It is important when talking about permanent hair removal that we understand what that means and the cycles of hair growth that accompanies this process. While most products like laser hair removal and IPL (intense pulse light) hair removal treatments are great in overall hair removal, they only have a success rate of 40% to 80% of removing hair. While the Food and Drug Administration only recognizes electrolysis as a solution to permanent hair removal, even this treatment does not work on all patients the same. The key to understanding why this works or doesn’t work comes down to understanding your hair’s growth cycles.

After hair is removed from the body, there are three stages of regrowth that occur after any treatment is tried. It is during these stages that determine whether or not the techniques used in permanent hair removal actually take as your hair will go through these stages at least twenty times in your lifetime.

The first phase in the cycle of hair growth is the Anagen phase. This is also known as the growing phase and it is the prominent phase that your hair lives in most of your life. During the Anagen phase, your hair is in a constant state of growth and this growth can continue for up to seven years. It is during this phase that your hair will look thick and well-nourished and will grow at a rate of about a half inch a month. It is during this phase of hair growth that your hair gets the most nutrients and supplies the pigmentation from the hair bulb.

The second phase is called the Catagen phase. When the lengthy Anagen phase comes to an end, your hair will enter this transitional phase which can last around a month. During the Catagen phase, your hair will detach from the blood supply that gives it nutrients and will begin to shrink its size. As it shrinks, it will be  pushed upwards t to the surface as new hair forms underneath.

The last phase is the Telogen phase. This is the final phase in the life of your hair. In fact, about 15% of the hair on your head is in this phase right now. The Telogen phase can last about three months as new hair begins to emerge, pushing the weak and brittle hairs out. During this phase, you can expect to lose around 50 to 100 hairs a day and even pull loose hairs directly from the scalp.

When it comes to permanent hair removal, it is important to target hairs while they are in the Anagen phase. Because hair is in a constant state of flux between these three phases during your life, it is hard to get all the hairs because of the various phases. That is why multiple treatments become necessary as hairs come back. That is why no procedure can guarantee any true state of permanent hair removal as only your body can decide the stages of hair growth.

Overall body image concerns are on the rise as the technology to handle these concerns improves each year. As more and more technological innovations come over the horizon, more and more news tends to confuse the consumer about what product is right for them. This is never clearer in the fields of body hair removal.

Whether it is temporary or permanent, at a spa or at home, Permanent Hair Removal Today wants to help debunk the myths and give you the truth behind current trends in the hair removal industry.

Currently, there are a lot of permanent hair removal methods to choose from. Whether seeking traditional procedures like electrolysis to new techniques involving laser permanent hair removal, it really comes down to choosing a permanent hair removal professional who has a proven track record with the services they offer. One of the problems with this industry is that a lot of the devices on the market do not meet the claims they offer.

A growing trend is permanent hair removal at home. While some of these treatments can range from cheap to expensive, many consumers have serious questions to whether this in-home treatment is as effective as going to a specialist. Some of the biggest known home systems are the Epila Personal Laser Hair Remover and the Finally Free system which uses radio frequencies. Other known methods are epilators, depilatories, home waxing, and home electrolysis. The main problem with using any home methods is that you are ultimately responsible for the results and any risks associated with these techniques.

Mostly when deciding on treatment, it comes down to the cost of permanent hair removal that is the ultimate factor. At home hair removal kits can cost below $300 while visits with medical spas that specialize in electrolysis and laser hair removal methods can be much more costly especially the amount of areas that you wish hair to be removed. As an in home treatment can be used multiple times, it might be the most effective plan since there are no guarantees when it comes to permanent hair removal.

One of the major concerns about this industry is that many people are claiming the benefits of permanent hair removal. Form laser clinics to medical spas, and even some plastic surgeons, are claiming that they have the best solutions for removing unwanted hair. While the Food and Drug Administration has approved various technologies to be used for hair removal, it does not approve of them to be called permanent hair removal methods. While the only known method for permanent removal for everyone is electrolysis, these other methods might prove to be adequate for your given needs. As always, do the research and find what procedure is right for you and your budget.