Body hair is a definite ‘no-no’ these days, even for males!

There was a time when body hair in males was considered manly and even sexy! Not anymore. India dreams along with films and actors and actresses. With the ever-increasing influence of Bollywood and other ‘filmy’ woods like Tollywood, Mollywood, etc., everyone wants to be a movie star or at least look like one.

Gone are the days when only Salman Khan, the famous Bollywood movie star, or some other movie star would flaunt his toned and hairless torso and legs. Now, everyone wants hair-free legs. When this is the case with males, one can just imagine the state of females. Because for ladies to look good and beautiful, body hair is taboo. Men too prefer ladies with a clean and ‘hairless’ torso.

All these trends are a beautiful fuel for the ever-increasing growth and development of the grooming industry. The size of the global laser hair removal market size was priced at US $583.99 million in 2021 and is expected to reach US $2.51 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.75 from 2022 to 2031. And India is not far behind in following the trend.

With the growing usage of shorts and other Western wear by both men and women, hair on legs is a big ‘no-no’ for at least women. As stated earlier, men too are bucking the trend of retaining hair on legs and going on for clean, shaved legs. And several different methods like waxing, threading, and laser hair removal are being adopted to achieve a neat, aesthetic, and hair-free look.

How does one remove leg hair permanently?

Hair growth depends upon a variety of factors. These can be genetic, hereditary, hormonal, and environmental. Hair follicles contain a large number of matrix cells at their ends. These matrix cells have a fast growth rate resulting in a very active hair follicle metabolism. And this causes hair to continuously grow.

On the head, the growth of hair is fine. But in several areas of the body, this hair growth is not liked by people. For example, hair on the legs is disliked by women. As it is an aesthetic concern, it needs to be removed. Besides, it is a huge turn-off during sex. Of course, surprisingly leg hair can be a fetish for a few people but that is relatively uncommon.

There are some methods of hair removal providing results for a few months or even years. However, there are a few truly permanent methods. One has to remember that there is no way to remove hair permanently at home. However, there are methods of reduction of hair growth in a permanent or semi-permanent manner.

A few cheap and short-term methods of leg hair removal are listed as follows:

1.     Shaving: Shaving blades for men and specially designed blades are available for women too to shave visible hair. But the results are short-term as there is regrowth of hair in a few days.

2.     Waxing: This involves the use of hot wax/wax strips to stick to the leg hair surfaces and pull them out. Just like shaving, this method too can be performed at home using waxing kits.

3.     Tweezing: It uses tweezers to pull hair from the skin. Although painful, this method results in slightly longer results than shaving.

4.     Creams/Ointments: Few over-the-counter creams/ointments are helpful for the temporary removal of hair. On the flip side, these can cause reactions over the skin in certain people.

All the hair-removal methods listed above are not without risks. A few risks are stated here –

• Irritation at the hair-removal sites
• Razor burns
• Chemical burns
• Allergic reactions
• Ingrown hair
• Rashes or redness
• Infections in some cases

One of the latest devices effective for leg hair removal is intense pulsed light (IPL) device. This can be used at home and if a person regularly uses it, is effective for the removal of hair.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is the only United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved permanent hair removal treatment. It helps in the safe and permanent removal of hair from all skin tones. Since it leads to the permanent destruction of the growth cells present in the hair follicles, the hair will not grow back.

This procedure is done by using needles for the application of short-wave radio frequencies to destroy the hair follicles. The technician later removes the hair with tweezers. This can be performed on any part of the body including the legs.

Keeping in view the hair growth cycle, a person needs several sessions for achieving the desired effects. Several factors like the part of the body, the person’s sensitivity, and the amount of hair present on the leg determine the number of sessions required. But once all the hair is removed from the legs, the person does not need any further sessions.

A person may experience a few side effects like stinging, redness, or irritation at the sites of hair removal after electrolysis. Also, one might rarely develop an infection or excess scar tissue around the site.

Use of a laser to remove leg hair

This involves the use of a high-heat laser beam for the destruction of the hair follicles. Laser hair can be removed from any part of the body except the area around the eyes. The American Association of Dermatology (AAD) states that there will be around a 10-25% reduction in hair after the first session of laser therapy. Once the hair grows again, they are of a lighter colour and have less thickness. After there is a stoppage in hair growth, it will be nearly months or years before it returns.

Laser hair removal acts best on dark and coarse hair. It is not suited to light, grey, or red hair.  This generally requires several sessions to remove all the hair from the legs. Each session will require a gap of about four to six weeks and in some cases even eight weeks for the next one. UnCover has the best laser treatment options available.

This method involves selective photothermolysis. In this, the light's wavelength and pulse duration are chosen to correspond to the melanin pigment found in the hair follicle. The melanin pigment absorbs light. This then transforms into heat and damages the hair follicle. It also slows down growth.  A dermatologist will arrange laser sessions every 6 to 8 weeks. This is because the hair follicle goes through distinct growth stages. This will guarantee that hair is removed when it is actively growing to achieve the best results. To ensure that the surrounding skin is not injured during the process, the dermatologist will precisely focus the laser beam on the target area. This makes it a comfortable experience.

Benefits of ‘laser’ leg hair removal

• US FDA-approved laser equipment is used by highly skilled, certified, and experienced skin therapists to provide the best care.
• Precision: Lasers help in the accurate and safe removal of leg hair.
• Speed: The average laser hair removal lasts for a maximum of 45 minutes.
• Long duration: It offers permanent hair reduction.
• With this procedure, one can finally say goodbye to ingrown hair.
• Compared to waxing, shaving, or tweezing, it is a relatively pain-free procedure. At the very most, the customer might find the experience similar to a hot stone massage.
• It has no dangers or significant side effects.
• It is a successful surgery with immediate and lasting effects.
• Due to its high success rate, it is the most preferred choice among customers.
• Customers can quickly continue their normal activity; there is no downtime.
• Affordability: Laser treatment is a cost-effective solution for leg hair removal in the long run compared to other conventional methods.

Cost of laser leg hair removal

The average cost of laser leg hair removal starts at Rs. 8,500 for one session. The cost further reduces for a package of sessions. The price depends on several factors like the density and texture of hair, the type of skin, the type of laser, causes of hair growth, the reputation of the clinic, the experience of the dermatologist, location, etc.

For leg hair removal and a permanent reduction, think UnCover

UnCover’s experienced and professional therapists and dermatologists consider the skin, and hair type and embark upon a personalized treatment plan tailored to the needs of their clients. The reduction in hair on your legs is clear and prominent with each session.

Say goodbye to unwanted leg hair today. And also, to the hassles in utilizing temporary hair removal fixes that do not last more than seven days! UnCover’s leg hair removal solutions are accepted by both men and women alike. For clean and hair-free legs, think no further than UnCover. Book a free consultation today for a permanent reduction in leg hair. Act now.