When you are looking for solutions to rid yourself of unwanted hair, you may find a large range of options. The problem with most of them is that the results are short-lived and so you must continue to shave, pluck and put chemicals on your skin to keep the hair away. If you are finally tired of the temporary, ongoing methods, it is time to explore more permanent hair removal methods.

The process of truly removing hair permanently is only achieved if the underlying hair follicle is completely destroyed. There have been ongoing advances in medical technology to develop hair removal methods that are effective. Unfortunately, very few can be termed as permanent as most of us define the word. While the results can be very long lasting and certainly much more effective than daily maintenance, even the best methods don't equate to "never grow hair again" forever. Regardless of the hair removal method you choose, you can expect to have several treatments to achieve the end result.

Let's review the most popular permanent hair removal methods and what to expect.
The most effective method, and the only one that FDA deems to be permanent, is Electrolysis. It is also the most expensive and time consuming method, because the treatment is applied to each hair individually to destroy the underlying follicle.

There are three basic types of electrolysis hair removal:
1. Galvanic - An electro-chemical current produces a bit of lye which destroys the follicle.
2. Thermolysis - A heat current is produced by and a radio wave.
3. Blend - An electro-chemical reaction is produced more quickly by a combination of the above methods.

Electrolysis treatment time and cost can vary a great deal, depending on the amount of hair to remove and the practitioner you choose. It can require several treatments over numerous months to achieve desired final results. The treatments are not painless and side effects to the treatments can be skin irritations, chance of infections, swelling or blistering. While there are some kits offered for home use, you must be extremely cautious to prevent unwanted infections.

The next hair removal method that is popular is Laser Hair removal. While it is not as permanent as the previous method, it is less expensive and time-consuming while proving effective for long-term reduction in hair-growth.

The Laser Hair removal method is performed by applying light at a certain wavelength that will damage or destroy the hair-growing follicle and pigment. This method works very well for larger areas of hair removal and is particularly effective for light skin with darker hair growth. It is less effective on grey, red and blonde hair. If you are a good candidate, you can likely expect an 80% reduction in hair growth after 4-6 sessions and can maintain the reduction with annual maintenance.

Another hair removal method that is similar to the laser treatment is called IPL hair removal. This system utilizes Intense Pulse Light (IPL) and can be referred to as a flash lamp. This method consists of a wide spectrum of lights and a low-range radiation filtered to target the pigment and damage the functions of the hair follicle. There is no damage to the outlying areas of skin. This prevents re-growth and is proven to be effective for long-term hair growth reduction.