Waxes and laser hair removal
Thousands of years of evolution should have resulted in better hair placement on humans. For some, like my mother, it has: she has naturally smooth arms and legs. But I take after my dad: Anyone else get 5 o'clock shadow on her legs? Of course, underarms and bikini lines are as yet unrefined by evolution, so whether you're lucky like my mum or not-so-much, like me, you've got hair removal issues, too.
Here's pro advice on what to expect from waxing as well as surprising info on permanent hair removal, plus a round-up of DIY products on your pharmacy shelves.
1. Waxing
If you've ever gone for professional waxing and were disappointed to see regrowth in a week instead of the several weeks you've read about, you're not alone. "The first or second time you have a professional waxing service, expect the results to last only about 10 days," says Dan Thompson, the national trainer at the Oasis Wellness Centre and Spa in Toronto and Calgary. "Hair grows at different cycles to keep the body covered, so your first couple of ‘regrowths' are, in fact, new hair," he explains. "By the third or fourth waxing, you should find that the hair is finer and that intervals between appointments will be longer."
Instead of standard honey wax, the staff at Oasis uses a special chamomile-based wax imported from Italy. "It has a lower melting temperature and thus, reduces the risk of burning delicate skin," says Thompson. "Aside from burning, too-hot wax can actually begin to melt the hair and inflame surrounding skin. That makes removing the whole hair shaft very difficult and can cause ingrowns.
Here's pro advice on what to expect from waxing as well as surprising info on permanent hair removal, plus a round-up of DIY products on your pharmacy shelves.
1. Waxing
If you've ever gone for professional waxing and were disappointed to see regrowth in a week instead of the several weeks you've read about, you're not alone. "The first or second time you have a professional waxing service, expect the results to last only about 10 days," says Dan Thompson, the national trainer at the Oasis Wellness Centre and Spa in Toronto and Calgary. "Hair grows at different cycles to keep the body covered, so your first couple of ‘regrowths' are, in fact, new hair," he explains. "By the third or fourth waxing, you should find that the hair is finer and that intervals between appointments will be longer."
Instead of standard honey wax, the staff at Oasis uses a special chamomile-based wax imported from Italy. "It has a lower melting temperature and thus, reduces the risk of burning delicate skin," says Thompson. "Aside from burning, too-hot wax can actually begin to melt the hair and inflame surrounding skin. That makes removing the whole hair shaft very difficult and can cause ingrowns.
"In terms of home hair removal, Thompson says that consumers can still get good results. "Make sure you get quality materials and you'll get the results you want, whatever method you choose." Just be ultra careful not to overheat your microwaveable wax if that's your chosen route, and remember that for best results, the hair you're removing should be 1/4- to 1/2-an inch long.
2. Permanent hair removal
When it comes to permanent hair removal, your body hair's growth cycle is important but so is your skin and hair colour, hair texture and location, the timing of each treatment, and hair follicle moisture. "We see so many clients who have spent thousands of dollars elsewhere on laser hair treatments without any significant results," says Nicolette Oakwell-Morgan, director of operations at OMI Hair in Toronto. "There is very little thorough understanding about how the laser hair-removal technology really works." For instance, few people know or advise consumers that the follicle needs a certain level of natural moisture to be effectively vapourized by the laser. Each treatment also has to be carefully timed to catch each cycle of growth just as the hair starts to show.
"Laser hair removal results in permanent hair reduction," says Oakwell-Morgan. "We combine our laser with Elos, a radiofrequency-and-light technology that works very well on people who aren't laser candidates, such as clients with finer or non-pigmented hair. We call it maximizing permanent reduction, getting to a point where there is very little hair left and it's too fine to respond to lasers or Elos."
Customized care for permanent hair removal
Oakwell-Morgan says OMI achieves 45 to 85 per cent reduction ¬-- in some areas as much as 90 per cent -- and some clients are happy to stop at that point (70 per cent of OMI's clients are men; 65 per cent have darker complexions).
"The only procedure to complete a case with the achievement of 100 per cent hair removal is electrolysis, and we go that route at the end of the laser/Elos treatments if the client wants the area to be completely hair free."
Oakwell-Morgan is reluctant to estimate the cost of a complete series of treatments. "Each program is entirely individual," she says. "We start with a one-hour consultation to determine the best methods for each client based on a range of parameters from hair texture to growth cycles to previous removal methods used." The length of time treatment takes varies per person as well.
Whatever you need, however, Oakwell-Morgan has been there. "I had a severe hair problem 35 years ago and solved it. I haven't had regrowth at all since then."
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2. Permanent hair removal
When it comes to permanent hair removal, your body hair's growth cycle is important but so is your skin and hair colour, hair texture and location, the timing of each treatment, and hair follicle moisture. "We see so many clients who have spent thousands of dollars elsewhere on laser hair treatments without any significant results," says Nicolette Oakwell-Morgan, director of operations at OMI Hair in Toronto. "There is very little thorough understanding about how the laser hair-removal technology really works." For instance, few people know or advise consumers that the follicle needs a certain level of natural moisture to be effectively vapourized by the laser. Each treatment also has to be carefully timed to catch each cycle of growth just as the hair starts to show.
"Laser hair removal results in permanent hair reduction," says Oakwell-Morgan. "We combine our laser with Elos, a radiofrequency-and-light technology that works very well on people who aren't laser candidates, such as clients with finer or non-pigmented hair. We call it maximizing permanent reduction, getting to a point where there is very little hair left and it's too fine to respond to lasers or Elos."
Customized care for permanent hair removal
Oakwell-Morgan says OMI achieves 45 to 85 per cent reduction ¬-- in some areas as much as 90 per cent -- and some clients are happy to stop at that point (70 per cent of OMI's clients are men; 65 per cent have darker complexions).
"The only procedure to complete a case with the achievement of 100 per cent hair removal is electrolysis, and we go that route at the end of the laser/Elos treatments if the client wants the area to be completely hair free."
Oakwell-Morgan is reluctant to estimate the cost of a complete series of treatments. "Each program is entirely individual," she says. "We start with a one-hour consultation to determine the best methods for each client based on a range of parameters from hair texture to growth cycles to previous removal methods used." The length of time treatment takes varies per person as well.
Whatever you need, however, Oakwell-Morgan has been there. "I had a severe hair problem 35 years ago and solved it. I haven't had regrowth at all since then."
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