Laser hair removal is a fantastic means of permanently reducing the amount of hair on your body. Long gone are the days that you need to shave every single day. Shaving can be damaging to your skin and it causes ingrown hairs, redness, and even pimples or blackheads which result in unnecessary scarring. The best place for laser treatment is on the face (because it can remove your beard), neck area and legs as well as underarms.
You can expect to have laser hair removal done by a licensed physician or nurse practitioner in their office. The treatment takes about 15 minutes and will be performed on your upper lip, chin, or other areas of the face that are most resistant to shaving. During the procedure, light beams are focused on the area where you want to remove the hairs. This causes them to heat up and break apart so they can be removed with tweezers or other tools (if necessary).
Read on to learn more about Is Laser Hair Removal Good, What You Can Expect During Laser Hair Removal
Is Laser Hair Removal Good
If you’ve been debating laser hair removal, you have come to the right place. As you’re surely aware, there’s a lot to consider and it’s important to do your research first whether you’re looking for a clinic or considering investing in at home device.
Only once you’ve read up on the pros and cons of laser hair removal and the subsequent side effects can you make a decision if the treatment is right for you.
Not only does laser hair removal help remove unwanted hair, but it also can help with other issues like ingrown hairs, which are prone to causing hyperpigmentation, especially in deep skin tones.
While we’ve come a long way in accepting our body hair, we totally understand that for some, permanent removal is still the goal. In that case laser would definitely be worth the investment.
However, it’s important to remember that laser doesn’t always result in permanent hair removal and there are many other methods like waxing, threading, shaving and tweezing. Not to mention at-home IPL devices.
The one thing you can be sure of with laser hair removal is that it takes time and money. Sadly it’s not a one and done job and normally 8-12 treatments are recommended, spaced over 4-6 weeks. However this can vary based on the individual and area you are treating.
To answer some of your burning questions, we spoke to experts at Pulse Light Clinic and sk:n clinic about everything you need to know prior to getting laser, as well as sharing our personal experiences after having the treatment ourselves.
Below you’ll find straight facts and have all your laser myths busted – from triggering hair growth (rarely) to having to avoid sun exposure (always).
1. The process sounds painful, but isn’t too bad
Dr. Daron Seukeran, Group Medical Director at the sk:n clinic explains that laser hair removal works by sending the light of a laser through the pigment in the hair. “This (light) converts to heat, which damages the hair follicle and hair bulb.” In our experience we found it to be a quick, sharp pain which was more painful on thinner skin near the nose, chin and temples. Thankfully, the lasers used on us had a cooling mechanism (basically a constantly running cold blast of air right where the laser was pointing) which really helped. We also found it more painful if our body temperature was raised due to running across town to make it on time for our appointments. So time management really does help.
2. Patience pays off
It takes two or three weeks after your first treatment to see a difference, and 8 -12 treatments to get the full result. You also have to be really regular with your appointments because your hair follicles are all at different stages of their growth, so you want to make sure each one has a chance to get zapped. Basically if you stop, your hair will grow back.
“Laser hair removal gets to the root of the problem, literally,” says Lucy Dawe, Senior Consultant at Pulse Light Clinic. “The laser will target the hair that is in its active growth stage. Clients may find hair to appear finer and less noticeable after one treatment but a course of treatments is essential to see optimal results.”
3. You’ve got to use a hair trimmer/shave the area before you laser (same goes for makeup)
The laser can react with hair on the skin’s surface which will cause some irritation and sometimes that dreaded burnt hair smell which we learnt first hand, yay. Thankfully for us, we knew the whole ‘shaving = thicker darker hair’ was a really common beauty myth and came shaved before our subsequent appointments.
Remember, you have to make sure you’ve prepped properly before each visit for the optimum results.
Lucy says these are the key things to remember:
- The area must be cleanly shaved within 24 hours prior to the treatment. Electric razors are not recommended as the hair is typically left too long.
