If you’re looking for a permanent hair removal treatment that’s affordable and effective, it may be time to consider laser for hair removal. This treatment has been used by medical professionals for decades, but new at-home devices are now making it possible for you to get beautiful smooth skin at home. In this guide, we will look at how laser hair removal works, how it compares with traditional methods such as shaving and waxing , and what you can expect from this treatment.
Laser hair removal is effective for most people but not everyone. It can be used on all skin types and colors, but it works best on light skin and dark hair. Laser treatments are often less effective on people with darker skin because the laser can’t penetrate deeply enough into the skin. These treatments are also less effective on people with light-colored hair because it’s hard for the laser to distinguish between dark hairs and light-colored skin cells.
Read on to learn more about Is Laser For Hair Removal Effective, How Many Laser Hair Removal Sessions Will I Need? and How Much Is Laser Hair Removal
Is Laser For Hair Removal Effective
Laser hair removal is a form of cosmetic surgery that uses a laser to permanently reduce or remove unwanted body hair.
Lasers that emit infrared light are most commonly used for laser hair removal. The laser light damages the follicle, causing it to become unable to produce hair.
Laser hair removal can be an effective treatment for people with dark skin and coarse hair who cannot tolerate other types of hair removal methods such as shaving, waxing or electrolysis.
However, it is not suitable for everyone and can cause burns if used improperly. There is also a risk of permanent scarring from the procedure if there are complications such as infection or bleeding at the site of treatment.
Laser hair removal is one of the most popular and effective ways to remove unwanted hair. It’s called “laser” because the laser light targets the pigment in the hair follicle, which means it can only be used on people with dark hair.
Laser treatment is often used on large areas of skin, such as the back, legs and arms. Laser hair removal may not work well on small areas of skin such as underarms and bikini lines.
Laser treatments are expensive and time-consuming — some people need several sessions before they see results. And not everyone is a good candidate for laser treatment because it can have side effects like blistering or scarring.
Laser hair removal works by targeting melanin (the pigment) in your hair follicles with a high-intensity beam of light. This kills the root of your hair, stopping it from growing back for up to four months at a time.
Laser hair removal is a method of removing unwanted body hair by means of an intense pulsed light source. While the laser light destroys the melanin in the hair follicle and stops it from producing more hair, it does not hurt the surrounding skin or remove it permanently.
Laser hair removal works best on individuals with fair skin and dark coarse hairs. Light skin absorbs the laser energy better than darker skins. Coarse hairs absorb more energy than fine hairs, which makes them ideal for laser treatments.
The average number of treatment sessions required is seven to ten, depending on size of area being treated and thickness/coarseness of hair to be removed. The total number of treatments required varies from one person to another depending on age, hormonal changes and other factors such as pregnancy and menopause. As we get older, our body produces less melanin in our hair follicles making it less effective for us as compared to younger people who produce more melanin at a faster rate than older people do. Some people are not suitable candidates for this treatment because they have dark skin or very coarse black hairs that absorb laser energy better than lighter skinned individuals with finer white hairs do so they require more treatments than others
Is Laser For Hair Removal Effective?
Laser hair removal is a popular method of permanently removing unwanted hair. Laser works by directing high-intensity light energy at the pigment in your hair follicles. This damages the follicles, so that they cannot produce new hair.
The procedure can be painful and may result in swelling, redness and burning in the area treated. You may also experience itching after treatment.
The success of laser hair removal depends on several factors, including skin color and thickness, the number of treatments performed and the type of laser used by your doctor or spa. In general, the younger you are when you start treatment, the better your results will be.
Is Laser For Hair Removal Effective?
Laser hair removal is the most popular and effective method of permanent hair removal. It has been around for over 15 years and has evolved into many different forms over this time period. It is also one of the most expensive forms of hair removal available today, with prices starting at $200 per session and going up from there.
Laser hair removal has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate unwanted body hair by disrupting the growth cycle of the hair follicle. This can be accomplished by two methods: selective photothermolysis (SPTL) or non-selective photothermolysis (NSPTL). SPTL uses a specific wavelength of light to target a specific color pigment in the follicle only, while NSPTL uses a broader spectrum of wavelengths that affects all pigments equally. Both methods work effectively but each has its own advantages. NSPTL requires less time per treatment, but it can cause more discomfort than SPTL during treatment due to its higher intensity levels.
How Much Is Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is a very effective treatment for removing unwanted hair.
Laser treatments are available at clinics, salons and spas. They can be performed by a doctor, nurse or other health professional.
A laser beam targets the pigment in your hair follicle, destroying it so that it can no longer produce hair.
The procedure takes about 30 minutes, depending on the area being treated. It’s not painful but may cause slight irritation for a day or two after treatment. You may need several sessions over several weeks or months to get rid of all your unwanted hair.
Laser hair removal is a form of permanent hair reduction that uses laser technology to target and destroy the hair follicle.
