When considering laser hair removal, it's easy to become daunted by the fact that you will need somewhere between four and seven treatments spread out every other month or so until you achieve ideal results. Even ideal results only guarantee upwards of 80 to 90% hair removal, and you may need yearly maintenance sessions after that. However, there are many reasons to choose the process regardless, including:
1. Much More Convenient
While during laser hair removal, each hair follicle must be targeted with an intense, pulsating ray of light and the sessions can take up to an hour, in the long run, you'll be wasting a lot less time on hair removal. No longer will you need to shave every day or every other day or pluck or wax every week. No longer will you be spending money on shaving, waxing and plucking products. In the long run, you won't have to worry about hair removal and spend the time you would have devoted to it much more productively.
2. Reduces Risk of Ingrown Hairs
Another benefit of laser hair removal is that it decreases your risk of ingrown hairs--so long as you were going to shave, wax or pluck the hair anyway. Ingrown hairs appear as small red bumps that may be full of pus, be itchy, be painful or be sore to the touch. If you attempt to pick out the hair before it grows out on its own (which can take weeks), you may be left with a scar. With laser treatment, the hair follicle is inhibited at its root so that it's far less likely to grow.
3. Offers Longer-Lasting Results than Alternatives
Part of the reason that laser hair removal is more convenient than shaving, waxing and plucking is because it simply lasts longer. After you've completed the entire session, you'll have up to 90% complete semi-permanent hair loss in the treated areas. You may need a yearly maintenance session, but the results are far longer lasting than the few days (or the one week) that the alternatives last.
4. Less Painful than Some Alternatives
Waxing and plucking are notorious for causing pain when you remove the hair and some stinging irritation thereafter. Shaving leaves you open to nicking your skin, which can cause excessive bleeding, pain and scarring. Electrolysis can cause some form of mild pain. Most people only feel mild discomfort with laser hair treatment, although you may need mild pain relievers. You may also experience some temporary irritation, but you'll be undergoing the sessions far less often than you would wax or pluck.
5. Allows You to Take Better Care of Your Skin
Removing body hair in the long term allows you to more effectively moisturize, treat and wash your skin. This will keep your skin from drying, becoming too oily or clogged with bacteria, decreasing your risk for peeling skin and acne.
Choosing to undergo laser hair removal can lead to a number of benefits that make the somewhat lengthy process worthwhile. Just be sure to discuss your candidacy with your cosmetic specialist, as not all skin types and hair colors are ideal for the procedure.
