The best thing about laser hair removal is that it’s a permanent solution to unwanted hair. Hair can be a big problem for many women, especially if you’re trying to grow your business. What does this mean? It means that you want to do everything possible to make sure that you are attractive and appealing to your customers and potential clients.
The truth is that many of us have problems with our pubic hair, whether it’s too much or not enough. Most women will have some form of body hair on their arms, legs, and chest, but the one place where most women don’t like having any hair is in their pubic area. For this reason, many women choose to have all of their pubic hair using laser treatments which can help them feel more confident about themselves when they go out in public or even when they’re just at home alone with their partner or spouse. This article discusses: “How Do I Get Clients for Laser Hair Removal,Is There a Demand for Laser Hair Removal.
Laser For Pubic Hair Removal Business
While laser hair removal has been around since the ’90s, it’s more popular than ever. And for good reason: it’s an effective and safe way to get rid of facial and body hair that requires virtually no upkeep. And while we might be seeing the return of the full bush, the laser hair removal market continues to climb.
Ahead of your first appointment, keep in mind that not all lasers are created equal. There are three different kinds: diode, alexandrite, and Nd:YAG. “The diode laser is the Mercedes Benz of all lasers,” jokes New York City dermatologist Francesca Fusco, M.D. “It has a pneumatic head on the device, which suckers up the skin and the hair follicle to target the hair more efficiently.” Alexandrite is a good option for those with darker skin tones: “If you have darker skin, you run the risk of getting post inflammatory hyperpigmentation,” she says. “This laser is safe because it provides the heat needed to disable the follicle but because it comes across though an alexandrite crystal, the wavelength beam of light is less likely to cause pigmentation post-treatment.” The Nd:YAG laser “doesn’t generate a ton of heat, so it’s good for small areas like the chin and upper lip,” Fusco says. “However, this method takes longer to achieve results, and they’re not always permanent.”
Now, the answers to some frequently asked questions:
What are some of the most popular areas for laser hair removal?
“Bikini, underarms, and lower legs are the most popular areas for women,” says Christian Karavolas, founder of the two-decade-old midtown destination for laser hair removal, Romeo and Juliette. Men, who make up 35% of the company’s business, tend to ask for their back, chest, and bikini area to be treated.
Will it hurt?
“Some people find it uncomfortable,” Fusco explains. “But for the most part it is tolerable.” Fusco says some people compare the feeling to static electricity, but it varies from person to person. A Vogue colleague who has been getting treatments since she was 15 notes that while her initial appointments felt like fiery rubber band snaps, the pain has lessened over the years as the hair follicles have stopped producing hairs. Numbing cream can also be applied 20 minutes before treatment if patients require.
What should I do before treatment?
“Avoid sunlight and self-tanner,” Karavolas explains. “And if you’re on antibiotics, be sure to wait at least five days [before coming in].” And while most people are good candidates for laser hair removal, he notes that pregnant women and those who are on Accutane or any medications that warn against sun exposure should not receive treatment. The aforementioned colleague notes that she shaves before each appointment “so the laser can target the root and not the end of the hair,” and makes sure to skip makeup when getting facial treatments as the technician typically wipes it off anyway.
And after treatment?
Fusco advises patients to treat the area like they would a sunburn (skip hot baths and showers, and apply aloe). “Avoid sunlight so that post-inflammatory pigmentation does not occur and skip applying retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids.” In between sessions, both professionals advise against waxing or tweezing in favor of shaving. “And wear at least an SPF 30 at all times,” Karavolas adds.
How long will it take to see results?
“It depends on the client,” says Karavolas, but most see results in as little as two sessions. A full course “is usually anywhere from four to 12 sessions to see permanent results.”
How much does it cost?
For a small area, like the upper lip, sideburns, or chin, Karavolas averages about $100 to $200 per session, and $150 to $350 for the bikini area. A slightly larger area like the lower legs could cost anywhere from $400 to $700 per session depending on the office.
Where should I get it done?
“Those seeking laser hair removal should go to a licensed pro with a degree on the wall,” says Fusco, who recommends a dermatologist, aesthetician, or “someone who is trained by the laser company to handle the machine.”
Here, five of the best places around the country to get rid of hair for good.
How long does laser hair removal last
Several years ago I decided to stop shaving my legs and switched to waxing. I was sick of ingrown hairs and the little red bumps that formed on my lower legs from an old school razor. (Note to readers: If this is already too much information, this article is probably not for you.) Waxing your legs, I soon learned, is wonderful—for three days. Then the hair begins to creep back in and you are stuck with it for at least two weeks, three if you want it to be even more efficient. At the end of last summer, I put my furry foot down. No more of this back-and-forth business, I decided. It was time to look into a more permanent option.
I remembered first hearing about laser hair removal years ago when people were first talking about it and thinking, “Eek, that sounds risky, I’m going to wait and see if this goes the way of the LaserDisc or the DVD.” Basically I wanted to make sure it was legit and worth the time, pain, and cost.
