Things change over the years and I have had to update this site concerning home laser hair removal to cover advances in technology in recent years. First, laser hair removal treatment could only be carried out by medical practitioners. Then it was allowed by trained technicians in beauty clinics and spas. And now a home laser hair removal machine or two such as the Silk’n have been approved by the FDA as safe for you and me to operate – and buyers are having good things to say at last!

This means that you no longer need to use an expensive clinic if you don’t have the budget or the time to attend. However you still need to use caution when considering purchasing laser equipment to remove hair.

These portable laser hair removal machines use more or less the same technology as those used in many clinics so you need to consider the same factors before embarking on treatment.

Most of all be aware of the type of skin you have – the more contrast between skin and hair the better you will get on with one of these systems and if you have dark skin then it is best to consult a professional rather than risk using home laser equipment. Some clinics have particular equipment which is better for use on dark skin – see previous post Laser Hair Removal Machines. If you have any doubt at all contact a medical practitioner before you treat yourself.

Read and follow the instructions carefully and start off with a small area to be treated on a non-sensitive area of the body such as your legs or arms. If you’re unsure book one professional laser treatment at a clinic so that you know what to expect before you start. Also see our articles on what to expect before, during and after laser treatment – you’ll find them in the Laser Hair Removal section.

For your safety always wear goggles when operating a laser and stop using the laser hair removal machine immediately if you notice adverse side effects on your skin.

Advantages of Using a Home Laser Hair Removal Machine

One advantage is that you can carry out treatment for a significantly lower cost than that involved in going to a specialist clinic. This is especially significant if you are going to treat large areas of your body considering that whether you use a home or professional treatment you will need a number of sessions and often top up treatments every few months (reducing over time). See Cost of Laser Hair Removal for typical costs.

A second advantage is the sheer flexibility of when you carry out your treatment. There is no need for an appointment – you can fit in your treatment at any time in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Another advantage is that you will probably decide to treat areas of your body that are not so “hairy” that you would have considered paying large sums of money for professional treatment. You will end up with beautiful, smoother, more hair-free skin as a result of owning a home machine.

Finally in favor of these machine is that as you perform your treatment you can regulate the intensity yourself so that you get the right balance between your threshold for discomfort and the efficiency of the hair removing process. And you can increase the intensity of the treatment as you get used to it entirely at your own pace.

Disadvantages of Home Laser Hair Removal

The machines currently on the market for home use are not for everyone – if you don’t have a good contrast between your (dark) hair and (fair) skin you need a professional opinion on whether laser treatment is for you and potentially a more specialist laser hair removal machine only available in salons.

If you are not confident in your ability to withstand a little discomfort for the sake of beauty, visit a professional laser hair removal clinic where you will feel better in the hands of a technician trained to deal with pain reduction and nervous clients.

If you want to perform hair removal on your face you are advised to use a professional clinic. (Actually I would advise electrolysis anyway for permanent hair removal on a small area such as the face).

A laser hair removal machine may not be sold unless it has received the approval of the FDA so you know they are safe however you do need to follow the instructions – so if you are the type of person that doesn’t do that – use a clinic!

Once You Decide

If you do decide to go ahead then read what independent buyers thought (good and bad – though generally favorable) about the most popular home laser hair removal machine : Silkn Reviews

How feasible is permanent hair removal at home?

Well, it is becoming a lot easier than it used to be even a few years ago.

Of course, we would all love to remove hair and have it disappear for good with one little treatment – an application of depilatory cream or a quick waxing session – but that isn’t going to happen anytime soon. There are really only two methods of permanent hair removal and each of them requires more than one session to get rid of hair for good – but they are worth it in the end.

To remove hair permanently you can use either electrolysis or laser hair removal. It used to be that each of these had to be performed in a registered salon by trained operators but now there is hair removal equipment which you can buy and use at home which has been approved by the FDA for each of these procedures.

Having looked at all the equipment out there, two home hair removal systems seem to have the edge over the others in terms of being effective and easy to use.

