Guest Post: The Pro's and Con's of Laser Hair Removal

I was diagnosed Hashimotos Disease, which led to hypothyroidism in my late 20s.  And, one of the most unsightly symptoms of my disease was hair growth on my face.
For many years I did what I could to avoid looking like a monkey: hair bleaching, waxing, and threading.  All of which were uncomfortable and temporary.  Not to mention costly!
Thankfully times have changed, and there are more resources now than ever before.  One of which is laser hair removal.  
So, when I was approached by Carlo, who actively blogs for Tria Beauty – one of the UK’s leading providers of professional, light-based skincare solutions for use at home, to share his insight about laser hair removal, I said yes!

"Laser hair removal offers undoubted benefits to women.  As a permanent solution it is considered to be highly effective and can relieve you from shaving or waxing duties for good.  But is laser treatment for everybody, how does it work and what are the pros and cons?" - Carlo

How Lasers Work Lasers utilises the power of light to disable hair follicles in their growth stage.  Laser technology is designed to emit light at certain frequencies which affects specific targets.  In the case of hair removal the target is melanin, the dark pigment in hair and skin.  By adjusting the frequency, and wavelength, of the light emitted a laser specifically targets the melanin in hair and should leave skin undamaged.  Hairs that are in the growth cycle will fall out as usual, but as the growth cells have been disabled, regrowth does not occur.  The main problem with laser hair treatment is that is not suitable for a specific range of skin and hair colours.  Dark hair and lighter skin is the most suitable, although the range of colours/tones is broad enough to include darker olive tones. 
The Pros

• After each treatment hair will gradually fall out over a two week period.  This hair will not re-grow .  Over a period of time the re-growth cycle on all hairs treated is broken and hair should no longer grow at all.  In some cases a top up treatment may be required.  The laser treatment process leaves you with permanently reduced hair and removes the need for shaving and waxing.
• With some treatments, specifically electrolysis, it’s usually helpful to shave a few days in advance to identify the hairs in their growth stage – both laser and electrolysis treatments are at their most effective on growing hair.  Laser hair removal treatment recommends you to shave for a more effective treatment. 
• Laser and electrolysis both require a series of sessions, but in the case of laser treatment larger areas of hair can be treated in one go, making the process much quicker and number of sessions fewer.  Depending on the area to be treated, electrolysis can take up to two years to be effective, laser treatments typically last up to six – eight months for extensive areas of treatment, and much less for small areas.

The Cons

• Generally laser treatment is a risk free process for those with the correct skin types.  In the past some scarring or blistering was a side effect but safety features and systems have been built into laser devices and these have reduced the risks.
• Cost is probably the biggest single factor that bars many people from using laser treatments.  Ranging from £30 per session for a simple treatment – the upper lip for example – to several hundred per session for larger areas, laser treatment has not been a budget option.  Today home laser devices are available at excellent prices, which offer a long term, affordable solution for any budget.  Tria laser reviews have indicated high success rates in a short period and users are generally very pleased with the investment. 
• Treatment time varies depending on the area to be treated, and needs to be spaced over several months.  For women busy with homes, children and careers, fitting in the sessions can be a challenge and for effective permanent hair removal all sessions need to be completed.  This particular con has also been limited with the introduction of the home hair removal laser, which allows treatments to be undertaken at your convenience and in the comfort and privacy of your own home.  
• Permanent hair removal has, until now, been a time consuming and costly business.  With the introduction of a range of products offering permanent hair removal at home, more women than ever before are able to finally bin those razors for good.

I hope that Carlo's insight helps you make a more informed decision about your options in hair removal.
Your's in health - and beauty!