Women and men of all ages are no longer opting to use a razor to remove unwanted hair but instead are looking to a more permanent solution. Caitlyn Morgan spoke to local experts on the services available in the region. Pictures: Louise Barker and Ben Gross
GONE are the days when a quick short-term fix was the only solution to removing any unwanted hair.
Women and men are now turning to intense pulse light (IPL), laser, electrolysis or super hair removal (SHR) treatments to remove their hair permanently.
When Heather Musgrove discovered a gap in the market she utilised her skills and knowledge to open Visible Effects in November 2002, offering IPL and electrolysis.
“There was a real need with no one else offering it here,” she says. “People were regularly having to travel to Adelaide and Melbourne for treatment.
“It was busy from day one and has continued to be busy ever since.”
Heather isn’t the only one who saw a need for it in Sunraysia, with 23-year-old Tori O’Connor offering SHR in both Mildura and Robinvale for the past two years.
“I wasn’t expecting to have such a large clientele but they are quite active,” she says.
Pain free?
Often when a permanent hair removal solution is offered it is followed by the words “pain free”, but is it really pain free?
According to Heather, it comes down to every individual’s pain tolerance.
“We don’t say IPL is pain free. We find half of our clients will say it’s more painful than waxing, while the other half find it less painful than waxing,” she says.
“Sixteen years ago it wasn’t as well known, now it’s very mainstream with people coming in from 16 years old to people in their 70s having it done.”
A “slight pinch” is the way Tori describes undertaking an SHR treatment.
“A larger hand piece means SHR technology can perform procedures up to 10 times faster than traditional laser or IPL,” she says.
“With help from the active frosted cooling plate in the hand piece, the sensation of SHR is far less intense. It’s great for people with a low pain tolerance.”
The benefits
With no documented long-term effects, Heather and Tori say there are only benefits from undergoing permanent hair removal.
“At the same time as removing the hair, it is rejuvenating the skin,” Heather says regarding IPL treatment.
Tori added: “The benefits are the decrease in hair, it lightens the pigment, which helps get rid of the shadow that is seen after shaving and helps avoid ingrown hairs.”
The nitty gritty
“There isn’t a significant difference between IPL and laser, it all comes down to the quality of the machine and experience of the operator,” Heather says.
“For me I wanted a machine and equipment that was flexible and the IPL machine provided that.
“Anyone can do it but for it to be successful it needs to be done by someone experienced.”
With an experienced operator and a quality machine, the question everyone wants to know is, is it permanent?
“I did my whole body and 16 years later I am still hair free,” Heather says.
“Hormones can influence more hair growth, so people may need maintenance treatment a year to five years after the initial treatment.”
