Laser Hair Removal The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
By Megan Halloway
You've probably heard about how lots of European women don't give a fig about underarm hair or hair on their legs. But many other women are not as accepting of body hair as their European counterparts. And throughout history, women have been employing various techniques to do this: from ancient Egyptian women's use of beeswax and sharp implements to eliminate leg hair up to the modern-day practices of waxing and the use of lasers to achieve a smooth and hairless complexion. Here, we'll take a quick look at some of the pros and cons of and whether it's the right path to take for a more hairless you.
Hair is removed via lasers in the following way: a series of low-level laser beams is targeted at hair follicles (or the root of the hair) in certain areas of the body. The hair then falls out and new growth is discouraged. Here are some of the reasons for the popularity of laser hair removal:
- Long-lasting results. The laser beams zoom in on hair follicles, either destroying them or significantly disabling them. Thus, hair is a lot slower to grow back and in some cases, they don't grow back altogether. And any hair that grows back tends to be finer, thinner, and less visible. Imagine the time savings you could realize. Finally, freedom from regular bikini waxes, leg-shaving, and facial hair-plucking!
- Broader and more convenient applications. Laser hair removal technologies and equipment have evolved in such a way that it is now possible to treat broad areas of the skin - such as the back and legs - in addition to localized areas like the skin above the upper lip and around the nipples. There is a wide variety of gadgets and equipment to suit individual cases.
- Increased safety regulations. Hair removal via laser is a process approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). So, the techniques used must meet stringent regulations. In addition, individual states themselves are issuing criteria that cosmeticians must comply with in order to practice their trade.
Laser hair removal may seem like a godsend to many a woman, but she would do well to remember that it is not a "one-size-fits-all" sort of technology. Like most other cosmetic procedures today, it does have its disadvantages, the following of which are just a few.
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