Tired of unwanted facial and body hair? Most people shave and wax on a regular basis in order to keep unwanted hair at bay, but now you can finally get rid of unwanted hair on a permanent basis with laser hair removal.
Shaving & Waxing Vs Laser Hair Removal
Shaving is one of the most common ways of keeping our legs and armpits smooth; it’s quick, easy and affordable. Unfortunately the results aren’t very long lasting; hair simply grows back in a few days. You’ll have to shave almost every day if you want your skin to stay smooth.
The results of waxing are more long-lasting but can be unpleasant and painful; the process involves applying hot wax to the treatment area and yanking the hair out. Laser hair removal offers permanent results but it isn’t entirely painless either depending on your pain tolerance level. A numbing cream can be used prior to treatment in order to minimize discomfort.
Picking The Right Home Laser Hair Removal Machine For Your Skin
It’s important to remember that laser hair removal treatment results may vary from person to person. Some individuals may not respond to this treatment. The ideal candidate for laser hair removal has lighter skin with darker hair. Individuals with this skin and hair combination can use any device on the market including the state-of-the-art Tria 4x laser which incorporates diode technology.
Diode laser technology is considered more effective compared to more affordable IPL laser systems. Diode lasers attack the hair follicle with pinpoint precision whereas IPL lasers emit diffused waves of energy.
If you have darker skin, red hair, gray hair or you are blonde the Tria lasers will not work for you. You may want to consider the Tanda Me Smooth which is an IPL laser hair removal machine which is designed to work on all skin tones and hair colors.
Some devices can be used on the entire body while others may not be suitable for facial use. For example, the Tria 4x laser can be used on the entire body due to its larger treatment surface whereas the Tria Precision is meant to treat smaller areas.
Side Effects
The most common side effects after home laser hair removal may include itching, redness and swelling. The laser can damage skin cells and cause itching due to microscopic tears. Redness and swelling may result if your skin is irritated or damaged by the laser light. Luckily, these side effects are only temporary, and should fade a few days after treatment. If you have irritation you may want to apply cortisol cream or a cool compress in order to reduce symptoms of irritation.
Cost Considerations
Shaving and waxing are generally the most effective ways of home hair removal, although the cost of razors and shaving cream can add up over the course of a lifetime. Professional laser hair removal treatments can be quite costly with the average appointment costing anywhere from $200-$500 depending on the area of treatment. Keep in mind that numerous treatments are necessary for permanent results which can end up costing thousands of dollars if you have large areas to treat.
On the other hand, using a laser hair removal at home machine tends to cost the same amount as one professional treatment. You will also want to keep in mind the cost of cartridge replacements when picking a home laser hair removal machine. For example, the Tria laser may seem like an expensive investment initially but doesn’t require any cartridge replacements. Home laser hair removal machines from Silk’n and Veet are significantly more affordable but require cartridge replacements.