Before you run out for a lighter and some flammable liquid, let’s clarify that this title was just a way to draw your attention to a well-known hair removal system that uses laser light to burn hair follicles and prevent hair from growing back. . Or at the very least, make it go from fast-growing, dark hair to slow-growing, nearly invisible hair. While it will burn off the hair on your legs, the laser is a considerably safer alternative to trying to get third degree burns, and much less painful.
Laser hair removal is a minor cosmetic procedure in which a qualified technician, or yourself if you choose to use one of the approved home laser hair removal machines, shines high-energy laser light onto small areas of your skin. This energy is absorbed by the melanin in the skin and hair, heating them and burning the hair follicle to deactivate or kill it. Since skin has less melanin than hair, the skin only becomes uncomfortably hot and blisters and burns do not occur (unless safety procedures are ignored). The result: body and facial hair that falls out on its own after a few days and is replaced by hairless hair or a thinner, lighter version.
The decision to let the laser burn off your leg hair comes down to three factors:
- Are you suitable?
- Can you pay it?
- Can you cope with about 8 months of treatment?
Not all skin types are suitable for laser hair treatment, and while the best clinics have access to equipment that can burn off dark hair on dark skin, the best results are usually achieved on dark hair against light skin. . So if the hair you want to remove is very light or your skin is medium to dark, laser hair removal may not be right for you. If you tan easily, but your original skin tone is fair, you’ll need to let that tan fade before starting your treatment. This may mean keeping your pins under wraps all summer long or wearing sunscreen.
You’ll also need to consider the cost and requirements of a lengthy laser hair removal treatment, as legs often require at least 6-8 sessions, spread out over about 6 weeks. That can mean quite a bit of money and around 8 months where your legs can’t be exposed to sunlight. It is also not allowed to remove leg hair by waxing, plucking or worse, bleaching it, as the laser needs dark hair to work. This can be quite inconvenient if you enjoy sports like swimming or want to wear short clothes during the summer, so keep that in mind before committing to it.
For many, the rewards of laser hair removal far outweigh the cost and discomfort. It also outperforms other hair removal methods, such as waxing, in terms of convenience, and while some discomfort is to be expected, it is considerably less painless than other permanent hair removal methods, such as electrolysis. If you’re tired enough of your leg hair to consider burning it off, check out laser hair removal clinics in your area and you might be pleasantly surprised.