•Wet Shaving

Wet shaving is a quick and easy way of removing hair from your legs and underarms. It's also safe and painless if you use Gillette® Venus® and a shave gel like Gillette® Satin Care™. Designed specially for women, Venus gives a perfect shave while Satin Care™ lubricates and helps protect the skin. The razor cuts hair off at the surface of the skin. It isn't true that shaving makes the hair grow back thicker and darker as some women believe, it just feels different when the hairs grow back as they have been cut to leave a blunt end. Most girls shave their legs and underarms a few times a week to keep their skin silky smooth. It's common for first-time wet shavers to be concerned about nicks and cuts but you needn't worry. The whole Gillette® Venus® range is designed to make it incredibly easy to get a smooth and comfortable shave. See the section on 'How to Shave' for how to avoid nicks and cuts

Advantages: Shaving is fast and painless, and can be done in your bathroom at home. It also gently exfoliates the skin on your legs to keep them looking extra-smooth.

Disadvantages: While shaving does reveal beautifully silky skin you have to shave regularly to maintain the smooth results.

•Dry Shaving

Dry shaving involves the use of an electric razor without a shave gel or soap. Electric razors consist of several blades that rotate behind a metal foil protector that prevents the blades from touching the skin surface.

Advantages: Electric razors are quick and there is less chance of getting nicks and cuts as the blades don't touch your skin.

Disadvantages: It costs more than a standard razor and you don't get a shave as close or as smooth as a wet shave.

•Depilatory cream or Foam

Depilatory cream contains chemicals that melt your hair, allowing you to wash it all away. The process takes about 20 minutes to work, and the results last up to a week.

Advantages: It's easy to use and the effects last slightly longer than shaving.

Disadvantages: The acid in the cream may give it an unpleasant smell it can sometimes lead to skin reactions for those with sensitive skin.

•Electric epilator

Electric epilators remove hairs by gripping and removing them with rotating tweezers.

Advantages: Re-growth is slower because the hairs have been removed at the root.

Disadvantages: It hurts! OK, it's not that bad, but there's no denying that those with a low pain threshold will find this a bit painful. Electric epilators are also relatively expensive

•Waxing

The waxing process isn't a complicated one, but it can be tricky. Spread hot or cold wax over the skin and remove it in one fluid motion with a paper or cloth strip. This allows you to remove hairs at the root leaving you with smooth legs.

Advantages: Re-growth is slower because the hairs have been removed at the root.

Disadvantages: Some women find it quite painful and if you go to a salon, it can be expensive. You also have to wait for your hairs to be long enough before you can wax again – meaning you'll have to cover up even when it's sunny outside!

•Laser

The only way to remove hairs forever is to go for laser treatment. Be warned – it should be done by professionals in a salon. Several treatments may be required so it's very expensive.

Advantages: Some hairs are removed forever.

Disadvantages: In many cases several treatments are required for permanent hair removal. It should be done by professionals in a salon, and it is the most expensive of all the hair removal methods.