Until recently the only men who removed body hair, apart from their beards, were athletes, body builders and dancers. This has changed in recent years with a huge increase in the number of men who are using modern methods including laser hair removal and electrolysis as well as more traditional methods to remove hair from their chests, back, arms, shoulders and even around their genitals.

In laser removal and waxing salons, men are making up an increasing proportion of the clientèle. Laser hair removal has been approved by the FDA as a method to reduce the amount of hair rather than to remove it completely.

Many men who have thick growths of hair on their backs, chests and shoulders are using this method to considerably thin the hair. Waxing is also an option men for men and can also be used for the eyebrows, the ears and the back of the neck. It is also becoming popular among men to have the equivalent of women’s ‘bikini line’ treatment.

For most men hair removal treatments are something of a mystery and and it is not really something that comes up in conversation between men, unlike women who have discussed and used these treatments from their teen years.

We’ve put together some information on the latest and most successful method for men, laser hair removal.

Laser Hair Removal for Men

In this type, Laser Hair Removal, of treatment a laser emits pulsed light which targets the melanin (the dark pigment) in hair. The light travels down the hair to the follicle where the heat produced causes enough damage so that hair is prevented from growing. The hair follicle is not completely destroyed however so there is a small possibility that the hair may one day grow back.

The treatment Is not completely permanent because of this possibility and also the increasing growth of new hair as a man ages. Annual treatments to take care of the small amount of growth may be needed.

Laser hair removal treatments last around thirty minutes. The number of treatments required, of course varying with the amount of hair to be removed. Because the laser does not need to be applied to each hair individually, as in electrolysis, treatment of large areas can be done in a relatively short time.

The majority of laser hair removal treatments for men are for the shoulders, chest, stomach, back and the genital area. Treatments are expensive, starting at around $400 for each thirty minute treatment.

As the laser targets the dark pigment in hair this treatment is not so successful on men with fair, red or white hair. Men with very dark skin may also suffer some burning and blistering as the laser may target the melanin in the surrounding skin as well as the hair. After the treatment there may be some mild reddening of the skin which disappears in a day or two.

Hair will fall out around ten to twelve days after the treatment.

Advantages

Practically permanent
Almost pain free although slight burning pain may be felt especially in darker skinned men. The pain has reported to reduce with subsequent treatments
Best for thinning thick growths of hair rather than completely removing it
Gives the best results for men with dark hair and light skin

Disadvantages

Expensive
Not successful on men with fair, red or white hair