Leg Hair Removal

Hairfacts: Friction for hair removal com mercial-free hair removal facts for consumers Keep this site reader supported! Home Methods Friction D I R E C T O R Y Home Methods Search "Permanent" * Electrolysis * Home electro * Laser * Flashlamp/IPL * Combinations * * see note Hair inhibitors Rx oral meds Vaniqa Temporary Shaving Depilatories Friction Tweezing Waxing Sugaring Threading Rotary epilators Doubtful Electric tweezer Transdermal Transcutaneous Photoepilators Microwaves Dietary products Herbal inhibitors Other topics How to choose Tips Clinical data Manufacturers Regulation Info sources Scams Ripped off? FAQ Glossary Site info Feedback Friction Basic facts Less common method of removing hair at skin's surface, but some consumers find it primaritly useful for fine hair on legs. Description: A rough surface is used to buff away hair at the skin's surface. The mitt usually has rough strips or a smoothing surface coated directly onto the mitt. Advantages: Inexpensive, fast, essentially painless, can be done at home, available widely, also exfoliates and smooths skin. Many types can be used wet or dry. Good for legs with fine hair. Some use it between shaving or waxing sessions. Disadvantages: Effect lasts a short time-- anywhere from a few hours to several days. Dark-haired users may have visible "shadow" of dark hair under skin. Often requires use every two or three days. Can cause skin irritation if rubbed too hard. Do not use on face, arms, or bikini area. Do not use on irritated or damaged skin. Clinical data: Costs : Mitts: From $2.00 to $6.00 per mitt Pumice stones Emery/sandpaper Background facts Marketing terms and tactics: Historical overview: Government regulation: Brands Hair Off Sugi-Soft Leg Smoothers by Garden Club WAX-A-WAY SMOOTHAWAY MITT Silky Mitt . Tips Legs should be clean and dry. Slip the mitt over your hand with abrasive side facing the legs. Select an area of skin surface approximately the size of the mitt . Use small circular movements and gentle pressure to smooth the surface of your skin. Without lifting mitt off the skin surface, alternate between clockwise and counterclockwise motions until all hair is removed. Do not rub too hard or you may irritate the skin. Wash the mitt in warm soapy water to maintain its cleanliness and effectiveness. Surgi-Soft Mitt is made for use on legs only. Do not use on face, arms, or bikini area. For sensitive skin, “condition” the mitt by gently rubbing on palm for a few seconds to remove the coarser grit. Do not use on irritated or damaged skin. If irritation occurs, discontinue use. Do not stroke up and down or apply too much pressure. Keep out of reach of children. follow up with a mild lotion. Consumer comments Woolly Woman by Devonie Baker (devronika@yahoo.com) Hmm, okay, here is the REAL reason I wanted to share these stories. Today I bought a couple of those "Leg Hair Mitts" or whatever. "Buff Off Body Mitten" "Precision Buffer" it says. Hmm, Nair makes it. I read the box to make sure it wasn't "New Cat Piss Scent!" on it and upon discovering it wasn't scented at ALL, but was Aloe Coated, I figured what the heck? It was stamped "Dermatologist Tested" and looked like it was worth a shot. Now, I bought two brands of this "hair removal mitt" thing, the other was from Sally Hansen. I figured two reputable names at least. I have yet to try the Nair one, but I did bust out the Sally Hansen and gave it a shot here at my desk. I rubbed around in a circle both clock and counter-clockwise as instructed. I waited for something to happen. I have determined that you must rub a hole through your skin before the hair comes off. I re-read the instructions expecting to find a disclaimer that said, "Works best for people with little or no body hair at all." Or perhaps, "This is not recommended for people who are over 8 years of age." I read the small print looking for a clue, expecting to see, "This is best used if you are a hairless space alien with skin of tissue paper." I found no evidence that I didn't "qualify" as an adequately hairy candidate for this product. I figured I must have been doing something wrong though, so I tried again. This time pressing down harder and increasing my RPMs. AHH! Yes! The smell of burning flesh let me know it was working! You actually are removing the hair by FRICTION! In other words girls, you can probably get the same effect if you duct tape a square of sandpaper to your hand and go for it! Oh but be careful not to set your legs on fire. I will let you all know how the Nair product works out, if you are interested. I think I'll pick up a small fire extinguisher before I go home and try this though just in case. Tips on Hair Removal By Pat Mestern http://www.mestern.net/pm/simple/memo13.html D uring the 2nd World War, girls from across Canada worked in a local factory. A few boarded with