Article from FreshVancouver.com

Written by Katelyn Rouselle

Hair Removal is a time-consuming daily routine for many people. While traditional methods such as waxing, tweezing and shaving are effective for removing the hair, they do not provide long-term solutions for hair removal – never mind all those bumps, nicks and ingrown hairs! Over a decade ago, technological advancements led to the creation of a hair removal system that not only eliminated these annoying problems, but also provided a long-term hair reduction solution: laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is one of the fastest-growing methods of ridding the body of unwanted hair. The appeal of laser hair removal stems from its effectiveness, efficiency and convenience. It can be performed virtually anywhere on the body where you experience unwanted hair growth. Another reason for its popularity is that laser hair removal can result in permanent reduction of the hair. It is, however, important for consumers to understand exactly what permanent hair reduction means in the laser hair removal industry. It does not mean 100 percent reduction for the rest of your life, but rather 50 to 95 percent reduction. New hair may appear over time, but in most cases it is finer, easier to manage hair. Of course, target treatments can always be performed later to remove these finer hairs. When searching for a clinic, there is no need to pay the highest price, though it is important to find a clinic that has quality equipment and experienced laser technicians.

The Top 5 Benefits of Laser Hair Removal

Choosing laser hair removal over other techniques has many advantages. Below are the top five reasons why you may want to consider this treatment for yourself.

1. Treatments are quick. Laser hair removal treatments are quicker than you might expect. For example, it only takes 20 minutes to perform a treatment on the underarm and Brazilian area.
2. You will save money in the long run. With the permanent reduction of hair, you no longer need to purchase endless razors, shaving cream, depilatory creams, and you will no longer need to have monthly waxing appointments. The cost of laser hair removal has decreased as the cost of waxing has increased. The results are far superior to waxing and the cost, over time, is much less.
3. You can eliminate and prevent ingrown hairs. Laser hair removal is simply the best option and the only solution to prevent and eliminate ingrown hairs. It is also a great option for those who have sensitive skin and experience skin irritation from shaving and waxing.
4. You will save time. Laser hair removal eliminates the need to shave daily. Add that up over a lifetime and just think how many weeks you spend with a razor in hand!
5. No need to grow hair between treatments. Unlike waxing, you can shave between treatments. Say goodbye to the days of having to grow your hair out; with laser hair removal, you can shave as much as you like between sessions. The benefits of laser versus other forms of hair removal are abundantly clear. As the costs of treatment decrease, we no longer need to deliberate the pros and cons of this solution.

Common Questions

Now you understand the benefits of laser hair removal. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t have more questions! Below are the most common questions clients ask about the procedure.

How many sessions will I need? Every body part has a different hair growth cycle and the time of the growth cycles can vary from four to 12 weeks depending on the area. After a couple of treatments, clients typically experience a significant reduction in hair along with an overall slower growth pattern. You can expect to see an average of 10 to 15 percent hair reduction after each session and an average of eight sessions are required for maximum hair reduction. It is important to keep in mind that the number of sessions you will need depends on many factors, including areas of the body being treated, skin colour, coarseness of hair, sex, hormones and any underlying health conditions.

How does it work? Laser and IPL systems use energy in the form of light to denature the blood supply to the hair follicle. The energy from the light source is absorbed by the pigment, called melanin, which gives hair its colour. The hair rapidly absorbs this filtered light and transfers it to the surrounding cells, which in turn convert it into heat. This heating denatures the cells, rendering them incapable of producing further hair growth. Your pre-treatment consultation begins with a health history questionnaire, followed by a patch test to choose the correct settings according to your skin colour and hair type. The treated hair will fall out after two weeks as the epidermis renews itself. Some hairs may fall out during the treatment as well.

How do I choose the right clinic? The most important thing to look for is a clinic that offers a complimentary consultation and patch test. This gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you have and allows your laser technician to educate you on the treatment and the process. The patch test is mandatory to determine if you are a good candidate for the treatment. Be sure to look for a reputable establishment with many happy clients.

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Now is the best season to start your laser hair treatments! It is better to start in the winter so that by the time beach season rolls around, you’ll be bikini ready. Our talented medical estheticians are also trained and certified laser technicians and can answer all your questions in preparation for your first appointment.