explains Dr. Hadley King, dermatologist at SKINNEY Medspa, to Bustle in an email.
"Laser hair removal is less painful than electrolysis," adds Dr. Prystowsky. "Keep in mind that depending on the practitioner, electrolysis has a risk of scarring. I prefer laser hair removal."
However, according to Dr. Prystowsky and Dr. King, not all nipple hairs are created equal. "Dark hair typically responds better than light hair to laser treatment," says Dr. Prystowsky, "Each treatment will remove your nipple hair for up to two months. After five treatments, you’ll likely notice a dramatic decrease in the amount of hair that grows back."
"The paler the skin and the darker the hair, the more successful the laser hair removal will be," explains Dr. King. "If there is not a good differential between the skin color and the hair color then electrolysis may be a better choice," she elaborates.
Although you may be considering laser hair removal as your best bet to rid yourself of hairy nips, you might be wondering about the price tag attached to this solution. Dr. Prystowsky says, "Treatments can cost in the $100-$300 range. I recommend going to an MD to perform laser hair removal. There are fewer complications typically."
While laser hair removal might not be the cheapest way to banish your nipple hairs, it certainly sounds like an option that's usually safe and will last a while too. So if you've had enough of your fuzzy nips, make an appointment with your dermatologist to discover which treatment is best for you.
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