grandmother where they had a "common" room for relaxing after work to chat and "do their girl things." I was VERY young and not allowed to bother them, but one day I sneaked in and before being detected and relegated to the back yard, found them all "rubbing" their legs with paper. Being only four years old I never connected legs, paper and hair removal . When my turn came to deal with unwanted hair , I went the usual route of creams, potions, lotions, razors (electric and otherwise) & etc. As a dark-haired person there was always a nice luxurious growth to deal with, especially as my 40th birthday came along and maturity began to set in. Hair growth is directly related to estrogen levels, hormones and ancestry. Having babes can really produce a healthy crop in unwanted places. So can memopause. One day while cruising a local pharmacy, I found a product that consisted of small strips of material that resembled fine "emery" paper and a plastic holder to use while removing hair . Also in the display as another product, a mitt for removal of leg hair . Dubiously, I bought both products and tried them. My goodness, they worked. The hair , of course, returned but as time went on it got less "heavy" and more "manageable". I enjoyed the facial "massage" as I carefully rubbed in small circular motions as per directions. Remember though that hair roots are still alive and will grow again unless removed by electrolysis. This "rubbing" is not a permanent solution, just a better one than smelly creams, lotions, potions & etc. It has been successful for some men too. As every pharmacy does not carry the product, I bought when and where I found it. I also called the company to congratulate them on an excellent product and was told - it has been around since World War 2 - thousands of units are shipped overseas where it is very popular (especially in Japan) - the product is available in one of the big box stores in the U.S.A. One time when away on a speaking engagement, horror of horrors, I forgot to pack my hair removal strips. I was going to stand before two hundred people as the bearded lady with ape legs. The local pharmacy hadn't heard of the product. What to do? For some reason, when under pressure things "connect". A bubble burst in my feeble, overworked brain. Sandpaper! Going to a hardware store (have you ever tried to find a hardware store in the middle of a large city?) I asked for the finest sandpaper in stock. It was not fine enough. The clerk suggested an automotive supply store that sold to auto body repair shops for a very fine 400-600 grit. When he asked why I needed such a fine girt, he did not blink an eye when I said "to remove body hair ." He replied that his grandmother used the technique all the time and that actor friends used sandpaper to remove unwanted hair from backs and legs for certain scenes. One friend had to have his back constantly sandpapered for a stage production of "Joseph & his Amazing Techni-coloured Dream Coat." After finding a 12" x 12" sheet of very fine 600 grit paper and working CAREFULLY, an effective job of " hair gone" was accomplished. Back home experimentation with sandpaper went into high gear - what grit worked best - how to use large sheets effectively. The professional product has a sticky back that adheres to the plastic remover aid. While talking the situation over with my ninety-year-old mother, she said. "Why the girls just used to wrap the sandpaper around a wooden block. Some pasted it down to the back of a hair brush. They used sandpaper because it was war-time and other products were not available." Why had she not told me about sandpaper hair removal nearly forty years ago when as a young woman I needed the information? "My dear, it was something the girls did as part of the war effort. And it was mentioned in one of those beauty books I gave you to read around age eleven." What eleven year old read beauty books in the 1950's? I still buy (and like) the manufactured product but not in such great quantity. The bought product is easier to pack for holidays and for "spot jobs". 400-600 grit paper works best for me. Cut a strip. Wrap it around a small wood cube - or rubber spatula and GENTLY (working on one small area at a time) rub in a half dozen small circles one way - then a half dozen small circles the other - until the hair is gone and the skin feels smooth. Do not scrub. Do not rub up and down. Do not attack the skin as though it was a wooden table leg. GENTLE is the key - gentle circular motions in both directions. A white "powder" will develop on legs (and maybe face). This is dead skin that has come off with the hair . Finish with a nice body lotion to moisturize the skin. Your skin will glow and feel great! I DO NOT GUARANTEE SUCCESS. