Facts about the removal of unwanted hair
Whether you suffer from exotic hair growth conditions such as hypertrichosis or hirsutism, or you simply have some unwanted hair growing in places where you really wished it wouldn't, there are many possible hair removal options available to you today.
There are two basic categories of hair removal products and procedures...permanent and temporary.
PERMANENT AND TEMPORRY HAIR REMOVAL TECHNIQUES
As you probably have figured out, people are looking for permanent hair removal procedures which remove unwanted hair in a manner so that it never grows back. Be aware that, even though they are called "permanent" often these techniques turn out to be only semi-permanent and may have to be repeated over time.
On the other hand, you can be pretty sure that temporary hair removal techniques will only work for short periods of time and are subject to the body's normal hair growth cycle.
People who seek permament hair removal will most commonly need to be treated by a licensed Esthetician, or other hair removal specialist. While temporary hair removal products or procedures may also be performed by an Esthetician, there are also plenty of pretty simple home treatments which almost any one can use.
REASONS FOR HAIR REMOVAL
Honestly, there are as many reasons for hair removal as there are hairs on your body...or people with hair.
Many people, women especially, but the number of men is growing, treat hair removal as part of their normal cosmetic routine. They shave their underarms and legs, 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 will 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. These often opt for waxing or other methods for removing large quantities of hair, such as from back, chest, buttocks, or pubic area.
Then there are those clinical cases where valid medical reasons for removing hair exist, and, last, but not least, plain old, "because I felt like it" reasons.
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 HAIR REMOVAL
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!
