Just about everyone has an area, or multiple areas, of unwanted hair somewhere on their body. With that in mind, a lot of people look for permanent hair removal options. Is permanent hair removal even a real thing? Many people wonder if it is, seeing as how some of the types of hair removal that claim to be permanent are really only semi-permanent. The truth is that there is no method of hair removal that proves to be 100% permanent in all cases. This is something to be aware of before you shell out a whole lot of money trying to achieve results.   The good news, however, is that there are some options that offer a bit more permanency than others. Let’s take a closer look.  

Electrolysis for Permanent Hair Removal

Electrolysis is actually the most permanent solution on the market for getting rid of unwanted hair. The FDA, or Food and Drug Administration, even approves electrolysis for permanent hair removal. This is because it offers the best possible results when it comes to getting rid of hair for the long term. Some people even have permanent results with electrolysis.   Studies have shown that you still cannot depend on electrolysis, however, for permanent results. This is why so many people are leery about opting for this hair removal solution. It can cost a lot of money, and if the hair just comes back it may be seen as a waste of money. You really don’t know how your particular hairs will respond to this treatment unless you try it. You may want to choose a specific area and give it a try to see how well it works for you.   It is important to know that even with electrolysis you will need to have multiple treatments over a pretty lengthy span of time. This can become quite costly, so make sure that you have a decent amount of money set aside for not only initial treatments, but also your follow up treatments.   You have likely heard that laser hair removal, which is different from electrolysis, works better on people that have a certain skin tone and certain hair color. The good news is that electrolysis works differently, and it does not offer different results based on skin tone and hair color. This is why people with lighter hair and darker skin may opt for electrolysis over regular laser hair removal.   Electrolysis does target a single hair, in a single follicle. This makes it a more time consuming procedure than laser hair removal, but it is a bit more permanent. Laser hair removal actually targets a small section of hair, rather than a single follicle at one time.  

More About Laser Hair Removal

We have touched slightly on laser hair removal, but there is more to be said about it. Many laser hair removal centers will make claims of permanent hair removal, but you must realize that the FDA has only approved electrolysis as a permanent option. Laser hair removal does, however, offer a permanent reduction of hair in the area treated. If you have a lighter complexion and darker hair, then your results may be better than those that have darker skin or later hair. The laser is not hating on you, it just is attracted to the pigmentation of the hair. This is what makes it work so well for people with the right skin tone and hair color.   They have made many advancements, however, in the laser hair removal industry. They are coming out with equipment that will work well on people with darker skin and lighter hair. This does not mean that it offers any more of a sense of permanency.  Your hair can still grow back, no matter how much money and time you spend on laser hair removal. The good news is that it has been shown to reduce the amount of hairs by about 40-80%.   How long your results will last will depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to:

• age
• gender
• genetic composition
• hormones
• hair growth cycles
• metabolism
• hair color

Can You Use Electrolysis or Laser Hair Removal Yourself?

There are no electrolysis machines that have been approved for home use, but there are some light based lasers that have been approved for you to use yourself from the comforts of your own home. The problem is that it is a dangerous process, and we never recommend that you have this treatment done by anyone except for a trained professional. Whatever you do, don’t run the risk of damaging your skin by leaving it up to amateurs.  

What About All the Hype Behind Other Methods?

We have all heard of the do it yourself hair removal methods that claim to be permanent, such as random hair removal gadgets, various treatments, and fancy machines. The truth is that these are not permanent, as there is no true permanent hair removal option. There are just some that offer a more permanent solution than others. Don’t buy into internet scams that make false claims just to hook you in so that they can get a sale. You will end up disappointed, with less money in your pocketbook than you started out with in the first place. This can be quite frustrating.   As you can see, there really is no permanent hair removal solution that offers a guaranteed permanent result that will last a lifetime. This is important to understand, especially with so many companies making false claims about their hair removal solution being permanent. No matter what hair removal option you choose, make sure that you do so with caution and care. You don’t want to end up hurting yourself or causing yourself any unnecessary pain and suffering. Consider your options and see what is going to work best for you given your particular situation.