beauty

Importance of hair growth cycles for laser treatment

Hair removal
Written by Nigel Simpkins

To anyone looking to remove unwanted body hair, there is a wide range of options available. Convenience and simplicity make shaving the default option. It has remained the most commonly used method. When the hair is to be removed in very specific areas people may rely on beauticians who use techniques like plucking or threading. When a large area is to be targeted like the back or legs people tend to rely on depilatory creams or waxing. Each of the above methods has its benefits and limitations. A common limitation is that these methods only remove hair for short periods of time. Laser hair removal brought the option of permanent hair removal.

What is laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal uses focused light beams to damage hair follicles. The damaged hair falls out over the next few days after a laser session. The hair does not grow back in most cases. Even when it does grow back it is a lot thinner and hence hard to notice. The technology has improved a lot over the years. Today’s devices that are used in laser hair removal treatments can be calibrated to work on any skin colour or hair colour. They are also faster and more precise than earlier devices. Laser hair removal is a safe process when it is administered by a qualified professional.

Why does the laser require multiple sessions?

One might wonder that if a laser can permanently remove hair, why does one need to undergo the procedure a few times spread over weeks. This has to do with the life cycle of hair. Hair falls out naturally and grows back all the time. At any point in time, there will be hair follicles at various stages of growth. Hair that has recently fallen out or isn’t visible above the skin cannot be targeted through laser. The further sessions after the first time are meant to deal with this issue. With sessions spread over a few weeks, all hair follicles would be targeted.

Cost comparison

Laser hair removal may appear to be more expensive than other methods. What you have to take into account is the fact that laser is a permanent solution while the other methods can only offer temporary relief. Laser hair removal in London would cost anywhere from £60 to £1000 depending on the areas to be covered. The other methods would keep accumulating costs both in terms of money, time, and effort over the lifetime. Compared to that amount, the cost of laser would prove economical.

There is one other method that offers comparable results to the laser. Electrolysis uses an electric current instead of light to damage hair. It is more expensive than laser treatment and also takes much more time. Hence laser can be argued to be the only reasonable long term hair removal option. It appears that people are recognising this fact more and more, going by the acceptance rate of people opting for laser hair removal treatment. The awareness related to laser also will need to be spread as more people start using it.