Laser V’s Waxing

The removal of excess body hair is not a recent phenomenon. The ancient Romans buffed, rubbed and oiled their bodies, using volcanic pumice stone to rub away unwanted hair. Today, more modern methods of hair removal are used, but the principle is still the same. The body beautiful image is big business, promoted by almost too-perfect celebrities and media icons such as movie and television stars. However, there are other reasons behind why we insist on scraping, waxing and generally employing any method we can to achieve a hairless look. Sportsmen, particularly swimmers and cyclists, remove excess leg and body hair to increase speed and improve their performance. The bodybuilding industry insists on hair-free bodies so that the underlying muscles can be seen clearly. Now, ordinary people (both men and women) are in search of a hair removal system that lasts longest and, just as importantly, doesn’t hurt too much!

Out of all the methods available, the two most common methods are waxing and laser hair removal. Hot wax hair removal is a relatively simple process of using warm, liquefied wax that is spread onto the area to be treated. A cloth or muslin strip is then pressed onto the surface of the wax and the whole lot is then ripped off the skin, taking the hair by plucking it out from the root of the hair follicle. Depending on the sensitivity of the area of the skin being treated, this can be an extremely painful experience, although the pain is short-lived. The process has to be repeated every few weeks and doesn’t permanently remove hair although it does tend to grow back less dense and finer than before due to the weakening of the follicle. Hot wax is commonly available, including home treatment off-the-shelf kits that are relatively cheap.

Laser hair removal, however, is a more permanent method of hair removal but there are some considerations to be taken into account.

Primarily, laser hair removal requires a course of treatments so as to remove hairs at all stages of the growth cycle. You also need to be sure that you are suitable for treatment. Those with darker skin colouring may find that laser hair removal is not appropriate because of the potential damage to the skin’s pigmentation. It is essential that you speak to a qualified practitioner before starting any laser treatment. The sensation of laser treatment has been likened to being repeatedly snapped by a rubber band, so is probably no more painful than hot wax treatments. After a course of treatments the hair follicle is rendered inoperative and the hair will not grow back, so laser hair removal is a more permanent method of removing unwanted hair than hot wax treatments.

If you don’t have the initial finance to pay for laser hair removal, then hot wax treatments are a useful alternative, albeit one that has to be repeated continuously. As the hair has to be a certain length before the process can be applied, it leaves several days in between treatments when unwanted hair will be visible. Laser hair removal does take time and yes, it does cost money, but it is a permanent solution to the problem and in the long run may actually be more cost effective than a lifetime’s worth of waxing.