A depilatory article comprising a substrate and a depilatory composition disposed on said substrate forming a coated region of the substrate, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the coated region of the substrate has an average surface free energy measured by the method herein of at least 30 mJ/m2, preferably from 31 mJ/m2 to 72 mJ/m2, more preferably from 32 mJ/m2 to 55 mJ/m2, even more preferably from 33 mJ/m2 to 46 mJ/m2 and even more preferably still from 34 mJ/m2 to 38 mJ/m2.