Hair removal
Hair removal targets the hair root and ranges from the simple tweezer technique to laser-based methods for long-term hair reduction.
Table of Contents
Important note
This article is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis or advice. If you are unsure, or if you require a personalised treatment plan, it is essential that you consult a qualified specialist.
Smooth skin without daily shaving is an integral part of personal care for many people. Whilst traditional shaving only provides short-term results, hair removal methods tackle the root of the problem. In modern aesthetics, hair removal has evolved from the simple technique of using tweezers to highly complex laser-based procedures that enable long-term, significant hair reduction.
What is epilation?
Definition: What is epilation?
Epilation refers to all hair removal methods in which the hair is removed along with the hair root is removed or permanently destroyed. Unlike superficial hair removal, this process interrupts or delays the hair follicle’s ability to regenerate.
A distinction is made between temporary methods (e.g. waxing, traditional epilators) and procedures offering long-term hair reduction (e.g. laser) or permanent hair removal (electrolysis).
Epilation vs. Depilation: The Crucial Difference
Understanding this difference is key to choosing the right treatment:
Hair removal:
This method simply removes the visible part of the hair above the skin’s surface (e.g. shaving, depilatory cream). The root remains intact, and the hair grows back within a few days.
Hair removal:
The aim is to remove or deactivate the follicle. Depending on the method used, the results last for weeks (waxing) or years (laser).
An overview of hair removal methods
Depending on the desired duration of effect and pain tolerance, various techniques are available:
- Mechanical hair removal These include traditional epilators, plucking with tweezers, and removal using wax (waxing) or sugar paste (sugaring). The hair is mechanically pulled out of the follicle. The result: smooth skin for 2–6 weeks.
- Light-based hair removal (laser & IPL) These use high-energy light to thermally destroy the hair root.
- Electric hair removal A low-intensity electrical pulse destroys the hair’s growth cells one by one.
Professional hair removal using specialist equipment (laser & IPL)
In medical cosmetics, light-based treatments are among the most important standard methods for permanent hair reduction. They are based on the principle of selective photothermolysis: The melanin in the hair absorbs the light, converts it into heat and thereby damages the nourishing structures of the root.
- Diode lasers: It is considered to be very effective for different skin types and penetrates deep into the dermis.
- Alexandrite laser: Particularly quick and effective on fair skin and dark hair.
- Nd:YAG laser: The safest choice for people with dark skin, as it largely bypasses the melanin in the epidermis.
- IPL (Intense Pulsed Light): Uses a broad spectrum of light. It is often more cost-effective, but usually requires more sessions than a specialised laser.
Bear in mind the growth stages
Light-based hair removal is only effective during the anagen phase (growth phase). As not all hairs are in this phase at the same time, several sessions (usually 6–10) are always required, spaced several weeks apart.
Electrolysis: The only method recognised as a form of permanent hair removal
Electrolysis (needle epilation) is the only method classified by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) as „permanent hair removal“. In this procedure, an ultra-thin probe is inserted into the hair follicle. An electrical pulse permanently destroys the root. The advantage is that this method works regardless of hair colour (including white, light or red hair), but it is very time-consuming.
Risks and safety instructions
Although hair removal is considered safe, complications can arise, particularly with machine-based procedures. Incorrect laser settings or inadequate cooling can first- or second-degree burns, pigment changes or Pigment disorders (hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation) or scarring.
Before undergoing professional treatment, a skin analysis by an expert is essential. Should complications arise during a cosmetic treatment, a Consequential Costs Insurance provide adequate cover to meet the costs of any medical treatment that may be required.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about hair removal
The level of pain experienced varies. Whilst mechanical hair removal is often described as a tugging sensation, laser pulses feel like a rubber band snapping against the skin. Modern devices are fitted with cooling systems that significantly improve comfort.
The term ‚permanent hair reduction‘ is usually used. Many patients experience significantly reduced hair growth over a period of years; however, in isolated cases, hair may grow back.
With mechanical hair removal (waxing), the hairs must be of a certain minimum length. With laser hair removal, on the other hand, the skin must be freshly shaved so that the energy is directed straight to the root and does not burn the skin’s surface.
As mentioned, only hairs in the active growth phase react to the destruction of the follicle. As this affects only around 15–20 % of the hairs at any one time, several appointments are unavoidable.
Thanks to modern technologies such as the Nd:YAG laser, almost all skin types can now be treated. Nevertheless, the greater the contrast between light skin and dark hair, the simpler and more effective the procedure is.