Four Myths About Hair Removal

Although hair removal is a personal choice, it’s got quite the public reputation.  And as with most personal things that make it into the public sphere, there are a lot of myths that crop up when it comes to hair removal.  In this article, we cover four myths about hair removal and set the record straight.

Myth 1:  Shaved Hair Grows Back Thicker And Darker

Shaving hair does not make it grow back thicker and darker.  It might appear that way, but that’s because the tips of each hair are blunted when shaved.  As hairs grow, they naturally taper off at the ends which makes them appear finer than shaved hair that’s starting to grow back.  Shaved hair that’s regrowing isn’t actually thicker or darker, it just appears that way for a short period of time.

Myth 2:  You Shouldn’t Shave Before Laser Hair Removal 

As a matter of fact, you’ll be asked to shave within 24 hours of a laser hair removal treatment.  The removal of a significant portion of the hair by shaving focuses the laser on the follicle while still allowing the laser’s energy to be absorbed.  That said, hair removal procedures such as plucking, tweezing or epilating should not be done before laser hair removal treatment because they can affect the hair follicle and its ability to absorb the energy of the laser.

Myth 3:  You Should Sun Tan Before Laser Hair Removal

Actually, you should avoid the sun both before and after laser hair removal procedures.  This includes using a tanning booth or topical tanning lotions.  Darkening of the skin colour can reduce the effectiveness of laser hair removal treatments.  After a laser hair removal treatment your skin will be extra sensitive to ultraviolet rays which could lead to sunburn.

Myth 4:  Laser Treatments Are “One And Done”

Although you can book a single laser hair removal treatment, you’ll get the best results with multiple sessions.  For most people, a single treatment won’t result in hairlessness for a significant length of time.  On the other hand, those who receive multiple, regular treatments will find that they’ll eventually be able to reduce their appointments to sporadic maintenance sessions.