Self-care is becoming a huge topic in the lives of women across the country. A 2018 poll on New Year’s resolutions revealed that around 29% of women were interested in devoting more time to self-care, and that number has undoubtedly increased. Self-care can be defined as many things, from a weekly bubble bath to teaching yourself not to feel guilty about eating dessert, but many people associate it with beauty. One of the main aspects of basic beauty care for women is hair removal. If you’re looking to pamper yourself by eliminating the time-consuming drudgery of these tasks, you can invest in laser hair removal. Of course, as with any aesthetic procedure, you may have questions about the pros and cons of laser hair removal.
We shave our underarms and legs on a near-constant basis, and we wax, pluck, or chemically burn intrusive hairs from any number of other locations on our bodies. After a few laser treatments, you can say goodbye to this painful routine for good. If you’ve never gone under the laser before, keep reading to learn more about this popular treatment.
How Does It Work?
Hair is targeted at the root, which damages the follicle and stops growth from occurring. Light energy from the laser enters the skin and is absorbed by melanin (the natural pigment found in our skin) surrounding the follicle; when targeted in the right stage of hair growth, the hair follicle overheats and damages the bulb. This process (called photothermolysis for those interested) prevents further hair growth. Because there are so many hair follicles in our skin, each of which could be at different phases in their growth cycle, multiple laser hair removal treatments are recommended to ensure they’re all caught and eliminated.
What Are The Pros And Cons of laser hair removal?
Before you book that first appointment, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of laser hair removal.
- PROS:
- You can stop shaving once hair growth slows to practically nothing
- You can get laser treatment on any region on the body (legs, back, underarms, bikini line, stomach, face, etc.) and the machine can cover large areas quite quickly. There’s no limit to your hair removal options.
- The process is considerably less painful than waxing. Technicians will numb the area beforehand to reduce discomfort, and the procedure becomes less painful as you continue your treatments.
- CONS:
- Although the machine works relatively quickly, you’ll need several sessions to truly experience results. You’ll also have to wait around six weeks in between treatments.
- It’s expensive. Laser hair removal typically costs between $200 and $400 per session. When you compare that to the amount you’ll spend on razors and shaving cream in your lifetime, however, you’ll probably break even.
- It can be dangerous if performed by an untrained technician. If your hair removal specialist doesn’t know or understand what they’re doing, they can easily burn and scar your skin. Always research your tech ahead of time to make sure they have the proper qualifications and experience.
Approximately 1.09 million laser hair removal procedures were completed in 2017. For millions of men and women, the benefits outweigh the risks. Provided you have the money and time available — and have done your homework on your specialist — you should end up exceedingly pleased with the results.
How Can I Find A Specialist?
Once you’ve weighed the pros and cons of laser hair removal, you may be ready to book that first appointment. Given the popularity of laser hair removal procedures, finding a qualified professional should be astoundingly easy; thanks to the all-seeing and all-knowing power of Google (even though 25% of Google’s searches are brand new phrases, the engine is able to send people their best results), you simply need to plug in “laser hair removal” and do a little bit of research on the top results. If you live in Los Angeles or the even more beauty-conscious Beverly Hills, the process will be easier! You can be living a happier, hair-free life in no time.
