The history of sugaring: from Cleopatra to the present day

What is laser hair removal

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure aimed at removing excess hair using a laser. The peculiarity of the manipulation is the destruction of the hair bulb (follicle) containing the natural dye melanin. Laser beams, passing through the skin, act on the pigment. As a result, melanin heats up and destroys neighboring areas of glands, blood vessels and hair growth areas. The nutrition of the hair follicles stops, the hairs become thinner and fall out. After epilation, regrowth of vegetation in this place is impossible.

Procedure

The manipulations are performed by a specialist who is familiar with all the rules of the laser procedure. Before conducting the course, the cosmetologist finds out whether the client has chronic diseases, what medications are taken, and whether there are allergic reactions to gel compositions.

The area to be treated is wiped with a disinfectant, then a cooling gel is applied. To protect against burns, use a device with a cooling attachment. The doctor and patient wear glasses that protect their eyes from laser flashes. The doctor selects the power and type of laser that corresponds to the client’s skin phototype, color and hair stiffness. Moves the device that creates light beams across the selected area. After surgery, an antiseptic is applied to the treated surface.

Types of lasers used for hair removal

The effectiveness of light radiation depends on the type of laser. The following types of devices are often used in salons:

1. Alexandrite laser – not used on dark skin due to lack of effect. Removes dark and light brown hair on fair skin, but does not work on red and gray hair. Gets rid of ingrown hairs. Sometimes causes lightening or darkening of the skin.
2. Neodymium laser – removes dark and light hair from pale and tanned skin. It stops feeding the follicle, affecting not the melanin, but the blood network of the hair follicle. Used for the formation of blackheads after shaving and on irritated skin. Automatically recognizes hairs to be removed. The treatment area is affected pointwise. After 7 sessions, 95% of dark or 80% of light (gray) hairs disappear from the treated area.
3. Diode laser is an innovative model with great functionality. Passing through the skin, it affects melanin and follicular vessels, easily removes hair on tanned and dark skin prone to hyperpigmentation, without causing irritation. The radiation power is adjustable.

Sometimes they use a ruby ​​laser - an outdated model that only removes dark hair on light skin.

Laser hair removal: results after the first session

When you decide to undergo laser hair removal for the first time, you should not count on an instant solution to the problem. After the first session, the stubble will continue to grow, because... The lifespan of hairs is 3.5 – 6.5 years. A third of the hair is visible on the surface of the epidermis. The remaining hair follicles are dormant. Removing one instance leads to the appearance of neighboring ones, so the effect of the first session is invisible.

There are three stages of hair development:

• the intensive growth phase covers 80% of the vegetation and lasts 2–5 years;
• a period of rest during which the aging of the follicle occurs;
• the dying stage affects 15% of hairs.

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The laser only affects actively growing hair. 7–10 days after the first session, new hair growth occurs. After 2.5 weeks, the hairs are torn away from the destroyed bulbs and fall out. A similar situation is observed after depilation with sugar or wax: after 3 weeks, the treated area is covered with stubble. As a result of the laser action, the structure of the hair changes. Growing hairs become light, soft and thin.

How many sessions to achieve lasting results?

One session is not enough to get rid of excess hair forever. It is necessary to conduct a course, the duration of which is determined by a specialist based on the individual characteristics of the clients. The pause between the first and second laser hair removal procedures is 30–45 days. The rate of stubble growth slows down by the third session. Further, the interprocedural period increases by 14 days and by the eighth session is 180 days.

In order not to doubt the effectiveness, the sequence of procedures is followed. On average, the course consists of 8 – 10 sessions. If you do not go through the full complex, the hair will become stiffer, begin to grow faster, and after 5 years the growth will be completely restored. To prevent this from happening, maintenance procedures are performed annually after completing the course.

When deciding how many times to perform hair removal, the cosmetologist takes into account the following factors:

• age (the older people are, the longer it takes to regenerate hair);
• hair color (the darker the color, the higher the likelihood of maintaining the result);
• hair growth phase;
• density and thickness of vegetation (fine hairs grow slowly);
• hormonal background of the client (if elevated hormone levels are detected, the number of procedures is increased).

In different parts of the body, the structure and rate of hair growth are different, so the effect of the procedure lasts for different amounts of time.

Number of sessions in the armpits and arms

The result of laser hair removal depends on the structure of the hair. The forearms are covered with thin and soft hairs, which become thinner after the first laser exposure. If the hair on your hands is coarse, you will need to carry out 3 - 4 sessions with an interval of 2.5 - 3 months. Hairs grow in the axillary area, the color of which contrasts with the color of the skin. The effectiveness of the manipulations is visible after 2–3 sessions (with a pause of 2–2.5 months).