Laser Hair Removal

The Silkn hair removal machine is a system which has been clinically proven for long term hair removal by physicians and has been approved by the FDA for safe use in the home. It is costly to buy the machine but it will save you money compared to professional laser treatment or even waxing or shaving over the long term and of course you get all the convenience of removing hair in the privacy of your own home. Click here for buyer reviews and details of the latest substantial discounts on this system.

Electrolysis

The One Touch electrolysis hair removal system is a portable system that works if you have a bit of patience and use care in operation. Start off at a low setting when using this electrolysis machine until you get used to the product and remain at a moderate setting throughout for best results. It has a very low cost compared to the Silkn and you will find that your costs are covered by even one or two electrolysis treatments at a salon. You can use it to treat hair almost anywhere on your body and face. To see what buyers have to say and the latest prices click here.

Of the two the One Touch takes more skill to operate but after practicing on your arms or legs you could use it with great care on your face. It takes longer to treat each section of hair than the Silkn system but it is likely to result in permanent hair removal faster than a laser hair removal system if you have the patience to work on each hair one at a time.

The Silk’n laser hair removal system comes into its own if you want to treat large areas of your body such as chest, arms or legs as you can treat a lot of hair in a short amount of time. Unfortunately you should not buy this is your aim is for permanent facial hair removal because it may not be used on your face.

I have to warn you that some people are disappointed when they try these hair removal machines. I think it’s a case of false expectations as they do work effectively – but they take time to work. If you want to achieve permanent hair removal remember that it will take a bit of time to build up your skill levels in using theses machines and that you have to treat each hair at the right stage in its growth phase before the hair follicle is permanently destroyed so it may take a few sessions to destroy each hair.

If you are motivated however and take the time to use the equipment properly you will achieve permanent hair removal at home and that is a fantastic move forward for many with unwanted hair problems.

Permanent hair removal products – that’s the holy grail of hair removal – to have a product which removes hair permanently, particularly one which you can buy, use discretely at home and be assured that your hair removal problems are over for good.

But do such products exist?

Well, among the many scams and fake ads there are a few products on the market which really do work to get rid of your unwanted hair. They work, but they are not for everyone.

Why is that?

Each of the products requires careful operation and attention to detail so that you get the best possible results from the device. If you are slapdash with them, lose patience and don’t follow instructions you won’t get good results and you may damage your skin.

Here are a couple of the better examples of such products.

The Silk’n Laser Device

The Silk’n hair removal machine is a laser hair removal product for use in the home. You can treat your hairs quite quickly provided your hair and skin coloring are suitable for the machine and you are looking to treat body hair rather than hair on your face and neck. It isn’t cheap but it provides more affordable laser hair treatment than you will find at beauty clinics and medical spas. While the ideal is that you always go to professionals for laser hair removal, if you can’t afford that this machine provides you a cost effective alternative. See Silkn laser hair removal machine reviews for more details.

The One Touch Machine

The One Touch hair removal device is a product which works on the principle of electrolysis. It is much cheaper than the Silk’n and can be used on the face as well as the body (once you are experienced in using it).  You have to be more precise with this mahine and it is slower to treat your excess hair as you have to treat one hair at a time rather than “zapping” a few at once. See our review at One Touch permanent hair remover for more details about this.

You will only be pleased with your purchase of these products if you have the determination to deal for once and for all with your unwanted hair and you are prepared to put in the time to learn to operate the machines effectively and get the most out of them. Remember, even with professional treatment, you won’t get instant permanent removal of your hair. You have to go back for a number of sessions. Sometimes many. At least with these permanent hair removal products you can treat your unwanted hair as often as you like from the comfort of your own home without incurring   huge additional costs of repeat salon visits.

If you are looking for a permanent hair removal method then you would do very well to consider the various electrolysis services available in your area through beauty salons and clinics to see what they offer. Electrolysis is the only proven way to permanently remove unwanted hair. (The most that laser hair removal offers is a permanent reduction).

