Curious facts
Women began removing body hair even before our era. They did this using rather harsh and merciless methods. According to several historical references, as early as 4000 BC, representatives of the fair sex got rid of hair using substances such as quicklime and even arsenic. However, the latter was used everywhere where laziness was felt.
The Egyptians removed all hair in principle. For what? To protect yourself from ticks and so on.
The modern fashion for removal came to us from Europe only in the 20th century, in 1915, in the May issue of a popular magazine with an image on the cover of a girl with her arms raised up. The appearance of this model in a dress with open armpits made the world look at attractiveness differently and think about removing visually unattractive hair - armpits and so on.
However, the fashion for shaved legs came a little later - after the end of World War II. Although there had been talk about this before, the appearance of the magnificent Betty Grable in a short skirt and stockings radically changed the attitude of the world community towards shaved legs.
In the modern world, shaving has long been out of date. More and more women are choosing to do hair removal, and there are many reasons for this. To understand which is better: laser or elos hair removal, you need to consider both of these procedures as closely as possible and from all sides.
Laser hair removal
The principle of operation of this procedure is clear from its name. Using a special laser, you can penetrate quite deep layers of the skin and not only remove hair, but also destroy its root - the follicle. This destruction occurs due to the fact that the laser heats the hair very strongly. This influence is so strong that it is enough for complete destruction.
Laser hair removal is suitable for almost all parts of the body and is quite simple to perform.
Carrying out the procedure
Photoepilation is carried out in beauty salons and beauty salons. For this, powerful devices with a range from 520 to 1200 nm are used, so the use of home photoepilators is ineffective. The essence of the procedure is as follows: the client sits on the couch and puts on sunglasses. Next, the master treats the required area of skin with a special gel, turns on the device and, working on the hair, moves it over the area.
Laser hair removal
The laser technique is based on the impact of the energy of a laser beam, which passes along the entire length of the hair and injures its root due to high temperature. This procedure should only be carried out by an experienced technician.
The affordable price of laser hair removal and the effectiveness of the procedure make it popular among women of all ages. During laser treatment, tissue swelling and severe redness may occur in a number of situations. To reduce risks, an experienced specialist, knowing this feature, applies a cold compress to the treated area and only then allows the client to go home.
Laser hair removal is considered a popular method of hair removal. With its help, you can forget about hair for a long time and become the owner of smooth and soft skin. Different areas are treated with laser:
- lower and upper limbs;
- armpits;
- bikini area
The technique is suitable for dark-haired girls with fair skin. If there is not enough melanin in the hairs, they will not disappear. The principle of this procedure is based on the impact of flashes of light that penetrate deep into the skin, absorb the melanin pigment and, converted into thermal energy, destroy the follicle. The result of hair removal is achieved gradually. For long-term hair removal, several sessions of 20-30 minutes are performed, depending on the area and characteristics of the treated area.
Disadvantages of laser hair removal
Before determining which is better: laser or elos hair removal, we cannot help but talk about the disadvantages of each of them. If we consider laser hair removal, then its main disadvantages are considered to be two points:
- Limited depth of impact. Unfortunately, only those whose hair follicle is no deeper than 3 millimeters can use laser hair removal. Often in the bikini area, hairs lie as much as 6 millimeters from the surface of the skin. Accordingly, it is precisely because of this that the effectiveness of this hair removal method is often questioned.
- Pigment. In order to destroy the hair, it must be heated. This happens due to the conversion of melanin into energy. Accordingly, the less melanin, the more difficult it is to remove hair. This problem affects red-haired, blonde and gray-haired people.
But laser hair removal has more advantages.
Pros and cons of photoepilation
The advantages of hair removal using light pulses include:
- relative painlessness;
- powerful effect on hair follicles;
- efficiency (the session takes no more than half an hour depending on the area of influence);
- Suitable for any part of the body.
Among the disadvantages it should be noted:
- not suitable for dark-skinned women;
- not suitable for blond, red and gray hairs;
- the result of the procedure directly depends on the experience and skill of the specialist;
- long recovery period;
- does not allow hair removal forever;
- can only be carried out in winter;
- requires several sessions and further constant repetition of courses;
- poor efficiency;
- has side effects: burns, pigmentation disorders, allergies, hyperhidrosis.
Advantages of laser hair removal
In addition to all of the above, there is something why everyone loves this method:
- Price. Due to the fact that this procedure is not difficult to carry out, a large number of different upgrades to the device have appeared at reasonable prices. There are also many masters, because training to operate the device, although it has a number of features, is short and simple. Therefore, hair removal itself is inexpensive.
- Safety. Due to the fact that there is no direct interaction with the skin, no infections are dangerous.
- Comfort. Hair removal at home is not only not the safest procedure, it is also very painful. The same cannot be said about laser hair removal - everything is painless with a feeling of warmth. In rare cases, a burning sensation is felt.
The main joy of this method is considered to be the opportunity to get rid of unwanted body hair forever. Masters who have experience working with a wide variety of people note that after three or four procedures, hair practically stops growing, and if it does, it is very thin and barely noticeable.
Possible side effects
If manipulation is performed for the first time, skin irritation may occur. To remove it, an emollient is used.
Other undesirable conditions may include:
- itching, dryness caused by insufficient moisture of the skin, exposure to ultraviolet light after the session;
- burns associated with increased skin sensitivity or use of the device in an excessively intense mode.