Duration of the effect of laser hair removal on legs

People often come to beauty salons to perform hair removal on their legs. The procedure is painless. The effect appears after 8 sessions. The interval between parts of the course is 6 – 18 weeks. At this time, thin, sparse hair grows and is gradually removed. The procedure makes the skin of the legs velvety. If you complete the full course, the effect will last for two years. Then, one procedure is performed annually to maintain smooth skin.

Laser hair removal of the bikini area

In the intimate area, any method of hair removal is perceived as painful, since the skin here is highly sensitive. The advantage of laser hair removal is that there is no roughening of the skin or ingrown hairs, as is the case with hot wax hair removal. The laser removes hair from hard-to-reach areas of the bikini without causing irritation to the epidermis. After the second session, the amount of hair is reduced by 30%. After completing the course, laser hair removal of the bikini area lasts for 2 years.

How long does the effect of laser hair removal on the back, chest and abdomen last?

The laser effectively treats unwanted hair growth in the following areas:

• backs;
• shoulders;
• linea alba;
• breasts;
• sacral region.

Judging by the reviews, the operation is as comfortable as possible. The validity period depends on the structure and growth rate of the hair. It takes about six sessions to get rid of hair forever.

Duration of facial laser hair removal

During the manipulation process, the laser acts on vellus hairs that grow in the eyebrow area and other parts of the face:

• above the upper lip;
• on the cheekbones;
• forehead;
• jaws;
• chin.

A complete facial treatment with a diode laser will take 45 minutes. After the first session, a fifth of the hair will disappear and ingrown hairs will be removed.

If a client develops black, coarse hair on his face due to hormonal disorders, then the patient first needs to contact an endocrinologist, who will get rid of endocrine pathologies. After treatment, sessions can be resumed. To remove hair, you will need 3–4 sessions, which take place at intervals of 2.5–3 months. With a low concentration of the male hormone (androgen), the procedure lasts two months (the effect of other types of depilation lasts up to 1.3 months).

Is it possible to get rid of hair forever?

With depilation this is unrealistic. As for hair removal, some types provide a similar opportunity, but you should not count on the final result after one procedure. To achieve a lasting effect, you must complete the entire course.

The number of procedures depends on the gender, age of the client, individual characteristics of the body, and the part of the body being treated. In addition, we should not forget that during hair removal only hair that is in the active growth phase is affected.

In different parts of the body, the ratio of the number of hairs in the anagen and telogen phases is different. The duration of these phases also differs. For this reason, the duration of the time interval between sessions should also be determined separately for each zone.

All of the listed methods of hair removal and depilation are also recommended for men. To get rid of unwanted hair, they will need more sessions due to the tougher structure and thickness of the hair.

Contraindications for laser hair removal

In order to get the desired result and not harm your health, before going to the salon, identify possible contraindications to the procedure. Depending on the severity of the ban, two groups are distinguished.

Absolute contraindications

Laser hair removal is strictly prohibited if:

• oncological diseases;
• epilepsy;
• herpetic rashes;
• diabetes mellitus

Relative contraindications

Laser hair removal is permitted after the following restrictions have disappeared:

• ARVI in the acute stage (it is better to wait for recovery);
• pregnancy;
• breast-feeding;
• damage to the skin;
• taking drugs that affect blood clotting or tetracycline antibiotics;
• phlebeurysm;
• benign tumors.

Tanning reduces the effectiveness of the procedure and increases skin sensitivity.

What risks do we take when epilating at home?

Waxing and sugaring are quite complex procedures that require certain conditions and special skills. Without sufficient qualifications and without the technique of waxing or sugaring, you can get a serious burn. Many girls use the microwave to heat up wax.

It is quite difficult to adjust the power of the device and also to guess the optimal heating time - as a result, the wax is very easy to overheat and when applied to the skin it will leave a burn. In professional hair removal salons, wax and sugar paste are heated with special devices - wax melters. The wax melter is not only able to heat the wax to the desired temperature, but also maintain it for a long time.

In addition, high-quality hair removal involves the use of a couch. Lying down is the most comfortable position for hair removal. In this position, the master will definitely notice even the most inconspicuous hairs, and the hair removal procedure in the salon will be of higher quality than hair removal at home.

Don't forget about hygiene. The hair removal salon uses special equipment for disinsection of instruments. The hair removal master must clean all instruments with an alcohol solution after each client, and all procedures are carried out using disposable gloves.

Hair removal in a salon usually takes place twice as fast as hair removal on your own. It’s paradoxical, but even the hair removal masters themselves trust the hair removal procedure to their colleagues. Make no mistake, hair removal on your own takes much longer.

The success of hair removal largely depends on the products used. Carrying out wax and sugar hair removal involves the use of special lotions before and after hair removal, talcum powder, skin degreasing agents and much more. If you carry out hair removal at home, you will have to stock up on a whole arsenal of expensive cosmetics.

