AD | Getting rid of unwanted body and facial hair is a core part of our beauty regimes, isn’t it But if you’re not a fan of shaving, creams, waxing, or epilation methods, have you ever considered laser hair removal? This painless and permanent hair removal process is becoming increasingly popular with both men and women and here’s why.
Contents [hide]
- 1 How does laser hair removal work?
- 2 What are the types of body hair?
- 3 How does the laser hair removal procedure affect each hair type?
- 4 How do hair growth cycles affect my treatment?
- 5 Are there any special health conditions to be considered?
How does laser hair removal work?
Medical grade lasers direct light into your hair follicle and the light energy heats the melanin pigment, destroying the hair follicle. Here’s the clever bit: it only affects the specific structures of the hair and follicle, leaving the surrounding skin undamaged. However, your body hair can play an important role in this treatment, depending on the type and stage in the growth cycle.
What are the types of body hair?
Way back in my Beauty Specialist training days, I learned about the two types of body hair: vellus and terminal. Vellus hair covers our entire body, excluding the palms and soles of our feet, and it’s usually soft and fine. Terminal hair, on the other hand, is highly visible, deeply pigmented and thick in nature. This hair is usually present in the underarm, leg and pubic areas.
How does the laser hair removal procedure affect each hair type?
The type of body hair you have and the areas of your skin you’re targeting determine the effectiveness of this permanent hair removal therapy. Thick, terminal hair is relatively easy to remove because the beam targets the melanin present in the hair, and the heat permanently destroys the follicle. Laser treatment for vellus hair can be less effective, but with the advanced machines and technology available, it’s still a straightforward process.
How do hair growth cycles affect my treatment?
To completely remove unwanted hair from your body, you’ll need to undertake several laser hair removal sessions. Our hair grows in cycles, and there are three different stages: Anagen (active), Catagen (regression) and Telogen (resting). Anagen lasts around 28 days and the hair grows fast, with the root dividing rapidly and creating new hairs. Catagen lasts around 14-21 days, during which time the active growth of the hair slows down. During Telogen, the hair has stopped growing and hair follicles have died. For example, we can lose between 50-100 dead hairs a day from our scalps.
Terminal hair in the underarms, pubic and leg areas won’t all be in the same growth phase or thickness at the same time. And your first treatment will only remove a certain amount of hairs. Much like waxing or epilation, you’ll see new hairs growing again a couple of weeks after your first session. So this is why you’ll need to undergo several laser hair removal treatments to completely remove all unwanted hair. And in answer to the question, “is laser hair removal permanent?” Most people start seeing permanent results after six months of laser hair removal therapy.
Are there any special health conditions to be considered?
Often, certain health issues lead to excessive hair growth in the body, which can benefit from this laser hair removal procedure. PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), for example, encourages unnecessary growth of body hair due to the release of androgens. Cancer in the ovaries and adrenal glands can also cause similar side effects and laser hair removal therapy has successfully treated these conditions. But of course, and it should go without saying, it’s vital you let your therapist know about any existing medical conditions before any treatment begins.
Have you ever considered laser hair removal? What’s your preferred method of unwanted body hair removal? Did you know about the different stages of body hair growth?
* This is a sponsored post.
