Waxing vs. Laser Hair Removal

Unsightly and unwanted hair is one of my major beauty concerns. It is so un-ladylike to have hair on your legs and face because it detracts from your over-all appeal even if you take extra care to dress nice. Waxing is painful, yes, but in time you get used to it. My first brazilian wax was one such experience.

My friend introduced me to it and I think she got a good laugh at my expense. We have since referred our other friends (we call them "victims") to Ate Kare of Maty's and have gotten discounts on treatments. Ate Kare is a professional, she has been doing waxing for 10 years now and her clients are many, a few are models. We have become good friends.

Underarm Laser Hair Removal

Since I am currently getting underarm laser hair removal treatments at Facial Care Center, I've only done waxing on my legs, arms and face. Facial Care also offers laser hair removal on the bikina area, they can also do a brazilian. I chose to get a Laserlite program for the underarms along with whitening treatments. For unwanted hair on other parts of the body, I need to have it waxed in the salon. Let me tell you then what are the benefits of salon waxing and laser hair removal and how they differ.

Benefits of Waxing

There are many benefits to waxing versus other forms of hair removal. It is an effective method to remove large amounts of hair at one time and it is long-lasting. Hair in waxed areas will not grow back for two to eight weeks and areas that are repeatedly waxed over long periods of time often exhibit regrowth that is softer. If waxing is done regularly for several years, permanent hair reduction may be achieved. The drawback is that it can be painful when the strip is removed from the skin. Although the pain is short-lasting, it can be very uncomfortable.

There are two methods of waxing. The first, called strip wax, is accomplished by spreading wax thinly over the skin and a cloth or paper strip is then pressed on the top then ripped off with a quick movement against the direction of hair growth (think "40 year old Virgin"). This removes the wax along with the hair. The other method uses hard wax. In this case, the wax is applied somewhat thickly and with no cloth or paper strips. The wax then hardens when it cools, thus allowing the easy removal without the aid of cloths. This waxing method is very beneficial to people who have sensitive skin. For more easier waxing, apply baby powder first on the area before waxing as it makes the hair adhere to the wax.

Drawbacks of Waxing

There are drawbacks to waxing as well. When removed against the direction of hair growth, the wax strip may disturb hair follicles, causing hair to begin to grow in different directions. This may cause hair growth to be more noticeable and make other methods of hair removal more difficult. Fortunately, this risk is negligible if the waxing is performed properly. Another drawback of waxing is that some people experience ingrown hairs, red bumps and minor bleeding. This is more likely to occur when waxing areas with thick hair, especially the first few times when follicles are strongest. While usually impossible to eliminate, ingrown hairs can be reduced by regularly exfoliating and applying an astringent or a solution of both astringent and baby oil.

Laser hair removal, on the other hand, does away with having to go to the salon. Laser hair removal is painless, safe and permanent and can be done on any part of the body such as underarms, legs, bikini lines and upper lip. The light emitted from the laser vaporizes the pigment located in the hair follicles, destroying or disabling several hair follicles at a time. It works better on Asian skin than Caucasians because Asians generally have thicker hair because of the melanin content. Because it offers long-lasting results, it can be quite expensive because one needs at least 6 sessions of laser treatments to get the desired result.

Waxing vs. Laser Hair Removal - Results

The choice between having unwanted hair waxed or zapped into non-existence depends on the area you want treated. Almost any area of the body can be waxed, including eyebrows, face, bikini area, legs, arms, back, abdomen and feet. Laser hair removal, on the other hand, can only be done of large areas of the body. What's important is maintenance. Always make sure you book an appointment with the salon regularly.

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