In the latter part of 2008, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved the first two consumer devices for at-home laser hair removal. These devices are equipped with lasers similar to those used by those who offer professional laser hair removal services, although they are considerably less powerful and therefore result in less reduction in body hair. At-home laser hair removal devices are considerably less expensive than services provided by a doctor, but they don't come attached to bargain prices either. Before you purchase a home laser hair removal device, be sure it will be a useful beauty tool for you.
Laser Hair Removal at Home
Step 1
Make sure you're a good candidate. Laser hair removal works best for those with fair skin and coarse, dark hair. But the Mayo Clinic notes that laser hair removal is ineffective for people with blond, light red or unpigmented (gray) body hair.
Step 2
Identify the body parts on which you want to use the at-home laser hair removal device. Currently, the two devices approved by the FDA, the Silk'n and the Tria, cannot be used anywhere on the face. Laser hair removal services provided through a doctor's office can treat facial hair, as long as it's not in the vicinity of the eyes. If you want to get rid of facial hair, this method of hair removal isn't for you.
Step 3
Have realistic expectations about your results if you do laser hair removal at home. According to a December 2008 ABC News report, the companies that make the Silk'n and the Tria claim to offer between 50 to 70 percent hair reduction after six to eight home sessions--laser hair removal services offered by professionals may yield 80 percent hair reduction after four to seven sessions to good candidates for the service, notes the Hair Removal Journal.
Step 4
Note that there will be some side effects, namely discomfort. ABC technology correspondent Becky Worley "test drove" the Silk'n and Tria and noted some redness and sensitivity on her legs after using the devices. At-home laser hair removal should be used according to the device's instructions. To minimize discomfort, the laser pulse shouldn't be "overlapped" on previously treated areas of skin.
Tips and Warnings
- The Silk'n website indicates that a 2009 clinical study yielded an average of 56 percent hair reduction after six months of using the device and 43 percent reduction after three months when 56 participants used it to treat their bikini line. In December 2009, the Silk'n was priced at $499 and the Tria at $595.
- Not all at-home laser hair removal devices work as they claim--if you purchase one of these devices, make sure that it's been approved by the FDA. According to the FDA's definition, laser hair removal doesn't remove hair permanently; rather, it reduces the density of hair growth over a long period of time after numerous sessions and maintenance treatments. The most permanent method of hair removal is electrolysis.
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