Let’s be real for a moment: We all have hair in places where we don’t want it to be. Getting rid of this unwanted hair usually involves some form of plucking, waxing, or shaving, but these methods take a lot of time, and wax burns are no joke! Plus, these methods usually encourage hair to grow back thicker and coarser than ever - ugh!
Laser hair removal treatment is a solution that ends all of these pesky problems. It is one of the most common cosmetic procedures done in the United States and is one of the few hair removal methods that can offer long-lasting results. If you want silky skin and are tired of always having to shave, wax, or tweeze, keep reading to learn more about this popular procedure and how it can make your life just a little bit easier.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
During a laser hair removal treatment, a powerful laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment known as melanin in the hair. The light energy is then converted to heat, which damages the tube-shaped sacs within the skin (hair follicles) that produce hairs. This damage delays or inhibits future hair growth.
Although laser hair removal treatment effectively delays hair growth for long periods of time, it usually doesn’t result in permanent hair removal. Several treatments are needed for initial hair removal, and maintenance treatments might be needed as well. Why, might you ask? Because of the way hair grows! We’ll explain:
Hair Growth
Every single hair on your body has three phases of hair growth: Anagen (active stage), Catagen (transitional phase), and Telogen (resting phase). All three of these phases occur simultaneously. Each hair follicle is independent and goes through the different stages of the growth cycle at different times. Otherwise, all your hair would fall out at once. At any given time, roughly 85% to 90% of your hair is in the Anagen phase, 1% to 2% is in the Catagen phase, and 10% - 14% is in the Telogen phase.
The main difference between the hair on your body and the hair on your head is the duration of time spent in the Anagen phase. The Anagen phase for legs, arms, eyebrows, etc. lasts around 30 to 45 days compared to head hair, which can last 3 to 7 years. The longer the hair stays in the active Anagen phase, the longer it will grow.
At the end of the active Anagen phase, your hair enters the Catagen phase. This is a short transitional phase that lasts approximately ten days. The hair bulb is pushed upwards and becomes keratinized. It appears short and thick and is referred to as club hair. Growth stops, and the outer root sheath shrinks and attaches to the root of the hair.
The final phase, known as the resting stage, is the Telogen phase. This is when your hair is released and falls out. Hair growth stops, and the entire structure rests for a variable period of time, ranging from 1 to 2 months for upper lip hairs to 3 to 6 months for leg hairs. The remaining club hair is ejected, and the Anagen phase starts back up again.
The active Anagen phase is the best phase to target unwanted hair because the hairs are well situated and visible in the follicle for the laser to seek and destroy easily.
Due to the different hair growth cycles, 6 to 8 laser hair removal treatments are usually recommended, spaced out according to the growth cycle. The time it takes to complete a full series of laser treatment varies from person to person and the location of the unwanted hair on the body, but you can expect it to take 12 to 24 months to get the silky smooth skin you’ve always dreamt of.
What To Expect
In one pulse lasting not even a fraction of a second, the lasers used during treatment can remove hair on a patch of skin the size of a quarter. The sensation feels like a hair being plucked or getting snapped by a rubber band. Many lasers used for treatment are integrated with a cooling system acting as a natural anesthetic to minimize any discomfort by cooling down the skin. Most people report that laser hair removal treatment is a “piece of cake,” especially when compared to other popular methods like threading or waxing.
After treatment, you can expect a little bit of pink/red “puffiness” and small bumps like “goosebumps” (follicular edema). The treated area may feel as if it was sunburned. These symptoms should subside within a few hours to a couple of days at most.
Approximately 1 to 3 weeks after treatment, you’ll notice the hair in the treated area start to push its way out of the skin to eventually fall out (exfoliation). It may even seem that the hair is growing, but don’t worry, the hair is “dead” and is simply being pushed “overboard” by healthy skin doing a little bit of “house cleaning”. Once the dead hair has been ejected, you’ll have silky smooth skin.
Benefits of Laser Hair Removal
Choosing laser hair removal treatment over other techniques has many advantages. Below are the top reasons why you may want to consider this popular treatment for yourself.
Cost-Effective
Once you begin your laser hair removal journey, you will no longer need to spend your money on monthly expensive wax treatments, razors, depilatory creams, or other methods of hair removal. Sure, laser treatment may cost more upfront, but you will save a considerable amount by no longer having to spend on these procedures over your life. You will also save yourself a great deal of time that would otherwise be spent shaving, tweezing, or waxing.
No Ingrown Hairs
Unlike threading, waxing, shaving, and epilating, you will not have to put up with painful and unsightly ingrown hairs with laser treatment. Neither will you have to tolerate wax and razor burns or irritation.
No Waiting For Hair Growth
You don’t need surface hair for laser hair removal to work. In fact, shaving is encouraged right before your laser session to help prevent scorching any of the surface hair in the treated area. This means that while you wait between laser sessions, you can remain fuzz-free, unlike with waxing and other popular hair removal methods where you must have long enough surface hair before each session.
Precise
The powerful laser used in treatment only targets pigmented areas on the skin that is rich in melanin, such as the hair follicle. This is why only the follicle is targeted and burned by the laser and not the surrounding skin. Although there could be some sensitivity in the treated area following treatment, only the hair follicle is affected by the laser.
At-Home Options
Laser hair removal has advanced quite a bit over the years. Back in the day, if you wanted silky smooth skin, you needed to book an appointment with a laser specialist at a clinic. Today, companies like KENZZI make it easier than ever to achieve the same glowing results - all from the comfort of your very own home.
The KENZZI IPL Laser Hair Removal Handset removes hair with ease. It can be used on any part of the body, including your face, and was designed to deliver jaw-dropping results in as little as 3 to 4 weeks. The Kenzzi has five different power settings to suit your unique skin-tone or skin’s sensitivity while still producing results at any level. If you want to skip the in-office visit but still want silky smooth skin, look no further and get yourself The KENZZI IPL Handset - you’ll be glad you did!
Speed
Have you ever thought about how much time you spend shaving every other day? The time really adds up when you think about it. Laser hair removal treatment is extremely fast. As we mentioned a little earlier, each pulse of the laser takes less than a fraction of a second and can treat many unwanted hairs at the same time. Small areas such as the upper lip and chin can be treated in less than two minutes, while large areas such as the legs and back can take up to an hour. And the best part? Once you’ve completed all of your laser sessions, you won’t ever have to spend time having to shave, wax, or tweeze again - Hallelujah!
It Is Safe
Getting zapped with a laser might seem a bit hazardous, but this procedure is actually one of the safest methods of hair removal. Think about it: In most cases, treatment is usually carried out by a trained technician and there's also no chance of cutting yourself with a razor or getting an allergic reaction to the harmful chemicals commonly found in depilatory creams.
A Final Word
If you want silky smooth skin that lasts a lifetime, you should definitely consider laser hair removal treatment. Say goodbye to razor bumps, wax burns, and ingrown hairs and hello to beautiful hair-free skin!
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/science-hair#1
https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/hair-removal/threading.htm
https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/hair-removal/hair-removal-creams.htm
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