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Choosing the
Right
Hair Removal Methods
What type of laser hair removal technology is right
for me?
Everyone has different circumstances for wanting hair removal, and different limitations. Here are some highlights.
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Your sex
Male
Female
Intersexed
Your skin characteristics
Darker skin
Sun worshipers, outdoorsy types, tanning
bed client
Using certain skin medications
Allergies
Heavy scarring or keloids
Skin conditions
Your body to be treated
Back and chest
Legs and arms
Facial hair
Type/amount
of hair
Gray, blonde, red hair
Fine hairs
Dark hairs
Your
Sex
Male
Most questions I get from men are about back and chest hair.
I usually recommend
Waxing
as the safest option. Those with light skin and dark hair
seeking longer-term results (that may or may not be permanent)
might look into
Laser.
Although
Electrolysis
can be a good option for those with sparse hair, most men
find this method to be painful, expensive, and time-consuming
for large areas.
Male beards: This is the ultimate stress test for any hair removal method. Shaving is by far the most popular option. Electrolysis can be
permanent, but it requires a serious commitment of time and money. Beard removal is possible with electrolysis, but it will take a very long time and must be done by someone with a lot of experience. The heavier the beard, the more likely you are to get scarred, so it's very important to choose an electrologist recommended by someone who had male facial hair removed and is done and happy. Some with light skin and dark hair have found Laser useful, but there is limited data on how long it will last and how often treatment is successful. There are early indications that super-long pulse lasers might be an acceptable alternative to shaving for black males, but it's too soon to tell for sure. Laser can sometimes lighten the color of facial hair and reduce the amount of shadow, but some have reported patchy or grid-like regrowth that looked odd. If you seek complete and permanent beard removal, it's very important to do a lot of research and understand the difficulty of the undertaking.
Female
Female facial hair: For mild to moderate female facial hair,
Tweezing
is probably the most popular option. Some women prefer to
conceal fine dark hair by bleaching rather than removing it.
The prescription topical cream
Vaniqa
has been a great maintenance solution for
about half the women who try it. If you want the hair gone for good, consider Electrolysis with an electrologist recommended by someone
who is done and happy. Some women with light skin have found Laser helpful for heavier amounts of dark hair, but there is limited data on long-term effectiveness or what percentage respond to treatment. Women with high levels of androgens may benefit from 4Prescription oral medications, and should discuss the matter with their endocrinologist or medical specialist.
Pregnant and nursing women often see increased amounts of hair. They should consult with a physician before undergoing any hair removal method that uses energy or involves chemicals or drugs.
Bikini area is a common question I get. Shaving is most popular, though it's important to moisturize heavily before and after, and use a new blade. Many find a product called Tend Skin to be helpful in reducing irritation and razor bumps. Waxing can be painful, but it lasts a while. Electrolysis is very painful for most, but if done properly, it can be permanent. Some with light skin and dark hair have found Laser to be a good option, but it's extremely important to avoid sun before and after laser treatment to avoid discoloration that can last many months.
Legs are still cleared by Shaving most frequently, with Waxing and Cream depilatories being the second and third most popular options. Some women with light skin and dark hair have found Laser to be a good option, but there's limited data on long-term effectiveness and success rates. I suggest a rotary epilators if you're fairly limber and don't mind self-inflicted pain.
Some women ask about arm hair. I suggest rotary epilators or Waxing for arms, but make sure to exfoliate and moisturize a lit to avoid ingrown hairs. I generally don't recommend Shaving, since the hair feels coarse and bristly as it grows out. Some women with light skin and dark hair have found Laser to be a good option, but there's limited data on long-term effectiveness and success rates.
Chest, nipples, abdomen: for a few stragglers, Tweezing might be an option, but if you want them gone for good, you might look into Electrolysis. If you have a fair amount, electrolysis is still a good option, or maybe Waxing for a longer temporary result than Shaving. If you're light-skinned with a lot of dark hair, you might try Laser, but there's limited data on long-term effectiveness and success rates.
Intersexed
women and male-to-female transsexuals
Prescription
oral medications such as androgen blockers are typically
part of the course of treatment for these conditions. These
can reduce the amount of body hair and halt the growth of
future facial hair, but they will do little to affect existing
facial hair.
Body hair: I suggest Waxing while androgen blockers take effect. For light-skinned women with significant amounts of dark body hair, some have found Laser to be a good quick fix, but there is limited data on long-term effectiveness and success rates. Since body hair will generally diminish over time, it's usually a better use of time and money to concentrate on facial hair and deal with body hair once the face is under control.
Facial hair: Although some with light skin and dark hair have found Laser to be a quick fix for heavy androgen-induced facial hair, most women with these conditions have not been able to go one year after final laser treatment without supplementing laser with another hair removal method. Because these conditions have a lot of attendant medical expenses which are often out-of-pocket, I make the following recommendation: If you seek permanent facial hair removal and cannot afford to risk time or money on methods with limited data on effectiveness and success rates, it's probably safest to invest in Electrolysis with a practitioner recommended by another woman with your condition who is done and happy. When choosing an electrologist, operator skill is the most important thing, but I also suggest finding someone who uses the blend method, since it's probably going to be more effective.
Choosing the
Right
Hair Removal Methods
:
Your skin characteristics
,
Your body to be treated
,
Type/amount
of hair