Home Back Hair Removal
Cost : $400-500 per treatment.
Lasting Result : After all laser hair removal treatments are completed, results could be almost permanent, with touch-up treatments annually or biannually to maintain results.
Expert Comments : "Most men utilize laser hair removal for the back, upper arms, and chest and most want it thinned out, not removed - something which lasers can easily accomplish, " says Goldberg. In fact, other than electrolysis, laser hair removal is the only hair removal treatment that allows for thinning, rather than complete removal. While the average man needs five to seven sessions, as men age, more hair grows, especially on their backs, says Goldberg. As such, touch-up laser hair removal treatments are usually needed on average once a year.
Hair Removal Option No. 2: Waxing
What It Does : Gone are the sticky, gooey, honey-based waxes of the past. In their place are soy waxes, a creamy lotion that's applied to skin, but adheres only to the hair. Strips of specially prepared cloth are layered over the cream. When the mixture dries, in just a few minutes, the cloths are removed (think of pulling off a bandage) and poof! The hair is gone.
How Long It Takes : Anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour or more, depending on what's being waxed.
Best For : Eyebrow shaping, unibrow, hair on ears and neck, legs, underarms, and arms. While waxing can easily be done in the genital area, it is painful, so you might want to try it on other parts of your body first so you know what you're in for.
Cost: From $10 to $70 depending on what you need done.
Lasting Result : About four to six weeks.
Expert Comments : "If you've never had a waxing before, it's best to have it done professionally, though it's important to check with the salon first if you're looking for a full-body waxing - some do, some don't, " says Serniuk. And since waxing can lead to skin infections, it's important to follow advice on aftercare, which should include use of an antibacterial skin lotion for several days, she says. Interestingly, one study showed that men who had areas of their back waxed before undergoing laser treatment had better results from the laser treatment.
Hair Removal Option No. 3: Electrolysis
What It Does : Using an ultra-slim needle to penetrate each individual hair shaft, this system delivers tiny shocks of electricity to the hair follicle, killing the cells that actually make hair. Once a cell is gone, it's gone, so no hair will grow there again.
How Long It Takes : Each electrolysis treatment is relatively short - from 10 to 20 minutes - but if you want a lot of hair removed, it could take up to a year of weekly treatments. Since each hair is treated one at a time, take a glance at the thickness of your "fur" and you'll have an idea of how long a commitment it will require.
Best For : While electrolysis works for hair removal equally well on all areas, because of the time-consuming nature of the treatment, small areas are often a good place to start, such as brows and neck. If used for genital hair removal, a local anesthetic can help, though many men find treatment in this area to be very painful.
