By: Ronda Oosting
Are you longing for the Michigan thaw and warmer temps? Perhaps you get lost looking out the window at the frozen tundra and envisioning weekends on the beach or at the pool. And then you are interrupted by the thought of the dreaded summer “manscaping” routine. Maybe you are one of the many men who have more body hair than you prefer, and it becomes even more an issue for you in the summer. Or your “manscaping” is a year round issue and never ends. If you are ready to look into male permanent body hair removal , keep reading. At Centre for Pure Skin, we can help you break free from manscaping, nicks, ingrown hairs and razor burn.
Laser Hair Removal Isn’t Just for Women Anymore
If you are like many guys, you probably don’t frequent salons and spas, looking for pampering and “foo foo” skin treatments.That is completely understandable, but one thing that IS bringing more men into Centre for Pure Skin is their desire for less body hair. You don’t have to be a professional bodybuilder or competitive swimmer to justify getting laser hair removal on your chest or back. Everyday guys who are perfectly manly men are making their lives easier by pursuing male body hair removal . Some want less of a gorilla back, and others are sick of dealing with ingrown hairs and razor burn around the neck area. Imagine wearing a shirt and tie all day without feeling like you have a piece of sandpaper stuck around your neck. Some guys sign up male facial hair removal to ditch the dreaded unibrow look. Whatever your problem area is, we have the solution.
So How Does It Work?
During a laser treatment, a diode laser beam passes through the skin towards hair follicles. The penetrating energy heats up the root of the hair, which in turn prevents future hair growth. Because the laser needs to identify the hair, the best candidates for laser hair removal are people with darker hair and a relatively lighter skin tone. At Centre for Pure Skin, we have two different state of the art laser machines, the Diolaze™ by InMode and the Lumenis LightSheer® Diode Laser. Here are the differences:
- Diolaze by Inmode- Most patients immediately notice a significant reduction in hair growth after a few sessions. The treatment is very tolerable due to 3PC Cooling that provides the ultimate in patient comfort. Diolaze has one of the largest treatment spot sizes, making treatments convenient and fast. The larger applicator allows for comfortable laser hair removal of back and chest.
- Lumenis LightSheer® is different than other laser hair removal systems because it has the capability to emit a range of pulse lengths during treatment. LightSheer’s pulses can be adjusted based on your individual needs for the most customized treatment. A small applicator allows for quick, comfortable, and safe male facial hair removal such as the neck and eyebrow area.
Regardless of the laser used, all laser hair removal treatment plans are a process. We recommend planning on 6-8 treatments for complete hair removal, and a few less if you simply want to thin out an area. Though it is relatively permanent, there may be touch ups required every year or so.
Is the Actual Appointment Going to be Awkward and Embarrassing?
Don’t worry, we won’t meet you at the door with a white fluffy robe and glass of pink champagne. And contrary to what you are probably imagining, we won’t send you back to work smelling like lavender spa oil. We try to make it quick, easy and as comfortable as possible for you. Regardless of the area being treated, you will want to shave it prior to your appointment. If you forget, we will have to do it, and that may add to your appointment time as well as level of embarrassment. It needs to be shaved so the laser doesn’t waste its energy on surface hair, but focuses on getting the energy to the root. Depending on your pain tolerance, you may want to try our topical numbing cream prior to the laser treatment. Once that has taken effect, one our laser certified aestheticians will begin the treatment itself. This typically feels like little pin pricks or small rubber band snaps. Smaller areas like the neck or eyebrows will only take 10-15 minutes, and larger areas like chest and back will take a bit longer. After the treatment, your skin will likely be quite red and feel like a sunburn. The aesthetician will be sure to put a soothing gel on to lessen the discomfort and promote a quicker recovery. It is a good idea to take a break from hard workouts for a few days, to let your skin heal. It’s also very important to stay out of the sun and avoid any self tanning lotions. You want to keep your skin healthy and lighter in color, so the laser can continue to distinguish the dark hairs against your light skin throughout the treatment process.
I know it seems like summer will never return to us here in Michigan, but it will be here before we know it.
In the meantime, you can avoid the summer manscaping and start reaping the benefits of male laser hair removal. If you are interested in checking it out here at Centre for Pure Skin, we would love to talk with you. Give us a call at 616-454-3536 for more information or to schedule an appointment.