Take it off! The best hair-removal options for a fuzz-free you

Close shave: Easy and cost-effective
Best for: Underarms and legs. How it works: "Start with a sharp blade, and do your best to shave in the direction the hair is growing," says Danielle Malka, creator of e-Shave, a line of shaving tools and products based in New York (eshave.com). "It's a good idea to shave at the end of a shower. Heat and water open pores and soften hair, so you'll get a closer shave." Use oils, foams or creams that lather as buffers and softeners. Hair conditioner is actually a great softener, Malka adds. Costs: $5-$50 for shaver and supplies.
Sugaring: An alternative to waxing
Best for: Sensitive-skin types. How it works: "This ancient practice uses sugar, lemon and water to create a gel that, like waxing, removes hair with the use of cotton strips," says Shobha Tummala of Shobha, a threading, sugaring and waxing studio in New York (shobhathreading.com). "Because sugar doesn't stick to skin as tightly as wax, it can be much less irritating than waxing. Many say it's a lot less painful." A plus: If your hair is coarse, you can go over an area more than once to remove stubborn hairs, which is a no-no with waxing. Costs: $10-$80, depending on area being treated.
Waxing: Quick and inexpensive
Best for: Just about any body part. How it works: "No matter where you choose to wax, you'll get the best results if you have at least a quarter inch of hair--a bit more if your hair is coarse," says master waxer Cindy Barshop, owner of Completely Bare Hair Removal Spas in New York (completelybare.com). "People love waxing because it's fast, lasts longer than shaving, and is relatively cheap compared with most other professional treatments." If you wax at home, stick to the legs only, Barshop adds. "You need a certain vantage point to effectively wax underarms, the bikini area, the brows and the upper lip," she explains. Your skin can be more sensitive the week before your period, so skip waxing during this time. Sensitive-skin types should avoid exfoliation just before waxing; that bit of dead skin can actually be a buffer against irritation. Costs: $5-$100.
TIP
If you suffer from ingrown hairs between waxing and shaving sessions, try a daily exfoliator to lessen the chances of getting them. We like: Bliss Ingrown Hair Eliminating Peeling Pads.
When you choose invasive professional treatments like electrolysis, IPL or lasers, select practitioners who have had ample experience with people of color.
Lasers: A ray of light for us
Best for: Any part of the face or body. How it works; Laser hair removal is not permanent, but the results can last for months. Which lasers are right for us? "Lasers that use longer wavelengths to focus on the hair follicle without damaging the skin," answers Jeanine Downie, M.D., a dermatologist in Montclair, New Jersey. When hair returns after laser removal, it is also more likely to be much thinner, according to Robert Guida, M.D., a plastic surgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, who has had tremendous results treating severe razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis barbae) with his Lyra laser: "You'll need a few sessions with lasers, but not as many as with electrolysis." Costs: $250 and up.
Threading: Easier on skin than waxing
Best for: The face or those with ultra-fine hairs or with skin too sensitive for waxing. How it works: "The threader quickly winds a taut strand of thread around the individual hairs, twisting and pulling them out of their follicles by the root," says Tummala of Shobha. "It's a very precise method of brow removal." It's also a terrific option for those on skin-thinning medications like Retin A or Accutane, hence dermatologists often recommend threading as an alternative to waxing. Costs: $5-$50.
Intense pulsed light (IPL): The next wave
Best for: Any part of the face or body. How it works: "Intense Pulsed Light treatment uses bursts of light, as opposed to a single coherent beam, like lasers, to remove hair," says Downie. "It isn't permanent, but many say hair growth is significantly reduced after repeated treatments." Dana Elise of Laser Solutions Skincare Medical Clinic in Beverly Hills, California (lasersolutions90210.com) adds, "IPL is not safe for people of color unless it's used with what is known as a 755 filter. This filter allows for a greater cooling time between the light pulses. Without the cooling time, IPL could be damaging to Black skin." Costs: $125 and up.
Tweezing: For quick cleanups
Best for: Brows and stray facial hairs. How it works: "Even threading is not as precise as tweezing," says Ramy Gafni of Ramyspa in New York (ramyspa.com), who shares this advice about at-home tweezing: Before you begin, clean the brow area with witch hazel. Brush brows upward and trim excess hair with small grooming scissors. Pluck in the direction of hair growth. If necessary, remove a row of hairs from directly underneath the arch to open it up. Then clean the hairs between your brows. Costs: $6-$50 for tweezers and supplies.