Are you considering getting laser hair removal?

If you’re sick of shaving, waxing or plucking unwanted hair, rest assured that there are more permanent options available.

Laser hair removal is a process in which lasers beam highly concentrated light into hair follicles. The pigment in the follicles absorb the light and that destroys the hair.

This process has proven to best one of the most effective ways to remove unwanted hair. After all, there’s a reason this is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the U.S. overall.

If you’re debating getting laser hair removal, you’re going to want to ensure that you’ve done all your research beforehand. In order to maximize your success, it’s best to be educated on the process and what it entails.

We’re uncovering the 9 must-read laser hair removal tips for you!

1. Stay out of the Sun

First things first, you’re going to want to spend some time indoors prior to your first treatment.

How long exactly, you ask?

Do your best to avoid excessive sun exposure for four weeks prior to your first appointment. Keep in mind that your physician will likely deny you at your appointments if you have a sunburn.

This makes fall or winter both ideal seasons to kickoff your laser hair removal. This means you could be hair free come summertime!

2. Be Prepared to Shave Your Area

You’re also going to want to ensure that you feel comfortable shaving the area with your unwanted hair.

Be prepared to shave that area each and every time before your appointments. Waxing and plucking are also not allowed as they do not allow the hair to regrow in the same way that shaving does.

This is something that many patients are unaware of prior to signing up for their treatment.

While the majority of patients have no problems shaving areas such as legs, underarms, and bikini, it may feel unnatural to shave areas like the upper lip.

3. It Takes More Than One Session

As much as we cross our fingers and hope, laser hair removal is not a one-and-done kind of job.

That being said, most physicians recommend for patients to sign up for 5-6 treatments. Even after these initial sessions, you may sign up for additional sessions to ensure that you are satisfied with the results.

This means that most businesses offering the treatment will not sell you one single treatment. Instead, it’s likely that you will have to buy a package upfront and pay for those costs at once.

4. Four to Six Weeks Between Treatments

Be prepared for the fact that laser hair removal is often a lengthy process.

This is often when physicians recommend starting the treatment in fall or winter to ensure that the process is completed for summer.

Between sessions, patients must wait anywhere from four to six weeks until their next procedure. This is due to the fact that our hair follicles are on their own growth cycle. This time frame allows the dead hair shafts to fall out and prepare for the next appointment.

That being said, prepare for your laser hair treatment to take anywhere from 20 to 30 weeks to be completed.

5. Some Areas Are Better Than Others

Some areas of the body take better to the treatment than others.

For example, areas such as the legs and the underarms perform well with laser hair removal. This is because these hairs are normally more thick and dark. With these areas, you can expect to see results a lot faster.

On the other hand, facial hair can take longer to see results. This is because the hair is often more thin and light.

Speak with your physician to discuss which areas of your body are more likely to benefit from the laser.

6. Hair/Skin Types Does Matter

While no skin type is impossible, some types of skin and hair are harder to treat than others.

Dark hairs, for example, respond best to the laser since it is targetting the pigment. On the other hand, hair that is blonde, red, white or grey can prove to be more challenging.

Darker skin tones can also be more complex to treat. People with darker skin are at higher risk of developing hyperpigmentation and darkening certain areas of the skin.

This is not to say that the treatments are not possible, but it’s worth speaking with your physician beforehand in order to avoid pigment discoloration and discuss the risks. Set up a consultation today to discuss whether or not your skin and hair is the right fit for laser hair removal!

7. Expect Some Pain

While each and every person has a different pain tolerance, most people report that laser hair removal is somewhat painful.

The most common consensus is that the pain is similar to that of a rubber band snapping on your skin.

However, it’s also worth knowing that there are different levels on the laser. If one level is too intense, the physician can lower the level in efforts of making the treatment less painful.

Just remember that the sessions are never too long in length. Areas such as the underarm and bikini can be relatively short and areas such as the leg can tend to take longer.

8. No Waxing/Plucking Post Appointment

One of the most important responsibilities of the patient is to avoid waxing or plucking the area post-treatment.

Waxing/plucking the area hinders the process since these processes actually remove the hair. This is compared to a razor that instead just trims the hair.

That being said, you can continue to shave the area as often as you’d like, but you cannot pluck or wax until your entire session is complete.

9. Hair Growth May Be Patchy

You’re going to want to mentally prepare yourself for the fact that your hair regrowth may tend to be patchy.

This is because some hairs tend to grow back faster than others. However, you can shave these areas as often as you’d like in between treatments.

As you complete more and more sessions, the patchiness will reduce.

Our Best Laser Hair Removal Tips

It’s safe to say that the benefits of laser hair removal are undisputable.

With how far technology has come, those considering laser hair removal can rest assured that this is a safe procedure. This is due to the fact that the lasers have the ability to target hair follicles while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged.

Before booking your first appointment, it’s important to conduct research and acquaint yourself with all the facts. From understanding what to do before your procedure to which areas are considered to be most effective, these laser hair removal tips can help you determine if the procedure is right for you.

To learn more about the varying procedures available to benefit your skin and hair, be sure to visit our blog!