Laser Hair Removal: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

You’ve probably heard about how lots of European women don’t
give a fig about underarm hair or hair on their legs But many
other women are not as accepting of body hair as their European
counterparts And throughout history, women have been employing
various techniques to do this: from ancient Egyptian women’s use
of beeswax and sharp implements to eliminate leg hair up to the
modern-day practices of waxing and the use of lasers to achieve
a smooth and hairless complexion Here, we’ll take a quick look
at some of the pros and cons of laser hair removal and whether
it’s the right path to take for a more hairless you

Hair is removed via lasers in the following way: a series of
low-level laser beams is targeted at hair follicles (or the root
of the hair) in certain areas of the body The hair then falls
out and new growth is discouraged Here are some of the reasons
for the popularity of laser hair removal:

• Long-lasting results The laser beams zoom
  in on hair follicles, either destroying them or significantly
  disabling them Thus, hair is a lot slower to grow back and in
  some cases, they don’t grow back altogether And any hair that
  grows back tends to be finer, thinner, and less visible Imagine
  the time savings you could realize Finally, freedom from
  regular bikini waxes, leg-shaving, and facial hair-plucking!
  
• Broader and more convenient applications
  Laser hair removal technologies and equipment have evolved in
  such a way that it is now possible to treat broad areas of the
  skin – such as the back and legs – in addition to localized
  areas like the skin above the upper lip and around the nipples
  There is a wide variety of laser hair removal gadgets and
  equipment to suit individual cases
  
• Increased
  safety regulations Hair removal via laser is a process
  approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) So, the
  techniques used must meet stringent regulations In addition,
  individual states themselves are issuing criteria that laser
  hair removal cosmeticians must comply with in order to practice
  their trade

Laser hair removal may seem like a godsend to many a woman, but
she would do well to remember that it is not a
“one-size-fits-all” sort of technology Like most other cosmetic
procedures today, it does have its disadvantages, the following
of which are just a few

• Slower results for
  dark-skinned or tanned women Laser hair removal
  procedures are most suitable for individuals with light-colored
  skin and dark hair because the laser beam targets dark material
  Dark skin pigmentation can prevent lasers from reaching the hair
  follicles more rapidly Evidence also shows that the lighter a
  woman’s hair color, the less efficient the technology is in
  eliminating those problem hairs
  
• Laser hair
  removal treatment costs It takes several sessions to
  rid a body part of hair, and each session costs on average $300
  up to $1,000 It really depends on how much hair needs to be
  removed and the type of lasers used Some clinics’ laser hair
  removal prices are calculated on a “per-pulse” basis and several
  hundred laser pulses may be needed to remove hair in just one
  area Also, because hair grows in cycles, it’s almost a sure bet
  that repeat sessions will be needed to ensure that all unwanted
  hair is removed – which translates to more cash out of your
  pocket
  
• Potential side effects or no effect at
  all All cosmetic procedures carry a risk of adverse
  effects, and laser hair removal is no exception Patients have
  complained of first- and second-degree burns, blisters, and
  lesions Others have noted that patterns of hair regrowth are
  patchy and unpleasant to look at And still others have
  inexplicably experienced insignificant or no hair loss at all,
  despite their being ideal candidates for the
  procedure

Laser hair removal is just one of the wonders of modern
dermatology, technology that can make a woman look more
beautiful in the shortest amount of time and in the safest way
possible Although procedures like this are constantly changing
and improving, you shouldn’t just rush blindly into it It’s
important to consult your dermatologist and conduct your own
research to determine whether you’ll be getting the maximum
benefits that medical laser techniques can offer

Megan
Halloway is a cosmetologist specializing in body hair removal
Read her most recent report “The Basics of Hair Removal: A Guide to Which Method is Right
For You”

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