Men have finally discovered laser hair removal!.
Better late then never we say!
According to a survey conducted by Readers Digest the average man person spends around 3,000 hours shaving in their lifetime.
Let’s say that the average human lives to a nice ripe old age of 80 years, so if we average this out it means we spend around 37.5 hours a year shaving.
Now obviously we don’t start shaving till at least around 16 years of age so taking this into consideration we actually spend around 47 hours removing our hair from our bodies.
Laser hair removal is a process where lasers are used to remove hair, although this process is not permanent it dramatically reduces the amount of hair that grows. This seemingly futuristic treatment that uses laser beams to remove hair works by heating up the follicles that lie beneath the skin.
The pulses of energy are absorbed by the melanin or pigment in the hair which heats it right down to the root, safely destroying it without damaging surrounding tissue or skin.
5 Most Common Areas for men compared to women
Initially preferred by women, laser hair removal is now used by both sexes. The 5 common areas of laser hair removal for women and men are as follows:
Women
- Upper Lip
- Under Arms
- Stomach
- Bikini Line
- Legs
Men
- Sideburns
- Back
- Stomach
- Arms
- Buttocks & Perianal
Am I A Suitable Candidate?
Unfortunately laser hair removal is not as effective on everyone.
So how do you know if you are a suitable candidate?
Well generally speaking because the laser targets the pigment, the laser is not as effective on white, grey or red hair. Anyone who suffers from conditions such as keloid Also laser hair removal cannot be performed over any kind of tattoos or permanent make-up.
Finally although the treatment is safe it is recommended that pregnant women wait till after their postpartum check up before proceeding.
How Many Sessions Are Needed for men?
Most people will require a course of around 4 and 8 treatments. The reason for this being that hair grows in 3 different stages. Laser hair removal can only target hair that is in the anagen stage (active growth stage). At any one time 90% of follicles will be in this stage, so a course of treatment is needed to make sure that all follicles are destroyed so they will not produce more hair.
Does It Hurt?
This really is a hard question to answer. Since pain tolerance differs for each person it is relative to that individual. However while some people say they feel no to next to no pain other describe the sensation as feeling like a elastic band being snapped on their skin. Nowadays the latest clinics have inbuilt cooling devices that help ease any pain and the ones that don’t can provide aesthetic gel that numbs the treatment area.
Are There Any Side Effects?
The most common side effects experienced include slight swelling and redness of the skin – these are only short term and usually subside within a few hours. However anyone with really sensitive skin may have to wait a few days before the redness completely disappears.
What should I Do Before My Treatment?
Before you have laser hair removal it is important that you try and keep the skin as natural as possible. In preparation you should try and avoid:
- Over Sun Exposure
- Sun Beds
- Tanning Products
- Also if you are taking tablets for acne such as Roaccutane, which must be discontinued prior to treatment.
Mens After Care
After care is just as important as preparing your skin prior to your treatment. You should try and avoid the following after having laser hair removal:
- Heat stimulation – this includes hot baths,
saunas and steam. - Cardiovascular exercise
- Swimming (chemicals in the water can cause
irritation) - Products such as perfume, body lotions,aftershave and make-up.
How much is mens laser hair removal?
Check out our mens laser hair removal prices page. Prices start from around £22. Here is a selection of prices from our prices page. If you live in London why not pop in for a free consultation.
