Laser Hair Removal

The traditional Brazilian bikini wax for women involves removing all the pubic hair, front and back, leaving nothing but bare flesh. As it has become more popular and fashionable, variations have arisen, including leaving a shape of left over hair like a love heart, or just leaving a neat little landing strip of hair.

Although it may be something trendy to do now, it is not a new practice, with even ancient cultures performing such a procedure for purposes of hygiene. Many countries today that have extremely hot and humid clients have long traditions of body hair removal not only for hygiene, but for general comfort too.

Not limited to women now, more and more men are trying hair removal and the male Brazilian is a procedure being performed in an increasing number of salons. Males wanting this form of hair removal will do well to note that not all salons will be open to performing such a procedure. A lot of technicians will be female and easily feel uncomfortable dealing with a man’s genitalia, so bearing this in mind it is best to phone in advance to save on any awkward situations.

Some of the styles that men go for when having their pubic region waxed are the male Brazilian, which actually leaves a small strip of pubic hair above the penis; the Hollywood, leaving the pubic region totally bare; and the aptly named BSC, or Back Sack and Crack, which as the name suggests removes all the pubic hair from the back between the buttocks and even the scrotum. Just like the female Brazilian this form of hair removal has been around for a long time and males in some cultures practise this procedure for hygiene purposes. However, the popularized version that fashion conscious men go for tends to be for other reasons, including increased sexual pleasure.

As the name suggests, waxing is the most often used method of hair removal when having a Brazilian bikini wax. This can easily be extremely painful as the area being worked on has some very sensitive parts. A Brazilian wax needs to be performed by an experienced therapist to make it a speedy and safe procedure. And even though you may be used to waxing in other areas of the body many people strongly recommend preparing for a Brazilian wax by taking some sort of pain killer such as Ibuprofen, around an hour before the procedure is to be done. The first time is always the worst, and after several visits the hair will hopefully begin to become thinner and lighter and eventually may stop growing altogether.

If the thought of having someone pull out all your pubic hair with a strip of wax makes you cringe at the possible pain, firstly remember that it is bearable, and even enjoyable for some people. For those who absolutely cannot bear the thought then laser hair removal for a Brazilian can be an alternative. Laser treatment is going to cost a fair bit more than waxing, but you won’t have the same pain at all to deal with. Also there is a good chance with laser that after a few treatments the results will be more permanent than with waxing.

Being a more specialist procedure than other forms of hair removal, you will pay more in most salons for a Brazilian bikini wax than for other hair removals such as the legs or arms. It can be costly, and with the ready availability of home depilation treatments or over the counter waxing products it can be easy to think it’s OK to try and do a Brazilian yourself. This is absolutely not the case, and it is very important to understand that performing this treatment on yourself can be extremely dangerous and can result in painful and permanent injuries.

 Although we normally think of hair loss as a male problem, more than 30 million women in the US suffer from the same affliction.  There are many potential causes of hair loss in women, including physical and mental stress, medication, and hormonal causes.  The reasons for hair loss and thinning hair in women are typically different than the causes for hair loss in men.

How Much Is Normal Hair Loss For A Woman?

This depends on the age of the woman, although in general losing 100 hairs daily is not unusual when the hairs are replaced through the natural regrowth cycle.  Losing substantially more than 100 hairs daily without replacement is what is considered true hair loss.

Heredity and Genetic Reasons for Female Pattern Hair Loss

In many cases the causes of hair loss in a woman is due to genetics.  Androgenic alopecia, also known as female pattern hair loss, is a common inherited condition that can come from either parent.  For the many women who have the particular genetic disposition, the natural testosterone in their body combines with certain enzymes that exist in the hair cell.  This is converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which builds up in the hair follicle over time.  As a result, the follicle begins to shrink and that causes a disruption in the normal hair growth cycle of growth, rest, and rebirth.

Female Hair Loss and Hormones : Pregnancy and Menopause

Both pregnancy and the onset of menopause influence hormonal patterns and can cause a reduction in estrogen.  It is believed that the reduction in estrogen allows for more dihydrotestosterone within the hair follicle and hence the shorter hair growth cycle.

Other Possible Causes of Hair Loss in Women : Surgery, Illness, Stress

Hair loss can also occur when the body undergoes extreme stress, such as that due to surgery or illness.  The body can simply shut down the hair growth process since it does not see hair growth as vital for survival.  Shutting or slowing down the hair growth cycle allows the body more resources for repairing the body’s other more critical functions.

Effect of Diet and Vitamins

Another cause for hair loss can be due to diet.  Some studies have shown that ingesting high doses of vitamin A, also called hypervitaminosis A, can accelerate hair loss.  This is a somewhat rare condition and you need to be taking a lot of vitamin A for a prolonged period of time. 

Determining the causes of hair loss in women is the first step to finding an appropriate treatment.

Always consult with your doctor or healthcare professional concerning any hair loss cause or treatment in women.