Laser hair removal can be used on all skin types and colors. It works best on dark hair growing in lighter skin, but results can vary depending on your skin pigmentation, the color of your hair, and the area of your body being treated.
Laser hair removal does not require any anesthesia or numbing cream; however, some patients may experience mild discomfort during treatment. The procedure takes about 10 minutes per area treated and multiple treatments are required for optimal results.
The efficacy rate varies from person to person and differs based on many factors including the type of laser used and whether or not the treatment was performed by an experienced professional.
Laser hair removal is a popular choice for those who want to get rid of unwanted body hair. It’s also a good option for people who want to keep their hair removal costs down by only treating small areas at a time.
Laser hair removal works by using an energy source that targets the pigment in your hair follicles and damages them so they don’t produce any more new hairs. The process takes multiple sessions, usually spaced about six weeks apart, and can be painful — especially on large areas.
Is Laser For Hair Removal Effective?
Approximately 60 to 85 percent of laser hair removal patients see results after four treatments, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS). However, not everyone will experience complete permanent removal with just one or two sessions.
There are many factors that affect how successful laser treatments are for you, including:
Your skin tone (darker skin types tend to respond more favorably)
The type of laser used
The amount you shave or wax before treatment
Laser hair removal is a cosmetic procedure that uses a laser to remove unwanted hair. The laser passes through the skin’s surface, heats the hair follicle, and destroys the hair root. The goal is to permanently disable the cells that produce hair so they stop growing.
Laser hair removal is effective for most people but not everyone. It can be used on all skin types and colors, but it works best on light skin and dark hair. Laser treatments are often less effective on people with darker skin because the laser can’t penetrate deeply enough into the skin. These treatments are also less effective on people with light-colored hair because it’s hard for the laser to distinguish between dark hairs and light-colored skin cells.[1]
Laser Hair Removal Techniques
There are three main types of laser hair removal:
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). IPL machines use intense pulses of light to target pigment in the skin — not just hair follicles — so this method works well for removing tattoos as well as unwanted body hair.[2] It’s also less likely than traditional lasers to cause irritation or side effects like burns or blistering when used on darker-skinned patients.[3]
Diode laser. Diode lasers use a single wavelength of
Laser hair removal is a popular option for removing unwanted hair, but it isn’t the only one.
Laser hair removal can be a great option for permanent hair removal and many people turn to laser therapy to get rid of unwanted facial and body hair. But it’s not always the best method — especially if you’re looking for quick results.
Lasers are typically used to target the pigment in your skin, which is what gives your skin color. The laser is able to target this pigment because it’s absorbed by melanin-producing cells called melanocytes (which produce melanin). Once these cells are destroyed, they can no longer produce melanin, leaving your skin permanently lighter.
The problem with laser therapy is that it takes multiple sessions over a long period of time before you see any results — and getting rid of all your unwanted hair might take even more sessions than that. In addition, there are other options available that don’t require as much time or money spent on them, like electrolysis or waxing.
How Many Laser Hair Removal Sessions Will I Need?
The number of sessions varies for each patient, but most will have between 4-8 treatments to achieve the best results. The frequency of sessions is usually every 4-6 weeks, but this can also vary from person to person and can depend on their hair type, color, and natural growth cycle.
With Derma-Tech’s Lumenis LightSHEER DUET laser, you can expect a quick and easy in-office experience. All patients will have a private consultation with a Derma-Tech professional to discuss their unique needs.
What are the pros of laser hair removal?
- While laser treatment doesn’t get rid of hair forever (only electrolysis is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for permanent hair removal), it does drastically reduce hair growth—to the point that many patients won’t see any for months or even years, and the hairs that do crop up are often thinner and lighter in color.
- You can get it done anywhere on your body and the machine can cover large areas fast. Legs, back, underarms, bikini line, stomach, face…there’s virtually no limit to the places you can get laser hair removal (if the laser you’re using is safe and effective for your skin tone and hair color, that is). And no, there isn’t a higher risk of side effects with laser hair removal in the bikini area compared to other areas, Dr. Maiman says.
- Depending on your hair type and the service area, it may actually not hurt too much. When it comes to pain level, for a lot of people laser hair removal falls somewhere between shaving (painless) and waxing (holy hell that hurts). Technicians typically use a numbing gel to help desensitize the area before and after the laser treatment to minimize discomfort. You might find that bikini and underarm laser hair removal is more painful because those are sensitive areas, Dr. Maiman adds. But in general, the treatment gets progressively less painful with each session, as the hair becomes finer, Dr. Charles says.
What about the cons?
- It’s a long process. A session of laser hair removal on a small area like the underarms typically takes five minutes or less. However, it takes multiple sessions to see real results (typically between four and six, depending on the size of the area), and you generally have to wait six weeks between treatments.
