Category Archives: Hair Removal

Laser Types for Hair Removal

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Lasers for use in hair removal are growing in usage and popularity. Their ability to direct light and heat through the skin and directly at hair follicles has made them the preferred choice for permanent hair remove.  The technology has continued to adapt to meet this new demand. Let’s take a look at the most common lasers and how effective they are at removing unwanted hair.

Hair removal lasers are grouped into 3 basic categories based on the light source:

  • Red-light systems: 694-nm wavelength ruby (no longer used for hair removal)
  • Infrared-light systems: 755-nm wavelength Alexandrite, 800-nm wavelength Diode, and 1064-nm wavelength Nd:Yag
  • Intense pulsed-light systems: 590- to 1200-nm wavelength

Alexandrite lasers were the first to be used for laser hair removal and are still the most widely used today. They operate on a shorter wavelength system than other lasers. This makes them very effective on dark haired individuals with light colored skin as the dark hair makes it easy for the laser to zero in on the pigment in the hair follicle. Unfortunately, light haired people or those with dark skin are not good candidates for this type of laser.

The Nd: Yag laser was created to address the shortcomings of the Alexandrite lasers. The Nd: Yag laser can operate in short (Q-switched) or long pulse mode. The long pulse mode is the most effective for removing hair on dark skin individuals. The longer pulse durations, however, are not as effective in the longer term as the regrowth of hair is significantly faster with this type of laser.

The Diode lasers are a compromise between the Alexandrite (short) and Nd: Yag (long) lasers with respect to wavelength duration. Therefore, they can be used on both light and dark skin individuals without excess damage to the surrounding skin. They are very effective and can clear large areas of unwanted hair usually in one treatment.

IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light, is a different kind of laser that uses multiple wavelengths vs. one wavelength as in the other lasers. This gives them more flexibility in the amount and duration of light delivered. It’s this flexibility that makes them effective across multiple skin types and colors.

Laser technology continues to evolve based on the needs and demands of the market. As the male laser hair removal market continues to grow, we will see new and better tools as they strive to meet the demands of a growing marketplace.

Reducing Laser Hair Removal Costs

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Laser hair removal is the best way to get rid of unwanted hair and start feeling terrific about yourself. However, it is already established that the laser hair removal cost is unusually high; the only probable reason why a lot of people are still holding on to their razors. There are a couple of factors that would determine how much money you have to dole out to say goodbye to unwanted hair. Some of which are your skin complexion, hair texture and the clinic where you will have the procedure done.

The cost of laser hair removal should not hinder anyone from looking and feeling fabulous. Although there are some factors that we cannot simply eliminate or alter, such as the colour of your skin, you may reduce the cost of laser hair removal by focusing on the elements that you can modify. One of those factors is the clinic where you will have the procedure done. Never forget to scout on the best prices in your area. Geography is also one consideration in determining how much does laser hair removal costs as it is expected that this procedure is more expensive in key cities like New York and Los Angeles.

To get the best deal in laser hair removal, ask and compare prices. These clinics do not have fixed prices on their procedures and if you are nice enough, they might give you a discount. Speaking of discounts, your laser hair removal cost may be reduced by paying for the entire procedure once – do not pay per session. Referral is another excellent way of minimizing your expenses because most clinics offer cash backs for every referral you make.

At the end of the day, the trick in getting the laser hair removal cost that you deserve is research. Search the web, check reviews and do whatever it takes to get the best deal at the lowest cost.

Permanent Hair Removal at Home

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For years, many people have had to spend a lot of money and time on removing hair permanently. Most of the time you would have to contact a professional salon several times and spend hundreds or even thousands, depending on surface area, to permanently remove hair. Recently, the FDA has approved several permanent hair removal at home treatments, which are also priced more affordable.  If permanent hair removal is something you are interested in, here are a couple of options so that you can do this in the comfort of your own home.

One system to consider is the Silk’n system. It uses a light based device, which targets the hair and takes about fifteen minutes, if the surface area is a leg. The treatment takes about two to four treatments for a noticeable permanent reduction of hair. In addition, this treatment can be used on most body areas with the exception of the face.

Another home system available is the Tria. This product uses a true laser to remove the hair by concentrating heat and infrared technology. It ends up heating and damaging the hair follicle, eventually stopping re-growth. Depending on surface area will determine how many times it will take but typically, it takes four to six procedures to notice results.

While these two systems have shown great results, they do have a few drawbacks. One is that while using both products, they do cause some skin mild irritation and some sensitive areas will feel minor pain. These products also only work on lighter colored skin. This is because both hair removers use light to target hair. They sense dark hair against lighter skin. Therefore, people with dark skin should not use this product because it could end up burning the skin, or as with the Tria system, it will not work at all.

When deciding to your permanent hair removal products at home, you should always read the directions before using and use in with some medical advice to make sure this procedure is best for you and your skin.

Laser Back Hair Removal For men – What To Expect

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When dealing with excess or unwanted body hair, men are often at a loss. Unlike women, men are often unaware of the hair removal options that are available to them. The majority of men do not look to remove all their back hair or achieve a smooth and completely hairless chest. Often they are just looking for a way in which to thin it out a bit.

While waxing, depilatory creams, shaving with razors and electrolysis are all viable options, an increased number of men are now looking to permanently remove unwanted back hair. Laser treatments are currently the only method of permanent hair elimination recognized by the FDA. This recognition has led to a significant increase in the popularity of laser back hair removal for men.

