The Permanent Hair Removal Myth
AA Asks:
What hair removal techniques, if any, work? (ie, is electrolysis permanent, does laser hair removal last and are there repercussions for skin -e.g, hardening, discoloration?
The Right Brain Researches: The Beauty Brains usually specialize in helping you take care of the hair you love. But since AA asked so nicely, in this post we`ll give you some tips on how to get rid of the hair you don`t want.
Hair removal can be either a temporary or permanent process. (Ok, maybe semi-permanent is more accurate.) Temporary measures include both depilation (getting rid of the hair above the surface of the skin) and epilation (removing the whole hair, including the part below the skin). The effects of depilation can last from several hours to several days; epilation, on the other hand, can last several weeks. You already know how to depilate and epilate: you shave, you tweeze, you wax, you thread¦you know the drill.
Permanent (ok, ok, Semi-permanent) methods of hair removal are a bit trickier. These methods are far from perfect because they rely on destroying the tissues that regulate hair growth while leaving the neighboring tissues unharmed. And trust us, that ain`t easy! Nonetheless, some success has been achieved using electrolysis and prescription oral medications. X-rays have been used as well, but this method is banned in the United States.
Less success has been achieved using scary sounding methods like Electric Tweezers (doesn`t that sound like the name of a band??), Transdermal Electrolysis, Transcutaneous hair removal, Photoepilators, and Microwaves. From where we sit, electrolysis looks like your best bet, but even it has issues. Our favorite site for hair removal info, Hairfacts.com, does a great job of laying out the disadvantages. So…we quote:
“Disadvantages Can be expensive. Can be painful. Can be tedious. Can be difficult for large amounts of hair. If done improperly, it can result in: partial to full regrowth lasting skin damage spread of infection Regulation varies by state, so inadequate controls exist to ensure competent practitioners. Regrowth rates have not been accurately established and cannot be predicted due to numerous variables. Some consumers do not respond to treatment.”
The Brain’s Bottom Line: Permanently getting rid of body hair is not so easy! Go to Hairfacts.com to learn more.
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Permanent Hair Removal Blogdirectory » Blog Archive » The Permanent Hair Removal Myth Says:
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Karen Says:
Hello All -
Clicking on the Beauty Brains link, I went to the suggested website. Hairfacts.com is an EXCELLENT resource! I have searched the internet many times to get answers on the subject of hair removal but have never seen such a comprehensive, unbiased site for this purpose. They even have printable question sheets to take with you for consultations with professionals. I just added it to my Favorites list.
Thanks, Beauty Brains!
Deb Says:
I have been using an epilator for the last several years - you know, the contraption with about 36 tweezers that spin around and pluck multiple hairs at a time? Sounds painful, doesn’t it? Well, it IS.
It works for me, though. And, in conjunction with this, I use the prescription cream “Vaniqa.” Vaniqa is prescribed only for the face, and that’s the only place you want to use it since it’s not covered by insurance and it’s frinkin expensive. It takes about 6 - 8 weeks for the growth retardent to really work, and then you won’t need the epilator except for very, very rare touchups.
As for the rest of the body - the more you use it, the less painful it becomes. Partly because you get used to it, and partly because there are less and less hairs to pluck.
Aside from my face, I also use it on my legs, underarms, breasts, bikini line, and stomach. The first few times I used it, when the hair would grow back (after about one - two weeks), it came back in the same density. But after several months of use, my hair - even the dreaded bikini line, which is super thick - grows in much more sparse and takes much longer to get that way. And of course, shaving in between the plucking is very fast and easy.
If you don’t mind the pain, you’ll see the gain!
Back hair gone Says:
I’m glad that a friend of mine told me about the laser hair removal technique. I have always been quite embarrassed about how much hair I had on my back, but I didn’t really know there was actually something I could do about it. Now that I completed the laser hair removal treatments, the hair on my back is gone and I don’t have to worry about it at all. And now I just feel like one of the lucky men who never had any back hair.
Victoria Says:
One of the best decisions of my life was to have laser hair removal on my legs and under arms. It almost removed the hair 100% and has saved me so much time. I would recommend it to anyone.
Victoria Says:
Laser hair removal works the best. It’s not as painful as other methods and gives better results.