14 DAY TRIAL // Undoubtedly, few are the women who have never dyed their hair at home, either by themselves or with the help of a trusted friend. With this in mind and in the context of the still dire economical situation, it’s no wonder that DIY home beauty kits have started becoming popular again, to the detriment of professional salons and clinics. Still, experts warn, women must be very careful about the products they use so that they don’t end hurting themselves, the Daily Mail points out.
According to recent surveys, more and more women are skipping going to a beauty salon in favor of getting all the treatments done at home. Of course, we’re no longer talking of the regular dyeing operation or of waxing the hair on the legs, although these two can carry serious risks.
Today, women can remove unwanted hair with laser machines or IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) devices, while they can also buy advanced chemical peels online or in beauty stores. From this to suffering burns or adverse reactions is just a step, experts say for the Mail.
What women can’t seem to comprehend when it comes to these home treatments is that, even if the manufacturer labels them safe for home use, the chances that they are not compatible with their type of skin or that they carry inevitable risks continue to be very high. Moreover, not reading the instructions carefully or not performing a patch test to see the reaction the product or treatment might have with the skin can have disastrous consequences, experts point out. These, in turn, will cost women almost triple the price they would have paid had they gone to a salon, to have the treatment done by a professional.
“People assume that if products are deemed by the manufacturer to be safe to use at home, they will be very straightforward. But that’s not always the case. Most people are safe with home IPL devices, but some clients, especially those with tanned or dark skin, may find that problems develop between 12 and 24 hours after a treatment – when the top layer of skin can become scorched and blistered.” Cosmetic Dermatologist Dr. Mervyn Patterson, MD, of cosmetic clinic Woodford Medical Aesthetics, tells the Mail. Dr. Patterson can personally attest the cases of women requiring corrective treatments after buying and using do-it-yourself beauty kits have increased considerably in the past few months.
Nevertheless, this is not to say women looking to have all their beauty treatments at home can’t continue to do so, the aforementioned publication also explains. Granted all instructions are read and closely followed, and that we do our research properly before heading to buy a product and then patch-test it, we should lower the risks of this type of accidents to a minimum.