Want Less Hair? Find Out If Laser Hair Removal Is Your Jam

The struggle is real when you feel like you’re chasing that smooth, just shaved feeling especially during the summer. It can turn into a daily chore in the shower for both men and women. One remedy for this hairy concern is laser hair removal, but is it worth it?

There is a definite cost difference between individual waxing sessions, the cost of razors, and laser hair sessions. Offhand, you’d think that shaving would be less expensive due to the fact that the cost of razors and other shaving accessories is low. When you compile these costs over a lifetime they really start to add up. A survey done by American Laser Centers found that women remove unwanted hair by shaving or other means for an average of 53.6 years of their lives. During that time shaving costs will add up to around $10,207, depilatory creams around $10,555, and waxing costs tally up to a whopping $23,000! Armed with that information, laser hair removal can save an average of $7000 on areas that are typically shaved. Did you know if you invested that $7000 with a 7.03% interest rate today, over the next 20 years it would become $27,000! There might be more upfront money but more long-term advantages both in the money in your pocket and reduction of overall hair. 

Less hair is amazing but after talking to a lot of patients about the option of laser hair removal, one thing I’ve noticed is that there seems to be some misinformation about the patient’s overall commitment to the treatments. It takes at least four to six treatments every four to eight weeks to get to a desirable endpoint. This is just an average and will vary greatly by the general density of the follicles, how much pigment each hair has, and the color of the surrounding skin. With that said, waxing is a consistent monthly visit to a salon for as long as you want that hair gone. Think of laser hair removal as an investment and a lifestyle choice. Good things come to those who wait.

The question of how much does laser hurt comes up often too. This is hard to answer because of the variability of everyone’s individual pain tolerance. I personally think both cause an equal amount of discomfort. It’s just the difference between yanking the hair out by the root or pumping it full of energy. There’s no way around turning off the pain receptors so this one’s a draw.

If you’re concerned about the environment, laser hair does conserve water and energy. According to the EPA, showering is the second largest use of indoor water. The EPA also states that a daily shower lasts about 8 minutes with an average showerhead using around 2.1 gallons per minute. That’s 16 gallons per shower! Here’s the kicker though; those eight minutes don’t include the additional 5-7 minutes it takes to actually shave your legs. It also takes a lot of energy to heat those 30-50 gallons you’ll be using. To heat 50 gallons of hot water for a 10-minute shower, it takes 2.2125 kJ of energy. 

Possible side effects for any type of hair removal should also be taken into account. With shaving, the biggest risks are nicks and cuts, razor burn, ingrown hairs, and folliculitis. All though not detrimental to one’s health, they do look unsightly for a bit. Depilatory cream side effects include skin irritation, chemical burns, blisters, skin peeling, rashes, and allergic reactions not to mention they usually stink to high heaven. Waxing has its own list of issues that include rashes, redness and irritation, lifting (taking the skin off with the wax), temporary red bumps, and sun sensitivity. Finally, laser hair removal can cause temporary skin irritation, redness, bumps, and rare blistering and transient pigmentary issues.

Like any treatment, pros and cons must be weighed to make sure it’s right for the individual. For me, it was a great step in streamlining my daily routines and always making me vacation-ready. As great as laser hair removal is, touch-ups are needed as time goes on. It is a reduction in the amount of hair, not a 100% eradication of every last hair follicle. If you’re ready to take the next steps to a smoother future call the office today and make a consultation.