Hair Removal 101: Best Ways to Remove Unwanted Hair for People with Dark Skin
The global laser hair removal market reached a staggering $516.3 million in 2018 and expected to increase to $1.35 million in 2022, based on a report from Transparency Market Research. This means that more individuals are willing to spend just to have their unwanted body hair removed. Yet like the usual dilemma that people with darker skin tones normally encounter when taking care of their natural hair, having their body hair removed may also be a challenge. Aside from LHR, there are a lot of other aesthetic procedures that can remove excess body hair properly. Here are the best ways to choose the right hair removal treatment to address your unwanted hair problems.
Shaving and Waxing
Perhaps the cheapest and fastest way to shed all those unwanted hair is through shaving. You can even do it safely in the comfort of your own bathroom. But the major downside of this simple hair removal procedure is the possibility of incurring unsightly razor bumps or ingrown especially if you have thick, curly hair. These ingrown can turn into inflammation if not treated properly, so make sure that you exfoliate properly before shaving to avoid these ugly bumps.
If you have more time, you can opt to remove your excess hair by waxing. This procedure will allow you to enjoy a hair-free body for weeks. However, there are also several risks that you may encounter when waxing your unwanted body hair just like what you could experience if you choose to wax your nose hair. You must expect to experience pain every time a chunk of wax is being pulled away from your skin to remove the hair. You may also expect to see the waxed area darken over time due to the trauma caused by constant hair pulling. If this happens, your dermatologist may discuss several aftercare tips for just waxed skin.
Depilatory Cream
If you don’t like the idea of shaving your body hair constantly or the pain that you need to endure during waxing, then using depilatory creams may appeal to you. You just need to apply a lotion-like substance in the areas with unwanted hair, then wipe it away with a cloth. However, you need to do a patch test first before you apply the cream on your skin to check if you are not allergic to the formula.
Laser Hair Removal
Since laser hair removal treatments is the latest trend in dealing with excess hair growth nowadays, even people with darker skin tone are interested to try it. But in the past, using lasers to remove unwanted hair comes with greater risk for people of color due to possible skin damage. Fortunately, the advances in laser hair removal technology can now lessen the appearance of excess hair on people with darker skin safely and effectively.
There are now four types of lasers used for better hair removal. The first one is the Ruby lasers that are often used for people with light skin and darker hair. However, it has a narrower light beam which is why you need longer and more frequent sessions before you see any results. Another type of laser used for hair removal is the Alexandrite lasers that emit rapid pulses, which is known for its effectivity in treating people with combination skin tones and hair colors. But perhaps the most effective types of lasers that work on darker skin tones are the Diode and the ND:YAG lasers which utilizes more invasive wavelengths that can penetrate deeper into the skin. This can lessen the amount of energy that is being absorbed by the topmost layer of the skin to reach the hair follicle, thus lessening the sessions needed to reduce the hair.
Removing unwanted hair does not have to be complicated nowadays, even if you have darker skin. Just make sure that you know the possible effects of your chosen hair removal method so you will be able to lessen the risk by proper preparation. Also, always ask the expert for aftercare tips so you will enjoy having smoother, healthier hair-free skin for a long time.
By AGN Contributor
Africa Global News Publication
