During puberty, people usually become more conscious about how they look. Besides their complexion, one thing they feel most conscious about is the amount of hair on their body.
Most adults typically want to remove unwanted hair. This includes those that grow on the face, legs, armpits, and bikini line.
But while there are many ways to do this, only a few solutions offer permanent results.
Want to know what works?
Here, you’ll learn about the five trendiest hair removal methods employed in beauty spas and cosmetic clinics in Dubai and why they’re so popular.
- Waxing
Waxing removes large amounts of hair all at once. It’s an effective method that uses wax to catch and uproot unwanted hair (as implied in its name).
How It’s Done
The process begins with spreading hot wax over the target area, following the direction of hair growth.
As the wax begins to cool, the hair becomes embedded into it. This is when you can apply a strip of fabric to the cooling wax. When you’re ready, pull the fabric opposite the growth to uproot the hair all at once.
Pros and Cons
Compared to typical hair removal methods like shaving, waxing has longer-lasting results.
However, the procedure isn’t recommended for the face because it’s not only painful but it also removes layers of the skin every time it is done. This is also why people with inflammatory skin disorders are advised to avoid this hair removal method.
- Sugaring
Also known as sugar waxing, sugaring is a hair removal method that follows the same procedure as waxing. The only difference is the medium used to pull out hair.
Instead of wax, this hair removal method uses a natural, sugary substance with the same consistency as honey.
How It’s Done
After the sugar wax is spread onto the skin, a cloth or paper strip is applied to make it easier to pull off unwanted hair, just like with waxing.
Pros and Cons
Like waxing, sugaring has long-lasting results. However, some prefer the latter more over traditional waxing because it’s easier to clean.
Since the wax material is made with sugar and other natural ingredients, it can be diluted with warm water. This makes the thick substance easier to remove (compared to stubborn traditional wax).
But, like waxing, it can be painful and damaging to the skin.
- Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a hair removal procedure that uses an electrical current to burn the hair root.
How It’s Done
Start by inserting a fine needle into the hair follicle to reach the root. This will allow you to burn off the root of unwanted hair and prevent it from producing more hair.
Since you need to treat each hair follicle individually, your clients may need to undergo several electrolysis sessions to clear off the target site completely. Repeated treatment may be necessary within a period of 12 to 18 months.
Pro Tip: Ask your clients to shave three days before the procedure to get the best results.
Pros and Cons
While electrolysis is a method that offers permanent hair removal, it comes with several challenges.
First, practitioners aren’t regulated by standard licensing guidelines, so looking for a certified and experienced technician might be challenging. The only way to find a skilled technician is to talk to people who’ve tried it and got the expected result.
Second, electrolysis can be painful and may cause infection, keloid formation, hyperpigmentation, or hypopigmentation.
Third, the effects of the procedure aren’t immediately apparent, so the only way to tell whether it’s effective is after several sessions.
- Depilatories
Depilatories disrupt the chemical bonds that bind hair and skin cells together using a chemical mixture composed of thioglycolate and calcium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide.
How It’s Done
After application, a depilatory is left to set in the target area for about three to 15 minutes. During this period, the chemical liquefies unwanted hair into a gelatinous substance that can be washed or wiped off easily.
Pros and Cons
Depilatories are very effective in removing hair, but they can also irritate the skin. After all, the same chemical ingredients that melt the hair may also dissolve skin cells.
Since depilatories are quite abrasive, always test them on a small area of the skin first. Leave the test area alone for 48 hours to see whether it causes irritation.
If it does, it’s best not to proceed with it. If not, you can go ahead with the procedure. Just be sure to apply hydrocortisone cream after the hair removal procedure to relieve discomfort or irritation.
- Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is another commonly used method of eliminating unwanted hair. This popularity allowed the market to grow to nearly $800 million in 2021. It is even predicted to have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.4 percent through 2030.
As the name suggests, this hair removal method uses a laser to remove unwanted hair permanently.
Many aesthetic brands carry this type of equipment in their product lines. Among the popular ones are:
- Cutera Excel HR Laser
- Ellesilk Laser Hair Removal Device
- mē Sleek Permanent Hair Reduction Device
- Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser 4X
How It’s Done
During the procedure, the hair is destroyed using lasers that come at various energy outputs, wavelengths, and pulse widths.
The machine emits light absorbed by the melanin (pigment) in the hair. After being converted into heat, the light from the laser damages the hair follicles to prevent or delay hair regrowth.
The process itself is simple. However, it may take several sessions to get the expected results.
Pros and Cons
Laser hair removal offers the best results for people with dark hair and a light complexion. Like electrolysis, it may be more effective in removing hairs shaved recently (about three days prior).
The only downside is that there’s no guarantee that hair will not regrow even after multiple laser removal sessions, so maintenance treatments might be necessary.
Hair-Free, Carefree
From adolescence to adulthood, people become conscious of hair growth in certain parts of their bodies.
Help your clients feel more carefree and comfortable with how they look by offering one or more of these trending hair removal methods.
