Hair growth is a continuous process. That is why, your hair starts growing some days after waxing or shaving them. The hair might grow faster after shaving than waxing but these methods can never stop your hair growth.
So, is there a way to stop them permanently from growing? There are many market claims about methods that allow permanent hair removal but are these claims true? This is what we are going to unveil in this article.
We will also discuss the pros, cons, and costs for each method so that you can make your decision after considering all the factors individually.
What Does “Permanent Hair Removal” Mean?
We often think that permanent hair removal means there will be no hair growth after you undergo a permanent hair reduction treatment. You will not see a single hair on your body.
However, this is not what the term “permanent hair removal” means.
According to the regulations set by the FDA, and the Food and Drug Administration, permanent hair removal means “continued and steady hair reduction over a prolonged period”. This means a hair removal treatment can get rid of your hair for a long period but eventually, they will grow. However, the new hair that grows will be sparser and thinner than the previous hair.
Can You Remove Hair Permanently?
Now, come to the real talk. If you want no hair on your body for your whole life, it might be impossible. Even photo therapies at the clinic cannot do that for you. Some methods offer permanent hair removal according to FDA regulations. Let’s see what those methods are.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a hair removal technique that is the most successful one now for providing you with permanent hair removal. In this technique, an electrologist inserts a small needle into your hair follicles destroying them entirely thus preventing regrowth. The already present hairs are pulled out by a tweezer.
What to Expect
It is effective in most cases and with each session, you can notice 35% hair reduction. After 8-12 sessions, the hairs are gone completely. For most cases, there will be no regrowth but for some, the hair might grow back. The success rate for electrolysis is 93%.
Pros
- Electrolysis offers permanent hair removal in most people. You can be hair-free for your whole life
- The method is approved by the FDA for its safety and effectiveness for everyone
- It even shows satisfactory results for those suffering from hypertrichosis, a condition in which your hair growth is more than normal
- The technique gets rid of the painful ingrown hair which means you will not have to run to a dermatologist every time the ingrown hair disturbs you
- Electrolysis works independently of melanin concentration in your body, so it shows results for all skin types and hair colors
- You will be free from razor burns, bumps, and cuts you will have to face each time you shave your hair
- It is cost-effective in the long run as it saves you from spending money over and over on temporary hair removal methods
- The electrologist works on each hair individually so the treatment is precise and beneficial for small areas like eyebrows, upper lip, and chin hair
Cons
- The very first thing you are going to hate about electrolysis is the pain it causes. As the current flows through your body, you will feel discomfort and pain
- Your skin can get red, and itchy, and even scarring can occur particularly for those with sensitive skin type
- There can be skin discoloration and hyperpigmentation after electrolysis for a temporary time. This takes away your freedom to plan outings and wear your favorite clothes until the hyperpigmentation heals completely
- As the process is done by hand, it is going to take a long time specifically for legs, arms, and other larger body parts
Cost
The cost of electrolysis varies from clinic to clinic and location to location. It will be more expensive for larger areas as those areas require more attention and time.
On average, it can cost between $150-10,000 with each session ranging between $30-200 dollars.
For further information, read How Much Does Electrolysis Hair Removal Cost?
IPL Hair Removal
Another method that offers you long-lasting hair removal is IPL hair removal according to FDA regulations. This technique is similar to laser hair removal and uses broad-spectrum light beams to target your hair and stop the growth of your hair.
Unlike electrolysis, the treatment is not limited to clinics only. There are also at-home IPL devices like Ulike Sapphire Air3 that offer you comfortable hair removal.
What to Expect
With Ulike IPL hair removal device, your hair will be gone within 4 months. There is no regrowth for a minimum of 6 months and up to 2 years. The new hair that regrows after a long time is thinner and less in number as compared to previous hair.
Pros
Let’s see what benefits IPL hair removal provides you:
- The IPL hair removal is less painful and only a slight stinging sensation is felt during the treatment. Some people do not even feel this
- It is quick and easy. Moreover, if you are using the Ulike Sapphire Air3 device, it will only take less than 10 minutes per session
- It gets rid of your ingrown hair for you
- With the Ulike handset, you can start noticing results within a month and the results are evident within 12 weeks with 2-3 sessions per week
- Ulike also offers treatment for all different areas of your body. You can adjust soft mode for sensitive areas, body mode for legs, and power mode for arms
Ulike Sapphire Air3 can be a good option for permanent hair removal and you will require only 1 session after every 2-3 months to maintain the smoothness of your skin.
Also Read: Ulike IPL Laser Hair Removal
Cons
- The treatment is not suitable for darker skin tones specifically skin tones 5 and 6
- It is also not effective against light hair colors like grey, blonde, or red hair
- Diabetics cannot use IPL devices
- The treatment causes skin sensitivity making your skin irritated, red, and itchy after hair removal
Cost
If you are getting your IPL sessions done at a salon, it can cost you between $700-1200. On the other hand, at-home IPL devices are more economical. For instance, you can buy the Ulike Sapphire Air3 handset for $329. Thus, you can save your hair removal cost with a Ulike IPL handset threefold as compared to an in-office IPL treatment.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is another technique that offers you with permanent hair removal. In this technique, the laser is thrown on your body, which targets melanin, and flows through the hair follicles deeper into the hair roots and destroys them.
What to Expect
Laser hair removal requires an average of 6-12 sessions and after you are done with the treatment, the hair will be permanently gone for 1-2 years. The results vary from person to person and as the new hair grows, they are smaller, sleek, and less in number.
Pros
- It provides you with a long-term solution to your unwanted hair
- It gets rid of all the ingrown hair from your body
- It only requires annual touch-ups saving you time that you spend every other week on waxing, shaving, epilation, or sugaring
- The laser devices are precise so they can be highly effective for small areas like upper lip and eyebrow hairs
- Now, different lasers are being used. They allow hair removal for all skin types and skin tones
Also Read: Understanding Laser Hair Removal for Different Skin Tones.
Cons
- It is painful and the pain can vary from person to person depending upon your threshold
- A wrong practice can cause hyperpigmentation, redness, lesions, and scarring on your skin
- It cannot be done on people with ginger, blonde, or grey hair.
- Laser hair removal can cause sensitivity to the sun and if you do not take measurements, your skin can suffer from sunburns and hyperpigmentation
Cost
Laser hair removal can cost between $120-1000 per session with an average of $329. It varies according to the location, experience of the practitioner, and the services provided by the clinic.
Conclusion
According to the FDA, permanent hair removal means a steady reduction in the growth of your hair. 3 methods can offer you permanent hair removal and these include electrolysis, IPL, and laser hair removal.
Electrolysis is the most effective and 35% of hair is reduced with each session with the last session removing your hair permanently. On the other hand, IPL and laser stop hair regrowth for months to years. The results can vary from person to person.
Each of these methods is distinct from each other and have their benefits and side effects. You can choose any of these depending on your personal preferences, skin types, budget, and expectations from a hair removal procedure.
