Hair removers are products designed to remove unwanted hair from areas on the body. They can work by both chemical and physical means. Formulations that chemically breakdown hair are called depilatories, and contain thioglycolate salts or sulfides. Those that remove hair by physical means are known as epilatories. These typically contain waxes which solidify on the skin and are pulled off.

Hair removers have been an important part of beauty for thousands of years. Evidence suggests that the earliest use of hair removers was in ancient India. These people used epilatories made of abrasive pastes and resinous plasters. In the Middle East, a lime mixture was used for a similar purpose. Antimony and arsenic compounds were also used, but their toxic nature halted their use.

Since the earliest hair removers were epilatories, their use was often a painful experience. This prompted the development of formulations that...