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Other Methods of Hair Removal

Hair Removal Methods - Waxing, Electrolysis, Epilating

This page offers facts about methods of hair removal other than laser (shaving, depilatories, epilation-tweezing, waxing or sugaring, threading, electrolysis and light hair removal). Based on the advice here you can decide whether laser hair removal is right for you. The information on this page is offered as a guide to the different options available to you.

Shaving: Is fast and affordable. It can cause cuts, irritation and ingrown hairs. It only lasts a few days at best.

Depilatories: Are a cream made of chemicals that dissolve the hair. They are fast and affordable. They can cause irritation, and smell bad. The results only last a few days.

Epilation-Tweezing: Is affordable. It can be painful, is slow, and can cause ingrown hairs and changes in pigment. You need to wait until there is outgrowth to pluck. Results may last from a few days to a few weeks.

Waxing and Sugaring: Is fast. It can be costly, is painful, can cause ingrown hairs, and can cause irritation. You need to have considerable outgrowth of hair to wax. Results can last from one month to one and a half months.

Threading: Is when a thread is twisted in a way to catch hairs and pull them out. It is fast. It can be costly, painful, and can cause ingrown hairs, folliculitis, irritation, and changes in pigmentation.

Electrolysis: An electric current travels down a needle which is inserted in the skin next to the hair shaft. As a result the root is (hopefully) destroyed and is then tweezed. The process can be extremely time consuming (see extensive information on electrolysis), painful and expensive. It can also cause hyper/hypo-pigmentation.

Light Hair Removal: Also known as laser assisted hair removal is a method of hair removal using pulsed light to disable the root of the hair. It can result in long term hair removal. In the hands of a skilled technician, light hair removal can be as effective as laser hair removal. As permanent as other lasers, it is known to allow for more treatment options for clients that may not be good candidates for laser hair removal.