Electrolysis services are likely to be available from a large number of practitioners so it makes sense to do a little research and talk to a few salons looking at the services and prices they offer before deciding. You may get a good recommendation from someone which may help in your choice but if not, here are some factors to think about

Are the Electrologists Trained and Licensed?

This is a requirement to practice elctrolysis in many states and countries but if that is not the case in yours then always go with a company where full-training has been given. So much success depends on the skill of the operator. Five minutes electrolysis treatment in the hands of a trained operator is more effective than 20 minutes with someone with fewer skills (not to mention safer for your skin!) Ask if the staff get regular updates on the latest techniques.

Does the Salon Provide Good Information on Electrolysis?

The more information you have on your electrolysis treatment and what to expect the better. If the consultants take time with you before you start treatment to give you information then it shows that they have a caring attitude to their customers. And do they give you a realistic view of results including the number of sessions you might need and the likely costs of electrolysis? You need to be aware that many sessions may be needed and if the salon does not tell you this then they may be in “selling” rather than “customer care” mode. Of course, each person is different but it is important to understand the likely length of each electrolysis session, the interval between sessions, the number of months you will need to attend appointments and the total cost of treatment. Request before and after pictures of the results achieved with electrolysis. If the salon has been in business a few years and have documented their work they should be able to show impressive results. Also ask about any (rare) side effects.

Are the Electrolysis Services Convenient?

By that I mean is the salon in a location which is easy to get to bearing in mind that you may have to return many times to complete your electrolysis treatment? Are there parking facilities? Do the appointment times fit in with when you are available? Remember if you have electrolysis on your face you will hae some redness so you may want to have treatment at the end of the day rather than just before a work or social appointment.

Salon Environment

Does the salon use state of the art electrolysis equipment? Look for a clean environment above all and one which offers privacy while you are undergoing treatment. Ask about their policy on needle or probe use and disposal. You should get a clean needle each time. If you are comfortable about the environment it will help reduce any stress you may feel at undergoing a new procedure.

Cost of Electrolysis Treatment

While the cost of electrolysis many be at the forefront of your mind when considering services, it is not worth cost-cutting in favor of some of the other factors here. Electrolysis may seem expensive but in the long run it is far cheaper than constantly paying for temporary methods of hair removal and it is worth paying for electrolysis services to achieve permanent hair removal. Just make sure that you can afford to complete the full course of treatment.

The short answer to the question is laser hair removal permanent is “yes, maybe” but beyond that you need to understand what is behind the maybe and why it might not be permanent removal of hair from the whole area treated in your case.

All that laser hair treatment clinics may promise is a permanent hair reduction – electrolysis is the only method approved for permanent hair removal. But what does “permanent hair reduction” mean exactly?

It means that a significant proportion of the hair follicles will be destroyed by laser treatment and those hairs will not grow back.

Usually MOST of the hair follicles are killed and you will have minimal regrowth after the recommended number of laser treatment sessions. The remaining hair is easily dealt with by top up treatments (which may destroy more follicles each time) or other hair removal methods.

Just sometimes all of the hair follicles are destroyed and then you have permanent hair removal.

But why do all the hair follicles not get destroyed by laser equipment during treatment?

The laser needs to target the hair follicles when they are at the right stage in the growth cycle in order to destroy them permanently. Hairs are at all different stages in that cycle and although all the hair will be removed during a laser session the follicles may not be destroyed. During any one treatment only a proportion of the hairs will be permanently destroyed.

Also the laser beam has to reach the right depth in the skin for each individual hair follicle. Some follicles may be deeper in the skin and the laser will not reach them with enough power to destroy them. Too powerful a laser would damage the skin so those hairs may not be successfully treated.

Having said all that, most people in recent times with state of the art lasers and multiple sessions designed to hit hair at each stage of growth have successful laser treatment in nearly all cases and enough hair is destroyed to make them happy with the result.

So in summary, if you are asking is laser hair removal permanent you would have to say that you are likely to experience a permanent reduction in hair which will make laser treatment worthwhile and potentially permanent removal.

If you have unwanted facial hair then you want it to be gone for good and never have to worry about it again. But what are your options for permanent facial hair removal?

