What is Laser Hair Removal
By Aaliyah Albo
Everybody wants silky-smooth, hair-free skin - unless it's "Janu-hairy" or "No-Shave-November," of course, or if you're part of the "let it grow" trend sweeping over the nation.
However, for the rest of us, unwanted facial and body hair poses as one of the most annoying things to deal with as part of your maintenance routine. Razor bumps, painful ingrown hairs, nicks, cuts, wax burns - it goes without saying that battling unwanted hair can be pretty terrible, to say the least. Not to mention forgetting to shave and having noticeable dark hair on very light skin--even forgotten hair in small areas like the underarms can draw attention in this case.
The good news is that there are options available that can help! In fact, one of the most popular ways to combat unwanted hair is through the increasingly popular cosmetic procedure known as laser hair removal. But what exactly is it? Is it safe? Does it hurt? If you find yourself asking these questions and want to learn more about one of the most effective ways to kick body hair to the curb - keep reading!
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Although it may seem fairly new to the beauty industry, the very first laser that was ever designed to destroy hair follicles was invented in the 1960s. Since then, this popular hair-fighting method has taken off, proving to be superior over other methods of hair removal like shaving, waxing, and sugaring.
Laser hair removal is a medical permanent hair removal procedure that uses a concentrated beam of light to remove unwanted hair. Laser hair removal works by emitting a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) deep in the hair follicle. The light travels down the shaft of the hair to the root, and then the heat from the laser light destroys the hair follicle altogether, inhibiting hair from being able to grow back.
What Are the Benefits?
Other than reaping the benefits of lusciously smooth, hair-free skin, laser hair removal comes with many advantages.
You'll save money in the long run. How many razors and bottles of shaving cream do you think you've purchased in your lifetime? What about tweezers and wax strips? When you think about it, all these traditional hair removal methods adds up. Sure, getting lasered may come with a hefty price tag initially, but it will essentially pay for itself after a couple of years when you're not stuck having to buy new razors, tweezers, and wax strips month after month for new hair that will keep coming back without a more permanent hair reduction strategy.
Laser hair removal takes less time, is financially smarter, and will provide you with an overall longer-lasting result.
It saves time. In addition to saving money, laser hair removal will also help to save you time. Think about it: how much time do you spend each week in the bathroom shaving, plucking, tweezing, or waxing? 15 minutes? 20 minutes?
Suppose you spend roughly 20 minutes, twice a week shaving, that comes out to over 2,000 minutes or 35 hours a year! That's quite a bit of time when you really think about it. With laser hair removal, you'll never have to spend countless minutes with a dull razor and sticky wax strips ever again.
Kiss ingrown hairs goodbye. Ingrown hairs are the absolute worst, especially in sensitive areas like the bikini line, general bikini area, and underarm area. They usually happen after shaving or waxing because the hair follicle gets clogged with dead skin cells and bacteria. This will cause the hair to grow the wrong way, leaving you with a painful, puss-filled bump on some of your most sensitive areas - ouch!
Since laser hair removal eliminates the hair follicle, you will never have to deal with these little nuisances ever again. Getting treatment is an excellent option for anyone that wants to avoid ingrown hairs and razor bumps, but it proves to be especially beneficial for those with sensitive skin that experience irritation after waxing or shaving, especially in particularly sensitive areas like the upper lip and bikini area.
You don't need to grow hair between laser treatments. If you have ever gotten waxed, then you know about that awkward 'regrow' stage that you have to go through in order to book your next appointment. Waxing requires a little bit of hair growth in order to strip the hair properly from the desired area. This may not seem like too big of a deal, but when it's summertime, it makes slipping into your itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, bikini a little uncomfortable, to say the least.
With laser hair removal, shaving is highly recommended before each treatment. This is because the laser works to zap the hair follicle beneath the top layers of your skin. When you don't shave, the laser will singe your hair, causing a burn, which will make it much more difficult to reach the root of the hair to destroy it.
