Market opportunity–Men's health and hair removal

In the past, men were stigmatized for getting beauty treatments¹. But now, the male hair removal market is booming—more and more men are interested in cultivating a fresher, neater appearance.

This trend is caused by “greater awareness of hygiene and grooming”, as well as a desire for muscle definition enhancement. As with women, any part of a man’s body can be groomed—but the most popular areas are the back, chest, shoulders, and sometimes even feet. (Several years ago, famed gentleman George Clooney reportedly inspired hundreds of men to try hair removal² after joking about receiving laser treatments in his bikini area).

As the owner of an aesthetic clinic or med spa, you may have noticed the uptick in interest for treatments from male customers. Laser hair removal—for both men and women—will grow increasingly popular in upcoming years, so it could be the perfect time to add a laser-based aesthetic device to your clinic.

Men are actually spending more money on grooming than women

The growth in men’s health and med spa treatments are promising.

Allied Market Research projects that the global market for men's personal care will reach $166 billion by 2022³. On top of that, the emerging male hair removal market has shown a 46% increase since 2000.

And though beauty used to be considered a woman’s world, a 2018 survey from the American Med Spa Association⁴ found that men outspent women by 13% on beauty. This same study predicted that by 2030, millennial men would make up 30% of the medical spa marketplace.

Laser hair removal is one of the top three non-surgical aesthetic procedures, making it a beginner-friendly, non-intimidating beauty treatment. It also makes up 39% of all energy-based treatments, so you can ensure there will always be interest from potential customers.

Because the lasers used for hair removal are incredibly versatile, they offer another benefit for your practice: you can expand to other services without additional investment in other aesthetic medical devices.

Types of men’s hair removal requests

Nearly any surface of the body can be treated, even private areas. Though men now place more emphasis on their appearance, laser treatments aren’t always necessarily cosmetic—they can also be used to alleviate hygiene and health problems. Here are some of the most popular areas of treatment.

Eyebrows

Women are often jealous of men who've been blessed with bushy eyebrows—but for the men themselves, messy brows (or even unibrows) can be embarrassing. Proper eyebrow grooming makes a man look more impressive and masculine, and it also leaves a fresh canvas for eyebrow threading and microblading should a client want those treatments in the future.

Chest and torso

Though the presence of chest hair is attractive, having too much can be a source of insecurity or frustration for men—especially if hairs are peeking out of shirts. Additionally, for athletes such as swimmers and bodybuilders, removing hair completely can help to enhance muscle definition and reduce friction.

It's possible to reduce excessive chest hair with laser treatments. By customizing the treatment to your client's specific needs, you can help them get their ideal result—whether that's a hair-free chest, more defined musculature, or simply a slightly-less-hairy torso.

Sensitive areas

“Manscaping” helps to relieve irritation and reduce itchiness in the bikini area. Contrary to proper belief, so clients don’t have to worry about becoming completely “bald” after their treatments. Older patients may also opt for laser hair removal in the genital area for easier maintenance and better hygiene.

Neck and chin area

Many men want to have laser hair removal on their neck and beard area due to inflamed or ingrown hair follicles. After shaving, many men suffer from clusters of inflamed, painful red bumps around their follicles⁵. Shaving again despite these issues can cause bleeding or scarring. Fortunately, with laser treatments, men can enjoy a neater beard without inflammation or unsightly bumps.

Why men are choosing laser treatments

Laser treatments are preferable for many clients for many reasons.

For areas such as the chest, back, or along the nape of the neck, hair removal at home can be difficult. DIY shaving insensitive or hard-to-reach places could leave permanent scars or cause major accidents⁶. Additionally, razor burn causes acne breakouts and ingrown hairs, or in worst-case scenarios, a nasty infection.

Another hair removal option—waxing—is time-consuming, complicated, and painful. It must be done on a regular basis, and the cost of waxing tools quickly adds up.

Regular waxing at a salon can be uncomfortable for male clients, and the cost of monthly treatments for years to come will be even higher than DIY treatments—a single waxing appointment will usually cost at least $30⁷.

One more cause for concern: shaving and waxing are both wasteful. Billions of disposable razors are thrown out each year. Waxing—which uses wooden applicators, multiple cloths or paper strips, and the wax itself—is also harmful to the environment.

Laser hair removal saves time and effort

Laser hair removal may seem too pricey for men to justify, but the benefits are enormous.

In comparison to other options, laser hair removal treatment plans typically require just 4 to 6 15-minute sessions per treatment area. (IPL treatments may involve 6 to 10 sessions). After that, clients may only require a yearly top-up session. This adds up to a lot of saved hours and freedom from painful razor nicks and time spent hunched over a bathroom sink.

One of the other major benefits of laser removal treatments is their incredible customizability. For patients who want to get a precise look, feel, or thickness, laser hair removal is the only option capable of thinning (rather than completely removing) hair. By consulting with your clients, you can craft bespoke treatment plans that perfectly address their needs and concerns—and it’s this attention to care that will endear clients to your clinic and position you as an irreplaceable partner in their holistic journey of care.

A final note: if you plan to treat vascular lesions (such as leg veins and resistant port-wine stains), pigmented lesions, aging skin, and/or onychomycosis, all you’ll have to do is design a new services menu and let your customers know.

Laser hair removal is an ideal addition to your practice (aesthetic clinic/medspa)

The global laser hair removal market is expected to surpass US $3.9 billion⁸ by 2026, and thanks to rising concern about UV effects, improved standards of living, and rising disposable income in the region, APAC will be the fastest-growing market for laser hair removal. It’s the right time for clinics to begin offering these services.

When choosing a medical aesthetic device for your hair removal treatments, it’s best to consider the types of clients you will be serving. Different lasers are better suited to different types of skin, so you should take that into account when making your decision. Candela’s GentleMax Pro Plus^® with latest innovative technology to treat light to dark skin types is the #1 dermatologist-recommended brand for laser hair removal. A consultation with Candela can help you select the right laser for your needs and future plans.