Laser hair removal for dark skin is a safe and effective way to remove unwanted hair, but it does require more time and money than some other methods. Laser hair removal for dark skin works by targeting the melanin in the hair follicles, which is why it’s important to choose a laser that has been specifically designed for darker skin tones. In fact, you’ll want to look for an “invisible” laser that targets only the hair follicle without damaging surrounding tissue or skin color.
The best lasers for dark skin can be found at dermatologists’ offices and medical spas; they are often more expensive than at-home devices like waxing kits or epilators, but there are many benefits to having your procedure done professionally (especially since you won’t be able to see what’s happening during the process). When you get your laser treatment done by a professional, they will usually perform several treatments spaced out over several weeks or months—this helps ensure that all of your unwanted hairs are removed before they grow back again.
Read on to learn more about Best Laser Hair Removal For Dark Skin At Home, Understanding Laser Hair Removal
Best Laser Hair Removal For Dark Skin At Home
Laser Hair Removal for Dark Skin
Once upon a time, laser hair removal was off-limits for those with darker skin. Thankfully, salon technology has progressed in recent years, and laser hair removal can finally be done on darker skin tones. Many spas and clinics offer this treatment to everyone without discriminating.
If you’re a person of colour interested in this long-lasting hair reduction method, there are still a few things you need to know. In this post, we cover all of those basics.
What kind of equipment works on your skin type? How can you find the right salon? We answer these questions to guarantee you have a safe, effective laser hair removal experience.
Which Laser Works Best on Darker Skin?
Historically, anyone with darker skin (what dermatologists classify as Fitzpatrick Types 4-6) couldn’t do laser hair removal. The first laser machines could only pinpoint the hair follicle by finding the dramatic shade difference between the root of the hair and the skin.
Those machines would often burn those with darker skin types, and could cause scarring, hyperpigmentation, and even hypopigmentation (i.e. taking away pigment and leaving light spots on the skin).
By switching to laser machines that can operate at longer wavelengths, it’s now possible for those with darker skin to benefit from laser hair removal. With these machines, the light penetrates a little more deeply. It bypasses the top layers of skin altogether, to reach the base of the hair follicle. As a result, it manages to treat the root of the hair without ever interacting with the pigment in the skin.
Modern Nd:YAG laser machines like the Candela GentleMax Pro are consistently the best option for higher Fitzpatrick types. There are other types of laser that can reach the same 1064 nanometer wavelength, but they’re less common.
It’s worth noting that this laser technology has existed at least as far back as the ‘90s, so it was never just a mechanical issue. A lot of spas and salons could have started offering laser hair removal to darker skin tones years ago. Because of discrimination at multiple levels of the industry, not many bothered.
What to Know Before Getting Laser Hair Removal
No matter your skin tone, you’ll want to follow the same pre and aftercare practices in order to achieve the best results and to reduce the risk of side effects.
Before Your Appointment
In the lead-up to your laser appointment, take a break from exfoliating or skin-renewing products like glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, retinoids, and benzoyl peroxide. If you’re not sure about a product you’re using, you can always ask your service provider prior to your appointment.
Additionally, it’s also important to avoid sun exposure or fake tanning. Even with machines that work on darker skin tones, there’s still a risk that a tan will compromise the effectiveness of the laser.
Finally, make sure to shave around 24-48 hours prior to your appointment. This allows the laser to reach the hair at the base, rather than on the surface of the skin.
Note that if you are pregnant or taking oral acne or blood-thinning medications, you may not be a candidate for laser hair removal.
After Your Appointment
The great thing about laser hair removal is that there’s little downtime, and aftercare is quite easy.
After your appointment, you’ll need to protect your skin from the sun with either clothing or a good quality sunscreen. If you’re treating an area like the underarms, you may need to avoid deodorants for a day or two following your treatment, as well.
Just as importantly, avoid saunas, steam rooms, and hot showers for a few days after your treatment, since the heat can increase chances of post-laser irritation.
How to Choose the Right Salon
Now that you know that you can get laser hair removal done even if you have a darker skin tone, where should you go?
It’s important you choose a reputable salon that explicitly acknowledges that it can offer laser hair removal services to clients no matter their skin type or tone.SEV Laser offers consistent, affordable, and high-quality laser hair removal services all over the United States.
If you can’t find the information on the salon’s website, you can always call and check. In general, it’s good to find a salon that will be open to answering your questions either over the phone, email, or via consultation. Some good questions to ask include:
- What kind of equipment do you use on people of color?
- How do darker Fitzpatrick types usually respond to laser treatment at your salon?
The representative should be able to answer your questions thoroughly, with clear understanding of what darker skin tones need in order to be treated safely. They also need to be able to provide you with all the necessary pre-treatment and aftercare information.
Another great idea is to look at the salon’s photo gallery or Instagram page. If they post photos or videos of patients with darker skin, you’ll know you’re in the right hands. Reading through reviews can serve the same purpose, especially if you read reviews from other clients with darker skin tones.
Bottom Line
Men and women with darker skin are no strangers to discrimination from the beauty industry, and laser hair removal was just one issue amongst many. Thankfully, things are changing.