- Do not tweeze, wax or pluck the area being treated between or prior to sessions. Only shave the area.
- The treatment area needs to be free from makeup, lotion, deodorant and sun cream- inform the practitioner before treatment starts if you require wipes.
- The area cannot be treated if it has been exposed to sun within 4 weeks prior to treatment.
- Fake tanning products cannot be used 3-4 weeks prior to treatment; the area should be thoroughly exfoliated to remove all residues.
4. It’s actually a pretty fast process
A full face appointment can take as little as 20 minutes and that’s including a quick chat and makeup removal at the start.
5. You can’t go to the gym afterwards
It’s important to remember that the heat from the laser stays in your skin for 24 hours. That means no gym, saunas or hot showers, get it? If you do, you run the risk of creating a lovely warm environment for bacteria to multiply, resulting in spots and irritation.
6. Get ready to think seriously about the sun
Your dermatologist will advise what is best for you, but you might need to avoid sunbathing and sun exposure as much as possible before and after treatment. Also if you have a tan you’ll need to wait till it fades before you can start your treatment. Again, your dermatologist will check in with you about upcoming holidays to make sure you don’t have a holiday coming up which might affect the timing of your next appointment.
How many sessions of laser hair removal laser treatment are needed?
Body hair grows at different speeds than each other. In addition each hair follicle is in a separate cycle from other hair follicles. The hair growth cycle consists of three stages: anagen telogen and catagen which are different in each follicle. The best time to use extra laser hair removal on a hair follicle is when the hair is in its anagen stage which is the most connection between the hair and the follicle.
Therefore laser hair removal should be done in several sessions so that once all the hair in its anagen phase is in contact with the bikini hair laser to remove all the follicles in these areas.
Normally in the genital area and genitals the hair cycle lasts every 30-45 days and for this reason it is recommended to visit the centers that are reputable and consult with your doctor to determine the time between sessions according to the type of skin you have.
What skin type is best for laser bikini hair removal?
We have several skin types in terms of color and skin type is the number one best type and type of skin for laser hair removal.
The whiter the skin color and the darker the hair color the better the results of laser bikini hair removal.
If we have dark skin is it possible not to get an answer from the laser?
In answer to this question it should be said that it is true that the best answer is for light skin with dark hair color but if you go to a reputable clinic with an experienced operator using methods such as increasing range and reducing energy and double shot and other methods are open. You can also use bikini hair laser without worrying about any particular complication and enjoy the results like having soft skin.
What You Can Expect During Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal usually requires two to six treatments. The interval between treatments will vary depending on the location. On areas where hair grows quickly, such as the upper lip, the treatment might be repeated in four to eight weeks. On areas of slow hair growth, such as the back, the treatment might be every 12 to 16 weeks.
For each treatment you’ll wear special goggles to protect your eyes from the laser beam. An assistant might shave the site again if necessary. The doctor might apply a topical anesthetic to your skin to reduce any discomfort during treatment.
During the procedure
The doctor will press a hand-held laser instrument to your skin. Depending on the type of laser, a cooling device on the tip of the instrument or a cool gel might be used to protect your skin and lessen the risk of side effects.
When the doctor activates the laser, the laser beam will pass through your skin to the hair follicles. The intense heat from the laser beam damages the hair follicles, which inhibits hair growth. You might feel discomfort, such as a warm pinprick, and you’ll likely feel a sensation of cold from the cooling device or gel.
Treating a small area, such as the upper lip, might take only a few minutes. Treating a larger area, such as the back, might take more than an hour.
After the procedure
You might notice redness and swelling for the first few hours after laser hair removal.
To reduce any discomfort, apply ice to the treated area. If you have a skin reaction immediately after laser hair removal, the doctor might apply a steroid cream to the affected area.
After laser hair removal and between scheduled treatments, avoid sunlight and don’t use a tanning bed for six weeks or as directed by your doctor. Use a broad-spectrum SPF30 sunscreen daily.