How This Technology Works

High level laser energy is directed toward each hair.  Melanin in the skin and the hair converts the laser energy into heat.  The heat is conducted down to the base of the hair follicle.  This effectively disables the hair growth cycle, stopping it from growing.

It might sound rather frightening to think lasers will be used on your skin and hair, but this effective treatment does not hurt and does not damage the skin surrounding the target follicle.  Unlike electrolysis or waxing, there are simply no side effects, and you may achieve the results you crave in only a handful of quick, easy sessions.

Multiple visits will probably be needed, as each hair is in a different growth state at different times.  It typically takes four to eight treatments to see a reduction in hair growth, and maintenance treatments may be needed annually for a couple of years to really make sure the task is complete.  One by one, you can prevent those ugly unwanted hairs from ever coming back!

Prepare for the Procedure

White, blonde, and grey hair is difficult if not impossible to treat with laser hair removal.  Technologies are in development to remove these light hairs, but they have not been perfected.  In general, the darker the hair, the better the treatment takes.  For those with very dark skin, laser hair removal may not be the best treatment; discuss this with a specialist before launching off on a schedule.

You may need to shave the area before the procedure, but don’t worry:  laser hair removal will cause the hair to fall out, so it won’t grow back darker and coarser in the end.  Check with your practitioner before your treatment.

Take a couple of over the counter pain relievers before the session, if you like.  Certain areas of the body feel more uncomfortable, such as the lower legs; however, most of the zaps with the laser are completely discomfort-free.  A numbing skin lotion could help you as well; ask the practitioner for recommended products.

The hairs fall out within two weeks of the treatment, and leave your body more easily if you help them along with a few exfoliating measures.  You may experience a brief period of coarseness but don’t worry, it will all end soon.

Picking the Correct Laser Hair Removal Specialist

Just as though you were choosing a doctor or dentist, ask around for recommendations.  The cheapest place is not always the best.

Good laser hair removal specialists do not need to offer discounts, and typically have longer waiting periods for appointments.  This is a positive sign, because that means the specialist is very good and much sought after.

Shaving

The simplest and most straightforward means of hair removal is to shave the hair off, from a specific body part. Contrary to popular myth, shaving does not make the hair grow back thicker or coarser. Apply a lotion or cream to the part of your body to be shaved and then slide a sharp razor over the skin. A drawback to shaving can be the ‘razor stubble’, or raised bumps that often come from shaving, especially in sensitive areas. Those can be as unsightly as unwanted hair.

Plucking and Waxing

Physically removing the hair from the follicle at the root can be done through a few different methods. Two of the most popular are waxing and plucking. Plucking the hair can be done using tweezers to grasp the hair and pulling to remove it. This method is time consuming and the drawback is that the hair must be long enough to be grasped by the tweezers. These hairs would be long enough to see, and this is often a reason people choose another hair removal method.

Waxing is a popular hair removal method. It is an effective method to remove large amounts of hair at one time. Warm wax is applied to the area where hair removal is desired. The wax then cools, trapping the hair inside the hard wax shell. The wax is ripped off the body in the opposition direction of the hair growth, removing the hair from the follicle. A drawback to this method is that the hair needs to be long enough to be caught up by the wax. Care needs to be taken while using wax so as not to burn the skin.

Depilatories

A depilatory is a cream that temporarily removes unwanted hair. The cream consists of a mixture of chemicals (typically thioglycolate and sodium hydroxide) that dissolve the hair. This depilatory cream is applied to the hair removal site and left on for anywhere from five to fifteen minutes. The chemicals dissolve the hair and the depilatory is then washed away. This method should always be tested on a small part of the body before using on major areas. Skin can react badly to the chemicals or the chemicals can dissolve skin cells, causing irritation.

Permanent Hair Removal

Electrolysis is a type of hair removal that offers a permanent solution to the problem of unwanted body hair. A small needle is inserted into the hair follicle and an electrical impulse is fed into the follicle. This will burn the hair follicle, rendering it unable to produce any more hair. This method is time consuming, as it needs to be done on a regular basis for up to a year to be effective. It can also be damaging if done incorrectly.