Since Cleopatra shaved her legs with the edge of a shell, women have searched for a better and more lasting way to remove unwanted hair from the face, legs and underarms. Shaving is the most common method, but it only lasts a few days. Waxing, body sugaring and depilatory creams can give you a couple of weeks between sessions. The versatile spice from India, turmeric, provides the potential for more effective removal.
(All photos: Pamela Follett/Demand Media)
You can feel safe using this method of hair removal since it has been used on babies in India for centuries. Some babies are born with excess hair all over their bodies. For aesthetic and cleanliness reasons, some mothers want to remove this hair. They begin rubbing turmeric on the baby’s skin as early as a month old. After a couple of months, the baby may be practically hairless.
Another way to mix the paste is to add the turmeric powder to plain, unsweetened yogurt. The acidity of the yogurt may be beneficial for skin. If you add a little flour to the paste, it dries the oil into your skin to help with the removal process.