The way laser hair removal works, I soon discovered from a quick bit of precautionary research, is that pulses of highly concentrated light are emitted from the laser into the hair follicles. The pigment in the follicles absorbs the light and that destroys the hair. When I read that 90 percent of laser hair removal patients who are good candidates for the procedure report permanent hair loss after an average of three to six sessions, I was sold. “Chewbacca be gone,” I vowed to myself. “Next year, I am getting my legs lasered.”
My interest was particularly piqued by the spate of at-home laser treatments recently on the market. Could it be that easy? An investigation into the leading brands revealed some intriguing contenders, from the Tria 4X (an FDA-cleared device that claims to deliver more than triple the hair-eliminating energy of its DIY peers) to the IluminageTOUCH (which is approved to safetly treat a wider of skin tones than traditional lasers). But while the convenience of zapping away on my couch while watching Law & Order: SVU was seductive, none seemed quite right. I can barely operate my electric kettle—should I really be handling a laser?
Board-certified dermatologist Jessica Weiser, M.D., who I eventually approached, is also dubious about the at-home models. “I advise caution because they’re supposed to be much less intense than in office lasers but in the wrong hands you can probably do some serious damage if you’re double- or- triple pulsing areas that you shouldn’t be,” she tells me. “Typically people at home tend to be aggressive with themselves because they think that they can get a faster, better result without realizing potential consequences.”
I opt instead for the New York Dermatology Group, where Weiser specializes in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. When I call for an appointment, I learned that in order to have bikini-worthy legs by Memorial Day I would need to start the laser process in peak tights-and-boots weather. Soon, I’m headed down to their Flatiron offices for my first of six appointments—six, explains Dr. Weiser, to accommodate the hair’s growth cycles. “Hairs have a growth phase and also a resting and a falling-out phase,” she says. “Some of the hairs are not there right now because they are in the rest phase and not every hair will respond to the pulses.” Hence the need for multiple sessions, spaced about one month apart, the typical length of a hair-growth cycle.
I arrive at their office, a wide-open space with pale pine floors, and am shown to Dr. Weiser’s patient room, where she promptly asks if my legs are shaven.
“No!” I reply proudly, excited to show her that I wax instead.
“Hmm,” Dr. Weiser frowns. “I need the legs to be clean-shaven for the laser so we’ll have to shave them now,” she continues, explaining that for next six months of my laser treatment, I’ll need to exclusively shave my legs.
I am next instructed to put on a pair of bottle-green goggles while Dr. Weiser rubs ultrasound gel on my calves. Before we begin, she shares with me the one description of laser hair removal I have heard before: “It feels like a rubber band being flicked against your skin multiple times.”
Is There a Demand for Laser Hair Removal
Increases in both product launches and approvals in the field of laser hair removal treatment, as well as growing body image consciousness among young people, are all factors fueling the expansion of the global laser hair removal market. In addition, the desire to improve one’s appearance has led more women to try laser hair removal. As a result, this is expected to be a driving force in the expansion of the laser hair removal industry. Specifically, in 2020 there were 1,837,052 hair removal treatments conducted all around the globe, as reported by the International Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). Similar data indicated that around 1,538,982 hair removal treatments were carried out on the female population. In addition, 635,618 hair removal treatments were carried out in the United States in 2009, as reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). In the same study, it was found that women accounted for 84% of the population that had hair removal. Unwanted facial hair becomes more common among women as they age due to hormonal shifts, driving up the need for laser hair removal.
How Do I Get Clients for Laser Hair Removal
Nick Zivolich is a co-owner of No Limit Marketing & Advertising in Florida. The company’s mission is to aid its customers in expanding their companies via strategic marketing and advertising initiatives. With his strategic guidance, Zivolich equips laser hair removal company owners to obliterate the competition by providing low-cost and no-cost advertising strategies. He argues that spas may return their initial expenditure in marketing and promotion via the acquisition of new clientele, despite the fact that this strategy necessitates investing money up front.
Does one really need to hire a spa-focused advertising firm? According to Zivolich, it is a good idea to choose an agency if they have a track record of success with clients in a comparable industry. Two of his businesses were medical spas, and from there he developed adaptable, turnkey marketing strategies for all of his clients in the field. However, acquiring such background knowledge isn’t always feasible. Working with a marketing expert requires the utmost trust. To get the most out of your money, choose a specialist who, as Zivolich advises, “presents a clear game plan, has done the research, and makes you feel.”
Keep in mind that laser hair removal has cyclical needs. Make preparations in February for the busy months of March through August. Kenney is in a mad dash to get everything done before the summer rush. During bikini season, she claims, “there just aren’t enough hours in the day.” When Greenberg first opened, she employed three full-time, medically-trained estheticians. However, as business developed, she needed to add a fourth, part-time esthetician to assist. She was able to accommodate the demands of customers who needed nighttime visits thanks to the increase in personnel. Now open twice weekly till 7pm, Ageless Remedies has expanded its business hours.
