The popularity of laser hair removal for men is growing, and for good reason! The old standard methods of hair removal for men (and for anyone really) leave a lot to be desired: Shaving is a relentless duty that often results in ingrown hair and skin irritation, not to mention that if you’ve ever tried to act as your own back hair groomer, you’ll have discovered that some places are pretty much impossible to reach by yourself. Ask anyone who has submitted to a back wax, and you’ll typically hear a story of painful ripping that is perhaps not always balanced out by the result. The whole process has to be repeated indefinitely as long as you want that hair to be gone. So what’s a guy to do when there’s a little (or a lot) unwanted body hair? While laser hair removal isn’t technically permanent hair removal, it sure gets pretty close to it, and everything from the process to the results is infinitely better than any other hair removal method currently out there. So we say, go to a consultation and get that hair removal process started with laser hair removal!
First, an introduction to how laser hair removal works. Laser hair removal works to target the pigment (melanin) in the hair follicles. The laser emits concentrated light energy, which the melanin absorbs, damaging the follicles and inhibiting hair growth. Over a series of sessions that target the hairs that are actively growing at the time, you’ll be able to significantly reduce the number of hairs that grow in the treated area. With enough sessions, you can reduce that number to virtually zero if desired.
A few things to note about laser hair removal for men: because it takes multiple sessions to treat all the follicles in a given area, some men only get a few sessions to reduce the hair growth if they don’t want to end up with a completely smooth area. The hairs on the chest are a great example of this, as many men wish to have sparse hair here and not necessarily NO hair.
Another area that can benefit from laser hair removal in more ways than simply reducing hair is the neck. Many men experience a lot of ingrown hairs and irritation on the neck, and laser hair removal is a great way to treat this, reducing irritation and damage in the long run.
Once you decide on a board-certified laser technician and have your initial consultation, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind for proper healing after treatment. You’ll want to wait at least 48 hours after your treatment before you sweat, workout, or go into the sun, so schedule your appointment for a time when you can let your skin heal before heading back into the gym or sun.
If you want to reduce the growth in an area dramatically, you’ll need up to 6-8 appointments for about six months. Your technician will be able to provide you with more details specific to your particular hair.