Ouch! How do I get rid of this hair? Part 2

Two other methods of removing unwanted hair are Electrolysis and Laser. There are pro and cons to both methods.

First let’s talk about Electrolysis.

Electrolysis is the ONLY method approved by the FDA for permanent hair removal. It requires multiple sessions to achieve the best results.

Permanent hair removal is NOT guaranteed for everyone. The Technician slides a tiny hair size needle into the hair follicle applying a heated current to destroy the root of the hair follicle. The science behind this method is best described to you by the Technician.

To understand hair removal methods you first need to understand hair growth. There are three stages.
Growing
Resting, and
Shedding

Because all of our hairs are not  in the same growth stage at any given time (We would be bald at times if this were not the case! but I digress…) multiple sessions are needed to get the hair in the growth phase for electrolysis to be effective. The same is true for laser hair removal. But back to Electrolysis.

Good points,
It has a good track record. This method has been used for many years and is still considered the only Permanent removal method.
Many different hair and skin types can benefit. Because it doesn’t target hair color (pigment) like laser but attacks the hair follicle itself.
People that may not be good candidates for laser can still get electrolysis.

Some not so good points
Follicles that are bent can make this type of hair removal difficult. Follicles can become bent from previous tweezing or waxing. So getting to the bottom of a bent follicle can be hard to do.
Many treatments are needed. You may need from 15 to 30 sessions to treat an area, so Electrolysis takes a commitment.

Laser
Laser is an FDA approved method for permanent hair REDUCTION. It also requires many sessions to have the best results.
It works by a hand held laser device that sends out pulsed laser light on the skin to seek out the dark pigment of the hair and then impairs the hair follicle. Hair will begin to fall out within 10 to 14 days after the treatment.

The pros of this type of hair removal
You can cover larger areas at a time than you can with Electrolysis.
Little or no growth is needed for treatment.

The Cons
Scarring or blisters can occur. If the tech is not well trained than this is a possibility.
Multiple treatments are required.

And last and most importantly, not everyone is a candidate. Laser still works best on fair skinned people with darker hair. But there are lasers being tested for lighter hair and darker skin tones. So in the future, all people may be able to try this type of removal method.


So there you have it. Both methods require multiple sessions. Both have their good points and both have their down sides.

In my opinion, Laser works well for larger areas and Electrolysis works well for smaller areas. The salon I work at only uses Electrolysis. We have been seeing a resurgence in people coming back to this method that have tried Laser. Usually to get those hairs cleaned up that laser didn’t get rid of. So both methods together seem to be optimal. And again Laser is still not good for the lighter or white hairs, where Electrolysis still works for them.

Oh the ouch factor! I almost forgot to cover this. They both have some discomfort. There is a cream that you can get your doctor to prescribe that will help numb the skin before Electrolysis that makes the procedure more comfortable. I am not sure if it can be used prior to laser or not.

Updated info

Just recently the FDA approved an at home laser hair removal device by Tria Company.

It sells for between $700 and 800 dollars at this time. It is only approved for lighter skinned tones. Blistering can happen on darker skin tones, the company states.

My advice on this? I personally would not get involved with using an at home laser device that I could potentially burn or scar myself with. I frankly am astounded by what the FDA will allow an unskilled person to use. As usual you can make your own choice for what is best for you. I could do my own electrical work at home from a book, but would I ? No I would rather not electrocute myself. An other words please use common sense.

OUCH! How do I get rid of this hair!

This is going to be the first of a two part post.
First, I am going to go over the basic information on Hair Removal. There are so many forms of removal available now that it is easy to become confused as to which method is going to fit the problem area you are concerned with. I am going to talk about waxing first. In a second post I will cover laser and electrolysis removal methods.

There are several types of wax available for estheticians to use. Some are good for certain types of hair removal and some are better for others. The Tech usually becomes comfortable using one type and sticks with that. Other Techs use two or three types. Technique is the most important factor. You want a technician that is well trained in how to use whatever type of wax she is using. Yes, there is a technique to waxing.

DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!

Many have tried self waxing removal at home to disastrous results. Trust me I have heard my share of horror stories throughout the years. I have had people call me at work with wax stuck in tender areas not knowing how to get it off. I have had a client come into the salon with chunks of wax stuck all over her legs from an inferior method done somewhere, asking me to help her. I am not saying that there are not some people that can manage to pull off a self waxing at home but most are safer going to a skilled professional.

How do I know if they are well trained?

Simple, ASK. Do not be afraid to ask for someone who has been doing the type of waxing you require for awhile. This is defiantly the type of service that you get better at the longer you have done it. In my opinion you need to go to a person that does waxing frequently. Than once you have found the right person, stick with them. Just like your hairdresser gets to know your hair, the person waxing you becomes familiar with your needs also

I went to someone and they burnt or pulled off my skin!

Yes, this can happen. And it can even happen to a skilled technician on occasion. Unfortunately machines are not perfect and they can vary the heated temperature of the wax by how much wax is in it. OR a client’s skin can become overly dry and dehydrated causing it to be in a state where the wax adheres too tightly to the skin, therefore causing it to pull off when the wax is removed. Before you are going to get a waxing service it is a good idea to moisturize the skin for a couple days prior to waxing, BUT on the day of the service do not put any moisturizer in the area so that the wax will work properly. Also as we age our skin becomes thinner. Therefore it becomes more sensitive and easier to pull off. Do not always assume if this has happened to you that it was due to technician error. None of us are ever happy if we cause a client discomfort. If you know your skin to be sensitive or have had a bad experience, let your new waxer know this. Important! If taking any medications or using RX products on your skin that your dermatologist has prescribed please let your Esthetician know this! Ingested medications and skin cream by prescription can affect your skin!! In some instances it can cause your skin to come off with wax,or to simply become more sensitive in general.

I broke out in little red itchy bumps after having my eyebrows waxed, what caused this?

That reaction is usually an allergic reaction to the wax. It is an indicator that possibly waxing is not for you in that area. Or it could be a first time reaction and once the skin adapts to waxing that may not happen again. It can also happen in one area but not in another. For example the face may break out from waxing but the bikini area may not, on the same person. If you get a reaction, treat it with Aloe Vera gel and lets your esthetician know in case they have something else to suggest. We also need to note any adverse reactions in your chart. There are many different types of skin and an experienced technician will know the safest way to wax your skin type. Please feel free to contact me with any questions that I may have not covered.


Waxing can do a great job of removing unwanted hair! Feel free to ask for a consultation before getting any service done. Any well respected salon or spa will be happy to do one.