Laser Hair Removal Benefits
Laser hair removal is the newest treatment for hair removal on the market and is quickly becoming the favored method for both men and women. Most men and women have unwanted hair somewhere on their body and are willing to spend time and money trying to get rid of it. Laser hair removal is the most performed non-surgical cosmetic treatment for all people in the under 35 age group. For all age groups, it is second only to Botox.
Common hair removal procedures include the daily ritual of shaving facial hair or shaving armpits as well as regular appointments for women waxing their legs or men waxing their backs. It may be a woman who wants to get rid of unwanted facial hair or a man wanting to remove ear hair that has developed due to age and hormonal changes. It may be a woman wanting to remove hair from the bikini area, a male athlete wanting to remove hair for sports, or a transgender male wanting a smoother look. It does not matter the reason or the body location, most men and women want a safe, painless, and long-lasting method of hair removal.
Whatever method of hair removal you are currently using, it is time to reevaluate your options and look into laser hair removal. Over a lifetime, laser hair removal is both time efficient and cost efficient. A series of treatments may take about a year, but this is a relatively short period of time compared to years and years of shaving, plucking, and waxing. Laser treatments, especially for large areas, are relatively fast and painless and the results are long-lasting.
Comparing Hair Removal Methods
When comparing laser hair removal to other hair removal methods, there are many factors to consider. Hair removal techniques range from temporary to permanent, expensive to inexpensive, simple methods to painful methods.
Laser can remove 60 to 95% of the targeted hair. Laser hair removal is the most performed non-surgical cosmetic treatment for all people in the under 35 age group.
Temporary hair removal methods include:
- Shaving
- Plucking
- Threading
- Waxing
- Depilation
Permanent and semi-permanent hair removal methods include:
- Electrolysis
- Laser Hair Removal
Shaving vs. Laser Hair Removal
Shaving is a popular option because it is a fairly inexpensive hair removal method that you can do on your own at home. Unfortunately, it is also a very temporary method. Shaving has to be done on almost a daily basis to stay smooth and there are the issues of stubble, irritation, cuts and ingrown hairs to contend with. While shaving may have it's place, there are many areas that are beneficial to treat with laser hair removal. Many women are having their armpits lasered so they don't have to shave them daily. Also popular, the sensitive bikini area that is easily irritated with shaving, or the legs that can be time consuming to shave daily. Women who develop embarrassing facial hair can have it removed with laser treatments without having to worry about the stubble from shaving. Laser hair removal is a great option for men who shave their back hair and chest hair which can be difficult to reach, especially if they don't have a partner to help them out, and time consuming as well. Laser hair removal will alleviate the hassle of daily shaving and get rid of unwanted hair more permanently.
Plucking vs. Laser Hair Removal
Plucking is effective for the eye area and stray hairs, but it is not a good choice for large areas. Laser hair removal is a quick and effective way to treat large body areas, but it does not make sense to use it for stray hairs and it is not recommended for the eye area.
Waxing vs. Laser Hair Removal
Waxing is commonly performed on women's legs and bikini area and on men's back and chest hair. If you have been waxed, you already know the best reason to choose laser hair removal - waxing hurts!!! Waxing pulls hair out by the roots but does not destroy the hair base, so the hair grows back and needs to be redone every four to six weeks. Also, a stubble is needed in order to wax which is not a desirable look or feel. Laser hair removal will result in permanent hair reduction, without the pain of waxing. A cycle of treatments may take up to a year and cost more than a year of waxing, but over a lifetime the costs of waxing add up too.
Depilation vs. Laser Hair Removal
Depilation uses chemicals to remove hair from the surface of the skin. The chemicals (in the form of gels, lotions, creams, or roll-ons) dissolve hair and can be inexpensive, fast, and done at home. It may be painless, but it can also cause skin irritation or a chemical burn. The chemicals smell bad and the results only last one to three days. With laser hair removal you get more permanent results and you don't have to deal with the chemicals.
Electrolysis vs. Laser Hair Removal
Electrolysis has been used for hair removal for more than one hundred years and was the only permanent option before laser hair removal was approved in the 1990's. Electrolysis can be safe and effective when performed by a skilled technician, but treatments can be very time consuming and painful, especially for large body areas. With electrolysis, a thin needle is inserted into each individual hair follicle one by one, a pulse of electricity is fired to kill the hair follicle, and then the hair is plucked out. When performed correctly it is a safe and permanent method of hair removal. If done incorrectly, it can result in skin damage, partial to full hair regrowth, and infection.
Both electrolysis and laser hair removal cost more upfront than any of the temporary hair removal methods, but choosing a permanent method is more cost and time efficient in the long run. For large body areas, electrolysis can be more expensive and time-consuming than laser hair removal. A large area such as the back can take 100 hours with electrolysis but only eight hours with laser treatment. If you want permanent hair reduction, especially for large areas, laser hair removal is the better option as the treatments are not as painful or time-consuming as electrolysis and the overall treatment cost can be less expensive.
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