No Unwanted Hair Day (Muda-ke Nashi no Hi)

What is No Unwanted Hair Day?

June 7th is "No Unwanted Hair Day" (Muda-ke Nashi no Hi) in Japan. The date comes from a play on numbers: "6" can be read as "mu" and "7" as "na"—combining with "da-ke" and "shi" to form "muda-ke na-shi," meaning "no unwanted hair." The day was established by Reckitt Benckiser Japan Ltd., which markets the hair removal and depilation brand Veet, and was registered with the Japan Anniversary Association. The goal is to spread information about hair removal and depilation care just before the season when people start showing more skin in the summer.

Types and Features of Hair Removal Methods

Methods of dealing with unwanted body hair generally fall into two categories: "hair removal" (temporarily removing the visible hair) and "epilation" (removing the hair root for longer-lasting results).

• Razors (Shaving): The most convenient method with immediate results, but it can cause significant friction and irritation to the skin and needs to be repeated every few days.
• Electric Shavers: Gentler on the skin than razors and can be used without water.
• Hair Removal Creams (Depilatory Creams): These dissolve the keratin in hair to remove it. Painless, but care is needed on sensitive areas of skin.
• Brazilian Waxing and Hair Removal Sheets: These pull hair out from the root, so results last longer (two to four weeks), though the process can be painful.
• Medical Laser Hair Removal: A permanent hair removal treatment performed at a clinic, using lasers that target the melanin pigment to destroy hair follicles. Highly effective, but costly.
• IPL (Flash) Hair Removal: A treatment available at beauty salons. The intensity is lower than medical lasers, but repeated treatments can gradually reduce hair growth.

Things to Keep in Mind With Hair Removal

• Moisturizing the Skin: Hair removal weakens the skin's barrier function, so thorough moisturizing afterward is essential.
• Sun Protection: Skin is especially sensitive to UV rays right after hair removal, so don't forget sunscreen before going outside.
• The Limits of Self-Care: For areas that are hard to reach yourself, such as the back or inner arms, consider visiting a salon or clinic.
• Ingrown Hairs: Hair removed with a razor or similar method can sometimes grow back trapped beneath the skin. Gentle exfoliation (peeling) can help prevent this.

Changing Attitudes Toward Hair Removal

Attitudes toward removing body hair vary widely across eras and cultures. While hair removal was once seen mainly as a topic for women, men's grooming and hair removal salons have become increasingly common, with a sharp rise in male customers in recent years. At the same time, the body-positivity movement has helped normalize the idea that whether or not to remove hair is entirely a matter of personal choice, embracing a wider range of values.