Body Hair Removal: Threading
Threading is one of the oldest methods of body hair removal. It originated in Turkey, although it's most popular in India and other parts of the Middle East. Threading is also gaining popularity in Western cosmetology.
Threading involves the practitioner rolling twisted cotton threads over hairlines to remove unwanted hair. To do this, the practitioner holds one end of a cotton thread between their teeth and the other in the left hand. The middle part of the thread is looped through the index and middle fingers of the right hand.
The loop is used to trap unwanted hair so it can be easily plucked from the skin. This is a difficult technique that takes practitioners many months to perfect. Do not attempt to try this at home.
As with all methods of body hair removal, threading has both advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
- Threading is much healthier for the skin than waxing, and it doesn't cause ingrown hairs.
- It's inexpensive, fast and relatively painless (with a skilled practitioner).
- Threading is suitable for all skin types, even those too sensitive for laser hair removal or waxing.
- It takes no more than 15 minutes to thread both eyebrows.
- No chemicals are used in threading, so there's no risk of a reaction.
- The results last for two to four weeks.
Disadvantages
- It's hard to find a very skilled threading practitioner, and it's a painful process with an unskilled practitioner.
- Threading only works on flat surfaces — not on bikini lines or knees.
- For people with severe acne, threading can cause acne ruptures.
- Like other hair removal methods, threading can cause irritation, reddened skin and skin pigment change.
Body hair removal is a personal choice. There can be health consequences associated with any type of removal, whether through shaving, waxing, clipping, tweezing, threading or laser treatment. If you decide to try body hair threading, consult a skilled practitioner.
Last Reviewed: August 2019