- It’s expensive. If you add up how much you spend on razors or bikini wax sessions in your lifetime, though, it might be worth the laser hair removal cost of about $300-$400 per session, per the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (not covered by insurance, unfortunately).
- Since the contrast between the color of the skin and the pigment in the hair follicle is what allows the laser to easily know what to target, laser hair removal works best on fair skin with dark hair, and is not as ideal for darker skin, as discussed above, or lighter hair, regardless of skin tone, Dr. Maiman says. If you have light blonde or white hair, the laser might not be as effective at targeting those hairs, studies show—you might see a reduction in hair growth, but not to the extent that’s typically seen in folks with more contrast between their skin and hair color. Certain lasers, like the Nd:YAG, are better at distinguishing between hair and skin on all skin types, including light hair and dark skin.2
- Laser hair removal probably isn’t a good idea if you’re pregnant. “Although lasers have been safely used to treat medical conditions like kidney stones and genital warts in pregnant people, there’s no safety data presently available to support using lasers for cosmetic procedures like hair removal,” Dr. Maiman explains. Many doctors advise against undergoing cosmetic laser treatments while pregnant, in case of fetal risks, she adds. So if you’re pregnant, or possibly going to be in the next couple of months, you may want to postpone your laser hair removal appointment until a later date.
- If done by an untrained technician, laser hair removal could leave burns or scars on the skin. Unfortunately, licensing procedures vary from state to state, and sometimes there are no requirements at all. Beware of “laser centers,” since some states don’t have licensing requirements for laser hair removal providers. If you’re set on going to a spa, make sure it’s a medical spa or laser hair removal center run by a doctor who’s board-certified in an aesthetic specialty such as dermatology or plastic surgery, and has specific laser certification (even board-certified doctors who want to provide laser hair removal treatments need further training), Dr. Maiman advises.
You should also do your research on what laser might work best with your skin tone, and call the office to make sure the device they’re using is FDA-approved for laser hair removal (look it up on the 510(k) database on the FDA’s website to be certain, she adds).
Can you do laser hair removal at home?
The short answer is yes, it’s possible (though people with darker skin and lighter hair should be cautious—more on that below). “At-home devices work similarly to professional treatments, but are smaller and use lower energy levels,” Dr. Maiman says. (The light energy is much less strong than what’s used for in-office procedures, which also makes at-home devices safer to use without much risk of error.) “Because it’s hard to cover a lot of surface area, they’re more time-consuming, but they can help reduce hair growth and can be a great option to maintain improvements between professional treatment,” she says. And since they’re less powerful than the pro devices, they’re also likely to cause you less pain, so that’s a bonus.
The main thing to remember is that these types of at-home laser hair removal devices are, again, engineered for people with a fair to medium complexion and brown or black hair, Dr. Yadav points out. “Like many professional devices, at-home lasers often aren’t ideal for those with deep complexions. That’s also true for people with red, white, grey, or blonde hair–even with in-office treatments, laser hair removal in that setting can be challenging or ineffective,” Dr. Yadav adds. If you fall into those categories, it’s best to schedule a consultation with a dermatologist to determine the right device—whether at-home or in-office—that’s going to be safest for your skin tone and hair color.
With that said, if you think you’re a good candidate for DIY treatment and decide to experiment with at-home laser hair removal, you’ll likely be using an IPL device, which uses “a broad-spectrum light-based technology that targets melanin to destroy the hair follicle after repeated treatments,” according to Dr. Maiman, so it’s not technically a laser. Research published in 2019 in the journal Lasers In Surgery and Medicine found that IPL devices are safe and effective at reducing hair growth over time and between laser hair removal sessions for people with more contrast between their skin and hair color.3 (They’re also a decent investment if you want to save the money you’d be spending on professional laser treatment—at-home devices generally range from $100-$500.) And another 2021 study in the Archives of Dermatological Research found that at-home devices using IPL had a greater effect on hair removal and, more importantly, were less painful than hot waxing.4
If you’re in the market for an at-home device, Dr. Maiman recommends Silk’n Infinity, which allows you to customize your hair removal with five different energy levels, and is safe to use all over your body (it’s a small device, though, so it may be easier to use on small areas like your face or upper lip). Have a slightly bigger budget? Consider the Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser, Dr. Yadav suggests. It’s dermatologist-recommended because it’s pretty darn close to the technology a derm would use for in-office laser hair removal, but still safe enough for a non-professional user. Some other general safety reminders for aspiring at-home laserers: “I advise not using at-home devices near the eyes, over tattoos or pigmented areas, including moles, or in the genital area, though the bikini line can be targeted safely,” Dr. Maiman says.
A final word of caution: Less pain doesn’t mean no pain (and anyone who’s ever waxed their own upper lip knows that inflicting pain on yourself can be a special kind of hell), so if your tolerance is low, you might want to stick with gentler at-home beauty treatments, like DIY hair masks.