Today, any beauty clinic and medspa worthy of your business will have the equipment required to treat darker skin effectively. You deserve to achieve smooth, hairless skin if that’s what you want, and technology is no excuse for discrimination.
Understanding Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal treatment is a process that involves using a non-invasive laser that fires a focused beam of light directly at the pigment contained within individual hair follicles. As the light energy passes through the skin, it transforms into heat that is absorbed by the melanin pigment, causing damage to the hair follicle. Since follicles are responsible for producing hairs, when they are damaged, the damage impedes the follicle;s ability to produce new hairs, preventing any further growth of unwanted hair.
How Many Treatments May Be Required?
To understand how many treatments may be required to see amazing results from your laser hair removal treatment, it’s first important to understand how your hair grows.
Hair grows in cycles of three phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen.
Anagen. During this phase, hair is active and visible above the surface of the skin.
Catagen. The catagen phase is the transitioning phase. It is when the hair transitions from growing actively to resting in a dormant state.
Telogen. During the final telogen phase, the hair is dormant and begins to shed in preparation for new hair to grow in the anagen phase.
For most people, new hair growth is experienced every four to six weeks. Laser hair removal treatments are effective only during the active growth phase, anagen. At any given point, approximately 75% of the hairs on your body are in this active growth phase. So, the first treatment of laser hair removal targets these receptive hairs, and future treatments are designed to mainly treat the hair follicles that were not in the anagen phase at the time of the first session.
How Effective Are Laser Hair Removal Treatments?
When it boils down to the effectiveness of laser hair removal, there are two primary factors to take into consideration: your hair color and the color of your skin.
Since the laser light is attracted to the melanin pigment, people with dark and thick hair tend to see better results than those with light and thin hair. When it comes to skin color, light to fair skin presents the best results, while those with darker skin or lighter hair might require additional treatments or the use of special lasers.
How Often Should You Schedule Hair Removal Sessions?
As we mentioned, hair follicles are only targeted during the active anagen phase of hair growth. Why? Because the hair is attached properly to the root of the follicle, making this the only phase in which the successful destruction of the follicle is possible.
Correct spacing of laser hair removal treatments is imperative to ensure maximum efficacy of the process. If you happen to leave a gap that is too long or short in between laser sessions, the treatments are likely to be visibly less effective.
A typical course of treatment for facial and full-body hair removal is likely to last for 6-9 months to ensure that hair in the active growth phase is targeted at every visit. The frequency with which you should undergo treatment has little to do with whether or not you can do it more often, and more to do with correctly spacing out each treatment to target the unwanted hair properly.
What To Expect After Your Laser Hair Removal Treatment
After your first laser hair removal session, there is a period of hair shedding. For roughly three weeks following treatment, you may notice what looks like hair growing but it’s actually the treated hair falling out – or shedding.
You can help to speed up this process by using a mild sugar scrub, loofah, or a clean washcloth when you shower or bathe to exfoliate the treated area. This helps to remove the shedding hair more quickly. After your hair has shed, you will notice that the area will be silky smooth and hair-free for several weeks. Once the hair starts to regrow, it’s time for your next treatment!
Laser Hair Removal Benefits
Other than kicking unwanted facial and body hair to the curb, this popular procedure has many benefits:
Minimal side effects. There are only a few minor side effects that are associated with laser hair removal treatment, and those which do occur tend to go away after a few hours. When you get an ingrown hair or cut from shaving, it can take up to a week to heal.
Cost-effective. Once you start your exciting journey with laser hair removal, you won’t need to spend money on regular expensive wax treatments, smelly depilatory creams, floral-scented shaving cream, or other methods of hair removal ever again! Sure, laser hair removal might cost a little more upfront, but over the course of your lifetime, you will save quite a bit!
No ingrown hairs. Unlike shaving, waxing, and threading, you will not have to deal with painful and unsightly ingrown hairs following laser hair removal treatment. In addition, you also won’t have to tolerate razor burns or irritation.
At-home options. Laser hair removal takes time and dedication. For those with busy schedules that don’t have the time to make an in-office visit but still desire hair-free skin, at-home laser hair removal devices like the KENZZI IPL Hair Removal Handset can help. KENZZI offers the world’s #1 IPL handset that is not only safe but extremely gentle on the skin. This powerful device is easy to use from the comfort of your home and is designed to provide results in as little as 2-3 treatments making it easier than ever to get flawless skin.
Fast. Although it does tend to vary depending on the size of the area being treated, another great benefit of laser hair removal is that treatment times are fast. Small areas like the bikini line typically take less than 15 minutes to treat while larger areas like the back can take up to 45 minutes.
Recap
So, how often should you do laser hair removal? The answer is: it depends! Laser hair removal treatment is a safe and effective way to combat unwanted hair, but due to how hair grows, several laser sessions spaced out over the course of several months are required for permanent results.
As we mentioned, laser hair removal isn’t magic, but the results that treatment can provide are nothing short of magical. If you’re looking to ditch your razor in a quest for stubble-free, silky smooth skin, laser hair removal can help.