Laser hair removal is one of the most common procedures that women undergo; certain women feel that there is a stigma to any form of hair on the body and that it is a disturbing feature, which is why most women tend to resort to procedures such as laser hair removal and shaving or waxing.

But which is better for you and your skin? Well, we at the Aesthetic Skin Clinic will take a look at the different procedures and discuss how they differ from one another.

Spotlight on: Laser Hair Removal Process

One of the main reasons for women undergoing a laser hair removal procedure is to remove facial hair; this is generally darker than the rest of the hair on the body, which can lead to people becoming embarrassed and develop self-consciousness as a result. However, it doesn’t mean that hair on other parts of the body isn’t an issue for some people as well.

This is where the laser hair removal process comes in. Laser hair removal involves pulses of laser light that are applied to a certain region which then destroys the hair follicle. The principle behind this procedure is known as selective photothermolysis or SPTL. This focuses on matching the wavelength of the laser light and its pulse duration to ensure the maximum effect on a target region and minimal effect on surrounding regions.

Lasers are typically used because they can be controlled extremely well, meaning that they can be used to target specific areas, rather than affect an entire region with methods such as shaving and waxing. When lasers are localised, the amount of energy they emit increases, which is used to treat body and facial hair.

Because light is absorbed more effectively by darker pigments, dark hair is generally treated using this method. Then the laser light passes over a certain region, the dark hair follicles absorbs the laser light, while the surrounding skin remains unharmed. After multiple treatments, the hair follicles continually absorb this intense energy until it starts to damage the structures of the hair, which then leads to a complete lack of the hair follicle’s ability to grow hair.

Spotlight on: Shaving and Waxing

Shaving is another method of removing hair by cutting the hair with a razor to match the level of the skin. It is a common method of hair removal amongst men when they want to shave their face and neck, but it is also common for women to shave their armpits and legs to get a nice clean shave.

However, one prominent difference between laser hair removal and shaving is that laser hair removal’s goal is to completely eradicate the possibility of any further hair growth in specific regions, whereas shaving only removes hair up to a certain level and, unfortunately, provides the opportunity for the hair follicle to regrow.

Waxing, on the other hand, is a type of semi-permanent hair removal, as it is used to completely remove the hair from the root. One benefit of this method is that it is more effective for complete hair removal as opposed to shaving, but it isn’t as effective as laser hair removal

When to comes to waxing, there are two types: strip waxing and strip-less waxing. Strip waxing involves using soft wax and placing a thin strip over the skin. Once settled, the strip is removed against the direction of hair growth, otherwise, it can cause trauma to the skin. Strip-less waxing is traditionally used by therapists and involves adding thick layers of wax that cools and is eventually peeled off, taking the hair with it.

Which is Better?

If you want a pain-free, quick, and effective solution to any hair related problems, laser hair removal is the best method to use. This procedure is painless, as it only acts on the hair itself as opposed to any surrounding areas. It can also provide incredibly long-lasting results when compared to the other forms of hair removal, and it is one of the most tested and effective hair removal procedures in the world.

At the Aesthetic Skin Clinic, we are able to provide one of the most advanced laser hair removal systems in the world; the Soprano XL Device. This device is able to eliminate all hair types from any area you wish to remove hair; all you need to do is have a consultation with one of our skin specialists and have a patch test to ensure that you are fully able to undergo the procedure.

If you want to know more about the laser hair removal procedures we can provide, or any other type of non-surgical procedure, then please contact us today and we will be more than happy to help.