Eyebrow waxing for women — and increasingly eyebrow waxing for men — is a quick and easy alternative to plucking eyebrows.  Many people feel they get a cleaner “line” for their brows with waxing and also like the fact that the pain happens all at once, rather than drawn out one hair at a time.

Also, if you have very fine hairs around the eyebrows, waxing can pick them up better than trying to pluck them out with the aid of a magnifying glass.

However, eyebrow waxing does have some disadvantages.  First of all, it’s not always suited for the do-it-at-home types.  Manipulating hot wax around your own eyes is asking for trouble so eyebrow waxing is generally best left to a professional salon.

Also, if you have sensitive skin then waxing your eyebrows can lead to some allergic reactions.

Finally, the eyebrow waxing cost may be more than you want to spend.  Be prepared to spend $15 and more for a good waxing at a professional salon.

One nice thing about eyebrow waxing is that you usually (or at least should) have it performed at a salon so there is a better chance that it will come out looking good. Of course the results depend on the salon so be sure not to go budget!  With plucking, many of us will do that ourselves at home.  And if we are not very skilled we can often over pluck since it can be difficult to develop the correct brow line one hair at a time. 

How many of us have seen – and been the victim of – our own poor eyebrow plucking technique!

So the next time your eyebrows start to form into the dreaded monobrow, consider getting a professional eyebrow waxing at your nearest beauty salon.

Always consult with your doctor or dermatologist before considering any eyebrow waxing or other hair removal procedure.

Who Created Brazilian Bikini Waxing?

The infamous “Brazilian bikini waxing” (sometimes called a thong wax or a Playboy wax) was brought to America by seven Brazilian-born sisters: Jocely, Jonice, Joyce, Janea, Jussara, Juracy and Judseia Padilha, who opened the J. Sisters International Salon in midtown Manhattan in 1987 and introduced their signature Brazilian bikini wax in 1994.  According to Jonice, “when we first introduced our signature Brazilian bikini wax in 1994, we had no idea how it would be received. In Brazil, with bikinis so small, waxing is part of our culture.”  At the J. Sisters salon the bikini waxing is the second most popular offering after nail care.

What Hair Is Removed as Part of the Brazilian Waxing?

A traditional Brazilian bikini waxing will remove everything in your nether regions, which includes all the hair from the labia and the buttocks, leaving you completely smooth.  Often a “landing strip” of hair is left on the labia.  In some circles, the landing strip of hair could be removed and it would still be considered a Brazilian waxing although some people refer to the complete removal of all hair as a Full Bikini Wax.

How Is The Brazilian Performed?

First of all, be prepared for a very unglamorous procedure involving hot wax in your most intimate areas.  A Brazilian bikini waxing is basically performed like any regular hot wax hair removal, except in all the *ahem* right places.  First, hot wax is spread onto the buttocks.  And like in any hot wax hair removal a strip of cloth is pressed against the wax and allowed to briefly cool.  Unceremoniously the wax is ripped off, along with all the hair.  Next, wax is smeared onto the mons and the hair is removed from the labia area in the same manner.  Be prepared for getting into some weird yoga-like positions since it’s quite normal for the waxer to have you hold your legs up, or to the side, or even moon them.  The waxer will then use tweezers to pick out any strands that were missed.

How Much Does The Waxing Cost?

Depending upon your area, anywhere from $50 to as much as $100.  It’s probably best not to bargain shop too much since you want to get good professional results.  If you have never had a Brazilian waxing before, by all means don’t try to do it at home.  Go to a well-established salon.  You will find it impossible to get at all the nooks and crannies if you try the waxing on your own.

Does the Bikini Waxing Hurt?

Quite honestly, yes it hurts.  For some people it’s excruciating, while others say it’s not nearly as painful as it sounds.  Still others say that while it is painful, it is not long lasting.  Suffice it to say that your individual pain mileage will vary.

Is The Brazilian Bikini Waxing Worth the Pain?

Depending upon your skin type and sensitivity, you may experience ingrown hairs and red bumps.  However, many women swear by the Brazilian bikini waxing, saying that it makes them feel extremely sexy and free and that the waxing is definitely worth the pain.  Results will normally last from ten days to as long as three weeks.

Always consult with your doctor or dermatologist before considering any hair removal procedure.

What is Electrolysis Hair Removal?

If you are looking for another method of removing unwanted hair from the body or face, you may want to consider electrolysis hair removal.  The procedure is done using a hair-thin metal probe called an epilator.  An electric charge is delivered through the epilator into the hair follicle which causes localized damage to the growth center of the hair.  When inserted properly the probe will not actually puncture the skin and after the charge has destroyed the growth center the hair can be removed readily with tweezers.

How Many Electrolysis Hair Removal Treatments are Needed?

There are many variables that determine an individual’s hair growth so the exact number of sessions to have permanent hair removal will be different from person to person.  Typically a single treatment will be less than one hour and the patient will have electrolysis treatments every week or two.

Is The Hair Removal Permanent When Using Electrolysis?

While most people will not have hair regrowth after they have completed their treatments, some studies have shown that up to 10% of patients do not have satisfactory results.

