Both men and women spend a significant amount of time grooming their bodies. Think about how often you have to shave, how many waxing appointments you go to, what creams or ointments you use to remove hair and anything else you do to reduce the amount of unwanted hair. These actions may only take a few minutes every day, but those minutes can add up to hours over the course of weeks, months and years.
If you’ve gotten to the point where you want some of that time back, then long-term hair reduction treatments are worth pursuing. There are plenty of options available, but you have to be careful with the one you choose. And as with anything, especially the best laser hair removal treatments, you’ll come across plenty of myths and misconceptions that shouldn’t be believed. We’ve broken down some of the most common hair reduction treatments to help you decide which is best.
Understand The Phases of Hair Growth
First, it’s best to get a basic understanding of how your hair grows. One of the main reasons why certain hair reduction treatments don’t work is because the hair may not be in the right growth cycle. There are three phases of hair growth:
Growth Phase (Anagen)
End of Growth Phase (Catagen)
Resting Phase (Telogen)
It’s true that everyone’s hair grows differently, but they will all go through these three phases. If you don’t get your laser hair removal treatment during the growth phase of your hair, chances are the results won’t be as ideal. Similarly, with other treatments, the effectiveness largely depends on the growth cycle the hair is in when the treatment is administered.
Certain Hair Reduction Treatments Don’t Work Long-Term
WebMD provides a list of the most common choices for hair removal and outlines the long-term effectiveness of each. For example, shaving is effective for up to a few days, waxing may remove hair for up to six weeks, ointments and over-the-counter creams may last a couple of days or up to a couple of weeks. The one treatment option that stands out from this list is laser hair removal, which can be effective for up to one year and even longer if you continue periodic treatments.
Actions like shaving and applying over-the-counter creams aren’t effective for long-term hair reduction because they don’t target the hair follicles beneath the surface of the skin. Other actions like waxing, electrolysis and even tweezing may target the hair beneath the skin, but only damages it temporarily. Laser hair removal is the only method currently available that permanently damages the hair to the point where it won’t grow back again.
How Laser Hair Removal Works
The National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine states that the use of lasers is the best option available for people seeking long-term hair reduction. In summary, they state the process works by “targeting melanin in the hair shaft, follicular epithelium, and hair matrix by emitting light with wavelengths ranging from 600 to 1200 nanometers (nm), which is selectively absorbed by melanin.” Once the hair follicle absorbs the light, it creates permanent damage to it and prevents it from growing back again.
All of your hair will never be actively growing at the same time. This means that, since laser hair removal is most effective during the active growth phase, multiple treatments are likely to be required. However, studies have shown that clients can expect up to 90% of their unwanted hair to be eliminated permanently after the final treatment is completed.
Is Laser Hair Removal Right For You?
Now that it’s clear to see laser hair removal is the best option for long-term hair reduction, the big question is whether it is right for you. There are several reasons why you may not be the best candidate for treatments, including:
Recent sunburn or suntan
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Autoimmune conditions
History of scarring, skin cancer, high blood pressure or other medical conditions
Sickness
Tattoos in the affected area
Skin trauma
During your initial consultation, your medical professional will evaluate your skin and overall health to ensure treatments will be safe. Most people qualify for laser hair removal treatments, but the only way to confirm definitively is to visit your medical professional.
Another big consideration to make revolves around your budget. There are affordable laser hair removal professionals, but you have to make sure they are qualified and experienced. Otherwise, you may end up with permanent skin damage to go along with your reduced hair. In general, you can expect smaller areas of the body to cost up to $350 per session, while larger areas of the body could cost up to $800 per session. Your medical professional should be transparent with you regarding the cost per treatment and how many treatments they anticipate for maximum effectiveness.
Skin Deep Laser Services offers the best laser hair removal treatments at a competitive cost. We pride ourselves on offering affordable laser hair removal treatments without sacrificing quality. There’s really no comparison when it comes to the best long-term hair reduction treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about the process or whether laser hair removal is right for you, don’t hesitate to contact us and we would be happy to alleviate any concerns you may have.