3 Scary Takes…
Laser hair removal: for some, it’s a beauty game-changer. For others, it’s the tip of a dystopian iceberg. Depending on who you ask, it’s either a liberating self-care ritual… or a capitalist scam wrapped in a laser beam.
Critics say it doesn’t really work, it pressures people to conform to impossible beauty standards, and—this is the spicy one—it might even be a tool of body surveillance and social control.
Let’s unpack these contrarian takes—and see how well they hold up when we put them under the (figurative) laser.
Take #1: “It Doesn’t Work (and You’re Getting Scammed)”
You’ve probably heard the claim: “Laser hair removal is a ripoff. It’s not permanent, and the hair grows back.” And technically? That’s… kind of true.
The FDA itself calls it “permanent hair reduction,” not total hair annihilation (FDA, 2020). Studies show regrowth does happen, especially on hormonal areas like the face.
BUT — here’s the twist: that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. Modern laser systems like Cervello, which combines three wavelengths (yes, it’s like the Swiss Army knife of laser hair zappers), can achieve up to 90% hair reduction in the right hands and on the right skin types (Elbuluk et al., 2017).
Translation? If you walk into a legit clinic and commit to a few sessions, you’re likely to walk out significantly smoother — and stay that way longer than with waxing or shaving.
This critique sounds juicy at first, but once you look at the tech and the stats, the “it doesn’t work” argument kind of fizzles out.
Take #2: “It’s Just the Beauty Industry Brainwashing You”
Next up: the feminist critique. Naomi Wolf’s The Beauty Myth (1991) argues that beauty standards — including the whole smooth-skin thing — are tools of patriarchal oppression. The thinking here is: you’re not choosing laser hair removal; you’re just conditioned to think you want it.
And honestly? There’s something to that. We are constantly bombarded with airbrushed, hairless, poreless images. But here’s where this argument gets too black-and-white.
People don’t get laser hair removal just to “fit in.” In a 2020 Allure survey, most users cited convenience, hygiene, and saving time as their main reasons — not social pressure (Allure, 2020). And it’s not just women. Men, nonbinary folks, and trans people are increasingly using laser treatments as part of gender affirmation or just to feel more comfortable in their skin.
So yes — beauty norms are powerful. But reducing laser hair removal to “internalized oppression” ignores people’s actual, diverse, and often very practical motivations. People aren’t mindless drones; sometimes they just want to ditch their razor for good.
Take #3: “It’s Surveillance Capitalism for Your Body Hair”
Ready for the radical critique? Some thinkers say laser hair removal is part of a bio-political regime — basically, a high-tech way to control bodies, shape norms, and push certain aesthetics (usually white, hairless, and “civilized”).
This view leans on scholars like Foucault and Haraway and raises a valid historical point: early laser tech didn’t work well on darker skin tones. People of color were often left out—or worse, burned—by systems designed for lighter skin.
But fast-forward to now: modern devices like Cervello are built to work across all skin tones. They include Nd:YAG wavelengths (good for deeper penetration without zapping melanin) and built-in cooling systems to reduce skin damage (CERVELLO, 2023).
Also… let’s take a breath. No one is being forced into laser clinics by Big Brother. People are doing this voluntarily, saving money on razors and waxing, and often feeling more confident in their skin.
So yes, there are philosophical concerns. But unless we’re suddenly arresting people for stubble, this isn’t Orwell — it’s optional.
✅ So… Is Laser Hair Removal Evil?
Not really.
Sure, some marketing around it can be misleading. Beauty standards still mess with our heads. And like any tech, lasers come with a learning curve — especially when it comes to skin tone inclusivity.
But modern systems like Cervello have made laser hair removal more effective, inclusive, and customizable than ever before. People aren’t being duped or controlled — they’re opting in, informed, and increasingly in charge of how they engage with their own appearance.
Laser hair removal isn’t a scam, or a feminist crisis, or the start of a sci-fi dystopia. It’s a choice. And like most personal choices, it gets a lot less scary — and a lot more interesting — once we stop arguing from extremes.
References
Allure. (2020). The New Face of Beauty: A 2020 Consumer Report. Condé Nast.
Buolamwini, J., & Gebru, T. (2018). Gender shades: Intersectional accuracy disparities in commercial gender classification. Proceedings of Machine Learning Research, 81, 1–15.
CERVELLO. (2023). Triple wavelength laser hair removal system overview. Retrieved from https://cervellolaser.com
Elbuluk, N., Shukla, A., & Albornoz, C. (2017). Laser hair removal: A review. Dermatologic Surgery, 43(4), 473–485.
FDA. (2020). Hair removal: Laser and light-based procedures. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov
Wolf, N. (1991). The beauty myth: How images of beauty are used against women. Harper Perennial.