Male Hair Removal
These days increasingly more men are becoming aware of their personal image with regards to body hair. At some point most men have dabbled in hair removal, nobody wants to have excessive hair but be warned looking good isn’t always easy and painless.
In addition to shaving, there are various options for consideration such as waxing, electrolysis and laser hair removal, which option you decide to go for will be very much dependant on the amount of hair,you want to get rid of as well as your budget.
The benefits of waxing.
Waxing is quick and inexpensive. The results are instantaneous leaving silky smooth skin for 4 – 6 weeks. Don’t be tempted to buy over the counter waxes, book yourself into a reputable salon and let the professionals preform this procedure. If you have never had a wax treatment before speak to your aesthetician and ensure that he/she knows, the usual protocol would be to carry out a patch test to test the skin for sensitivity. Following your waxing treatment, avoid hot bathes or showers for 24 hours, perfumed products, and excessive heat for 24 hours. If the skin is red and irritated use aloe vera gel, this will calm the skin and in most cases the skin is back to normal within 24 hours.
The benefits of electrolysis.
This method is more commonly used for smaller areas such as the beard and neck area. The great thing about electrolysis is that it can be used on any skin type and any skin colour.
Electrolysis is advised where the hair is not dark enough to opt for laser hair removal. The process involves using a small sterile needle which is inserted into the hair follicle, the probe is charged with a tiny amount of electrical current and you will feel either a build up of warmth concentrated in the locality or a sensation similar to a slight sting. Sensation depends on the area being treated. A topical anaesthetic cream can be applied and is available over the counter at pharmacies if you find the treatment uncomfortable.
For successful and effective results, each individual hair requires repeated treatments. This is because each individual hair has its’ own growing cycle called Anagen, Catagen and Telogen. This is not unlike the ‘cycle of life’ with Anagen being the ‘alive’ and growing stage, Catagen the ‘collapsing’ stage where the hair collapses away from its source of food and nourishment (the dermal papilla) and the Telogen stage where the hair is ‘tired’ and dying and disconnected completely from its dermal papilla. Successful treatment for electrolysis (and incidentally also laser and ipl) has to target the hair in Anagen to achieve optimum results as it is the destruction of the dermal papilla which is required. Therefore results are not immediate and take a little time… but electrolysis does work and it is permanent.
The benefits of Laser hair removal.
This is no doubt a more expensive option at first but by far will give the longest lasting results. Following a patch test to determine if you are suitable for laser hair removal you will have a course of 6 treatments usually 6 weeks between treatments. Its important you don’t skip treatments so you do need to think about your scheduling as you cannot have any sun exposure 30 days before or after treatment.This is a great treatment for larger areas such as the back, chest and legs. The hair does need to be dark, your aesthetician will advise you at your patch test consultation if the hair is dark enough for laser treatment. The sensation of the treatment is often likened to the ‘ping’ of an elastic band, and aftercare advice is similar to that of waxing: avoid heat for 24- 48 hours, use aloe vera to cool the skin and wear an SPF 30 for 30 days following treatment. On completion of your course you will need top up treatments from time to time, this is a very worth while treatment and achieves approx 85% hair reduction.
Regardless of the reason for wanting rid of excessive body/facial hair, do seek the advice of a professional, in many cases they will offer a free consultation.
Contact Beauty Haven to schedule an appointment to see which hair removal system is best suited for your requirements.