How to increase the effectiveness of laser hair removal

To increase the expected effect, follow the rules of preparation for the procedure and behavior after hair removal.

Preparation for the procedure

When preparing for a session, follow the rules:

1. 10 - 12 weeks before the session, stop any type of hair removal.
2. 14 days before the procedure, stop sunbathing and going to the solarium.
3. 7 days before the session, stop using cosmetics containing fruit acids and benzoyl peroxide.
4. 2 days before the procedure, the hair is shaved off, leaving stubble, the height of which does not exceed 0.3 cm, so that the laser beams penetrate the skin and destroy the bulb.
5. On the day of hair removal, take a shower (do not use moisturizers or deodorants in the treatment area). Wear loose underwear made of natural fabric so as not to further injure the skin.

Rules of behavior after the procedure

To avoid inflammation of the treated areas, during the first four days do not take a hot bath, do not visit the sauna or swimming pool. Use only those cosmetics recommended by the doctor.

The remaining hairs should not be pulled out with tweezers, otherwise the procedure will be less effective.

The main advantage of laser hair removal is its efficiency. After the first session, a miracle will not happen. When you see hair growing, you shouldn’t be upset or indignant. Laser hair removal is a cyclical procedure. To achieve lasting results, take a course, the duration of which is set individually. Recommendations for preparing for the session and skin care will help maintain the effect of the procedure.

The essence of the hair removal procedure in the deep bikini area

Deep bikini (hair in the intimate area is removed most often for aesthetic reasons) is a type of Brazilian hair removal that removes unwanted hair from the pubic area, inner thighs, labia and intergluteal space.

The popularity of the procedure is due to hygienic and aesthetic reasons established in modern society. Despite the fact that hair is necessary for the skin to protect against infections and thermoregulation, the canons of beauty have been promoting the obligatory smoothness of the skin since ancient times as a symbol of a woman’s beauty and well-groomed appearance.

Most often, a deep bikini becomes especially popular on the eve of and during the beach season, but cosmetology experts recommend doing the procedure regularly. Frequent depilation helps to care for the intimate area, helps the skin become accustomed and reduces the intensity of pain.

Deep bikini (hair in the intimate area is removed in the salon or independently at home, using a depilator, wax or caramel paste) is carried out using several methods, differing in the technique of implementation and the duration of preservation of the result.

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Epilation with an epilator

Modern industry offers women to care for their intimate area using a depilator. This electric device is equipped with discs or tweezers that allow you to remove hair along with the hair follicles. This procedure is very painful, accompanied by subsequent skin irritation and is not recommended for people with a low pain threshold.

To reduce discomfort, many manufacturers supply depilatories with special attachments (and the creators of Philips offer an additional cold glove in the kit).

It is better to use an electrical device in the first days of the monthly cycle, when the skin is more resistant to manipulation. The depilator easily copes with hair from 2-4 mm in length. Removing tough and long vegetation on your own is not recommended as it can cause severe pain.

Epilation of a deep bikini with an epilator is very painful. It is recommended to remove hair using local anesthesia

Preparation before depilation:

1. In 30 min. Before the procedure, you should take painkillers (Analgin, Baralgin, Ibuprofen) or lubricate the pubic area with an anesthetic gel.
2. Take a hot bath and steam your skin to speed up the procedure and reduce skin sensitivity.
3. Charge the depilator.
4. Fill the device reservoir with water and place it in the refrigerator.

Carrying out the procedure:

1. The bikini area is dried and treated with talcum powder.
2. The depilator must be positioned at an angle of 90 degrees, and moving against the hair growth, successively remove unwanted hair by first stretching the skin on the treated area. The bikini area should be cleansed gradually (in small areas).
3. To reduce discomfort, you can use ice cubes, a cold glove and a water compress.
4. Upon completion of the procedure, the depilated area is lubricated with a caring lotion.

Using a depilator allows you to get rid of hair for up to 4 weeks.

Sugaring

Hair removal using thick sugar paste is considered one of the safest and most popular methods of deep bikini depilation.

Caramel mixture:

• allows you to clear the intimate area of ​​vegetation for 2-3 weeks;
• has a natural composition and does not harm the skin;
• eliminates the possibility of getting burns (since the procedure is carried out with material heated to 40⁰C);
• helps to completely get rid of excess hair without leaving broken or ingrown hairs.

Sugaring is carried out strictly along the hairline, which prevents severe pain. Caramel paste allows you to remove unwanted vegetation 5-7 mm long. Depilation is carried out using manual techniques. Before the procedure, the cosmetologist treats the bikini area with a cleansing lotion and dries it with talcum powder.