Either I am wrong, or my pain threshold is incredibly low, because I find laser hair removal excruciatingly uncomfortable. In fact, I start to think, I would take a flick of a rubber band any day over the repeated burning zap of the laser. After the first few zaps, I squirm so much Dr. Weiser has to stop. It feels like someone is taking a lit match to my leg and holding it up close. The darker the hair, she explains, the coarser it is; therefore more energy is emitted onto that follicle, causing greater discomfort. When those hairs are zapped, it feels like a bee sting—and you just have to hope there aren’t too many.
The whole process is a bit like whack-a-mole; it seems there’s always another hair to quash. But Dr. Weiser is calm and methodical, her laser moving up and down the leg in straight lines. The noise of the pulses is like the beat of a metronome or a very fast elevator that beeps at every floor. (On my second visit, I remove my silk blouse in order to avoid unnecessary dry cleaning.) But with each subsequent visit, it gets progressively easier, partly because I am becoming more used to the process and partly because there is less hair to zap.
Clearly I’m not alone in this. Nearly half a million laser treatments were performed by dermatological surgeons in 2011 (the last year that collected data is available) according to the American Society for Dermatological Surgery, so it must be worth the minor suffering. Most people who get laser treatments are focusing on smaller areas of hair—underarm, upper lip, bikini line. These areas also happen to be much more sensitive: The very idea of getting my bikini line. These areas also happen to be much more sensitive. The lower leg, on the other hand, is one of the largest areas that they laser and it takes about 25 minutes altogether for both legs upon each visit.
By my third appointment I begin to see a real difference. The laser picks up a lot more “energy” as Dr. Weiser says, and I find the whole experience far less painful. For several days following each treatment, I have a series of small red bumps on my legs and this actually elates me because I know it means that the laser has picked up that follicle and when the redness dies down that spot will be hair-free for life—a delightful thought as summer, and a season of confidently wearing my favorite Isabel Marant silk-chiffon miniskirt, begins.
Is laser hair removal permanent
Shaving, plucking, or waxing hair can often be time-consuming. Many people turn to laser hair removal as a solution to take care of unwanted facial and body hair.
IS LASER HAIR REMOVAL PERMANENT FOREVER?
After you have your first laser hair removal treatment, you will see a reduced number of hairs immediately. Hair growth may increase in the treated area from 2 to 8 weeks after since not all hair follicles respond equally to the treatment. It usually takes 3 to 8 sessions to achieve permanent hair loss. You may also need touch-up sessions about once a year.
HOW LONG DOES PERMANENT LASER HAIR REMOVAL LAST?
After your initial treatments, laser hair removal should be permanent if you have a yearly touch-up session. You may even go years without seeing any regrowth. If you do, it tends to be finer and lighter in color and density than before.
IS LASER HAIR REMOVAL BAD?
You should receive your laser hair removal treatments from an experienced dermatologist. As with any procedure, side effects are possible, but the most common are discomfort, swelling, and redness, which may last for just a few days. More serious side effects such as scarring, or blistering are possible.
DOES LASER HAIR REMOVAL PERMANENTLY REDUCE HAIR?
Laser hair removal permanently reduces hair. Even if some hair grows back, it should be less noticeable as well as finer and lighter than it was before your treatments.
DOES LASER HAIR REMOVAL LIGHTEN SKIN?
Laser hair removal can sometimes lighten treated skin, but the effect is usually temporary. It’s more likely to happen if you have darker skin. Additionally, if you don’t avoid sun exposure as directed for six weeks before and after your treatment and use broad-spectrum sunscreen after your treatment, your skin may lighten.
HOW PAINFUL IS LASER HAIR REMOVAL?
If you’re receiving treatment in a sensitive area, your doctor may apply numbing gel on it before the laser is used. As the laser is used, some patients report a mild stinging sensation like a rubber band snapping.
SHOULD I SHAVE BEFORE LASER HAIR REMOVAL?
Shaving is recommended the day before your laser treatment. This removes the hair above the skin but leaves the hair shaft intact.
IS LASER HAIR REMOVAL SAFE LONG TERM?
As with any procedure, you may experience some side effects, but they’re less likely to occur if your treatment is performed by or under the supervision of a dermatologist who has experience in providing laser hair removal treatments.
CAN I SHOWER AFTER LASER HAIR REMOVAL?
You shouldn’t shower or bathe immediately after laser hair removal, but your doctor will tell you how long you should wait. The time may range from 8 hours up to 48 hours since your skin may still be sensitive.
If you’d like more information about laser hair removal, make an appointment today with Hollywood Dermatology & Cosmetic Specialists in South Florida. Our medical staff offers the latest, most effective treatments to help you look and feel your best.