Who is laser hair removal most suitable for?
Laser hair removal can not be guaranteed to work the same way on everyone, but as a general rule it works best on lighter skin with dark hair. However certain lasers can treat darker skin types AND due to recent advancements in laser hair removal it is looking promising to achieve results on light hair.
What do you need to know about laser hair removal before getting it done?
Laser hair removal is not 100% permanent like most people would think. As hair growth can be stimulated by hormonal changes, medication etc. it is always possible for new hair follicles to be stimulated resulting in new hair growth.
Does laser hair removal hurt?
Its not exactly “pain free”. I prefer to say It causes some discomfort and certain areas are more uncomfortable than others. Pain is subjective and not all people experience pain the same way so its difficult to say how some people will experience it.
How should you prepare for a session of laser hairremoval?
Its recommended that you stop waxing, threading or plucking for at least 6 weeks before your first treatment. The hair needs to be in a certain growth stage for effective treatment and this is why this is very important. If you do remove the hair by force, then the hair is completely removed from the follicle and disrupts the hair growth system we need for effective permanent hair removal. Shaving is perfectly fine between treatments.
Be free from artificial tan and avoid sunbathing (and having a tan 4 weeks prior)
Avoid being in the sun for 72 hours before a treatment to avoid too much heat in the area as the treatment would not be possible if there was any sunburn present.
If there are any changes to your initial consultation then you need to inform your therapist, things like changes in medication.
What happens during the laser hair removal process? How does it work?
Hair growth occurs in 4 stages: Early Anagen (early hair growth), Anagen (active hair growth), Catagen (regression) and Telogen (resting, not growing). Hair removal only affects the Anagen stage (actively growing hair). Approximately 20% of hair is removed with each treatment. A few treatments are therefore required for the treatment area to be hair free.
What do you need to do after laser hair removal?
- Avoid excessive heat for 24-48 hours such as hot showers, baths and saunas.
- Do not wax, thread or pluck the hair. Continue to shave between sessions.
- Avoid sun exposure for 7 days after.
- Avoid shaving or exfoliating for 48-72 hours after the session, this will allow the skin to recuperate properly from the treatment.
How long will it take before you see the results?
(Can you go once, or will you need top-ups?)
Hair reduction will begin after your first treatment, how ever it will become noticeable after your third treatment. Hair follicles that have been destroyed by the machine will not regrow, however a few hairs whose growth cycle did not match your treatment sessions may reappear and these are easily treated in short single sessions…. If again, you are lucky enough to catch them at the correct stage.
As hair growth can be stimulated by hormonal changes, medication etc. it is always possible for new hair follicles to be stimulated resulting in new hair growth. How many sessions will vary from person to person depending on the factors affecting their hair growth, but its not unusual to expect to need anything from a couple of maintenance sessions per year to every 2 years
