The Smooth Skin Guide (Guaranteed No Stubble)

One of my most daring childhood experiments was shaving my entire body at a slumber party. It was the late 90’s and laser hair removal was starting to take off; the billboards were covered in silky legs and armpits. My mother, a second wave feminist, was distraught. I was forbidden to pick up a razor until my late teens.

If I have children of my own, I expect to be more lenient. Like SPF, the practice of removing body hair dates back to ancient Egypt (it was historically a status symbol) and the reasons for this are manifold. You may have polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition that can cause excessive hair growth. Or maybe you are a bodybuilder looking for a hairless chest.

Hair removal has never been easier, or more popular – in 2021, the global market for laser hair removal was valued at $583 million. By 2031, it is projected to reach around $2.51 billion.

Laser and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), the two most popular permanent solutions, work by directing light at the pigment in the hair; damage the follicle with heat. The main difference is that laser treatments emit one wavelength of light, while IPL projects short bursts of white light (containing multiple wavelengths). Laser is usually more effective – IPL can be more versatile. There may be some pain during both treatments, but nothing compared to the rashes and ingrown hairs that can come from shaving.

Treatments are rapidly evolving. In The Holland Park ClinicDr. Jennifer Doyle uses the Forever Bare BBL for sciton, an upgraded IPL treatment that is up to four times faster than standard devices. “We’re much more open about the societal pressures we face and what we do to adhere to them,” says Doyle of the growing interest in hair removal treatments, one of the most popular being bikini lines, which can being zapped in three two-minute sessions. Forever Bare’s effectiveness is due to a built-in sapphire that cools the skin during treatment, allowing more heat to be delivered without side effects (burns and scars). The treatment is available in salons around the world, from Paris: try Aesthe in Le Marais – to New York.

Hair removal routines can be elevated to a personal care ritual

Waxing services now resemble luxury wellness offerings. In January, London Medispa EF The group launched Soprano Leg Perfect, a “holistic” option that combines a triple-wavelength formula with calming cryogenic balls and a cellulite-reducing massage. In addition, it can be done before the holidays (usually you should avoid sunlight before and after laser hair removal). “We wanted to offer [an] experience that felt more like a treatment,” says founder and skincare expert Esther Fieldgrass, who recommends a minimum of six sessions.

For some people, “there [a] notion that removing body hair is mandatory, so there’s no need to make the experience a positive one,” agrees Lillian Tung, co-founder of the New York-based personal care brand. Hair. “But we believe that routines can be elevated to a self-care ritual.” The brand has products, including oils, creams, and scrubs, to go along with a full spectrum of hair removal methods. When Fur launched a gender-inclusive trimmer built with anti-irritation blades and an LED bulb, it sold out in a matter of days.

But while treatments are evolving, not all are created equal. Because the laser targets melanin, it can leave people with darker skin at risk of burns. Meanwhile, blondes or redheads may not see any results: the most receptive candidates have a strong skin-to-hair contrast. One way around this is electrolysis, ideal for the chin and upper lips, where a thin wire is inserted into the follicle and connected to an electrical current. “The rapid injection feels similar to tweezing eyebrow hair,” says Abbey Conley, chief esthetician at KX in Chelsea. Those with larger areas to remove should look to Nd:YAG or diode technology – lasers with longer wavelengths that can bypass melanin by penetrating deeper into the skin.

There is also a new wave of home treatments, one of the newest being the YOUTH Venus Pro, an IPL device that, like Sciton’s BBL, uses a sapphire to maintain a low temperature. “It’s a three-in-one,” explains Heather Talbot, an expert at the beauty equipment company. current bodyadding that it also helps increase collagen and reduce the signs of aging.

Not ready to take the step towards permanence? There’s always sugaring, the procedure that removes hair in the natural direction of growth by removing a mask of lemon juice, sugar, and water. Now gaining new traction among waxing scorners and the multitude of natural methods, it’s available in select salons around the world. And while initial treatments only last about three weeks, hair follicles should start to deplete after just a few treatments. My mother will be pleased: I will never pick up a razor again.