The average woman spends three months of her lifetime getting rid of unwanted hair. Sound crazy? Well it’s true. Let’s face it; excess body hair can be unsightly and embarrassing. Shaving, plucking, waxing and smelly depilatory creams provide temporary fixes that are inconvenient, irritating, messy and only temporary. Electrolysis is time consuming, sometimes painful, and is useful only in removing hair from small areas.
Excess and unwanted hair is a common problem. Women frequently experience this condition on the face, especially the upper lip or eyebrow area, in the bikini area, under the arms or on the legs.
As a working mum, time is always against me, and I tirelessly come up with time saving schemes that make my life that bit easier. I’ve packed my freezer with casseroles and curries, I forked out a fortune for a tumble dryer that ‘irons’ the laundry, I stage the house the night before so that everything is to hand in the morning. And, the most satisfying and time saving venture was deciding to undergo permanent hair removal. After a friend recommended Advanced Laser Light on O’Connell St, Limerick, I gave them a call and Marina; the consultant, invited me in for a free consultation. Marina discussed, in detail, what the procedure entailed, and I was even shown an in depth diagram that explained the composition of the hair follicles, and what impact the treatment would have on them. I needed little persuasion at the thought of a life without razors so booked in for the following week. I discovered that I would need between 6-8 treatments for the most effective result.
The science bit: The new-pulsed light technology has proven to be the most successful and effective procedure to safely remove unwanted hair. The unique and sophisticated technology adapts to your unique hair and skin colour. Lasers and light systems don’t actually remove the hair. Instead, they kill the unwanted hair by targeting the melanin in the hair follicle; disabling the hair from further growth. Hair removal lasers and light systems use low-energy settings to gently disable unwanted hair, thus putting an end to routine shaving or waxing. These treatments leave your skin looking and feeling smoother and silkier.
Because these systems scan the skin rather than treating one hair at a time, it is possible to treat larger areas such as the back, shoulders, arms, legs, face and neck. Best of all, these advanced Hair Removal Treatments are safe, fast, gentle and effective alternative methods for hair removal. The visible light from the applicator is guided via a glass prism to the treatment area. The hair pigment absorbs the light and converts it to heat. The heat is led through the hair into the hair follicle, which is then destroyed and is therefore unable to produce a new hair.
Why Multiple treatment? Hair growth is cyclical; this means that the hair goes through resting periods and growth spurts, so in order to ensure that all hair follicles are destroyed, intermittent treatments of 6-12 weeks are required.
Does it hurt? It depends on your pain threshold. If you need a straight jacket to have your eyebrows plucked, then it may hurt a little. It didn’t hurt me.
What do you need to do to prepare? Just make sure your skin is clean from tanning products and avoid waxing four weeks prior to a treatment. After one or two treatments, I noticed a considerable reduction in hair growth, so waxing or shaving wasn’t necessary. Avoid direct sun exposure a week after the treatment. If this can’t be avoided, use a SPF 20.
Does it suit everyone? No, if you are naturally fair-haired, the treatment may not be as effective.
Is there a recovery period? No. Laser hair removal is a lunchtime procedure. There is no recovery time. Patients can return to work or play immediately. These lasers do not remove skin, so the risks are very low.
Is Advanced Laser Light the best option for me? Most Definitely. Advanced laser Light has been established for over 11 years, with other clinics based in Cork and Dublin. Director, Laura Murphy, was the first to introduce Intense Pulsed light to Ireland, and has a wealth of experience in Laser technology.
Is it going to cost a bomb? You might be surprised to learn that it is very affordable, considering the lifelong results. Check out www.advancedlaserlight.com to see some of the fantastic special offers.
For more information, contact Advanced Laser Light, 100 O’Connell St, Limerick Tel: (061) 317619 www.advancedlaserlight.com.
