Back Hair Removal

If you're looking for a way to get the hair off your back, you might think waxing is the only option for back hair removal. However, a more permanent and less painful solution is out there, too; consider the options before you go bare.

Laser hair removal is an FDA-approved treatment that uses a laser beam directed at the hair follicles to kill them. The laser targets melanin, the dark pigment in hair. The method works best on individuals with light skin and dark hair and may not be a good option for dark-skinned people. Your doctor will be able to determine if you're a good candidate.

During the procedure, you can expect to feel a stinging sensation, but you might also get a topical anesthetic to reduce discomfort. After the treatment, your skin may be red and swollen. It may even start to crust over due to the high heat of the laser. You may continue to feel some stinging for the first day or two as well.

Laser hair removal will slow and stop hair regrowth, but you'll need several treatments before you're hair-free. The problem is that it's a pricey procedure, each one costing a few hundred dollars. The expense, length of the procedure and amount of treatments needed all depend on your individual situation. Obviously the bigger the area of hair and the thicker the hair, the bigger the bill you receive will be.

If laser hair removal doesn't seem like the right solution for you, let's go back to back waxing. You've probably seen the procedure on TV followed by a lot of yelling in pain. It's certainly not a method that feels good, although it won't cost as much as laser treatments. An esthetician will spread hot wax over your back hair and use strips of cloth to rub and rip off strips section by section. It'll rip the hair out from the root so you can expect to be bare for several weeks, but you will need to return for follow up treatments. If you go regularly, the hair growth will probably start to slow so you won't need to return as often.