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THE PROCESS FOR EVERYONE. If it works for you - great. I have tough "Canadian" skin that has been exposed to sun, wind, cold. I have no problems. Some people try the system and love it. A few say that their skin is too sensitive and turns red after rubbing. Some have better success with the bought product when it can be found. Do not give up after the first try. DO NOT PURCHASE COARSE SANDPAPER . The time between rubbings varies with your own hair growth cycle. If you continue with the procedure, hair will be finer and less enthusiastic about growing. As home "grown" remedies are not for everyone, if you can find the professional product, do try it. It might be best for your situation, skin condition and sensitivity. Pumice stones No matter how much moisturizer I use in the winter, I develop itchy, excema-like dry-skin patches on my calves. Several months ago I was taking a shower and, thinking this problem must be related to circulation, decided to take a different approach to combat it. I picked up my pumice stone and lightly massaged my skin. I didn't want to irritate my dry skin, so I was careful to apply light pressure but to rub the skin briskly, in a circular motion. (This felt great on my itchy skin.) It had been a few weeks since I shaved my legs, and after several minutes (two or three at most) of massaging with the pumice stone, I noticed little clumps of hair falling into the tub. This didn't really phase me until I began noticing more and more clumps. Then I saw that the area I had been rubbing was almost hairless. It occurred to me then that this would probably work anywhere on my body, but I was reluctant to rub my body with a pumice stone. I had used those hair - removal pumice mitts (SoftMitt is one brand) that look like sheets of fine-grade sandpaper, but I had to rub so hard to remove any hair that it caused a painful burn, not unlike rope burn. However, a regular, three-dollar pumice stone (I bought mine in a natural-foods store, but I don't think there's anything special about it*) is much courser (and more durable) than a pumice mitt , so it's easier to acheive the effect of rubbing the hair briskly without actually grinding into the skin, and I believe it more effectively pulverizes hairs. *(Possibly, some pumice stones are better for hair removal than others—I used one that crumbled a bit, and I was careful to rinse well when I was finished so that little particles of pumice didn't stick to my skin and cause itching later. My favorite pumice stone doesn't crumble; it has a nail brush attached to its flip side, which makes it convenient, too.) The more I thought about it, the less convinced I was that this method would damage my skin, as long as I took precautions. After all, I've used loofahs, scrubbing granules, and even buffing gloves—along with all those other hair - removal methods, which can't be easy on the skin. As long as I didn't rub hard—as opposed to briskly—I didn't think it could be too abrasive. The next day I decided to test my "discovery." I started gradually. I first rubbed the pumice stone with a thick layer of unscented white Dove soap for lubrication. Without applying much pressure, I started on my forearm, again rubbing briskly in a circular motion, clockwise then counterclockwise, and repeated this several times. To my amazement, hair fell off in more clumps. More stubborn hair , I reasoned, might require a few days of treatment. Note: This is a gradual process. It took about two weeks for me to see really satisfactory results. In my case, patience paid off. Please see the section on drugs for information about the medications I take which might have influenced my results using the pumice stone. For the first week or so I alternated days to give my skin a rest. After showering, I applied unscented baby oil to my wet skin then patted dry with a towel; I followed that by using unscented generic-label moisturizer (most drugstores sell their own generic brand of Lubriderm; about $5 for a large bottle). I make sure to follow this procedure every day; this prevents dry skin from the pumice stone, especially during the first few treatments. I have found that my skin becomes less sensitive the more I use this method, and any irritation—on the first day I experienced a mild rash, which was alleviated by moisturizer (again, I only use unscented moisturizer formulated for sensitive skin)—was nothing compared to what I've endured from other hair - removal methods. I now do this procedure daily, on nearly every part of my body (except my pubic hair )—even hard-to-reach places, and even on my face (I am very cautious about using this method on my face, and I still tweeze the few stray hairs that get through). It's least effective on my legs. I believe that's because after shaving my legs for years, the hairs are more resistant. However, I have made some progress, and the remaining hairs are much finer. The areas I