Hairy business: Top hair removal trends in 2016

Anti-hair trends are not going away anytime soon and as hair removal is becoming increasingly popular with the male customer base, the industry is reaching new heights in revenues: waxing and beauty salons have witnessed a yearly growth of 7.6 percent between 2010 and 2015, totalling a staggering $11 billion in revenue in 2014. With such a fast evolving market, it’s little wonder that new trends and techniques should be popping up onto the beauty scene, prompting beauty specialists to enroll on hair removal courses in order to meet the demand. As the end of the year is fast approaching, we look at some of the most popular hair removal trends and techniques that took salons by storm in 2016.

Eyebrows artistry

Brow maintenance is more popular than ever this year, with most people choosing to let professionals take care of this tricky operation in order to avoid over-plucking or over-filling. Professional eyebrow shaping can be obtained with waxing or electrolysis for a more permanent result. After last year bushy eyebrow trend, this year is definitely all about a more defined eyebrow shape, adapted to the shape of the face. After defining the eyebrow shape, beauty specialists use eyebrow fillers to even out any sparse looking areas: true artistry!

Bikini waxing

Bikini waxing is here to stay and still one of the most popular hair removal treatments. The full brazilian, which removes all hair front and back, is now top of the class, ahead of the bikini line waxing that was popular a few years ago.

Manscaping

Manscaping is most definitely one of the biggest hair trends in recent years. Hairlessness amongst men is getting much more common, regardless of sexual orientation. Popular areas include chest, back, bottom and feet. Men have definitely lost the stigma attached to body hair removal, experts say. As a result, the men grooming industry has truly exploded, and it doesn’t stop at hair removal, with facials, botox injections, mani and pedi now also being offered in grooming salons aimed at men.

Laser innovation

Laser technology has greatly improved over the years and it’s become much more in-demand with clients looking for more definitive results. Cutting-edge technology now makes the hair removal process more painless and longer-lasting than with older devices. Prices depend on the treated area and on the number of sessions needed, but overall, experts agree that prices are going down, making laser hair removal a very attractive option for a greater range of clients.

The natural look

It’s not all about hair removal though in 2016. The au natural look is making a comeback, with bikini waxing losing steam. It’s a cultural shift motivated by a wish to stop stigmatizing women’s body hair, and it’s a radical point of view relayed by many celebrities such as Solange Knowles and Cameron Diaz.

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