Rule of thumb: always shave 24 hours before your laser hair removal session.
It leaves your skin softer than before. Have you ever shaved or waxed only to quickly be bothered by prickly rough skin? With laser hair removal, there is never any stray hair or stubble left behind. This means that after your session, you will experience velvety soft skin with not a hair left in sight!
In some cases, a little bit of hair growth can happen following treatment. However, you will instantly notice it grows back thinner and softer than ever before, so you'll never have to worry about prickling your loved ones with stubble again.
Minimal side effects. Another great advantage that people enjoy with laser hair removal is that it comes with very little side effects, and those which do occur, tend to go away in just a couple of days. After treatment, some people experience a little redness, soreness, and even some swelling to the lasered area. If this happens to you following your laser hair removal session, simply use ice to help bring down the swelling and aloe to calm the skin to reduce any redness.
What to know before you go!
If you're thinking about laser hair removal to get rid of some unwanted body hair, there are some things you should know beforehand:
It targets pigment. Many individuals are under the impression that laser hair removal simply zaps hair, but it's actually much more complex than that. As we mentioned early on, the laser works by targeting the pigment melanin in the hair follicle. It then damages the root of the hair, inhibiting its ability to grow back. This is important to keep in mind in regards to hair color, because if you have very light hair--blonde, strawberry-blonde, white, or gray--the laser will have a difficult time picking up the pigment to destroy the hair follicle. It's not impossible, but you just might need extra sessions to fully inhibit unwanted hair growth. Additionally, if you have darker skin tone, you'll need to discuss the safety with your dermatologist as dark skin may be more likely to burn or blister if the appropriate treatment is not used.
It's not just one treatment. Getting laser hair removal isn't as simple as making one visit to the clinic and coming out totally hair-free. (wouldn't that be nice, though!?) It takes time and usually several sessions to get rid of all unwanted body hair. This is because hair has a growth cycle with 3 different stages.
Most hairs are in the 'active' stage called Anagen, which is where they grow. The next is the 'Catagen' stage, where hair follicles begin to collapse. During the final 'Telogen' stage, hair begins to shed.
After approximately four months of this, hairs usually begin to regrow. Laser hair removal stops this regrowth. Each hair follicle is independent and can grow at different speeds, which is why many laser sessions are needed in order to catch them all.
You need to stay out of the sun beforehand. If you have a sunburn or even a tan, you can't undergo laser hair removal treatment. This is because your skin is sensitive and will be more susceptible to hyperpigmentation, burns, or even scarring. Be sure to stay away from UV tanning beds and the natural sun exposure at least a week before your session--keeping sunscreen on the treatment area can help more than you'd expect!
It's safe and effective. The thought of zapping your skin may seem a little scary, but the treatment is entirely safe. Laser hair removal treatment is only carried out by qualified professionals, who are trained to access your skin before your session to make sure it's suitable for your specific skin type and skin color.
In Conclusion
If you have been dreaming about never having to shave or wax again, then you're in luck. Laser hair removal is an incredible choice for those wanting ultra-smooth, deliciously soft, velvety skin - all without the hair! Don't feel like making an appointment at the clinic? Never fear, The KENZZI IPL Hair Removal Handset is here!
KENZZI is an exceptional company with an undeniably true passion for helping people achieve flawless skin. That's why they created The KENZZI IPL Hair Removal Handset - a revolutionary breakthrough to the beauty industry.
This super beauty device can remove hair with ease: no razor burns, no painful ingrown hairs, and absolutely no wax burns. In addition to inhibiting hair growth, The KENZZI IPL Hair Removal Handset has also gained widespread popularity for slowing the aging process by reducing wrinkles and perfecting skin tone by treating blemishes. Multiple uses of IPL also increases collagen production to keep your skin glowing from the inside out.
Throw your razors, shaving cream, wax strips, and tweezers away - with The KENZZI IPL Hair Removal Handset and laser hair removal treatment; it's never been easier to achieve hair-free skin.
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