Hair Removal - Laser Hair Removal - Hair Permanent Removal

June 07, 2006

Hair Sugaring

Tips for Hair Sugaring

How sweet it is! Sugaring is a process that is similar to waxing, but the ingredients are different. Sugaring gets it name from the fact that wax is replaced with a mixture of sugar and honey. The resulting goo sticks to the hairs and not to the skin. In the end, you still end up ripping out you hair by the roots, so pain levels run about the same as waxing.

Most people find that sugaring works best on hair that grows on the upper lip and the bikini line. It's a relatively messy process, so do it in the bathroom or some other area where clean-up will not be a problem. Regardless of where you do it, the results last for two to six weeks. Actually, fine hair will start to show around two weeks after the procedure is done, and the thicker, darker hair growth becomes apparent about four weeks later or so.

Homemade formulas work fine. You can easily make your own sugaring solution right at home. You need 1 cup of white sugar, juice from 1/2 of a lemon, 1/4 cup of honey. Mix the lemon juice, sugar and honey in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for about 2-3 minutes, until the mixture just begins to bubble and turns smooth. Turn off the microwave and leave the bowl alone until the mixture has had time to cool down to a safe handling temperature. This could be 5 minutes or more. Besides the actual sugaring formula, you'll need some wooden tongue depressors to apply the mixture, some corn starch to help prepare the skin, and some strips of white cotton cloth. An old undershirt works fine.

Ready, set go!

Make sure that the area to be treated is clean and dry. There should be no residue from soap or body lotions. Apply a dusting of cornstarch to the area to be treated. This will help remove excess oils from your skin. Using the tongue depressor, or another suitable applicator, spread a thin layer of the mixture over the area to be treated. Now cover the treated area with a strip of the cotton fabric and rub your hand a few times over the strip the opposite way that your hair grows. Use a moderate pressure. Grab the end of the fabric strip and quickly rip it off in the opposite direction of your hair growth. Wash the treated area with warm water to remove any sticky residue and apply an unscented skin cream or lotion if you want to.

That's all there is to sugaring!

Posted by KeyWest at 06:41 AM | Comments (0)

May 31, 2006

Unwanted Hair Removal

Facts about unwanted hair removal

Whether you suffer from hair growth conditions like hypertrichosis or hirsutism, or you simply have some hair growing in places where you wished it didn't, there are an endless number of hair removal options available today. There are essentially two categories of hair removal procedures. 'Permament' procedures seek to remove unwanted hair in such a way that it never returns. Sometimes these techniques turn out to be semi-permanent and have to be repeated over time. Temporary hair removal techniques work for short periods of time and are subject to the body's normal hair growth cycle.

People who seek permament removal will usually be treated by a licensed Esthetician or hair removal specialist. While temporary hair removal procedures can also be performed by an Esthetician, there are plenty of home treatments available as well.

There's as many reasons as there are hairs on your body. Most woman treat hair removal as part of their normal cosmetic routine. They shave their legs and underarms, pluck their eyebrows, and have pubic hair trimmed or removed to accommodate today's fashions. Some men also shave their body hair for cosmetic reasons, and most men shave their facial hair unless they are purposely growing it out as a beard, goatee, or moustache. Many athletes, particularly swimmers and body builders, will undergo hair removal procedures in order to enhance their performance, their appearance, or both. Then there are medical reasons for removing hair and just plain old 'because I felt like it' reasons as well.

Examples of Permanent Hair Removal Techniques

ELECTROLYSIS

Electrolysis treats every hair follicle individually by injecting a needle into the hair follicle and subjecting it to an electric charge. This process can go on for months depending upon the size of the area undergoing treatment. This is a relatively painful process, and side effects can include scaring and infection. Costs can run as high as $1,000-$3,000 for the legs or pubic area.

LASER

Laser hair removal is an FDA approved process which should only be performed by a licensed and trained professional. During this procedure, a small laser beam is used to destroy the hair follicles. This is a relatively painless procedure which works best on people who have light colored skin and dark hair. It is not recommended if you are deeply tanned. Costs run around $1,000 for the removal of facial hair, and anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000 for hair removal from the legs and pubic area.

PHOTO EPILATION/PULSED LASER

Similar to LASER treatment, this FDA approved procedure uses a pulsed light beam to destroy the hair follicles. This method is especially effective for removing hair from the underarms and the bikini area. There are no restrictions regarding skin color, tanning, or hair color. Costs run from $500 to $2,000 and up, depending upon the area of the body treated.

Temporary hair removal methods include a wide variety of hair removal creams, shaving, plucking, waxing, and more exotic procedures. What a dichotomy. While millions of people are spending billions of dollars to grow new hair, make it soft and shiny, or have it cut just right, the rest of us are sending our money trying to get rid of it!

Posted by KeyWest at 05:01 PM | Comments (0)