How to Maintain Laser Hair Removal Results?
Body hair serves several important purposes, one of which is to help us regulate body temperature. Hair removal is equally important. By removing body hair, you can improve your personal hygiene, smell better, look better, and improve athletic performance.
Sadly, too many people rely on razors to remove body hair. Shaving causes all sorts of problems, such as nicks and cuts. Who needs that?
Laser hair removal is more comfortable than shaving and the results last longer. By using a high-powered laser to heat and destroy hair follicles at their roots, you can enjoy smooth, hair-free skin for months or even years.
The ideal candidates for laser hair removal have lighter skin and darker hair. The contrast between skin and hair helps the lasers target the necessary follicles for supreme results.
Once the hair is removed, maintaining it becomes as easy as scheduling a follow-up appointment with your med-spa technician.
In this post, we are going to discuss a few hair removal grooming habits of both men and women, the process for hair removal, and how to maintain your results once the hair has been lasered away.
By the end, you should be ready to schedule a laser hair removal appointment, which can be accomplished by calling Moein Surgical Arts to book a discrete meeting with world-renowned cosmetic surgeon Doctor Babak Moein. Dial (310)694-4486 to get started.
How Do Men and Women Remove Their Body Hair?
To identify the ways men and women groom hair, we turn to a survey of 104 men and women that spanned genders, sexualities, and ages. That survey found that only six went au naturel (didn’t shave, wax, or laser any body hair away). The rest engaged in some method of body hair removal.
92% of women shaved, waxed, or lasered their armpits or legs and 84% of all participants removed their pubic hair in some form.
The survey also showed that 18% of women groomed daily, 26% removed hair once or twice per week and 42% did so every two weeks at most.
For the men, 78% of those surveyed removed hair from their face/beard region, 60% from their pubic region, and 23% from their armpits (some of them do so only in the summer because of excess sweat concerns). Only 5% removed hair from their backs while 5% focused on their heads. The majority of men (58%) were groomed once or twice per week. The rest are groomed daily or every two weeks (13% each respectively).
None of the men surveyed admitted to using laser hair removal while only 9% of women mentioned med-spa lasers as their preferred grooming method. The majority (50% for men and 55% for women) admitted to shaving as their preferred hair removal technique.
Why don’t more men and women laser the hair away? Perhaps they are not educated on the method of laser hair removal. More would probably undergo the technique if they knew just how useful and cost-effective it can be. We’ll discuss those facts a bit later.
Where Should Men Remove Hair
Men’s grooming habits have changed throughout history. Beards have recently come back into style but the same can’t be said for chest hair. Having a full mat of hair on the chest was once seen as a sign of manliness. Today, not so much.
It is important to dispel the myth that laser hair removal is a female-oriented med-spa treatment. The fact is many men can benefit from laser hair removal the same as women.
Men may want to increase their sports performance while others may want to show off their tattoos or hard-earned muscles. Then there are the men who want body hair removed just because.
The most common areas of hair removal for men include:
Face/Neck
While many men prefer to sport a beard these days, some men may want to undergo laser hair removal on the areas of their faces they usually shave to keep their beards trimmed and in good condition. Even men who wear beards may want to keep their necks hair-free to avoid the “neckbeard” look.
Back
Men with hairy backs have a difficult time removing the hair by themselves. Laser hair removal can get rid of that hair for long periods of time.
Chest
Having chest hair removed with lasers allows for a cleaner profile, particularly when wearing V-necks and other low-cut shirts. Chest hair removal also increases muscular definition, allowing you to show off your hard-earned pecs.
Legs
Men who swim and cycle might want to laser their leg hair away to reduce drag while giving them an advantageous boost over the competition.
Armpits
Women are accustomed to shaving their armpits, but men usually leave the body hair alone. Lately, it has become fashionable for men to remove this hair as an excellent way to reduce body odor, sweat, and heat retention.
Buttocks
Having a hairy butt puts men in the same position as those with a hairy back. How are you going to remove that body hair all on your own? Laser hair removal does the trick and can even get inside the butt crack, which can reduce hygienic concerns like butt sweat and dingleberries.
Groin
Being the most sensitive area of the body, laser hair removal is preferable to razors when it comes to removing groin hair. Doing so can reduce sweating and body odor in that region. Some men also end up feeling more confident with their groin hair removed.
Women’s Preferred Body Hair Removal Areas
Women have been removing body hair for beauty purposes since Ancient Egypt (3,000 BCE).
In America, Women removing body hair on their arms became popular in the first decades of the 20th century as sleeveless dresses became en vogue. Harper’s Bazaar was the first women’s magazine to run a campaign dedicated to the removal of underarm hair, which named it a “necessity.”
Shorter hemlines in the 30s and 40s caused more American women to begin shaving their legs. This same trend led to more female consumers trimming and shaping their pubic areas. These trends have continued through the years with Playboy popularizing lingerie and, ultimately, shaved legs, as a new standard of sexiness.
Most people are aware that pubic hair shaving wasn’t all that common in the 60s and 70s. But that changed with the popularity of the Brazilian wax which started to become popular in the late 80s and early 90s.
