Hair removal is as old as culture itself, the practice being at the very least as old as the Ancient Egyptian civilization. Perhaps it was because of Nefertiti, renowned through history for her looks, that we still associate the removal of hair with beauty, as she (in common with other nobles and religious leaders) would depilate regularly – although it is thought to be to prevent lice as much as anything for cosmetic purposes. The practice has been widely adopted by many religious adherents, from the complete baldness of Buddhist monks and Hare Krishna followers to the distinguishing tonsure of Christian monks.
Throughout the ages, the removal of hair from certain parts of the body has come in and gone out of fashion, both in males and females, but we seem to be living through a pretty sustained period of a taste for hair removal, especially in women. When Hollywood megastar Julia Roberts showed up at the premiere of Notting Hill in 1999 sporting a few weeks’ underarm growth, it actually made the national press. If that alone isn’t a bit weird, the fact that over a decade later people still talk about it demonstrates pretty conclusively that the “look” (we should probably assume it was not a mere omission on Roberts’ part) was not fashionable then and shows no sign of returning in the near future – despite the efforts of such esteemed cheerleaders.
One thing is certain, however. Nefertiti did not use laser hair removal or electrolysis. She and her peers would have been restricted to using creams, waxes, shaving and plucking to keep that smooth look. Laser hair removal is relatively new on the hair reduction scene, even though it feels like it has been around for much longer. It was first cleared as safe for commercial use in the mid-1990s and started to be seen in the cosmetic clinics of London, Paris and New York by the end of the decade (Hollywood clearly caught on a bit later …).
Interestingly, the “laser” commonly used in laser hair removal is not a laser at all – it’s a pulsating xenon flash lamp that emits an intense full-spectrum beam, but to all intents and purposes it has laser-like qualities, and pure lasers have in fact been used for the purpose and certain types are still used on some skin types.
A full treatment usually requires several visits to the clinic to prevent regrowth and to catch the hairs that are continually in the process of forming under the skin. It can be used on all parts of the body on which hair grows, but is particularly popular for use on the eyebrows and upper lip, where precision is needed. Waxing, shaving and creams remain popular choices for the bikini line, armpits, arms and legs, but these are not permanent methods. Laser hair removal offers this permanence and since it can only be performed by trained practitioners, it will always be done professionally and safely, and the operator will be able to answer any questions and offer advice.