To avoid side effects, the procedure should be carried out in salons with a reliable reputation, with qualified professionals. For three days after epilation, it is recommended to minimize physical activity and avoid taking a hot bath or shower.
Elos hair removal
This term stands for “electro-optical synergy.” This is a combination of two types of techniques - laser and photoepilation. We can say that this is a modern modernization. This is probably why many are faced with a difficult choice - laser or elos.
Thanks to the use of radio frequency waves, the effect of complete hair removal is achieved. It turns out that the effect occurs precisely on those follicles that are in the active stage of growth. In medicine it is called anagen. Why? This is the very moment at which the bulb has the most favorable amount of pigment, and its vascular papilla is at its peak of development.
This is a dual effect on both melanin and the vascular component of the follicle itself. It turns out that at the moment of hair removal, everything that is possible at this stage is removed. True, some of the hair that has not reached anagen will still grow. And, as in laser hair removal, their complete removal takes place in several procedures.
According to surveys by one popular resource, 8 out of 10 who have undergone this procedure are satisfied with the result. Although many note the painfulness of the procedure.
After we have sorted out what is what, we can figure out what is better: laser or elos hair removal.
Differences
Each of the methods considered for removing unwanted body hair is certainly good. However, it is important to figure out what to do: laser hair removal or elos. Differences and similarities will help dot all the i’s.
With laser hair removal, the skin dries out quite a lot, which does not happen with elos. Moreover, the latter is more beneficial for the skin. Why? It is an active provocateur of that part of the skin that is responsible for the production of collagen and elastin. In a word, the skin after elos is not only sufficiently moisturized, but also more toned.
The number of procedures required for complete hair removal also varies. With laser hair removal, it is important to undergo 6-8 procedures, while with elos – only 4-6. True, if we talk about cost, then a smaller number of procedures does not reduce the cost of the elos hair removal process.
What to choose?
Both options have different execution methods and represent different variations. For this reason, it is pointless to conduct a comparative analysis regarding the best and worst method.
But in order to choose the appropriate method of getting rid of hair for yourself, you need to understand what the difference is between Elos and laser hair removal for each individual case.
Elos will definitely suit girls with dark skin. As do those with blond hair. Laser flashes in this case will be useless and can harm the skin.
Also, the choice of hair removal method depends on the area of hair removal. Sensitive areas, such as the bikini area and armpits, are better suited to laser hair removal. At the same time, Elos causes painful sensations. Laser flashes are a smart choice for the face, as the second hair removal option comes with the potential for redness and minor damage.
Apparently, when choosing between laser hair removal and Elos, you cannot choose one method of hair removal. Today, the cosmetic services market offers many options for hair removal and depilation. However, laser and Elos occupy equally leading positions. When choosing, you need to be guided by factors such as pain threshold, skin color type, amount of free time and the presence of contraindications.
Some components
If we continue to talk about cost, then elos costs several times more. This is due to the fact that the equipment for the procedure has a much higher price, unlike a laser. And there are not many craftsmen capable of performing this procedure efficiently, even in big cities.
Also in the question of what is better: elos hair removal or laser hair removal and how these procedures differ, it is worth focusing on the sensations experienced. The fact is that with laser hair removal, the maximum trouble that can happen is redness. But with elos, everything is more complicated, since due to the penetration of needles into the skin, the integrity will definitely be compromised. Moreover, according to reviews, cases of burns are not uncommon.
What care is required after the session?
After completing ELOS hair removal, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- for two weeks, avoid exposure to active sunlight or solariums, refrain from visiting baths, saunas, and sports clubs;
- during the hot season, use products with a high sun protection factor;
- for 7 days following the procedure, refrain from using scrubs and synthetic cosmetics in the treated area.
It is forbidden to pull out growing hairs; they can only be removed using a razor. The latter is allowed for use only after two days. The next day after visiting the salon, you can apply moisturizing creams to the epilated areas.
Contraindications
So which is better: laser or elos hair removal? The answer to this question depends on what contraindications you have.
Laser hair removal has few limitations. These include pregnancy and lactation, as well as oncology in any form. No specialist will work with those who have varicose veins, hormonal problems and skin diseases. This is everything that can interfere with laser hair removal. No more restrictions.
Elos hair removal is several times more difficult. This method is not suitable for those who have the following contraindications:
- Tan;
- gynecological or hormonal diseases;
- piercings or metal implants;
- problems with blood clotting;
- hypertension and diabetes mellitus;
- pacemaker or defibrillator;
- scars on the epilated area;
- skin diseases;
- period of taking anticoagulants or immunosuppressive drugs;
- oncology or venereal disease.
So, if you think about what is better: laser hair removal or elos, from the point of view of simplicity - laser. It has fewer contraindications.
Laser vs Elos
If you need to do everything quickly, at a relatively low price, painlessly and with absolute confidence that no scars or burns will remain, this is a laser procedure. When you want to remove deep-growing hair forever in several long sessions, regardless of hair pigment and skin tone, this is elos.
Interesting fact. You can check the depth of hair growth in an easy way: if waxing can handle your hair, laser removal will be quick and easy.
So, what is better – elos hair removal or laser? Reviews show that everything depends solely on the individual characteristics of the representative of the fair half of humanity. The last word will always be solely yours.