The “Hairier Side” of Beauty

Shaving, plucking and waxing can get hairy (literally), but luckily there are other, long-lasting options for hair removal.

When thinking about permanent hair removal, it’s important to understand the terminology. Most women think “permanent” means lasting forever, but that’s not always the case when it’s used in advertising. For instance, a permanent wave in your hair is not really permanent, and a permanent marker is not necessarily permanent.

It’s difficult to assess a new hair removal method that claims to be permanent, so it’s a matter of doing your homework to find the best option. For the purposes of hair removal, most professionals agree that “permanent” means you can go a year after your final hair removal treatment without having to use another method of hair removal.

Laser treatments are one of the most popular methods of permanent hair removal today. Women shopping around for hair removal treatments can look into the Radiant Laser Hair Removal Center, located at 11138 Kenwood Road.

Laser hair removal has been practiced in various forms for nearly 40 years, according to the Radiant Laser Hair Removal Center’s Web site. However, lasers for removal of unwanted hair didn’t become popular until the early 1990s.

To understand the process, it’s important to understand the science behind it. Laser hair removal works by selective photothermolysis, a process in which the laser light is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle, gently heating and instantly disabling the follicle, according to the Web site.

The low energy laser safely passes through the skin, targeting only the hair follicle. Because the size and intensity of the laser can be adjusted as necessary, this method of hair removal is effective for treating many areas of the body, including the face, neck, shoulders, arms, back, chest and bikini area.

This process appeals to women because it’s fast and safe and most importantly, it eliminates the need for routine shaving or waxing.

Permanent hair removal can be considered a luxury, because the price can be somewhat steep. Radiant charges in time increments rather than specific body areas and claims that its prices are “significantly lower” than other facilities, according to the Radiant Web site. Per treatment prices are as follows: five minutes for $150, 10 minutes for $200 and 15 minutes for $250.

The facility also offers packages to reduce the per-session rate. A 90 minute package costs $1,250 and a 180 minute package runs $2,200.

PHOTO CREDITS
Photo: Neysa Ruhl Photography
Location: The McAlpin
Model: Janell Bauer of New View Management Group, Inc.,
Makeup Artistry: Chenese Bean Makeup Artistry
Hair Styling: Robin Howard, Ruckus Glamour Studios