Forty six trials were excluded after assessment of the full text. Thirty nine were not randomised or quasi randomised controlled trials, these were: Adeleye 2008; Bekar 2001; Bird 1984; Braun 1995; Chen 2002; Clarke 1983; Cruse 1973; Finkelstein 2005; Hallstrom 1993; Howell 1988; Idali 2004; Korfali 1994; Kumar 2002; Le Roux 1975; Maksimovic 2008; Masterson 1984; McIntyre 1994; Mehta 1988; Miller 2001; Mishriki 1990; Moro 1996; Ratanalert 1999; Ratanalert 2004; Scherpereel 1993; Sellick 1991; Sheinberg 1999; Siddique 1998; Small 1996; Stephens 1966; Tang 2001; Vestal 1952; Viney 1992; Waddington 2008; Wang 1990; Wang 1999; Westermann 1979; Winfield 1986; Winston 1992; Zentner 1987. Other reasons for exclusion included contamination between randomised groups in that some people allocated to non shaving were shaved but remained in the non shaved group (Hoe 1985; Lui 1984), not evaluating hair removal (Horgan 1997), and different co-interventions (Ko 1992). Details of the excluded studies are listed in Characteristics of excluded studies.