How to Choose Home Hair Removal

It’s the bane of many women’s existence: Unwanted body hair. Whether it’s soft fuzz or coarse stubble, excess body hair – and the most effective way to shed it – is a topic on many women’s lips. Laser and light-based treatments performed by a doctor or trained esthetician are costly while shaving and waxing at home is not only time-consuming but also yields less-than-desirable results. 

So, how can women achieve the same results in-house laser treatments offer without going broke and pulling out their hair in the process? The answer just may lie with the increasingly popular laser and light-based home hair removal systems. Of course, the trick is to find one that’s right for you.

Home hair removal systems that use laser or pulsed light energy wield nearly as much power as the lasers you would find in a doctor’s office. The technology is the same, too. This means that both an in-house and a home laser remove hair in the same way – by piercing the hair shaft before making its way down to the follicle, where it annihilates the hair’s root.

Not everyone is suited to use home laser systems, however. For example, people with dark complexions should avoid them entirely because these individuals are susceptible to not only pigment discoloration but also burns and scars. It’s reassuring to know, then, that a reputable home laser system will come equipped with a skin sensor, a tool that can determine if a person’s skin is light enough to use the product safely.

In addition, home lasers are ineffective on white, blonde, gray and red hair strands because they don’t possess enough pigment for the laser to ‘recognize’ and, subsequently, destroy them. Comparatively, home lasers work wonders on individuals with light skin and dark hair. This is because lasers target and remove dark-hued hairs extremely effectively.

Before deciding if a home laser treatment is right for you, consider that lasers pose certain safety risks – such as serious burns – if misused. That’s why many of them come with different intensity settings. These settings allow users to lessen the strength of the treatment if it becomes too painful or too hot.

Bear in mind that only two systems – the TRIA and the Silk’n SensEpil – have been approved by the FDA for home use. This fact should give one pause before buying a non-FDA-approved home laser hair treatment system. In fact, many testimonials about non-FDA-approved home laser treatments mention painful burns and marks as a result of using these products.

Home laser and light-based hair removal treatments have progressed significantly in the last few years and offer women an attractive alternative to shaving, waxing, creams, electrolysis and other, more expensive treatments. Although they may not be right for everyone, for those who find them a fit, home laser treatments are safe, effective and affordable. Plus, they’ll keep you from pulling out your hair in frustration – unless of course it’s in the comfort of your home, and done with a laser!