treat are essentially now hairless (remaining hairs are soft and barely noticeable). I can wear sleeveless shirts without feeling that people are staring at my hairy arms. If I wanted to, I could wear clothes that expose my stomach without feeling like a freak. I can sit at a table with someone without hiding my hands (I even use this method on the my hands and fingers, and even my toes). I can be intimate with a partner without feeling repulsive. Aside from costing practically nothing (pumice stones last a long time—I've used the same one for four months now, and it shows no signs of expiring), this method doesn't take any extra time out of my day. I scrub my body when I shower anyway, and I've always had to moisturize. There's no offensive odor, no heating up wax or cleaning it off my skin or the sink afterward, and very little stubbly "regrowth." (Any regrowth is soft, probably because the end of the hair shaft has been "thinned.") But regrowth isn't an issue, since I can do this every day, anywhere I can take a shower. No one would know what I was doing. In addition, the ingrown hairs (and resulting folliculitis) I used to get from waxing or shaving have been eliminated, and my skin is smooth—no more dry patches on my legs. After thirty years, hirsutism is no longer an obsession for me. (But if and when the price of laser hair removal goes down—way down—I'll probably be first in line.) Was this helpful? This free site is reader-supported. Donate or subscribe today! Still have questions? Ask them at my free HairTell hair removal forum! 1996-2005 Andrea James. All rights reserved. Legal Info / Terms of Use Revised 30 December, 2001 .

hairdos. Just for Looks

Prom Hairstyles - Formal Hairstyles - Prom Hair Styles - Homecoming Hairfinder International Hair Directory Hairstyles for Prom Also check the following related pages at Hairfinder: Pictures of Updos How To - Updos Wedding Hairstyles 3950 Hairstyles Gallery A members only gallery with 3950 hairstyles, including many up do's and formal hair styles. Low yearly fee. Grecian Up-Style This style is best suited for longer haired girls (at least 2 inches past the shoulder if straight, shoulder length or longer if naturally curly). Prom Hair How many do's can you do? Some thoughts about prom hairstyles. Virtual Prom Hairstyles Try prom hairstyles on a photo of yourself. About Prom Hairstyles A forum to discuss and post pictures of your prom hairstyles. Beauty Wish Updos, formal hairstyles, upstyles, styles for prom and weddings. Best Promdresses Prom hair and make-up tips and tricks and prom dresses. Hair by Gia Hair stylist in Dallas, Texas. Pictures of prom and homecoming hairdos. Just for Looks Salon Prom hairstyles for long, medium and short hair done by this salon in North carolina. LJ Styles Pictures of prom updo's. Mary's Hair Design Hairstyles for brides and updo's. Good ideas for prom hair. Special hairstyles for special occasions. Photos of her own work. Prom Hairstyles.net Choose from different prom styles: tiara prom hairstyles, formal prom hairstyles, short hair prom hairstyles, long hair prom hairstyles. Stellure 3D Hairstyle Software Try on hairstyles on a 3D image of yourself. 2Promhairstyles.com Wedding hairstyles, prom hairstyles and formal hair styles. Link to us Privacy Statement Disclaimer ©NetservePlus

Hair Styles

Laser Hair Removal Forum & Information Find A Specialist Learn About Hair Removal News Message Board Links Gift Certificates Laser Hair Removal Forum Hello! Get ready to experience the excitingly hassle-free world of hair removal (laser hair removal). We have created this site to share information about laser hair removal, permanent hair reduction , and the various alternatives . We want you to have a forum where you can post your experiences and questions, and also meet people from all over who share your interest. Read their personal stories of how they have suffered with unwanted hair and how they were able to cosmetically and emotionally overcome their situation, finally pinning down a satisfactory solution to their problem. We think you'll gain great insight from the open and lively discussion in the forum. You are also sure to benefit from the helpful how-to information we've provided on smart shopping for laser approaches and systems. Developing your research with this helpful information should help you learn if hair removal by laser is right for you. Take things a step further with the “ am I a good candidate ” quiz, and develop an understanding of how industry specialists match up candidates with technologies. Also included here is an entire section of specialists around the country, so use all of our other great features to delve into your research and then use your new knowledge and the listing section to find practitioners in your locale. Fun and interesting facts are collected throughout this