Laser hair removal is a popular method for removing unwanted body hair. It uses light energy to target and destroy hair follicles, which causes them to stop growing. The process takes anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours depending on the areas being treated. However, it can be costly as it often means going to a salon, and depending on the areas you want treated, getting naked.
That is where the alternatives can be great for people such as yourself. So firstly we will go through what is laser hair removal, its pros and cons, and then explore the alternatives.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is one of the most common methods used to remove unwanted body hair, especially facial hair. It involves using a laser beam to heat up the hair follicle, causing it to die off. It’s typically used to treat areas such as the legs, underarms, bikini area, face, chest, and back. This treatment is usually performed by a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or other medical professional as the laser intensity can be dangerous if not handled properly.
The Pros & Cons of Laser Hair Removal
There are several advantages to laser hair removal, such as its effectiveness, speed, and minimal downtime. However, there are also some disadvantages, such as possible side effects, pain, scarring, redness, swelling, bruising, and itching. If these symptoms occur, stop using the treatment immediately and consult your doctor.
The Alternatives
As the treament is not suitable for everyone, alternatives have become available.
1. Waxing
Commonly known as a quick way to remove hair, it involves melting wax, spreading it across your skin, applying a cloth, and then ripping it off. Besides it being effective, it can be very painful as all the hair is being pulled from your skin all at once. Add to this you are ripping the top layer of your skin off, it can lead to irritation, and worse... many ingrown hairs
2. Shaving
Works well, involving creams and razor blades, however it will lead to heavy dark stubble, possible redness and potentially shaving rashes. Essentially, the skin can be smooth, but only for hours before stubble could occur.
3. Epilator
Effective, but extremely painful. As the epilator runs across your skin, it latches on to your hair and rips it from your body. This can lead to irritation, ingrown hairs, and it is extremely painful and time consuming. Also, because of how it works, many hairs can be missed leading to an uneven smoothness across your skin, or having to go over the same spot again and again, consuming more time.
4. Depilatory Cream
This is a chemical approach, often using very harsh and potentially corrosive chemcials to attack and destroy the hair. The problem is though, is that it also attacks your skin, removing the top layer of your skin and potentially leaving it open for infection. Especially if you have a cut. The skin can also loose sensitivity, and you could get a chemical burn.
5. IPL Hair Removal
The best one of the bunch. It does not pull your hair out, it does not involve chemicals, and it is less intense than laser. IPL stands for intense pulsed light and involves strong light flashes on your skin that targets and removes your unwanted hair. It is quick fast and safe to use at home. So unlike laser hair removal, you do not need to go to a salon. And after about 6 sessions you will notice a 70% reduction in your unwanted hair.
The Alternatives Comparison
| Treatment | Pros & Cons | Star Rating |
| Laser Hair Removal | Fast, intense, and effective. It can burn, cause irritation, scarring and more. |
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| Waxing | Fast and effective. Painful and removes the top layer of your skin. Can cause ingrown hairs and irritation |
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| Shaving | Fast. Ineffective at long term results, causes stubble, and potential shaving rashes |
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| Epilator | Slow and painful. Very time consuming as it plucks each individual hair out. Painful and can create uneven smoothness from missed hairs |
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| Depilatory Cream | Fast and chemical. If left too long can cause chemical burns and attacks the top layer of the skin leading to potential infection. |
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| IPL | Fast, less intense than laser, and effective. It is safe to use at home and reduces your unwanted hair permanently |
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Out of all of the hair removal treatments, IPL achieves the highest ranking with 5 stars, because it is the best solution for at-home, fast, easy to use, and provides lasting results without potentially hurting your skin.
So if you want long-lasting smooth and sexier skin, get your IPL from the Zipple shop. The IPL E-Flash comes in 5 beautiful colours, from apple green, mint, coral, navy blue, and lilac. SAVE on our bundles with free delivery.
