There have been many hair removal methods developed throughout time, but what are the best permanent hair removal methods for 2019? Some of these methods are temporary, which means hair could grow back in a matter of days or even within just a couple of hours!
While this is considered as a cheaper option, costs start to rack up, amounting to thousands in hair removal supplies and maintenance costs over a lifetime of removing body hair. The best permanent hair removal methods for 2019 may not be exactly the cheapest but are definitely the most advanced.
In contrast, more long-term methods are effective in removing unwanted hair while minimizing maintenance costs. Today, we’ll be talking about the best permanent hair removal treatment methods that you can use to say goodbye to that unwanted hair.
Top Reasons to Get Hair Removal
There are many reasons why many men and women might opt to get hair removed – the most popular being appearance. Hair can grow all over the body, including areas that may otherwise be considered bizarre. For instance, facial hair may be considered attractive for men but not so much for women. Other reasons for getting hair removed include but not limited to the following reasons.
● Hygiene 
Excessive body hair in some areas of the body, such as the armpits, scalp, and groin area, can lead to body odor. This is due to special sweat glands found in these areas that release a special kind of sweat.
There are two types of sweat glands in your skin – the eccrine glands and apocrine glands. These two glands are different in that the sweat secreted by these glands have a varying purpose. The sweat secreted by the eccrine gland is designed to help the body cool off. This evaporates quickly, leaving no time for bacteria to grow.
On the other hand, the apocrine glands on the armpits, scalp, and groin area can cause body odor. Sweat secreted through the gland are delivered through hair follicles and are generally absorbed by the hair. This type of sweat is high in protein, which makes it even more viable for bacteria.
The hair found on the aforementioned regions can greatly increase the surface area in which bacteria can grow. For this reason, many people opt to remove hair from these regions to eradicate areas where bacteria can thrive and reduce body odor.
● Less Friction 
For a number of athletes, less hair can improve their performance. For instance, some runners might go for shorter hair, or even go bald, to reduce drag caused by long, overflowing locks.
Friction caused by hair seems to matter most to swimmers. A common practice for swimmers is that, aside from wearing bald caps, they shave their entire body to remove hair that might otherwise cause more friction.
Most swimmers believe that hair increases the body’s surface area. And the higher the surface area of the body, the more surfaces water can come in contact with, increasing frictional drag. In effect, swimmers will need to expend greater energy to gain more speed.
● Smoother Feel 
In many cases, people opt for hair removal because they prefer a smoother feel. Most people find that having hair all over the body apart from the head can feel rather unpleasant. In fact, people who have less hair on their body are generally considered more desirable. It has become even more so that more men are now having their body hair removed in an attempt to be more attractive to women.
Best Permanent Hair Removal Methods
There are so many hair removal products available at every drugstore that you can purchase and just try at home. However, the level of commitment it takes to stay hairless can seem daunting for others that they now prefer longer-term solutions. Here are the best permanent hair removal systems currently being used by hair removal professionals.
Laser Hair Removal 
Laser hair removal is considered to be one of the most popular and one of the best permanent hair removal treatment methods used in the industry today. It is similar to IPL in that they both use beams of light to remove unwanted body hair.
However, advanced laser technology uses only a single, focused beam of light with a single wavelength. As the laser beam is shot from the device, heat energy destroys the hair follicle without doing any damage to the skin.
Laser treatments require fewer sessions than IPL. And contrary to popular belief, laser treatments can also be used effectively on dark skin tones.
Advantages
- Lasers can be used to remove unwanted hair from the face, legs, arms, underarms, as well as the bikini area.
- Precise beams of light can effectively target unwanted hair without disturbing the surrounding area.
- Treatment sessions are incredibly fast as each pulse takes a fraction of a second. Permanent facial hair removal can take just a few minutes while larger areas such as the back and chest can take half an hour.
- Hair regrowth generally appears thinner and lighter in color, making them difficult to notice.
- Fewer sessions are required to achieve the desired results. The length of treatment typically takes an average of 3 to 7 sessions.
Disadvantages
- Treated areas do not always stop growing forever, but each treatment will dramatically reduce overall hair growth.
- Touch up treatments may be needed over time as hormonal changes and hair growth cycles present additional growth.
- The skin might feel tender immediately after treatment. Avoid exposure to intense sunlight during this period.
- Generally more effective on people with fair skin and dark hair. But paired with the right equipment, those with dark skin and fair hair can still get great results.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Intense Pulsated Light, or IPL, therapy is a technique used in permanent hair removal that uses broad-spectrum light.
During each session, a small dose of IPL continuously shoots from the device to the skin. Heat energy seeps through the skin and is absorbed by the hair papilla pigment. Heat then breaks down hair from inside and destroys the hair follicles, stopping hair growth. Many consider IPL to be a painful method for hair removal – more painful than waxing and laser.
Advantages
- It is considered non-invasive as it causes no harm to the epidermis (top layer of the skin).
- Duration of treatment typically takes 30 to 40 minutes per session.
- Few side effects.
Disadvantages
- Several treatment sessions are necessary to reap the full benefits of the treatment method. Up to 12 sessions of treatments are often needed for complete success.
- The duration of the entire treatment regimen can last up to a year as 4 to 8 week intervals are necessary to allow the skin to fully recover from the treatment.
- Not as effective on light hair colors (blondes, redheads, etc.)
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is another permanent hair removal solution. It is used for permanent facial hair removal as well as hair on other parts of the body. This rapid treatment method involves delivering tiny pulses of electricity directly into the skin to destroy hair follicles directly. These tiny electric pulses are delivered using a tiny needle that is inserted to the skin.
As the needle is inserted into the hair follicle, the device sends a low-level electric pulse to release the hair and damage the follicle. The hair is then pulled out using a small tweezer. The process is repeated until the patient achieves the full desired effect.
Electrolysis can be used on different parts of the body. However, it is still important to note that you will need to have multiple follow-up appointments to achieve the best results.
Advantages
- Electrolysis is versatile in that you can use it to remove hair from virtually any body part. It can also be used for people with any hair type and color as well as skin type and color.
- The method doesn’t use any harsh chemical.
Disadvantages
- Hair is individually targeted and plucked, which can take up a considerable amount of time to finish a single session. Depending on the size of the area, one session could take up to an entire hour.
- Multiple sessions are required to achieve the best results. Patients of electrolysis may often need to return for treatment up to 25 sessions.
- During each session, a small needle is inserted into the skin, resulting in some pain and discomfort for the patient.
- Use of unsterilized needles can result in unsightly scars.
Conclusion
The list provided above was a compilation of the best permanent hair removal methods for 2019. They are, indeed, quite similar in the sense that they can leave you hair-free in areas where you do not want to have hair. They are also somewhat similar in terms of device used. However, the best permanent hair removal methods for 2019 are fundamentally different with regards to affordability of the treatment as well as the amount of pain experienced and the time required to eliminate all hair during each session.
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