research tool, including the social views of and attitudes toward hair or the lack of it. Words like "development," "advancement" and, especially, "change" can sometimes spawn fear, but the results they produce are often looked at in retrospect with relief and awe. Learn how a technology or system has changed our expectations and our own personal landscape - making it smoother than ever before. This site is for you. We aim to provide every reader with the most beneficial information and research assistance, and ultimately hope to lead you toward the best personal choices and stellar results. We always welcome constructive criticism or just general tips on how we can help you have the most beneficial and educational visitor experience. Post any suggestion in our forum section . If you'd like to volunteer to moderate a forum please email us at info@hairremovalforum.com . -- Laser Hair Specialist Finder I am continually evaluating and adding certified and suggested physicians to offer this procedure in your area. Find a physician close to you...or if you know a good one...recommend them to me here. Otherwise, see our doctor finder for centers in your area >> -- Featured Specialist Sona Laser Centers Tired of pesky unwanted hair? Bothered by the skin damage that comes with an active lifestyle? The professionals at Sona Laser Centers can smooth over all your skin problems with state-of-the-art technology that ensures the best results for your unique skin and hair type. Sona's laser hair removal treatments are performed by RNs, under physician supervision. Visit them for other great low-downtime skin treatments like microdermabrasion. Sona Laser Centers offers competitive prices and consultations are free. Sona Laser Centers - North Bethesda, MD Sona Laser Centers - Fairfax, VA Research and further reading: FDA Information about laser hair removal Directory of Laser Hair Removal Sites Open Directory hair removal listings Partner in Laser and SkinCare: Advanced Laser Clinics American Association of Dermatology re: laser hair removal For Plastic Surgeons and other Cosmetic Procedures, please visit our sister site: Plastic Surgery Portal Send this page to a friend From: To: Add a Note: Holiday Gift Ideas Laser Topics Are you a candidate? Technology and Information What body parts does this work on? For men Bikini line hair removal Facial hair removal Body hair removal Permanent hair removal Cost & prices Choosing a center/doctor What to look for in a center Laser Manufacturers Methods to Remove Hair Hair removal by laser Electrolysis Waxing ©2003 HAIRREMOVALFORUM All Rights Reserved 888-517-4187 Signature Specialists

Hair extensions, once the

Scotsman.com Leisure & Lifestyle - Health & Beauty - Headlines Search | Site map Jobs | Property | Motors | Dating | Money Scotsman.com websites News Sport Business The Scotsman Scotland on Sunday Edinburgh Evening News Dating Jobs Motors Property Travel Business Finder Member Centre Web Feeds Media Pack Site Help Digital Archive 1817-1950 Photo Gallery Reader Holidays Scotsman Calendar Money Fantasy Golf Haggis Hunt Edinburgh Festivals Entertainment Heritage & Culture Leisure Weather Webcams Log in Register now - free! Member Centre Outdoors Health and Beauty Drugs Living Dating Relationships Families and Pets Food and Drink House and Garden Leisure and Lifestyle > Health & Beauty > Headlines The long locks friend It’s the look of the moment. But a peasant blouse worn with low-slung jeans and cowboy boots just won’t work with a bob or an urchin haircut. The hair is key and no ordinary hair will do. It has to be long sensuous flowing locks. Big hair - but not in a J.Lo Oscars way - is what summer fashion calls for. Few of us have long enough tresses to make the look work. But there is a way - a way that just wouldn’t have been available five years ago. Then, you would have had to brave the split ends and buy a hat as you laboriously grew out that rashly chosen crop. And then you’d have had to get through the terrible mullet stage, which - unaccountably - can last for months. These days, getting long-haired glamour could not be simpler. Hair extensions, once the sole preserve of wealthy celebs, are now widely available. There are a number of choices, from those made of real hair that can be waxed or sewn into your own locks - a process which is expensive, costing upwards of £130 for a "do" which might last only a day - to cheaper options, including clip-on ponytails, which are available in many high street stores. Someone who has been unable to resist the look du jour is It girl, Normandie Keith, who has gone for the long and luscious look, courtesy of a braiding technique on to which the extensions are sewn. She loves her new mane. "I left the salon in a burst of excitement, feeling like a child with a new toy," she says. "I was furiously swishing my hair back and