While the cost of laser hair elimination may be significantly greater than other methods of hair elimination, it must be remembered that this type of hair removal is permanent. As an example, electrolysis provides long-lasting results. However, repetition of this treatment is required on a yearly or twice-yearly basis. Over a long period of time, the price of repetitive treatments is likely to rival or exceed the cost of laser treatment.

As men get older, they tend to find that more hair grows. They will start to find hair in places they had never seen hair before. This unwanted side effect of the aging process will mean that laser hair treatments are of greater value than they ever have been before and additional treatments will be required to remove new hair. In cells that have already been treated, laser back hair removal remains permanent. However, as men get older, more cells start to produce hair. All of these new cells will require treatment. When a hair-producing cell is destroyed, it will no longer produce hair. However, other cells may start to spontaneously produce hair as a consequence of the aging process.

Laser patients are told to refrain from using tanning beds and sunless tanners before treatment. In addition, they are advised not to sunbathe. Plucking, waxing and electrolysis should not be performed in the weeks prior to treatment. Shaving should not be conducted two days preceding hair removal treatment.

Uniqueness of Hair Removal Pricing Structure

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One of the most unique things about laser hair removal that separates it from other cosmetic enhancement procedures is the way the pricing is handled. Or rather it is in how some places will use very different standards and methods to calculate your final bill. While it is a quick and nearly painless way to almost permanently remove hair anywhere on the body, laser removal of unwanted body hair often mimics the pricing of low cost plastic surgery procedures despite being a nonsurgical cosmetic treatment.

The first technique that some clinics will use to price their service is by time. This technique usually measures the amount of time a patient is undergoing the procedure on a minute by minute basis and the final tally is often rounded to 15 minute blocks of time. While this initially might seem like a fair pricing structure, it really depends on the speed of the equipment and the person operating the laser machine.

Those with less hair sparsely growing over one area might consider a clinic that charge per pulse. This is another common method of pricing their clients. In this method the hair removal costs depends on the amount of hair because each pulse of the laser can take out hundreds of hair follicles at a time. Of course most hairs will require more than one firing of the laser. In the long run, it saves money because during the touch up sessions that follow there will be less and less hairs that need to be treated.

The final pricing structure is a flat rate according to the area of the body that is to be treated. This is great for people with a dense growth of hair in one area of the body. These clinics charge every patient the same price for each area of the body regardless of how much or how little hair is there. Maybe understanding how these pricing structures work could help a patient shopping for a laser hair removal clinic to find the best price for their particular needs.

A Laser Hair Removal Machine : No More Hair Removal Woes?

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You may have seen a few ads in magazines or on TV for the ultimate solution to end hair removal woes – a laser machine you can use at home. You have to admit such a product sounds like a dream come true: a machine you can own and use yourself which kills hair follicles and the hair never grows back! You know these machines are not cheap, of course, but they are nowhere near as expensive as a course of professional laser treatment which will set you back thousands of dollars. And you can order one today and at a special price!

So why wouldn’t you order one?

The main reason not to rush in is that the laser hair removal machines advertised in this way do not always do what they say. Advertisers (at least where they are legitimate companies) are careful not to actually lie so that they avoid trouble with the advertising regulators and the machines do kill hairs but it may be that they kill them one at a time after several attempts (when you have a whole legful to treat) or they work on some people with hair which is easily killed but not on the majority.

There will often be a money back guarantee, so you feel safe in buying. But there will also be small print, which you will probably not read, if you are like most of us, until the machine fails to work. A lot of companies rely on that. They also rely on you not being bothered to go through the whole rigmarole required to get your money back.

The sad thing is that there are hair removal machines out there which do work but you are better to do your own research online and find the opinions of real buyers so you can do a proper comparison of available laser machines rather than just buying something on the spur of the moment.

IPL Hair Removal: How Does It Work?

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Intense pulsed light is a relatively new and successful treatment to remove unwanted hair.

When properly applied, this treatment allows a reduction of 80% of excess hair.

The light energy, attracted by melanin, reaches the hair bulb and destroys it if it’s in the growing phase (the anagen phase). To avoid burning problems, the IPL machine has a special selective phototermolysis function that allows to differentiate the temperature of skin and bulb: the first will keep inside the security level while the bulb temperature will reach a level high enough to destroy it.

The IPL hair removal treatment works better if:

  • The skin is not dark or tanned
  • The hair is not blond, nor white (the larger the contrast between light skin and dark hair, the better the results)
  • There are no freckles or other skin spots (if there’s a single mole, it will be covered)
  • The hormonal structure is stable (so to avoid, in the future, the growth of new, unwanted hair)
  • The hair is 2-3 mm long
  • The IPL hair removal is performed by an expert and trained operator, that can properly set the machine according to the skin and hair characteristics.

How an IPL hair removal session works:

Before flashing intense pulsed light on the skin, a special gel is applied, that works as energy conductor and as skin protector at the same time. Light is then flashed with the help of a handheld at regular intervals. In a few minutes it’s possible to treat vast areas (like the legs or the the back) but also small ones like the upper lip or the chin area. After the session, the gel and the hair are removed with a spatula, while the remaining hair will fall  in one or two days. After one month, the hair that were not in the active growth phase will grow, and will be ready for another session of IPL hair removal.