Chest hair removal

Everyone has some unwanted hair, and removing it is part of life. Chest hair is one of those areas where unwanted hair is often a problem, and should be removed. Chest hair removal is more typically a male pursuit, as few women grow chest hair. While some men are perfectly comfortable having chest hair, and even proud of it, some find it to be a source of discomfort and embarrassment. Thick or excessive chest hair can be something men want to get rid of, especially when going out in public without a shirt, such as to the pool or the beach.

The options for removing chest hair are many, but some are more practical than others. Men find that chest hair can be removed using tweezing, waxing, shaving, creams, etc. however, because chest hair grows quickly, these methods often lead to stubble, ingrown hairs, and other problems.

Benefits:

Let's look at some of the benefits of chest hair removal:

For athletes it can help them to achieve better results in their respective sports.

Laser hair removal will allow men to better show off their physiques.

Chest hair removal may simply be a way to look sexier, or have the cleaner appearance that many find attractive. Let's face it, we tend to live in a society where a hairless male chest is often seen as being "desirable," and thus allows you to feel sexier, and be more appealing to others.

Options for chest hair removal:

With several hair removal options to choose from, it offers a viable option for men to remove unwanted hair, a choice that didn't exist years ago. Let's look at the options to see which is the best and why.

IPL:

IPL (intense pulsed light) is a hair removal option that is similar to laser hair removal. It has become increasingly popular among men and women alike. IPL is not a laser hair removal option but works using similar principles as a laser. Basically, the way it works it that it uses a pulsed light to heat the hair, and in doing so, disable its ability to grow. If done properly, and enough times, it has the potential to eliminate a hairs ability to re-grow permanently.

When you choose this treatment type, the hair will usually fall out a few days after treatment. While the hair removal is not permanent, hair reduction is. You will typically see less hair, and the hair will generally be thinner and lighter in color. It can't be advertised as a permanent solution as the hair may grow back, however it is a great way to reduce the amount of unwanted chest hair, and make it easier to remove other ways.

IPL is generally considered to be a gentler and less painful process than that of laser hair removal or electrolysis. It provides long term hair reduction similar to laser hair removal. Because it uses pulsating light, you can cover large areas of hair quickly, (electrolysis is very time consuming as each hair has to be targeted individually for results), the machine can be set to fit your hair type and color, which makes it a great alternative to lasers, and allows more people to use this option. There are generally very limited side effects, usually the worst it gets is redness and slight skin irritation.

IPL is an expensive procedure, and like laser hair removal, requires multiple treatments for the most optimal results. It is not an option you can do at home, as it requires a professional to operate the light, and keep your skin safe. It can have adverse effects such as skin discoloration, especially if you are not really a good candidate, or if the technician does not handle the procedure properly. You can't use this option right before going on vacation, to the beach, or to the pool as you have to avoid exposure to the sun before and after the treatment for at least a few days, possibly weeks. Thus, you have to plan it in advance if you want to be chest hair free for a specific event.

Depilatories:

Depilation is a process where chest hair (or any hair) is removed above the skin, unlike waxing, it does not pull the hair out by the roots, and thus it does not last long before you will have re-growth and stubble. However, while it is a short term method to remove hair, it is quick and relatively painless. Popular depilatories include shaving gels and creams, and the use of chemical depilatory creams, lotions, etc. There is a wide variety of options for this type of hair removal, and each come with their own set of pros and cons. One thing to keep in mind is that this can lead to ingrown hairs, zits, and other unsightly problems such as razor burn and redness. If you use chemical depilatories, you may have a reaction, so be sure that you test them out first.

So what is the biggest benefit to this type of hair removal? Really it is that it is inexpensive, in some cases very cheap, it can be done at home, which means you do not have to have someone else see your embarrassing problem, it is fast, and the results are immediate, even if they only last a couple of days. And, one other benefit is there are plenty of options as you can find depilatories from various manufacturers and in different forms such as creams, gels, roll-ons and rub-on lotions.

Shaving:

Shaving is perhaps the most well-known and regularly practiced form of temporary hair removal for both men and women, but is not typically considered a good option for chest hair removal because of the tendency to get ingrown hairs, and short term results. It is the most cost effective method for removing chest hair, and arguably the fastest as well, but it can be problematic. For example, you may nick yourself and have little scabs, etc. in addition to this, shaving can often lead to skin irritation, redness, razor burn, shaving bumps, etc. Thus, for the smooth, sleek look you may be going for with chest hair removal, it is a poor option. Most experts agree that it is a good idea to shave your face, but not your chest.

If you are going to shave your chest, it would be wise to shave with an electric razor first to cut the hair down to a more manageable length so as to cause less skin irritation when using a disposable razor. It is also wise to use a shave gel or some sort of cream or lubricant so that you have an easier time with less chance of cutting yourself or experiencing skin irritation.

Laser hair removal:

Although there are various ways to rid yourself of unwanted chest hair, laser hair removal is the most popular, and likely the most effective. Laser hair removal offers ease and more permanent results than other forms of the treatment. Laser hair removal is relatively quick and has lasting results. It does have some pain involved, however, laser hair removal is much less painful than waxing and much less time-consuming than shaving, and the results, after the right number of treatments, are permanent or at least permanent enough that you can feel great about it.

The way this works is the laser focuses light energy onto the hairs, and the hair follicles die and the hair falls out, and should not grow back in, or if it does, it is much thinner and lighter. This is a better option for many over electrolysis because it is far less time consuming, and less expensive. With laser hair removal for chest hair, many men are happy to find their chests relatively hair-free after three to six treatments. Of course, the number of treatments it takes to get the desired results really depends on who you are, how much hair you have, and the physician you choose, and the technology used.

While Electrolysis can offer permanent hair removal, it means treating each hair individually which can obviously be very time consuming for body parts that have a significant amount of hair to be removed, such as the chest. Laser hair removal is less painful and much faster. It also offers similar results.

Basically, for the cost, time, and effectiveness, if you want to get rid of chest hair, lasers chest hair removal is probably your best option. You will want to do it during the winter as it is not wise to expose the areas to sun for a few weeks after treatment. You will want to keep your skin light, as the darker your hair, and lighter your skin tone, the better the results of laser hair removal. You will want to have hair that is at least a quarter of an inch long, so do not start treatments right after shaving or removing chest hair. You will want to plan for a few months before seeing the permanent results you are looking for.