In older days body hair removal was taboo for a man. If a man had much hair on his body, he was believed to be a ?real? man. Today, body hair removal has become a fashion thing. Not just women but men also opt for removal of unwanted body hair including pubic hair, bikini line hair, and nose or ear hair. A number of techniques have been used over the years for removal of unwanted hair ? shaving, plucking, waxing, chemical lotions, electrolysis and now laser hair removal.
Laser hair removal is basically a method of damaging and retarding the growth of the hair follicles by treating it with laser ? a highly concentrated beam of light that literally burns out the hair follicle.
Laser hair removal works when light energy penetrates the skin, converts into heat during penetration, and causes thermal injury to the hair follicle. High temperature is generated by the laser beam to disable the follicle and inhibit re-growth. But it is necessary that the follicles are treated when they are in the growth stage. Since not all follicles are at the same stage at the same time but grow in cycles, laser hair removal follows a series of sessions for best results.
Laser hair removal is considered to be one of the best methods of body hair removal because it causes no pain and rarely requires use of anesthesia. Moreover the treatment can be very quick ? as low as 10 minutes to a maximum of one hour depending on the size of the area to be treated.
Laser treatment is safe for most part but there are chances of pigmentation, blistering, scaring or burning if the skin is too sensitive or if the laser is not properly regulated. In some cases, the treated area may become slightly red or swollen. But all of these conditions are only temporary and can be treated with cream or ointment.
Not everyone can benefit from laser hair removal because of the fact that it works well only for people who have skin that is lighter than their hair. The best candidates would be fair-skinned people with brown or black hair. Another big roadblock in everyone becoming eligible for laser treatment is the cost of the procedure. Laser is a high technology treatment that can be very hard on the pocket. As per a survey, the average surgeon fee for laser treatment in 2003 was $429 per session. A typical treatment would last a minimum of four sessions.
Hair removal used to be the sole territory of women (North American women, at that!) but such is the case no longer. Men are getting hair removed in ever greater numbers, and for most of the population that is a good thing. The question for both men and women who wan to have hair removed is; 'What treatment should I go for?" There are a few options, including the traditional razor, waxing, and a relatively new technique, laser hair removal.
The razor, of course, is tried, true, convenient, and cheap. However, if you remove that hair with a razor, be prepared for a lot of repeats. This can cause skin irritation and roughness. Also, using a razor on some of body parts is virtually impossible- men who want to shave their backs are going to be pretty much out of luck.
One alternative to the razor is waxing. Waxing is more expensive than using a razor, but it also lasts much longer. Waxing is also a better option for areas with a large amount of hair, and it even cuts down on some work. Waxing can also be done with more precision that using a razor, which is great for a nicely sculpted look.
The drawback to waxing, of course, is that it hurts. Make no mistake, you are ripping the hairs out be the root, and there is pain involved. Many people brave the pain, though, and are rewarded with a long term, beautifully sculpted hairless area. If the thought of waxing makes you want to run away screaming, there is another option.
Lasers are the latest rage in all sorts of cosmetic procedures, and hair removal is just one. Removing unwanted hair with lasers is painless, and as with waxing the effects are long term. Some people believe laser hair removal is permanent, but in fact it takes several treatments before the hair stops growing altogether. The downside to laser hair removal, of course, is the price. It is a very expensive procedure. Utilizing laser hair removal in just the bikini area can run upwards of $1,000. The cost of just one section of leg can be as high as $2,500!
Like a lot of areas in life, ease comes expensively. The more you are willing to spend, the more convenient the hair removal you may purchase. If you go the expensive route, make sure to shop around before signing the credit card bill!
Both Ian Koch & Carol Evans are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Ian Koch has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Keyboard Synthesizer and Car Accidents. Ian Koch is a web publisher who likes to feed his readers with . Check out. Ian Koch's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.
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