A small lump of sugar paste in 3 layers is applied to the skin against hair growth. The specialist stretches the tissue and with a sharp movement rips off the paste, eliminating stuck hair, and then presses his hand to the depilated area, reducing the intensity of the pain.

After the procedure, the skin is lubricated with a special tonic. The duration of the session is 35-45 minutes.

At home, you can perform sugaring yourself with a paste made from sugar, water, lemon and citric acid. All components are placed in a deep saucepan, cooked until boiling, and then simmered over low heat, with continuous stirring for 5-7 minutes. (until the mixture acquires a golden hue). The finished paste is cooled and used for depilation.

How to make sugaring paste step by step
Sugaring should not be carried out by people suffering from:

• diabetes mellitus (due to the risk of increased blood sugar levels);
• epilepsy;
• diseases of the genitourinary system caused by infections and fungi.

You should refrain from depilation if you have:

• damage to the skin in the intimate area;
• menstrual bleeding.

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Wax removal

The Brazilian technique is considered one of the most popular salon procedures that allows you to remove excess hair from the bikini area through the use of warm or cold wax.

The waxing procedure is quite painful and is accompanied by skin irritation, but it allows you to clean the intimate area for up to 35 days.

Most often, waxing is carried out in a salon. The master heats the wax, applies the product to a small area of ​​the body and presses a fabric strip on top. After 10-15 seconds. the strip is sharply pulled off, removing the hair along with the follicles. Upon completion of the process, the skin is treated with an antiseptic and lubricated with cream or peach oil.

The duration of waxing is 35-45 minutes. After the session, irritation occurs, which goes away after 4-5 hours. Side effects of the Brazilian technique are quite rare and appear if very hot wax is used (burn) or if the procedure technique is violated (the appearance of ingrown hairs).

People suffering from:

• diabetes mellitus;

• exacerbation of chronic infections;
• mental disorders;
• inflammatory processes in the genital area;
• oncological neoplasms;
• hypertension.

You can do Brazilian waxing yourself at home using ready-made wax or wax strips. Before home depilation, gentle peeling should be carried out and the depilation area should be treated with talcum powder. To reduce pain, you can use an analgesic cream or take a painkiller.

Chocolate hair removal

The newest technique, offered by a limited number of salons, consists of removing hair using wax with the addition of cocoa butter.

Chocolate wax does not irritate the skin, relaxes tissues and helps to dilate pores, making hair removal almost painless. The addition of cocoa butter, in addition to its cleansing effect, nourishes cells, healing skin tissue and preventing irritation.

Technology of deep bikini with hot chocolate:

1. The master heats the chocolate wax to 50⁰С - 70⁰С.

2. The bikini area is treated with lotion and talcum powder.
3. Warm wax is applied to the skin (it is impossible to get burned by the “chocolate”). A fabric strip is placed on top.
4. Upon arrival 10 sec. a strip of frozen “chocolate” comes off, removing unwanted vegetation.
5. The depilated area is lubricated with a soothing lotion with the addition of cocoa butter.

The smell of chocolate additionally relaxes the nervous system, relieves stress and fear of pain.

The procedure has virtually no side effects, but is contraindicated for persons:

• being in a feverish state;
• suffering from diabetes mellitus;
• with oncological tumors;
• with infectious, fungal diseases of the genitals.

Bioepilation

The oldest method of removing hair from the deep bikini area, known since the time of Queen Nefertiti of Egypt, involves removing excess vegetation with pine resin.

For deep bikini hair removal, resin is used that is heated to a temperature of 60⁰C. The substance is applied to the body, covered with fabric strips, pressed, and then abruptly removed from the body along with the adhered hair. Bioepilation is a rather painful method that requires anesthesia of the intimate area with an anesthetic or gel containing lidocaine.

After bioepilation, irritation occurs, which goes away after 2-3 hours. Over the next 4 days, the skin in the intimate area should be lubricated with a moisturizing gel and drink up to 1 liter of water per day.

Bioepilation should not be performed if the client has:

• genital herpes;

• sexually transmitted infections;
• thrombophlebitis;
• coronary heart disease;
• neoplasms of a benign or malignant nature;
• diabetes mellitus;
• relapse of chronic diseases.

Photoepilation

The procedure involves removing excess vegetation using broadband pulsed light (IPL). During the session, melanin absorbs UV rays, triggering a thermoregulation procedure that destroys the hair follicle.

Preparation for the procedure:

1. 3 weeks before photoepilation, you should avoid sunlight and not visit the solarium.
2. 2-3 days before the procedure you need to shave your hair. The required length of vegetation should not exceed 3 mm.

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It is better not to do photoepilation on days 4-7 of the menstrual cycle, since at this time the pain threshold is significantly increased.