Surprisingly despite endless research done over the years you still have only one option for complete permanent removal of facial hair and that is electrolysis. Although facial laser hair removal can promise a permanent reduction in hair growth only electrolysis has been proven to offer permanent hair removal.

If you have extensive areas of excess hair on your face you may still want to consider laser hair removal as this is considerably faster (and a bit less painful) than electrolysis. Though you will need several sessions to deal with your excess hair you will get a permanent reduction in growth. And you may then be able to get by with a few top up sessions or even just tweezing out the odd stray hair if you are not lucky enough to achieve permanent removal.

However if you have a small area to treat then my recommendation for permanent hair removal remains electrolysis. The hairs are treated and removed one by one making it a long drawn-out process. However, slowly but surely they will disappear for good. (Like laser hair removal for the face (or anywhere else) you have to “catch” the hairs at the right stage of regrowth to make sure the follicle is killed and unfortunately you can’t tell at what stage each hair is until it tells you by not growing back!)

Both electrolysis and laser hair removal are expensive and you have to be able to afford a whole course of treatment not just a single session at the salon but I really do think it is worth the expense to achieve permanent facial hair removal. Many girls feel like a new person when they get rid of this annoying and embarrassing problem. I know – I was one of them. And I have never looked back or ever regretted the money spent on those treatments.

If professional treatments are beyond your budget, then there is an alternative in the One Touch home electrolysis system. it’s not ideal to use a DIY approach for treating your face and I certainly would not start on my face until I had built up some skill with the machine but it is a very low cost solution if you truly can’t afford electrolysis.

By the way you may see ads about the place for permanent facial hair removal cream. There are some creams available on prescription which may help but I have yet to see anything as effective as electrolysis (or even laser hair removal) at removing facial hair permanently.

The Verseo Epen permanent hair removal system is well advertised around the web and on TV but it’s not my favorite home electrolysis product. You may question why that is the case as almost everything you read about the Epen seems to be quite glowing.

The ads will tell you that it removes hair permanently and without pain, it is clinically proven, it is simple to use and safe.

If all those facts were true then I ought to give it a wholehearted recommendation especially as the cost is very low when you compare it to professional electrolysis services.

However, from what I understand of the facts, the Epen electrolysis system uses a process that has NOT been proven to remove hair permanently and plain old does not work! It is supposed to destroy hair follicles by sending an electric current down the hair shaft but the electric current applied in that manner will not destroy anything. As hairfacts.com says “E-Pen should be avoided by all consumers”.

You see any home electrolysis system which promises to permanently remove unwanted hair without pain or needles cannot be telling the truth in my opinion. If you are destroying hair follicles which are right next to nerve endings, believe me you are going to feel it and you should be glad when you do because that means the treatment is working – whether it’s electrolysis or laser hair removal. You may feel more or less discomfort from different processes. You may be able to mask the pain with some anaesthetic soothing cream but you will feel it.

The Epen promises pain free hair removal at the touch of a button. It says it is clinically tested and proven but do you know I have received so many ads about every miracle under the sun for everything from hair removal to wrinkle reduction to weight loss that clinically proven seems to mean nothing any more. And lo and behold the same company that sells the Epen for hair removal also seems to sell products that make your hair grow back and remove your cellulite too! Miracles abound! And if that isn’t enough to put you off then read the reviews here of the people who did buy it.

Alternatives to the Verseo Epen

If you want professional results from electrolysis then I’m afraid you have to either pay for professional electrolysis services or use a home electrolysis system which is similar to those used by professionals – where the probe or needle is in contact with the hair follicle when the current is applied. And whether you choose one or the other you will know that the treatment is working on your hair because you will feel it.

Best results will be obtained if you go to a reputable salon for your electrolysis treatment of course. If that is not possible for you either because of budget or time constraints then there is a home electrolysis product – the One Touch – which has real buyer reviews – balanced between those who had good results with the product and those who did not get on so well with it. See our One Touch review for more details. The One Touch may not be for you either but in any case, save your money on the Verseo Epen.