There are many ways to remove hair - tweezers, razors, creams, waxing, and sugaring. All of these are temporary. Laser hair removal and electrolysis are more permanent, but often tedious and time consuming. There is also a new prescription cream, called Vaniqa, which works well but needs to he applied twice a day indefinitely With summer upon us, lets explore our options.

Waxing is a common method for hair removal that is performed at most upscale salons or with at-home kits. The wax is warmed, applied to the skin with a tongue depressor, covered with a cotton cloth, and then ripped off in the opposite direction of the hair growth. Sound painful? It is, at least temporarily. Waxing leaves the skin red and tender for up to four hours.

Sugaring originated in Egypt and uses the same principle as waxing without the harsh chemicals sometimes found in wax solutions. Another advantage of sugaring is that unlike wax, which sticks to hair and skin alike, the sugar solution only adheres to the hair making it less painful when torn off The sugar solution is all-natural and easily cleans up with just water.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis was born out of the pursuit for a permanent hair removal solution. Electrolysis destroys the hair root with an electric current. The Galvanic Method uses a DC current that passes through a needle to the root and produces sodium hydroxide that destroys the follicle. The Thermolysis Method of electrolysis used an AC current that travels down the needle and produces heat, thereby damaging the follicle. This form of electrolysis is quicker than the Galvanic Method, but somewhat less reliable since a follicle must be destroyed to achieve permanent results. Lastly, the Blend Method uses AC and DC currents at the same time.

Electrolysis can be tedious since each hair follicle must he treated separately. Usually, electologists charge by tile hour, and it is not uncommon for eyebrows to take between 3-8 hours, the upper lip to take between 4-8 hours and the bikini line to require 5-16 hours of treatment. At a cost of $25 -$100 per hour, prospective clients want permanent results for their money. Unfortunately, permanent results can not be guaranteed. Even though once a hair follicle is dead it will not grow back, occasionally roots are not completely obliterated and touch-up treatments are required yearly.  Applying a hair inhibitor cream after electrolysis will help the area remain permanently hair free.

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is the most permanent method currently available. Different lasers work on different skin types. Some can be used for all types, while others are safe only for light and medium dark skin. Light colored hair does not respond well unless you use substance called Meladine, which darkens the hair inside the follicles. This adds about $60.00 to the cost, but is worthwhile for those with blond, gray, or white hair.

Lasers emit a powerful beam of light, which passes through the skin and is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle. This disables the follicles, impairing their ability to grow hair. Unlike electrolysis, which treats one hair at a time, lasers treat hundreds simultaneously. We like to say that the lasers provide partial permanent removal or permanent hair reduction. It is still not perfect, but the more treatments you have, the more hair will be destroyed. Three to four treatments produce a 70-80% reduction. Treatments are usually repeated after three to six weeks or when the hair that is left begins to be visible.

For us chickens, does laser hair removal hurt? Yes, hut not as much as electrolysis. Topical numbing medication can he used, especially for tender areas like under the arms or the bikini area. Another benefit of laser hair removal is that you don’t have to grow out your hair before the treatment. In fact, it is important to remove the hair a few days in advance. If the hair is visible, it will pull laser energy to the skin itself. This can cause the skin to blister, gain pigment, or lose pigment. For this same reason, your skin must not be tanned. Don't use anything that irritates the skin for at least three days before treatment.

After each treatment, the skin will be reddish-purple for a day. To cool the skin and decrease inflammation, application of ice and hydrocortisone cream are important. Laser hair removal is not foolproof nor guaranteed. There are people who do not respond to treatment. Sometimes the skin can become discolored and rarely, scarring may occur. It is important to investigate the credentials of the person performing the laser treatments to ensure that they have proper training and experience with your type of hair and skin color.

As with all beauty procedures, you need to weigh the pros and the cons before determining If you would rather pluck, wax, or zap your unwanted hair. Treatments can cost between $2.50 to make a homemade sugaring solution to several thousands of dollars for permanent laser hair reduction. The options are out there and the choice is up to you. ¶