The Physiology of Hair Removal

How Do Different Hair Removal Methods really Work? And Why?

Anatomy and Physiology of the Hair Follicle:

Every hair is unique and independent of the next and has its own little ecosystem of life and health. Each hair grows in a vessel called a follicle. The body tends to those follicles by providing blood flow, moisture and other vital ingredients needed to produce a healthy hair. Each follicle is provided vitamins and minerals to promote growth and proper structuring of proteins, a blood supply to "feed" the hair, moisture to sustain it softness and melanin to give it protection and it's coloring.

Each hair also has a life cycle that consists of 3 stages. These stages are called Anagen, Catagen and Telogen. During these stages there is growth, death (loss) and dormancy. Of course not all hairs are in the same stage of their lives lest we would lose all of hair at once and have to await regrowth! The human body is wonderfully designed!

Because of these stages, hair removal, especially permanent hair removal, can be tricky. Through some methods the root of the hair is removed cleanly the follicle, and the follicle is left to regrow a new hair. This process is usually complete with a hair breaking the skin's surface at 4-6 weeks. In others, the follicle is damaged or completely destroyed to slow or stop the regrowth process completely. Still other methods only cut the hair away from the skin's surface and regrowth is immediate.

To understand the anatomy and physiology of the hair is to understand the means by which hair removal works, thus making it easier to decide which method is best for you!

Waxing

Waxing is a technique which uses a depilatory that is warm and sticky upon application. Much like honey. As the wax cools the hair that is covered by it becomes trapped. In some cases a strip of muslin or non-woven material is laid atop the cooling wax to remove it and the hair trapped within. Other times, the wax is allowed to cool completely and can then lifted using the fingers. Both methods pull hair from the roots and will, in most cases, result in no hair returning to the surface of the skin for 4-6 weeks. After that, when there is about a ¼"-½" of regrowth, the process can be repeated.

Laser

Laser or photo-epilation is used for long-term removal of hair but it is not quite permanent. The result of laser hair removal can last as long as 2 years though! Lasers are calibrated to "look" for certain colors and focus energy there. The pigment providing color for the laser in hair removal processes is called melanin. Melanin gives the skin and hair color. Once the desired melanin color is found by the laser, the laser will then focus here thus causing damage to the follicle. This is called photo thermolysis. Regrowth of hair is reliant on the time needed for the damaged follicles to repair itself.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is a safe and very effective means of removing hair PERMANENTLY. By inserting a sterile probe into a follicle with the hair, an electric current effectively destroys the cells that are necessary for producing a hair. After this process is complete, a tweezer is used to extract the hair from the follicle. With the elements necessary for growing hair destroyed, regrowth of a new hair will be impossible thus creating a permanent area of smooth, hair free skin.

Shaving

Using a sharp, fine, straight blade, the hair is cut away at the surface of the skin. The roots of the hair remain intact and continue to grow in at the same rate as before shaving. Just as getting a haircut doesn't actually "remove" hair, neither does shaving. It only shortens it. All growth cycles and patterns remain the same and this method of hair removal will need to be repeated almost daily to maintain the effect.

Tweezing

Tweezing is a type of epilation that involves the use of a device, usually a pair of fine metal tongs called tweezers. These tongs are used for grabbing hairs individually or in tiny groups and jerking it out of the follicle with swift movements. This type of hair removal has an effect much the same as waxing as it is removing hair from the root. This type of hair removal can last from 4 to 6 weeks and is most often used on the eyebrows and other facial areas to remove unwanted hair.

Knowing how and why each modality of hair removal works is important in deciding which type best fits your needs. If an immediate silky smoothness is the goal and growing hair out to a length that is visible or tactile is out of the question, shaving is probably your speed. If not having to deal with a razor every day is more what your heart desires than choosing a permanent or semi-permanent may better suit your needs. Choosing how to get rid of unwanted hair is a very personal decision and knowing how each method works is a great help in choosing which one is right for you.