Hair removal methods vary between genders; for men the most common method for keeping a smart appearance is shaving. While this may be pain free to most males, the daily trauma of setting a shape to the facial region, can lead to shaving cuts / nicks, scarring and a mild discomfort. Male grooming has diversified greatly over the last decade with extensive product development and research leading to the production of space age shaving lubricants like Ultra Shave skin healing shaving cream. There is no doubt that natural organic products are the most beneficial to the skin as seen in the certified organic Moom sugar hair removal range. This waxing product enhances the centuries old sugaring method of removing unwanted hair from the root, resulting in a state of being hair free for upto 4 weeks. Other options include depilatory or creams which melt the hairs just beneath the skin's surface. This is not the best option for those with sensitive skin dispositions.
The personal care market for men is worth hundreds of millions per annum and manufacturers have invested heavily in the production of effective grooming tools for use at home. The Groom Mate nose hair trimmer, Remington
and Philips male body hair trimmers present in both battery and rechargeable formats.Other innovations in this field have been the Razorba back hair razor and a home laser hair removal kit an effective, albeit slower challenge to the costly salon treatments. There are numerous types of laser; the most common being: Alexandrite, Ruby and Diode.
The long-pulse alexandrite laser has the ability to penetrate deeply into the dermis. The resultant heat build up in the hair shafts disables the hair follicles in the active growth phase which enables it to achieve effective laser hair removal.
The Ruby laser emits a red coloured beam which targets the melanin inside hair shafts and adjoining hair follicles. Due to their specific melanin targeting features these are best suited for individuals having light skin and dark hairs.
Diode lasers are very effective. Laser production is triggered by small diodes or semiconductors that are arranged together to produce light beam. The diode laser has a longer wavelength than other types of lasers, which may improve treatment results on darker skin types. Significantly, Diode lasers have been approved by the US regulatory body, the FDA. Do-it-yourself Rio LAHR laser hair removal system has been recently introduced and utilises 808-nm laser technology. This laser is of particular importance for women who suffer from unwanted hair on the key areas like the upper lip, chin, sideburns and bikini line.
Typically, repeat sessions are required to weaken the hair root and gradually reduce hair growth. Users may benefit from using a hair inhibitor like the prescription drug Vaniqa or a more topical home solution such as Kalo hair minimiser. Hair inhibitors do not remove hair but work after hair removal to gradually reduce hair growth. Hair must be removed first, ideally by waxing, tweezing, laser or electrolysis.
Electrolysis is the process of removing superfluous or unwanted hair by passing a very mild electric current through the hair root (or hair follicle) via a Stylet (needle like) tip. The stylet itself is a hair-thin metal probe which is slid into a hair follicle. Proper insertion does not puncture the skin. Home Electrolysis units are widely used to tackle unwanted and often embarrassing hair on the face or on the body.