Hair Removal

Many men and women want smooth, hairless skin so the excessive hairs are unwanted whether it is hair on the face, armpits, legs, bikini line, or other body parts. The wish for removing excessive or dark hair generally begins from adolescence and continues up to the old age.

Study shows that 80% of women and over 50% of men have unwanted hair in various body areas. Many times such unwanted hair is genetic. But abnormal hair growth may stimulate also because of steroid hormones and birth control pills medications or surgical removal of sex glands.

Removal of hair has been practiced in almost all human cultures from centuries. Men usually desire hair removal from the face, armpits etc... Women commonly want to remove facial hair on the lip, chin, eyebrows, neck, bikini line, abdomen, breasts, forearms, and underarms.

Types of Hair Removal

Temporary

"Depilation" lasting several hours to several days can be achieved by

• Friction (rough surfaces used to buff away hair)

• Chemical Depilatories (creams or "shaving powders" which chemically dissolve hair)

• Shaving or trimming (manually or with electric shavers)

Less Hair Eventually (tends to reduce hair growth with time)

"Epilation" lasting several days to several weeks can be achieved by

• Plucking (hairs are plucked, or pulled out, with tweezers or with fingers)

• Waxing (a hot or cold layer is applied and then removed with porous strips)

Waxing is the low cost and most effective way for hair removal. Waxing removes hair from its roots. Regrowth of the hair usually takes 3 to 8 weeks.

• Sugaring (similar to waxing, but with a sticky paste)

It is an alternative for those whose skin reacts to wax. 

• Threading ( twisted thread catches hairs as it is rolled across the skin)

• Epilators (devices that rapidly grasp hairs and pull them out by the root)

Permanent

 Removing hair permanently takes a little time and may need repetitive treatments. 

For permanent hair removal number of methods are used like, chemicals, energy of varying types, or a combination to target the areas that regulate hair growth. 

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• Electrolysis

In this techniques electricity is used to disable the hair follicle. Many times combination of electricity and heat (thermolysis) is used to disable the hair follicle. So this method, Electrolysis permanently thwarts the growth of hair.

     Laser

Laser provides very fast treatment time with very little discomfort and less pain than electrolysis. Though Laser gives long-lasting effects, follow-up treatments are frequently needed.

Difference between Laser and electrolysis

Lasers are a comparatively painless than electrolysis.

Electrolysis removes one hair at a time but, laser works on multiple follicles at once.

Laser hair removal is more expensive.

Patient requires a repeat treatment after every 6 to 12 months.

Disadvantages

There are several disadvantages to many of these hair removal methods. Many are not permanent, can cause medical problems, or have very high costs. Some of these methods are still in the testing phase and their methods have not been clinically proven. One should seek the advice of a doctor-supervised facility when choosing these hair removal methods.