It’s problematical to assess a new hair removal method that claims to be enduring. Most people believe that after a specified amount of time, it’s not likely that a hair will ever come back. That’s why numerous people, myself as well, have recommended a specific definition of “permanent.” Most of these definitions seem poor to me. One firm claims their system is permanent based on results after 8 weeks. That’s outrageous. Waxing can last that long, and it’s been clinically proven to be temporary.

Permanent hair removal

For the purposes of hair removal, our characterization of “permanent” is being able to go a year after your final hair removal treatment without having to use a further procedure of hair removal. Remember that a year might not be sufficient to ascertain valid permanence, but quite a lot of consumers would be content to have one treatment a year.

The solitary method of clinically demonstrated enduring hair removal is electrolysis. Some lasers and flash lamps have been able to achieve lasting hair reduction, as discussed below.

Long-term hair removal

An additional undefined term is “long-term” hair removal. Yet again, it depends on what your definition of “long” is. Our definition of “long-term” is being able to go 5 months after your last treatment without having to use an alternative technique of hair removal. Your definition may diverge, but I don’t believe 9 weeks to be long-term. I subjectively decided on 5 months as a apt definition, since most hair growth cycles will have completed in 6 months.

Hair reduction vs. hair removal

Real permanent hair removal has been recognized as the complete destruction of a hair follicle’s capacity to regenerate and grow hair.

Several lasers have shown permanent hair reduction in clinical studies and are permitted to make this claim by FDA. The word “reduction” adds another term that is vaguely defined. FDA has acknowledged the definition of reduction as a firm reduction in the number of coarse dark hairs. Some laser hair removal clinics have demonstrated in clinical testing that they can reduce the size of hairs and lighten the color. In some patients, this reduction appears to be lasting.

for hair removal

Unwanted hair can be a terrible burden to bear. Men and women alike deal with pesky hairs in unwanted places each day. It may be a man’s back or a woman’s upper lip. There are plenty of options available for getting rid of the hair. You can shave or use cream depilatories to get rid of the hair but it will always grow back. Waxing can be painful in sensitive areas so that may not be an option. Laser hair removal may be the best option available. It is permanent so you will not have to worry about hair regrowth.

Before you begin to worry about the “laser” removing expanses of your skin, it is not like the lasers portrayed in movies or books. The laser hair removal method works by targeting the hair shaft. The laser is actually a highly focused light that produces energy. It might sound a bit scary but in reality it is very safe. The light focuses on the roots and it gets rid of the follicles permanently.

The whole laser removal system has been around for quite some time. It was officially approved in the mid 1990s for commercial use. The laser works by targeting melanin. Melanin is a naturally occurring substance found in the skin. The dark area where the root of the hair is found becomes the target of the focused light. The light does not cause any damage to the surrounding skin and the end result is that your hair root is eradicated and no new hair will grow there again. The downside is that this treatment only works on brown or black hair since it is dark. Light hair does not attract the energy from the laser. If you have light hair and want to keep that bikini area in shape, then you are probably going to have to try alternative methods for hair removal.

Is laser hair removal right for you? That depends on how much time and money you have to invest in the treatments. Small areas of treatment, such as the upper lip, do not take many treatments. But large areas, such as the bikini line or the chest, may take quite a few treatments and may even require touch-ups. If you have questions about the procedure, then make sure and get all of the facts from a specialist before beginning. He or she can tell you exactly what to expect and even how to care for the skin after the procedure.