Can you imagine never shaving your underarms again? How about never having to wax your bikini line or bleach unwanted hair on your cheeks, chin or upper lip. It's not just a pleasant day dream any more. Laser hair removal promises to change the way we look at hair, forever .

Approximately 70% of women use depilatories, shaving, waxing or electrolysis on a regular basis to remove unwanted facial or body hair. With the exception of electrolysis, these methods result in only temporary hair removal. Enter the laser. Lasers emit energy transmitted by light waves. The length of a light wave (also called the wavelength ), determines the color of the laser light and the specific tissue in the body which will be the most efficient in absorbing this light energy. In contrast to heat energy which damages everything in its path, lasers can be fine tuned to a specific wavelength, allowing selective treatment of, say, the hair follicle with little or no damage to the overlying skin or the surrounding tissue. It is this concept of selectivity that has made laser hair removal a practical reality.

Not all hair is created equal. Some types and colors respond better than others. The more melanin pigment in a hair follicle, the better target it makes for the laser, and the more effectively it can be treated. Black hair responds best, followed by brown, auburn, red then blonde. White or grey hair does not respond at all.

Hair grows in cycles, with each hair progressing from an active growth phase, through a transitional phase to a dormant phase and back again. Hair that is in its active growth phase appears to be most susceptible to laser treatment. Dormant hair does not respond as well, if at all. At any given time, from 40-60% of our face and body hair is dormant, so it is easy to see why multiple treatments are necessary for permanent hair removal.

Laser hair removal is quick, virtually painless and very effective. Almost any body area can be safely treated. Laser hair removal involves no shaving, waxing or messy skin preparations. Down time is minimal, and in most cases you can return to your usual activities in a matter of minutes! Call Dermatique Skin and Body Salon, 322-0955, for more details on laser hair removal. Our staff will be happy to answer your questions and send you a brochure.

back to top