Laser hair removal (LHR) has quickly risen to the top of the hair removal options list as a popular form of hair removal over shaving and waxing. 

The benefits of LHR do seem great for women who want to get rid of hair on their legs, underarms, and bikini area, as these tend to be the most popular areas women shave or wax regularly.

And with multiple laser treatments, women can actually reduce any new hair growth by 75 to 90%. And the best news: the hair doesn’t grow back!

However, many women who look into the possibility of laser hair removal note the sticker shock when they see the cost of laser hair removal, which usually requires a series of 8 treatments for the best possible results.

Cost Of Laser Hair Removal

Depending on the area being treated, laser hair removal services can cost anywhere from $795 to $8,000, with $8,000 being on the very high end and the average being about $3,995 total to treat the bikini area, legs, and underarms. 

Still, spending that amount of money at one time can feel pretty shocking and might not be feasible for all women. As a result, many women opt to keep shaving or waxing instead of purchasing laser hair removal treatments to save money in the short-term.

But…do women actually save money by shaving or waxing? This is a question that could ultimately save women tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime.

Cost Of Shaving And Waxing

WIFH, a laser med spa located in Atlanta, GA sought to answer that question by compiling data from 2008 American Laser Centers Hair Removal Survey and from the Market Watch article “5 Ways to Save on Shaving” and actually found that the cost of LHR might actually be much less than shaving or waxing over a lifetime.

This data is based on the notion that women, on average, spend about 53.6 years removing unwanted hair throughout their lifetime.

Shaving Costs

According to WIFH’s research, women report that they spend $15.87 per month on shaving. 

This cost per month seems pretty low and likely just includes the cost of shaving supplies like razors, razor head refills, and shaving cream.

However, this means women spend about $10,207 on shaving over a lifetime. When that number is seen on its own, it seems a lot higher than expected.

Moreover, the major downside of shaving is that you have to shave a couple of times a week, at least, and skin irritation is much more likely to occur.

Waxing Costs

Meanwhile, waxing costs are considerably higher, since women usually need to visit a salon or spa once or twice a month for waxing services, or they need to purchase waxing materials on their own.

According to the WIFH research, women who wax once or twice a month report that they spend about $23,000 on waxing over a lifetime. Again seeing this number on its own can be quite shocking.

Though waxing does remove hair for a longer period of time, women still need to return to get their waxing services at least once a month to maintain their results.

One-Time Vs. Lifetime Costs

Based on this research, the decision women are making when looking at hair removal options requires a choice between making a large, one-time payment for laser hair removal or making an even larger overall payment in small installments over time.

If you have the funds to pay for laser hair removal treatments, this solution is actually the most cost-effective. After eight treatments, you can achieve 75 to 90 percent hair reduction, since the laser actually damages the hair follicle and does not allow more hair to grow. 

Of course, no method offers permanent hair reduction, but laser hair removal is the closest anyone can currently get.

Decisions, Decisions

So, unless you want to avoid hair removal all together and go all natural, you’ll need to decide which type of hair removal is best for you: a one-time cost for eight treatments or a lifetime of smaller costs adding up to more money spent over a lifetime. The choice, of course, is yours! 

Author Bio

Katie Caldwell is the content writing and marketing specialist for WIFH, a Laser Aesthetics Clinic and Med Spa recognized as Atlanta’s only Certified Laser of Excellence. WIFH provides top-notch services ranging from skin resurfacing and rejuvenation to body contouring and laser hair removal.