Thursday, January 22, 2009

Alternative Treatment

There is no real natural or unnatural way to remove hair from the body, unless you consider depilatory creams and powders to be unnatural due to their use of chemicals. To some extent, there is a risk of these chemicals adversely affecting your skin, so it is better to avoid them if you aim to remove hair from a sensitive area such as the face or the groin area.

There are several other options that you can choose from, which are all relatively “natural”. These include shaving, plucking, waxing, threading, and buffing. For a small area of skin that is not too sensitive, buffing is quite convenient, as it involves using a suitable rough surface to scrape away the hair. The most common techniques however are shaving and waxing. These are also among the most convenient approaches to removing body hair. Razors are easily available and easy to use, and waxing kits are also available at most supermarkets and medical stores, and have simple, clear instructions on them. If you prefer to remove hair right from its root, then you should wax rather than shave — although this is slightly more painful, the hair takes more time to grow back and so you need to repeat the treatment less often.

Ways To Remove Hair Color

There's nothing like coloring your hair to make you feel and look new. A new hair color can do wonders to your confidence level, though not always. Sometimes, it can spell disaster. A color might look really good on the packet cover, but once you've used it the reactions might vary from "oh my God" to major depression. So, if you fall into this category, then we can suggest you some solutions to remove hair color.

Okay, so somehow the hair color you have been dreaming about went wrong. It may be too bright, too dark, or simply is not the color you wanted. And, laying the blame on the colorist's door or the product company will not help. What you need is damage control-you need to remove hair color.

However, this is easier said than done. Hair color is not like furniture paint that can easily be removed with paint remover. One option to remove hair color is to go to a color correction specialist. The only way to remove hair color is with a color removal product. But only professionals should use products designed to remove hair color. These products are not recommended for consumers unless they know exactly what they're doing.
But what you can do on your own to remove hair color is to cover up. And depending on the color you selected, you may be able to cover the permanent color with a semi or demi-color. But before you decide to re-color your hair with another color, seek the advice of the color manufacturer, because mixing colors can result in bigger disasters than before.
If the hair color used was a light to medium shade, you may be able to cover it with a semi-permanent hair color after a few days. If you used a very dark shade, then it's very difficult to remove hair color and you might as well live with it. Dark hair colors are hard to correct because the pigments in the dye are very strong. If your hair has been colored a shade of green, you could try a chlorine removal shampoo, or, if all else fails, tomato juice soak.

Mistakes do happen, but learn from the mistakes and take care not to repeat them. And before you set out to repair the damage, call the manufacturer of the product first. They'll be able to suggest you ways to remove hair color. Still, if you're unable to correct the problem, remember it's just hair. The color will eventually grow out or fade on its own.

You can also make the best of the situation by visiting a stylist and getting a new flattering hairstyle that'll draw attention away from the ghastly color. You can also use this time to accessorize your hair and try out different styles. Anything that'll draw the attention from the hair color should help. Also, remember to use hair-coloring products that are safe, because a head full of orange hair is better than a head without hair.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Vaniqa

Hair Removal with Vaniqa
Vaniqa is a prescription-only topical cream that has been FDA-approved for reducing and inhibiting the growth of unwanted facial hair. The active ingredient in Vaniqa is eflornithine hydrochloride, which has been used to treat African sleeping sickness and certain cancers. Vaniqa works by inhibiting an enzyme that is needed for cell reproduction and other cell functions necessary for hair growth. Vaniqa is applied twice a day to areas of unwanted facial hair. Noticeable results are usually observed after 4-8 weeks of therapy. Application must be continued for as long as inhibition of hair growth is desired. Vaniqa continues to reduce facial hair growth for up to 8 weeks after discontinuing treatment.

How to choose an electrologist

Electrologists are people who have undergone training to professionally administer the electrolysis procedure. If you are considering undergoing electrolysis, it is very important that you do your research before committing to an appointment. The wrong decision can mean extra sessions and cost and unnecessary discomfort. By following the guidelines listed below, you can take comfort in knowing that you will be making an educated and informed decision when choosing an electrologist.
Know their qualifications. Many states require that electrologists be licensed or certified within the state in order to practice electrolysis. If you live in those states (*see the list below), be sure the practitioner's certificate is current and fully on display. For states that do not regulate electrolysis, look for electrologists who have a certification from an accredited electrology school.
Ask around. One of the best ways to find any good service is to ask friends and family for recommendation. If you know anybody who has undergone electrolysis, ask for his or her input.
Get a consultation. Many places will give you a free consultation. During the consultation, be sure that any and all of your questions about the procedure are answered. Some of the questions you can ask include: how the procedure will feel; an estimate on the number of visits you will likely need; the cost of each visit (this will vary from place to place, and it is best to call around); the length of each session; how long they have been in business; and the number of clients they have treated.
Make sure they use the right technique. Make sure the practitioner uses needle electrolysis, which is the only permanent form of hair removal. Some places may advertise electrolysis, but in reality they use electronic tweezers or photoepilators. These are not permanent hair removal procedures.
Use common sense. When you go to your consultation, look around. Does the place look clean? Do the workers look clean? Do they use disposable gloves or probes? Ask to meet to person who will be performing the electrolysis for you. Does he or she strike you as professional? If you are not personally comfortable with somebody, do not go to him or her. Personal comfort is essential to knowing you have made the right decision in choosing an electrologist.

