There are so many different hair removal techniques on the market today that it can be difficult to choose the best one for you. Many people are tired of the endless rounds of shaving, waxing and tweezing. Laser hair removal is one of two long term solutions to unwanted hair. The other is electrolysis.

But knowing how to get rid of hair is only one side of the equation. The other is learning where the hairs come from in the first place. That way you can learn how the different hair removal techniques work. All hairs grow out of follicles. Follicles are special parts of the skin which pack cells together to form hairs. Hairs are made from dead cells even though they are said to “grow”. Hairs that are thicker are made from a larger number of cells.

What is a Laser and What Effect Do Lasers Have On Hair?

A laser is simply a beam of light that has a focused beam which is used to cause different effects. As you may know dark colours absorb light which heats them up while lighter colours repel light and stay cooler. This is the same principle as wearing light colours in the summer to stay cooler. A hair follicle is usually darker than the skin around it, so focusing the light on the follicle will heat it up and leave the surrounding skin cool. The heat damages the follicle and makes it so that it is unable to grow hairs properly. Over time, hair grows back more slowly and it eventually stops for very long periods of time.

However you need to know more about laser hair removal than how the process works. There are benefits and drawbacks to the process and these can be important things to consider. The first is that the process is not an instant one. It takes more than one round of treatment for the hair removal to become more permanent. Usually the person having the hair removed will watch for hairs to grow back. This is the sign that another round of treatment is needed. It can take up to twelve treatments for the process to become truly long lasting.

You also need to make sure that you are having the procedure performed by someone with experience. If they are not, you may find that the hair removal process is much less effective. As well, if the person using the laser is inexperienced there can be an increased chance that there can be discomfort or injury of the surrounding skin.

What Are The Advantages of Laser Hair Removal?

There are several advantages to undergoing laser hair removal. The first is that the hair removal is extremely long lasting. It is much longer than any other method except for electrolysis. As well, because the follicle is damaged the hair removal can be less painful than it can be with methods such as waxing.

Laser hair removal also has the benefit of being able to treat ingrown hairs. These painful bumps are usually a result of other hair removal techniques such as shaving. Because it targets the hair underneath the skin it is quite effective at treating the condition.

Laser Hair Removal Does Have Some Negative Aspects

You should also look at the drawbacks to any technique when deciding which you will use. Learning about these will help you make an informed decision and watch for any potential side effects that may develop.

The first is that laser hair removal will not work on everyone. There are people who have hairs which are too light or fine to be affected. As well if the skin is dark then it might not be possible to target the follicle effectively. Hair removal surgery is an individualised thing and you should have your hairs evaluated by an expert to make sure that they will be able to be removed.

As well there can be some chance that the skin will be damaged in the process. Laser hair removal works by heating up the follicle. If the skin is also darker, this can cause it to heat up. Light coloured skin is not as much at risk but it is still possible. There are techniques such as using cooling gel or cooled air to keep the skin comfortable and keep damage from occurring. There can be other side effects such as changes in skin pigmentation, the development of acne or swelling in the follicle itself.

If after looking at all of the information and considering the different hair removal alternatives you may decide that laser hair removal will work well for you. If this happens you should look for a person who is experienced in the technique to make sure that it is as comfortable and effective as possible.