Shaving your legs is one of the worst things you can do to yourself. If you are someone pressed for time, then you should definitely look into at-home hair removal options that uses pulsed light to remove hair from underneath your skin, unlike shaving that only removes it from the top layer of your skin. Lasers use heat to break down dark pigment in the hair follicle and with consistent use it can also prevent future growth.
But before you try at-home hair removal, you need to know the following things.
It pays for itself over the years
Many people choose to go for monthly waxing or professional laser treatment because it appears to be less in terms in cost. However, buying a machine is just a one-time expense that will pay for itself over the years by saving you money on hair removal sessions.
Buy lasers that are specific to skin color
If you are planning to buy an in-home laser removal device, then you should match it with color of your hair. If you have a complexion deeper than medium skin tone, then the pulsed light will not be able to distinguish between your skin color and dark hair. At the same time, if you are severely blond, then the device may not be able to pinpoint your hair against your skin, making you a poor candidate for it.
It is a time-consuming process
You would need at least up to eight sessions to allow your hair to fall out naturally before the growth cycle. You would need to treat this area for at least two weeks before you can see promising results.
It can be painful
It actually depends a lot on your tolerance for pain but some areas like your armpits can cause a bit of pain like someone’s pinching you over and over again. However, the good thing is that you will be able to get better results due to higher intensity levels. So if you want to reach your desired results quicker, then don’t wait to take eight sessions. You can get that done sooner if you can adjust to the sensation. At the same time, you need to realize that some body parts will hurt than the others. Bony areas such as shins and ankles will be more painful and will hurt a lot more compared to areas that have more cushion. This happens because skin closest to the bone area is thinner, making it more difficult to treat.
Avoid using it in the bikini area
Even though it is obvious, it cannot be stressed enough that the at-home hair removal devices should not be used in the bikini areas. This is because the skin down below is extra sensitive so the bikini line area is a strict no-no.
Don’t use it on your upper lip area either
Just like your bikini area, your upper lip region is equally sensitive. Unlike waxing or shaving that removes hair from the root or trim them, lasers target the hair follicle at the skin’s surface.
The results may not always be permanent
Once you get laser hair removal, the results may not be permanent and you may be required to get some touch-ups afterward. You may notice a few stray hair growing after a year of treatment which can be easily popped with the help of the device.
Now that you know what to expect from you at home hair removal treatments, here are some benefits of IPL hair removal at Home.
- It is extremely safe: Hair removal procedure performed by IPL machine delivers short burst of laser light to the treatment area that sends scattered wavelengths of diffused light. It works better than the regular laser treatment that is concentrated in one area and may end up damaging or burning the skin. Thanks to its non-invasive nature, you would not require anesthesia, incisions, stiches or anything that causes bleeding. At the same time, it is also less risky than waxing or shaving your hair.
- It is highly effective: With regular use, you will be able to permanently remove or eliminate the hair growth in the treatment area. This type of hair removal method is most effective on darker or coarser hair. The light emitted by the device penetrates deep within the skin and targets melanin. Once the light reaches the hair root, it heats up the hair shaft and destroys the follicle that is responsible for hair growth, all this without touching the surrounding tissue.
- Few side effects: Other than slight pain or stinging, you wont experience obvious side effects such as bruising, swelling, irritation, scaling etc.
Now that you know all there is to know about at-home laser treatments, you can now make a wise choice!