forth, and almost knocked out an innocent pedestrian in my wake." Gillian Watt, a stylist at Medusa salon in Teviot Row, Edinburgh, counsels against a full head of extensions - à la Posh Spice at her career relaunch - in favour of a few choice attachments. "Looking after a lot of extensions can be really difficult and often the look is not what the client wanted at all," she says. "So we would suggest just lengthening the fringe or adding a few highlighted pieces." The Medusa salon uses monofibre extensions rather than real hair. They are fixed on to the hair using a heat gun which does not itself come in contact with your own crowing glory. "Clients must have a full head of healthy hair and a healthy scalp for the process to work," Watt explains. "And it can be more complex than people first think." It can take two trained staff a whole day to attach a full head of extensions - hence the expense. A small company in East Lothian has gone for the new "affordable hair extension" market, with considerable success. Hairdresser Anne Wilson set up her own business, I Love Hair, after being disappointed by the products that were available. "Over the past few years the demand for hair extensions has grown hugely," she says. "I was often asked for extensions and found it impossible to get good quality products that looked natural. After a great deal of research, I decided to design my own range. They are easy to attach and I have strived to provide the highest quality, texture and colour. These products are fun and very practical, for women of all ages." Those who balk at the idea of pinning something unnatural to their heads should consider the invisibility of the superior product. Celebrities who have used extensions to enhance their look without being obvious include Anthea Turner, who sported the clip-on version for her wedding to Grant Bovey, former Big Breakfast presenter Kelly Brook, who made her full hair even bigger for a new catalogue, and Jane Horrocks, who has given her fine locks a bit of oomph. And stars as diverse as Anna Friel, Amanda Holden, Julia Sawalha and Melinda Messenger are rumoured to have used extensions for premieres. Hair extensions do not have universal approval. Two girls from Essex who had their hair braided with blonde extensions like Zoe Birkett of Pop Idol fame were kept away from school after their head teacher branded their locks "a distraction". Birkett was allowed to wear her hair extensions at Carmel RC College in Darlington, where she was an A-level student before she became a star. But the school which restricted the look may have had a point. For hair extensions transform not only the look, but the personality. Friends star Jennifer Aniston used them to help create her character in Rock Star and, more dramatically, Katie Price would not have become topless model Jordan without them. She has become as famous for her blonde dreads as her other assets. The fun thing about hair extensions today is that they are not necessarily the sole preserve of the young. Hollywood celebrities of all ages have resorted to hairpieces to boost their tresses at key photo opportunities. Ursula Andress and Elizabeth Taylor are both fans of the technique. Joan Collins has become known for her love of different styles and is rumoured to wear a wig almost permanently. One of her greatest indulgences is custom-made wigs which cost anything upwards of £1,000. She recently revealed she wears longer styles when in love because the locks brushing against her neck and shoulders make her feel more sensuous. Of course, when it goes wrong the results are spectacularly awful. Who can forget teen pop sensation Christina Aguilera, who turned heads, for all the wrong reasons, with her crown of blonde braids. Her look, devised to coincide with her re-recording of Lady Marmalade with Pink and Lil’ Kim, drew gasps of astonishment when combined with an unflattering corset and suspenders. A frizzy mane at the Blockbuster Awards was equally shocking (as in, she looked as if 20,000 volts had passed through her system). Style crime Geri Halliwell WHEN Liza Minelli wore a bowler hat in Cabaret she created an image that sold the film. When Geri Halliwall plonked one on her head she just looked a bit daft, part Laurel and Hardy, part Chaplin. But mainly a right Charlie. And what’s with the pants? Does that girl not own a pair of trousers, or is she simply too lazy to bother putting them on in the morning. Yes, yes we know you’ve shed lots of weight, dear, but you’ve misplaced your charm as well. Oh for that big-bosomed, larger-than-life girl who stole the show at every Spice Girls concert - not through talent but that natural va va voom that caused every camera lens to zoom in on her. She had style, she was a cartoon brought to life to send up the very thing she was. A true modern-day Betty Boop, with her cheeky, Prince Charles-bottom-pinching ways, platform shoes that brought her almost to eyelevel with the rest of the population and figure-hugging dresses designed to keep us transfixed. Now she’s found intensive yoga and lost her sense of humour, so all that’s left is for us to laugh at her. Wednesday, 17th April 2002 The Scotsman Running, it seems, can jog your memory Flat streets bad for pedestrians' health Heart attack tests for all over the age of 40 Dark chocolate may cut heart disease risks top home Health & Beauty Welcome Health Beauty Style Getting Fit Alternative Health Ask the Doctor Agony Aunt

