Hair Removal: The Good News

If you're 1 of the millions of people who have hair growing where you don't want it, today's good news is, you have a wide range of effective hair removal options available to you.

Reasons For Hair Removal

People's reasons for wanting hair removed run the gamut from medical necessity to "just because I feel like it." Many women include hair removal as part of their normal cosmetic routine. They shave their legs and underarms, pluck their eyebrows, and have pubic hair trimmed or removed to accommodate today's fashions.

Most men shave their facial hair unless they are growing a beard or moustache, and men sometimes shave their body hair for cosmetic purposes, as well. To enhance their performance, their appearance, or both, many athletes -- particularly swimmers and body builders -- will undergo hair removal procedures.

Some people with hair growth disorders like hypertrichosis or hirsutism use hair removal procedures for medical reasons.

Temporary Or Permanent Removal

Hair removal procedures can be separated into 2 categories: temporary and permanent.

Hair removal techniques that are temporary will work only for short periods of time, and are subject to the body's normal hair growth cycle. Temporary hair removal methods include shaving, plucking, waxing, and a wide selection of creams. Most people use temporary hair removal procedures at home, but they can also be performed by an esthetician in a spa or salon.

The "Permanent" procedures outlined below seek to remove unwanted hair in such a way that it never returns. These techniques sometimes turn out to be semi-permanent, though, and have to be repeated over time. Permanent hair removal methods are normally performed by licensed estheticians or hair removal specialists.

Permanent Hair Removal Techniques

The "Permanent" procedures outlined below seek to remove unwanted hair in such a way that it never returns. These techniques sometimes turn out to be semi-permanent, though, and have to be repeated over time. Permanent hair removal methods are normally performed by licensed estheticians or hair removal specialists.

Electrolysis
With electrolysis each hair follicle is treated individually. A licensed specialist injects a needle into the hair follicle and subjects it to an electric charge that destroys the follicle's ability to produce hair. This process can take months, depending upon the size of the area being treated. This is a somewhat painful process, and side effects can include scarring and infection. Costs for electrolysis can run as high as $1,000 to $3,000 for the pubic area or legs.

Laser
The laser hair removal process uses a small laser beam to destroy the hair follicles. This is a relatively painless method that works best on people with light-colored skin and dark hair. It is not recommended for anyone who is deeply tanned. It costs about $1,000 for removal of facial hair, and anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000 for removal of hair from the legs and pubic area. Laser hair removal is an FDA-approved process, to be performed only by a licensed and trained professional.

Photo Epilation/Pulsed Laser
This FDA-approved procedure, similar to Laser treatment, uses a pulsed light beam to destroy the hair follicles. Photo Epilation/Pulsed Laser is especially effective for removing hair from sensitive areas, such as the underarms and the bikini area. Unlike laser hair removal, this method has no restrictions regarding hair color, skin color, or tanning. Depending on the area of the body to be treated, costs can run from $500 to $2,000 and up.

Removal of unwanted hair, for any reason under the sun, is easier and more available today than ever before.