Facts about the removal of unwanted hair
Whether you suffer from seemingly exotic hair growth conditions such as hypertrichosis or hirsutism, or you simply have some hair growing in places where you really wished it didn't, there is an endless number of hair removal options available to you today. You will find that there are essentially two categories of hair removal procedures...permanent and temporary.
Permament procedures seek to remove unwanted hair in such a way that it never returns. Sometimes these techniques turn out to be only semi-permanent and may have to be repeated over time. Temporary hair removal techniques will work for short periods of time and are subject to the body's normal hair growth cycle.
People who seek permament removal will most commonly be treated by a licensed Esthetician, or hair removal specialist. While temporary hair removal procedures may also be performed by an Esthetician, there are plenty of relatively simple home treatments available as well.
There are as many reasons for hair removal as there are hairs on your body. Many women treat hair removal as part of their normal cosmetic routine. They shave their legs and underarms, pluck their eyebrows, and have pubic hair trimmed or removed to accommodate today's fashions. Some men are also beginning to shave their body hair for cosmetic reasons, and most men shave their facial hair unless they are purposely growing it out as a beard, goatee, or moustache. Many athletes, particularly swimmers and body builders, will undergo hair removal procedures in order to enhance their performance, their appearance, or both. Then there are medical reasons for removing hair and just plain old, "because I felt like it" reasons as well.
Examples of Permanent Hair Removal Techniques
ELECTROLYSIS
Electrolysis treats every hair follicle individually by injecting a needle into the hair follicle and subjecting it to an electric charge. This process can go on for months depending upon the size of the area undergoing treatment. This is a relatively painful process, and side effects can include scaring and infection. Costs can run as high as $1,000-$3,000 for the legs or pubic area.
LASER
Laser hair removal is an FDA approved process which should only be performed by a licensed and trained professional. During this procedure, a small laser beam is used to destroy the hair follicles. This is a relatively painless procedure which works best on people who have light colored skin and dark hair. It is not recommended if you are deeply tanned. Costs run around $1,000 for the removal of facial hair, and anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000 for hair removal from the legs and pubic area.
PHOTO EPILATION/PULSED LASER
Similar to LASER treatment, this FDA approved procedure uses a pulsed light beam to destroy the hair follicles. This method is especially effective for removing hair from the underarms and the bikini area. There are no restrictions regarding skin color, tanning, or hair color. Costs run from $500 to $2,000 and up, depending upon the area of the body treated.
Temporary hair removal methods include a wide variety of hair removal creams, shaving, plucking, waxing, and more exotic procedures. What a dichotomy. While millions of people are spending billions of dollars to grow new hair, make it soft and shiny, or have it cut just right, the rest of us are sending our money trying to get rid of it!
