Personal Laser Hair Removal Machine for Mens
I’ve written about my body hair challenges quite a bit, and they’ve been some of my most popular posts. First, I talked about body hair removal, feminism, and body image. Based on your feedback, I wrote about my own body hair removal strategies and practices. And then later revisited the topic when I chose to have my bikini line lasered. Body hair is an incredibly personal but also unavoidably political topic, since its presence is natural and its removal is tied to socially reinforced beauty ideals. But even though I know many disagree with me, I don’t believe anyone who chooses to shave or otherwise remove her body hair is a “bad feminist” or a pawn for the patriarchy. I respect those who shun hair removal, but also know plenty of women who have dedicated their lives to the battle for equal rights, respect, and pay for women and also choose to shave or wax or pay for laser hair treatments. If the argument is that feminist bodies should be loved exactly as they are naturally and left entirely alone, other related hypocrisies include deodorant, haircuts, bras, cosmetics, belts, shoes that aren’t 100% flat, and absolutely any article of clothing that alters the appearance of a body. Everything we do to change how our bodies look, feel, and smell is a nod to societal norms. And I’m willing to nod occasionally.
Today, I will be talking about my own experiences with laser hair removal because they have quite literally changed my life and drastically altered how I feel about my body. I addressed this first in the bikini line post, but since I know that body hair and its removal are challenging and frustrating processes for so many of you, I feel like this topic merits a moment in the spotlight. Especially since there are so many myths floating around about the treatments and their results.
When I was in college, I switched my birth control medication. I can’t even remember why I did it, but I did. And the new pills made me feel horribly moody and unlike myself, so I switched back. And after that switch back to the old medication, hair came. I began to notice thick, black chin and nipple hairs that had never been present before. I plucked them and caused ingrowns and felt miserable and confused. I hoped they’d go away eventually, but they didn’t. And over time, my leg and armpit hair became thicker and quicker-growing, to the point where I’d shave, a breeze would cause me to get goosebumps, and stubble would instantly poke through my skin. I mean, it could literally be 10 minutes after I shaved. I had no idea what to do. A friend suggested I just let it go and grow everything out, which I tried. The ingrowns from that experience were indescribably painful, and after a few months of experimentation, I vowed never to go au naturel again.
I got my first laser hair treatments in 2000 when I first moved to Minneapolis. I’d seen billboards around Uptown, and finally worked up the nerve to call a clinic in a nearby suburb. The treatments were incredibly expensive and quite painful back then. I paid $150 per treatment to get my chin and areolas done, and was left red and raw afterwards. But my regrowth lessened, some hairs vanished altogether, and the ones that grew back in weren’t as thick or noticeable. $150 a pop is a lot for a 25-year-old to sustain, so I probably did three or four rounds of treatment before giving it up.
But because it had helped, I came back. Years later a co-worker told me she’d gotten her legs done, and described the process as “an investment in freedom.” So I signed up for a treatment package at her clinic and began to get my legs done, as well as revisiting my chin and nipples.
It was expensive and I charged it all. I think around , 500 for the lot, which included six sets of treatments on all three areas. Not only that, but when I drove down to Eagan for treatment number four, I found the offices dark and no one there. The place had gone out of business without notifying anyone. I spent six months battling to get a portion of my money back, and won … but I was leery. Some of these laser hair removal outfits weren’t exactly above board.
And yet, even those four treatments on my legs had made a HUGE difference in my regrowth. I still needed to shave, but instead of getting five-o’clock-shadow on my legs, I could wait five or six days before visible stubble appeared. I had less razor burn and fewer ingrowns. And, again, all regrowth was thinner and finer.
So in 2012 when I jumped on a Groupon deal for discounted treatments, my goal was to push that leg hair growth back even further … and also to get my bikini line and “happy trail” under control. (It was really more like a Happy Superhighway.) The deal was with Clinical Skin Therapeutics, and I can honestly say that the staff there is the most knowledgable, patient, trustworthy, and helpful I’ve ever encountered. AND their lasers hurt far less than any others I’ve ever tried. I’ve been visiting consistently since 2012, getting various areas re-treated or treated anew with my armpits being the most recent new area, and completely love the women who work there. Since they know so much about the laser hair removal process, I asked them to answer a few common questions. Clinic Manager Kristina Pitre – truly one of the loveliest gals I know – helped me out.
In layman’s terms, how does laser hair removal work?
The laser selectively targets your hair follicles to heat them up to damage them while keeping your skin safe.
Can people of all skin tones and hair types get this treatment? Is it equally effective on everyone?
Yes, with the right laser you are able to treat all skin tones, which we are lucky to be able to do. However, laser hair removal is still only effective on dark hair.