And while there is a growing trend of women letting all their body hair grow, most women are still into grooming their arms, legs, underarms, and pubic regions.
Face
Many women request that hair be removed from their upper lips and chins, especially as they grow older.
Arms and Underarms
Shaving and waxing the arms and underarms can be painful. Laser hair removal doesn’t produce ingrown hairs or prickly skin and can last much longer than the shaving and waxing alternatives.
Legs
Shaving in the shower requires a ballerina’s balance at times. Even shaving your legs in the tub can be awkward. Laser hair removal on the legs produces longer-lasting results, giving you leg skin that is always hair-free and smooth.
Bikini Area
Removing pubic hair can be a pain for women who don’t want to resemble a full-grown chia pet. Experts advise you to take a warm shower or bath, exfoliate, apply pre-shaving oil, apply shaving cream, shave, rinse, and cleanse the area. What a pain in the ahem, especially if you manage to develop ingrown hairs.
Laser hair removal can keep all of these areas hair-free for women. Many women report that removing their hair makes them feel cleaner and more feminine.
Preparing for Your First Laser Hair Removal Appointment
Prior to arriving at your initial appointment, your med-spa technician will advise you to shave the area 24 hours beforehand. The closer the shave, the easier the hair can be removed at the root level. You should refrain from wearing makeup, lotion, or deodorant on the day of your appointment and avoid drinking more than two alcoholic beverages within 24 hours of your laser hair removal session.
Read our article: Laser Hair Removal Facts & Information by a Board-Certified Specialist in Los Angeles, California
During Laser Hair Removal
Before starting the session, the area to be treated will be thoroughly cleansed before a numbing gel is applied to minimize discomfort. The gel takes between thirty and sixty minutes to take effect. Once the area is fully numb, the laser session will begin.
Everyone in the room with the laser hair removal equipment must wear specialized eye protection. The technician starts by holding the skin taught before applying the laser directly to the hair follicles.
The laser emits a light that is absorbed by melanin (pigment) in the hair. The light energy gets converted to heat, which damages the hair follicles that produce new hairs. The damage inhibits or delays hair growth in the future.
What Does Laser Hair Removal Feel Like?
The warm laser pulses tend to feel like pinpricks. Some people describe the sensation as that of a rubber band being snapped against the skin.
The laser vaporizes the hair follicles, causing plumes of smoke that smell like sulfur. The session duration depends on the size of the area being treated. For large areas such as the back or legs, a single session may last up to an hour or more.
After the Laser Hair Removal Appointment
Redness and bumps are normal following laser hair removal. The area should be cleansed gently in the days following the treatment. You may notice some hairs after the removal, but dead hairs will begin to shed between five and thirty days following your appointment. You are encouraged to exfoliate your skin to speed up the level of hair shedding.
Stay out of direct sunlight for at least three days, do not use a self-tanner for at least two weeks, and avoid waxing, tweezing, or threading in any of the treatment areas for at least four weeks.
How Many Laser Hair Removal Treatments Are Usually Needed?
Once the hair is removed, the number of follow-up treatments required depends on you. A single appointment will get rid of up to 90% of your body hair from any given treatment area. Most men and women require a series of six to eight treatments to remove all the hair and keep it gone for good. These appointments should be spaced between four and eight weeks apart. This will keep the skin smooth. While laser hair removal is considered long-lasting, there are rare cases where new hair growth appears. These follow-up appointments will keep your skin silky and hair-free for months or even years to come.
Are There Side Effects to Laser Hair Removal?
Following a laser session, you may experience discomfort, swelling, and skin redness for up to three days. Rare side effects include blistering, cold sores outbreaks, infections, scarring, and skin lightening or darkening. You can minimize the chances of extreme side effects by choosing your laser technician carefully.
The Best Part About Laser Hair Removal Maintenance
Shaving and waxing body hair can hurt. What’s more, both methods can be downright expensive. While laser hair removal isn’t necessarily cheap, the med-spa technique will save you a ton of money in the long run.
Keeping your skin hair-free with lasers requires a larger up-front investment. But just think: You won’t have to spend money on razors, shaving gel, and constant waxing appointments.
Over time, laser hair removal sessions pay for themselves, and the results tend to be superior to every other hair removal method we just mentioned.
Schedule an Appointment for Laser Hair Removal in Los Angeles
Laser hair removal produces excellent results and pays for itself over time. What you may not know is that laser hair removal can be dangerous in inexperienced hands. To achieve hair-free skin and remain safe under the laser’s glare, make sure you schedule a med-spa appointment with a seasoned professional.
Doctor Babak Moein of Moein Surgical Arts is one such professional. Doctor Moein is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon and has decades of experience with both surgical and non-surgical aesthetic techniques, such as laser hair removal.
During the initial consultation with Doctor Moein, you can discuss your hair removal goals, the benefits of laser hair removal, and the risks of the procedure. You can also receive a detailed quote for the first and follow-up maintenance appointments and receive information for medical financing if needed.
How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of laser hair removal is $389.
Ready to learn more? Do you want hair-free skin without having to worry about razors, shaving gel, or waxing?
To get started, call Moein Surgical Arts and ask about laser hair removal by Southern California’s premier laser removal expert by dialing (310)694-4486.
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