hair removal Basic facts

Hairfacts: Laser hair removal com mercial-free hair removal facts for consumers Keep this site reader supported! Home Methods Lasers D I R E C T O R Y Home Methods Search "Permanent" * Electrolysis * Home electro * Laser * Flashlamp/IPL * Combinations * * see note Hair inhibitors Rx oral meds Vaniqa Temporary Shaving Depilatories Friction Tweezing Waxing Sugaring Threading Rotary epilators Doubtful Electric tweezer Transdermal Transcutaneous Photoepilators Microwaves Dietary products Herbal inhibitors Other topics How to choose Tips Clinical data Manufacturers Regulation Info sources Scams Ripped off? FAQ Glossary Site info Feedback Laser hair removal Basic facts Some consumers have experienced permanent hair reduction, but there is limited data on how long hair reduction usually lasts, how much hair reduction is typical, and how often permanent hair reduction occurs. Description Light at a specified wavelength is delivered from a handpiece into the skin, where it targets dark material (usually the pigment in hair). This is intended to cause thermal and/or mechanical damage to a hair follicle while sparing surrounding tissues. Advantages Some consumers have experienced long-lasting hair removal or permanent hair reduction. Considered safe if performed properly. Useful for large areas such as backs or legs. Regrowth can come back lighter in color or finer in texture. Light-skinned consumers with dark hair have the best results. Disadvantages Long-term data on safety and effectiveness have not been accurately established. Response rates have not been established. Regrowth rates have not been accurately established and cannot be predicted due to numerous variables. Generally not as effective on unpigmented (gray) hairs and red or blonde hair. Must be used very cautiously (if at all) on darker skin tones or on consumers who tan themselves. Improper treatment can cause burns, lesions, skin discoloration lasting several months, or patchy/patterned regrowth. Recent data suggest other skin structures are often affected by laser irradiation, and long term effects of this constitute an unknown risk. Requires eye protection. Can be expensive. Some find treatment painful. Regulation varies by state, so inadequate controls exist to ensure competent practitioners. Some consumers, even ideal candidates, do not respond to treatment. Quack claims "Painless" or "virtually painless" While many clients tolerate laser without requiring pain relief, it's overpromise to state that treatment will be painless for all consumers. "Permanent hair removal" or "100% permanent" or "permanent" Some consumers experience permanent reduction of treated hair over the course of treatment, but published studies have observed that many consumers are not good candidates, and even ideal candidates with light skin and dark hair do not always respond to treatment. See the page on permanent hair reduction below. "Guaranteed 0% regrowth" There is no published clinical data to substantiate this sort of overpromise. "Laser electrolysis" or "lasertrolysis" These quack marketing terms are used to blur important distinctions between laser and electrolysis effectiveness. Laser has several advantages over electrolysis, and vice versa. Terms like these only confuse consumers. "Light years ahead of electrolysis" This quack marketing term suggests that laser is better than electrolysis for consumers, but this is not always the case. Other laser pages in this section Due to the complicated issues surrounding this hair removal method, I have divided this into several sections. If you're researching a specific laser type or issue, you can go right to that topic. For a more thorough review, I recommend reading the pages in order. Background: terms and concepts History and current issues Lasers organized by type, manufacturer, and model "Permanent hair reduction": what it means Clinical data overview Nd:YAG Ruby Alexandrite Diode How to choose a laser practitioner Pain management tips Was this helpful? This free site is reader-supported. Donate or subscribe today! Still have questions? Ask them at my free HairTell hair removal forum! 1996-2005 Andrea James. All rights reserved. Legal Info / Terms of Use Revised 21 April, 2002 .