Johannesburg - Being a woman is hard work. In order to look mildly acceptable, we have to make waxing appointments and endure having the hair ripped off our bodies. If one opts to shave, torturous side effects are experienced, like ingrown hairs and quick regrowth.
Until recently, there really has been no easy way out of this predicament. With more than my fair share of hair on my body, I’ve been desperately seeking an effective hair removal solution for years. I’ve spent hundreds of rands on IPL treatments at various salons, and even tried an epilator machine at one point. Nothing seemed to work, and I kept going back to my trusty old razor.
Understandably, I was a bit sceptical when I read about SPL (square pulsed light). This is a more advanced version of the more widely known IPL (intense pulsed light). The square pulse means that light is equally disbursed under the skin, so it take a lot less energy to achieve the same effect as a “standard” pulse. The light targets the melanin (which is the pigment) in hair, causing virtually all actively growing hairs to fall out in the treated area, one to three weeks after treatment. The darker the hair, the better the effect. Lighter hair can be removed, but may require more treatments. White and red hair cannot be successfully removed. Because of its wide spectrum, SPL is more versatile than IPL, and successfully treats a wide range of skin ailments like pigmentation and puffiness.
Goddessa Beauty, in Atholl Square, Sandton, invited me to try their revolutionary SPL machine, imported from France.
I went for one session on my underarms, and was quite apprehensive, until I was told that Goddessa offers guaranteed removal of 90 percent of unwanted hair in a few sessions. I was shown to a room, where I was asked to put on a pair of sunglasses to protect my eyes from the laser. A gel was applied to my underarms to assist with cooling, and then my treatment started.
It took all of five minutes, and consisted of three to four “zaps”, which felt like an elastic band lightly snapped against my skin. I had no side effects, and the next day, I noticed that more than half the hair had disappeared. I was advised to have six treatments in total, with a wait time of six weeks between treatments.
I was so impressed with the results from my underarms that I then proceeded to laser my whole body, including my face and legs, and spent the equivalent of a few bond repayments in the process. The treatments were pricey, but being able to wear whatever I want without having to worry about shaving or waxing my legs or underarms makes it worth it.
Underarm sessions are R500 each, while a half leg treatment is priced at R1 500 per session. Goddessa does laser treatments on all areas of the body, for men and women. - Sunday Independent
* Contact Goddessa Nail and Beauty Boutique to find out more about SPL. Address: 116 Wierda Road East, Corner Katherine Drive, Sandton. Tel: 011 783 2732. Visit www.goddessabeauty.co.za
* Goddessa Beauty provided Hasmita with underarm treatments at no charge; other treatments were funded by Hasmita Nair in her personal capacity