Hair removal is a constant battle. Part of the struggle is removing the hair and the other part is keeping the skin around the hair from becoming overly irritated.
Most of us are pretty familiar with old standby methods such as shaving, plucking with tweezers, depilatories and waxing. However, these options can cause bumps, rashes and ingrown hairs.
Laser hair removal is one of the newest but most expensive methods. Electrolysis is another option that has been practiced for years. Threading has gained much popularity recently and is relatively inexpensive compared to the other two techniques.
These methods may limit some reactions of the skin where hair is removed.
Which option you should use depends on your pocketbook, how much hair you need removed and from where on your body you want that hair banished.
- Laser hair removal involves the use of intense heat that damages the hair follicle to prevent regrowth. It is a good method for hair removal in larger areas such as legs, armpits and bikini line, as well as on the face.
Laser hair removal works best on women with dark hair and light skin because it targets the melanin in the hair. There is one laser called Nd:YAG that is safe for black skin.
Laser hair removal does not work well on those who are blond or have white hair.
There are risks in the use of laser hair removal. Temporary redness or swelling may occur but usually disappears within hours.
Due to the heat used, there is a risk of burning or scarring. Hyperpigmentation areas may possibly develop, leaving dark spots on the skin.
Laser treatments are also a bit painful. The sensation has been described as having a rubber band snapped against the skin.
The cost of laser hair removal is pricey. Each session costs about $150 to $500 and five to seven sessions will be needed.
Touch ups are required about once or twice a year. Unfortunately, laser hair removal may only reduce the hair growth by 80 percent according to About.com.
- Electrolysis is the only method of hair removal that can use the term “permanent”. Electrolysis involves inserting tiny needles down along the hair follicle and uses electric current to destroy the source of growth.
The most popular area it is used is on the face but it can be done anywhere on the body.
Electrolysis costs about $40 to $90 a for a 10 to 30 minute treatment. To ensure permanent results, 10 to 25 treatments will be needed. Scarring is less likely in those with light complexions but for those with very dark skin, there is a risk of hyperpigmentation occurring.
- Threading is an ancient Middle Eastern technique where the aesthetician uses a doubled-up strand of cotton thread to remove the hair. The thread is twisted around each individual hair and pulls the hair out by its roots. This method is typically used on the eyebrows, chin and upper lip.
The effect is similar to plucking with tweezers but is much faster as a typical eyebrow can be treated in 5 to 10 minutes, less than half the time to tweeze. There is little skin irritation so icing or anti-bacterial ointments are not required afterwards.
The cost is relatively cheap, starting at about $10 and up performed by someone skilled in this technique. Threading has become so popular, you can find threading booths in shopping malls as well as in places that cut hair.
Sources:
Hair Removal: When Should You Shave, Wax, Laser or Tweeze?About.com, Style-Beauty. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
http://beauty.about.com/od/hairremoval/a/hair_removal.htm
For Women Only: Best Options for Hair Removal. WebMD. . Retrieved July 10, 2012.
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/for-women-onl...
Laser hair removal. Mayoclinic.com. . Retrieved July 10, 2012.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/laser-hair-removal/MY00134/METHOD=print
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele are at www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles/
Edited by Jody Smith