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Permanent hair removal: all you need to know about laser hair removal
Permanent hair removal, an ideal solution to never wax or shave again, a dream for many women. But before getting started, it is absolutely necessary to know the difference between the laser and the pulsed light and where these epilations are practiced. Without forgetting to learn about the reality of the definitive word.
What is permanent hair removal?
As the name suggests, permanent hair removal consists of adopting a method that eliminates the need to wax or shave. For this, it is necessary to destroy the bulb responsible for the growth of the hair. In other words, it takes a lot of time and often a significant financial investment.
Laser hair removal
The principle of laser hair removal
The laser projected on the skin turns into heat when it encounters a brown or brown color, in other words here, the hair. By heating it to its base, it destroys the bulb that makes it, thus preventing any regrowth.
This therefore means that women who have white, blond or red hair, unfortunately cannot consider permanent laser hair removal. Just like women with dark and mat complexion, or even tanned: the laser would confuse the hair and the skin, the burn would then be inevitable.
Number of sessions and total cost
Laser hair removal requires an average of 5 to 6 sessions of 20 to 30 minutes, to be spaced approximately every 6 weeks, in order to completely destroy the bulb in the areas concerned.
For the three areas: legs, armpits and bikini line, you have to plan a budget that can easily reach € 1800 to € 2000, or even more for some practitioners. But this is, in general, cheaper than it was even ten years ago. Knowing also that you can choose a package for a particular area and thus spread your permanent hair removal over time.
Women who choose this method see it as an investment since they will then never need to buy hair removal products or make an appointment with the beautician. It is therefore a saving of time and money in the long term.
A medical act only
Dermatologists and cosmetic physicians are the only ones who are authorized by law to use lasers. Laser hair removal cannot under any circumstances be performed in a beauty salon.
In addition, with a doctor, you can be sure of getting a truly permanent hair removal and he will check the feasibility of this technique on your skin beforehand.
Does laser hair removal hurt?
Pain is a personal feeling and it all depends on how sensitive your skin is, but yes, it does sometimes hurt. Nevertheless, a draft of cold air is usually projected to avoid the pain.
Pulsed light and semi-permanent hair removal
What is semi-permanent hair removal?
In terms of hair removal, different terms and claims coexist. They all offer to get rid of your hair in the long run. But who says long term does not necessarily mean permanent hair removal.
There is therefore a semi-permanent hair removal which is none other than pulsed light. Pulsed light hair removal is practiced in beauty institutes or specialized institutes. As for the laser, it is indicated for chestnut to brown hairs but not for light hairs, nor even for dark or tanned skin.
Sometimes supposedly permanent, hair removal with pulsed light is not really. For this reason, it is rather called “semi-permanent hair removal” or “lasting hair removal”, in that it can still allow the non-regrowth of the hairs for a few years. And this for a price 50% lower in institute than laser hair removal in a medical center or at a dermatologist.
Opting for a “permanent epilator”, is it a good idea?
In recent years, brands of cosmetic or household appliances have developed epilators to use at home that can be wrongly called “permanent epilators”. They are never laser but with pulsed light, as in a beauty salon. They promise an effectiveness of up to 90% for a non-regrowth of the hairs over at least a month.
These products require a scrupulous follow-up of the notices by the users. This particularly concerns the frequency of sessions, which must be spaced out to avoid the risk of burns.
Choosing to buy such a device, which costs between € 300 and € 500, is related to its relative effectiveness in the long term. But obviously not all devices are created equal.
Pulsed light hair removal: caution
Be careful with the institute or the pulsed light epilator that you choose because, unlike the laser, pulsed light hair removal is not regulated by law. So much so that dermatologists advise against this practice which, if carried out improperly, can cause burns in the worst case.
The devices meet European standards, but doctors and consumer associations have been asking for more restrictive legislation for many years. For their part, manufacturers claim that everything is done in the development of their products to avoid the dangers of burns on the skin or on the retina.
In addition, hair removal with pulsed light and laser hair removal are contraindicated in pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as for certain diseases such as diabetes or during photosensitizing treatments.