Removing hair on fingers, feet, and toes: Benefits, tips & tricks

What causes hair growth on fingers and toes?

Before we show you how to remove hair from toes and fingers, let’s explore the causes. There are two main influencing factors to the growth of new hair on feet and hands:

1. Biological causes¹
   As we grow older and transition into adulthood, our bodies naturally change, including the growth of new hair in areas such as our fingers and toes.² ³
   
2. Hormonal causes⁴
   Although we’re not the medical experts here, it’s widely known that excessive hair growth can be connected to hormonal imbalances. Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menopause, and Cushing’s syndrome are often associated with this, leading to more hair growth – often causing more hair on fingers and toes.⁵

Top 3 reasons for removing hair on fingers and toes

While hair removal for feet and hands may not have any medical benefits, there are a few reasons some people choose to go ahead with toe and finger hair removal:

• Confidence boost: The skin on your hands and feet is often more visible than other parts of the body, and this can lead to some individuals preferring to remove the hair.
• It can be bothersome: At times, the hair on our toes or fingers can become a slight inconvenience, getting in the way of daily activities.
• To allow better access to the skin: For example, people with particularly dry skin sometimes choose to remove hair to achieve better results when moisturising.

How to remove hair from toes and fingers

If you’re not sure which hair removal method is best for you, read on for our guide to hand and feet hair removal:

• IPL: Intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) targets the hair follicle, damaging it and causing hair to fall out. IPL is a great option if you want long-term results, as it slows regrowth and reduces the risk of skin damage, such as ingrown hairs and irritations. IPL doesn’t work for everyone, however. These treatments work best if you have light skin and dark hair and will not work as well on individuals with dark skin and red, blonde, or white hair.
  

Top tip: The Philips Lumea 9900 Pro offers smart attachments that adapt to suitable programmes for different areas of the body, including sensitive areas like hands and feet. Toe and finger hair removal with Philips IPL offers long-lasting results with more than 80% hair reduction after just two treatment sessions* for long-lasting smooth skin**.

• Threading: If you have sensitive skin, or a low pain threshold, threading could be the right choice for hair removal for your hands and feet. This technique uses simple cotton thread, with no chemicals or products that may result in skin irritation.
  While you can remove hair by threading at home, many prefer to visit a professional who uses their expertise to offer effective, fast, and pain-free hair removal.
  
• Waxing: Waxing may be a more painful choice when it comes to finger and toe hair removal, but it is cost-effective and can more easily be done at home. Waxing offers a longer-term solution than other traditional hair removal methods like plucking and shaving.
  
• Sugaring: Sugaring is similar to waxing, as it is a hair removal method that pulls the hair up from the root. However, unlike waxing, the hair is removed in the direction of growth. This makes sugaring a better option for people who are prone to skin irritation after hair removal.
  
• Epilating: As with waxing and sugaring, epilating removes the hairs from the root. For the best results, you should work in the opposite direction of hair growth.
  

Top tip: Stay smooth for up to 4 weeks with the Philips Epilator Series 8000. The 32 ceramic tweezers offer a more comfortable hair removal experience, easily gliding over your skin causing less friction and more skin contact.***

10 dos and don’ts of safe and effective finger and toe hair removal

Now you know how to get rid of hair on your toes and fingers, it’s important to make a note of key safety tips and tricks before and after your treatment. Here are our top ten dos and don’ts to ensure safe and effective toe and finger hair removal:

• DO ensure your skin is clean and gently exfoliated before removing the hair.
• DO use a fresh blade to avoid causing cuts and irritation when shaving.
• DO use shaving foam or gel to protect your skin.
• DO cool the area after your hair removal treatment to reduce temporary swelling and lessen the risk of irritation.
• DO avoid UV exposure and use a minimum of SPF30 on exposed skin like your hands.
• DO turn the temperature down when bathing and showering for the first few days after treatment.
  
• DON’T use creams, lotions, and oils on your skin before removing the hair.
• DON’T use tanning products in the time leading up to your hair removal treatment.
• DON’T wax, tweeze, or use depilatory creams to avoid skin irritation before treatment if you use IPL to remove hair from toes, feet, and fingers.
• DON’T scrub or apply pressure to the area after treatment to allow the skin to heal and recover.

With our guide to hair removal for feet and hands, you’ll have smooth, hair-free skin with in no time. So, whether you’re curious about what causes it to grow in the first place or simply hope to learn how to get rid of hair on your toes and fingers, you’re covered right here.

* Median result on legs.
** With ongoing monthly touch-ups following the indicated treatment schedule.
*** vs Philips Satinelle Advanced and Satinelle Prestige

Sources:

¹ Physiology, Puberty, NCBI

² Physiology, Menarche, StatPearls

³ Tanner Stages, StatPearls

⁴ Androgens and hair growth, PubMed

⁵ Hirsutism, NHS