Permanent Hair Removal

My good friend used to have this unnatural fear of hair. It grossed her out beyond anything I've ever seen in anyone. On a trip to New York City in the hotel if there was even one stray hair in the shower she would bring one of us in to remove it. While I do cringe at the clog of hair latching onto the sink drain, I still don't understand repulsion on that level.

Some people just hate hair even if it's still attached to their body. Permanent hair removal may be the way to go for those certain individuals. But wait: is permanent hair removal really permanent?

There are various forms of "permanent" hair removal, none of which are really permanent. Sharpie markers, supposedly indelible, fade and sometimes even completely rub away after time and the same principle applies to permanent cosmetic surgery. The hair may not come back for months and months, but chances are it will return. Methods range from forms of electrolysis to flash lamps to even electric tweezers but none are completely foolproof against eventual hair re-growth. While most of these methods are FDA approved, they are not without caveats. When marketing these procedures, it must be admitted that there is a chance of the hair coming back.

These methods, most of the time, do succeed in removing the hair for extended periods of time, but now the question comes down to is it worth it? These procedures are somewhat painful and usually expensive (especially if done correctly and safely). Does that hair really need to be removed by such methods?

I like to simplify whenever possible and it seems to me that in some of the areas where permanent hair removal is used are areas that could be just as easily treated with plucking or waxing, which is definitely more cost efficient even if you have to do it more often. Also, temporary methods are not so painful or inconvenient. Yes it is temporary, but so are the "permanent" solutions. The trick with permanent hair removal is to accurately weigh the costs and benefits in conjunction with your beauty needs.