Home Dialysis

It's a small device with a stylet that looks like a mechanical pencil. One end has the retractable probe like the one on a professional electrolysis machine, and the other end is connected by a cord to a 9-volt battery on the main unit. There is a metal band around the stylet at the place where you hold it like a pencil during the treatment. The probe is on a spring so you can't insert it too deep and puncture the skin. When the probe touches the moisture of the papilla, the circuit is completed and the unit makes a 5-second tone. You hold the probe in place another 15 seconds for the galvanic current to work, then try to remove the hair with tweezers. If it doesn't give, try again, but don't try the same hair more than twice. The unit has an adjustable "comfort control" (a euphemism if I've ever heard one!) for high power.

Advantages:

You can save money.

You can do it in privacy.

You can treat yourself when it's convenient.

It's an option for those who cannot find or travel to a competent electrologist.

Drawbacks:

Many have attempted to do their own electrolysis. Many failed.

It takes a large time commitment and real dedication.

You have no training.

You could cause permanent skin damage.

You may may not get permanent results due to improper technique.

Temporary side effects such as redness and swelling may be worse and last longer than with professional treatment.

Some find it more painful than professional electrolysis.

It may take much longer to treat your own face than to have it done professionally.

When you factor in what your time is worth and additional supplies, it may be more expensive than getting it done professionally.

Some areas are difficult to see/treat by yourself, especially using your non-dominant hand or areas requiring a mirror.

The more hair you have, the more work and less your chances for success.

Myths about electrolysis

Electrolysis is painful. The truth is, electrolysis usually does not cause much discomfort. Modern electrolysis methods have reduced the discomfort to a mere tingling. A topical anesthetic may be used in some cases.

The electric tweezer method is permanent. The truth is, the Food and Drug Administration and the American Medical Association recognize only electrolysis as a permanent method of removing hair. In fact, some states prohibit those who use the electric tweezer—which can also be purchased for consumer use—from claiming it provides permanent hair removal.

Temporary methods of hair removal are better. The truth is, that while chemical depilatories (liquids or creams) are often used to remove body hair, these products contain irritating chemicals, and can be time-consuming and messy. Likewise, bleaches contain harsh chemicals and do little to disguise dark hair. They may also discolor the skin. Waxing is another temporary method of hair removal and is usually done in salons. A hot wax is applied to the skin and removed once it has dried over the hair. The hair is stripped off when the wax is removed. Waxing can be painful and costly. Home waxing kits are available, but they can be difficult to use and messy. There are electrical electrolysis devices available for home use that try to copy the devices used by professionals. These devices are often unsafe for use by anyone who is not trained in electrolysis.

Blend Electrolysis

The blend method of electrolysis combines two types of electrolysis (thermolysis plus galvanic) to make an electrolysis method, which most technicians and experts recommend. Now the most popular method, blend electrolysis kills hairs chemically (just like galvanic electrolysis) but it takes only a few seconds to kill each hair. It works on coarse hairs and fine hairs equally well and is one of the only permanent methods available on the market today to eliminate blonde, white and grey hairs. The blend method of electrolysis is more complicated than either thermolysis electrolysis or galvanic electrolysis, making it especially important to find a very qualified practitioner who has had plenty of training and practice.
How Blend Electrolysis is Performed

During any electrolysis session, a small needle is inserted into your hair follicle and a galvanic current is sent through the needle or probe. The idea is that this process will kill the hair, although in reality you may need to repeat the process to kill a stubborn hair or one that has been aggravated by scar tissue. The current causes mild discomfort during the session, and if you are trying to get rid of hairs on sensitive areas, you may chose to use a topical numbing cream eg. Emla - which is available from your local pharmacy.

Things To Know

Redness may occur but will go away 30 minutes after treatment Hormones, pregnancy, and menopause may stimulate additional hair growth. Additional treatments may be necessary
Must stay out of the sun
You may ONLY shave between treatments.
Blonde hair can not be treated
4 to 6 treatments may be necessary