In the Well+Good office, certain topics spark some heated debates. There’s the whole discussion about whether you should rock a full bush or go Brazilian, to shave or not to shave your bikini area, and—on a similar frontier—how you should get rid of nipple hair. (Seriously.)
So for starters, I toss out a question to Melanie Coba, national brand ambassador for European Wax Center: Do other folks talk about this, too? “Yes! Most people grow at least a couple hairs in this area and would like to get rid of it,” she says. “People aren’t always aware that they can get their nipple hair removed. Once they start, they’re always hooked.”
Being in such a sensitive area (ahem), however, one would think that the same methods used to remove other body hair may not be the best idea. Turns out: I’m wrong.
“You really shouldn’t treat nipple hair any differently than your legs,” says Coba. “You should be waxing both. Also, the hair that grows on the nipple is typically thicker like pubic hair so it needs to be removed by the root or it will only get more coarse.” She adds that waxing will, eventually, wind up thinning the hair, making it so fine that it’s barely visible. (A note for safety: If you’re doing this at home, don’t actually apply the wax to the nipple, but rather around it on the breast to remove rogue strands.)
Despite the fact that waxing and shaving are some of the quickest solutions, Mona Gohara, MD, a Connecticut-based dermatologist says you might want to skip them if you have sensitive skin because they can lead to irritation at the follicle. Her preferred method of removal? Lasering. “If it’s dark, coarse hair, I would laser,” she says. “Since it’s a small area, I’d suggest a more permanent mode of removal.”(Look for a laser pro who has both Nd:Yag and Alexandrite lasers, which, taken together, are able to treat a wide-range of skin tones.)
The only other option at hand? Plucking, which Dr. Gohara says is also a good temporary solution since it removes the hair at the root. Of course, whichever removal option you choose, just—be careful. That nipple is sensitive, you know.
Originally published August 29, 2018. Updated October 8, 2018.
By the way, here’s how (and why) you should massage your breasts on the reg. And for functional purposes, these are zip-front sports bras that are perfect for women with bigger boobs.
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