Before considering laser hair removal, it is important for women and men to find out what is causing their abnormal hair growth before they take measures to remove it. Hair usually grows abnormally due to hormones. Once you’ve determined whether you have health concerns related to your hair, then you can decide on the appropriate remedy.

Lasers are safe and effective in the removal of unwanted hair. A trained specialist can help you determine which treatment is best for your skin and hair type. Lasers produce a beam of light to remove hair. The light passes through the skin to the hair follicle, killing the follicle so hair will no longer grow from it. Since lasers are attracted to dark colors, you will achieve better results if your hair is darker than your skin. (Lasers are not effective for blondes, white- or gray-haired people.) The process usually takes less than an hour. You should not combine sun tanning with laser hair removal. It can cause burns.

Electrolysis Hair Removal
An alternative to laser hair removal is electrolysis, the only other permanent hair removal procedure known at this time. In this treatment, an electrologist inserts a tiny needle into each hair follicle and uses a short impulse of energy to kill the root. The hair is then tweezed out one at a time. Each treatment takes a few hours, and you will probably need more than one treatment to kill all of your unwanted hair. It is important to not wax or tweeze for a few days before having electrolysis. Leaving the hair longer will make it easier for the electrologist to reach the hair follicle. There are home electrolysis kits, but they are not recommended. You will achieve better results by using a licensed electrologist.

Other Hair Removal Methods

Women often want to remove hair on the upper lip, cheeks and chin. Bleaching will work if your hair is similar in color to your skin. Be careful, bleaching only lightens hair in dark complexions. Another caveat: Never use a depilatory cream on the upper lip or other sensitive skin. Depilatories should be used on the lower legs and thighs only. Depilatories are harsh on sensitive skin and should never be placed on the lips or eye areas. When using a depilatory, be sure to test patches of skin before you put the cream on large areas of skin. The cream can cause rashes and skin discolorations. If you have a negative reaction, it can be treated with an antibacterial solution and antibiotic. Waxing is a great way to remove hair from the legs, thighs and bikini area. Waxing doesn’t irritate the skin the way shaving and creams do; however, waxing is a temporary hair removal procedure.