Is Electrolysis For Hair Removal Painful?

In general electrolysis hair removal is painless for most consumers, although some individuals may need a topical anesthetic since the procedure can be tedious.  Some individuals have more skin sensitivity and coarser hair which can affect their level of discomfort.

Electrolysis Hair Removal Versus Laser Hair Removal

• Electrolysis hair removal has been around for more than 100 years and has been tested longer than laser hair removal.
• Electrolysis is not affected by the patient’s skin tone.  Due to how the technology works, laser hair removal functions better for people with light skin and dark hair.
• Laser hair removal is able to treat larger areas better — for example, a man’s back — than electrolysis.
• Electrolysis hair removal is sometimes a beter choice over laser hair removal, especially if you are treating just a small area or if you have a particular hair type of skin tone that is not compatible with laser treatment.

Always consult with your doctor or dermatologist before considering any hair removal procedure.

There are several options for keeping unwanted hair off your body.  While some methods have more permanent results,  most methods come with a little bit of pain for you to endure.  Sadly, that’s the price you pay for having a smoother body.

Hot wax hair removal is a popular method that many people use.  It can be painful when compared to other techniques such as plucking or shaving.  However, hot wax hair removal tends to last longer and can be done at home with common over the counter products.

It is possible to get hot wax hair removal on just about any part of your body.  Waxing your brows is a common procedure at many salons and there are facilities that specialize in waxing alone.  Typically the hot wax hair removal process is done by applying a coating of hot wax to the affected area.  A piece of fabric is pressed against the hot wax and allowed to cool.  This fabric acts as a kind of handle, allowing the wax to be pulled from the body along with any hair.

There are different types of home hot wax removal kits.  Some are made up of plastic strips that are made hot by rubbing.  The friction heats the strip which can then be applied to facial areas like the chin, upper lip and eyebrows.  Other hot wax removal kits come with wax in a jar that is heated in the microwave and applied to the skin.  Great care needs to be taken to make sure the wax is the right temperature to avoid burns.

Following are a few tips for using hot wax removal kits at home: 

• Do not attempt to use the hot wax on areas that are irritated or damaged.
• Clean the area well.
• Apply a light coat of powder before waxing an area.  This helps the wax to adhere to the skin more evenly by drying up any excess oils.
• After the wax has been removed you can apply baby oil to help soothe the skin. This will also help to loosen any excess wax making it easier to remove.

How society views what is attractive or desirable has changed over time.

What is considered popular by today’s standards will almost certainly be out of fashion in the next generation.  In fact, even styles from just 10 years ago can now be looked upon as out of date.

Today excessive body and facial hair are seen as unattractive and as a result, techniques such as laser hair removal has become quite popular for both men and women to remove unwanted hair from the areas of the face, arms, legs and chest.

However, laser hair removal is not without it’s risks. 

Since the process can be painful, the procedure often uses a pain-dulling cream to ease the patient’s discomfort.  The risk here occurs when there is excessive use of numbing creams such as lidocaine which can cause double vision, breathing problems, and possibly death in some patients.  Patients who are not adequately informed of the dangers of excessive lidocaine may not be able to correctly assess the risks involved in the hair removal procedure.

However, there are many great advantages to have laser hair removal even when you consider the risks.  The process is convenient, especially when compared with the even more painful waxing procedure which needs to be done more often.

Also, laser hair removal can be more convenient than shaving hard to reach areas like your back.

So despite some risks, in the long run you can save time, money, and the eliminate the inconvenience of shaving when you have a laser hair removal treatment.

Do you like the way you look?  We all have concerns about how we look to others and even people whom we think are gorgeous can have their bouts of insecurities about their appearance.

Doesn’t this seem wrong to you?  Well, let’s be honest and blame someone else for our woes and insecurities.  Yes, it’s all because of the nasty media machine.  I’m sure we all agree that the media has a huge impact on what we deem as attractive and acceptable in today’s society.

For example, let’s consider body hair.  No, not the hair on your head although that has it’s own problems with public acceptance.  Let’s consider your body fuzz.  Do you have it?  Lots of it?  Do you want to get rid of it?  Well, if you do then you might want to consider some laser hair removal.

The internet has loads of information on the topic and with a little Googling you can also find some alternative procedures such as waxing and electrolysis.  Laser hair removal information however seems to be quite popular since it can offer a more permanent solution than just plain waxing.  Here are some general advantages and disadvantages to laser hair removal, which is basically a process where a laser at a particular frequency targets a darker material — like your hair. 

Advantages:

• For some patients the hair removal is permanent
• Useful for treating large areas such as the back
• Best results on people with fair skin and dark hair

Disadvantages:

• Can be a costly procedure
• Hair regrowth is a possibility
• Not as effective on people with dark skin
• Studies on long term effects have not been fully established

Despite some of the risks — both known and unknown — laser hair removal is still an option for many who are seeking to comply with the media’s dictates of beauty in today’s world. 

As a final note, please be sure to consult with your doctor or dermatologist before attempting any laser hair removal or any other medical procedure.