Shaving and waxing are two of the most common methods of hair removal, but I have no doubts that absolutely everyone out there would be lying if they said they’ve never given themselves a slight nick or had a bad experience when using one of the more “traditional” methods. On top of that, the other downside to them is that unfortunately, the hair is always going to grow back and in what seems like absolutely no time at all, you’re back to square one and pulling out the razor or wax strips again to try and get rid of the new growth. So why not look into a more permanent form of hair removal, such as laser hair removal?
Go back a few years and laser hair removal wasn’t where it is today, it wasn’t cost effective, it was kind of painful and it wasn’t anywhere near as good at getting rid of the hair as it is now. In 2020 though, laser hair removal is a much more advanced treatment and although it will cost you more in one go than buying some razors or a waxing kit, it’s 100% worth it to avoid having to use them ever again (and will likely end up saving you money as well as time spent getting rid of every last hair).
So what is laser hair removal then?
Laser hair removal is a form of permanent hair removal that uses laser light to target and destroy hair follicles, stopping them from having any regrowth in future. It’s such an effective form of treatment that after just 6 laser hair removal sessions, you can get rid of approximately 90% of your unwanted hair for good.
It’s safe, fast and painless and it can be used for any skin type or colour, any gender and can be used pretty much anywhere on the body that you want to get rid of hair from.
How do I prepare for a laser hair removal treatment?
Well, first things first you want to make sure that you’ve shaved your legs before going in as this will give the aesthetician a well-prepared area to work with. It’s also important to avoid using anything such as skin lotions or creams as these can affect the skin and you won’t see the best results if you’re using them. As long as all is well, depending on the area to be treated you could be in and out within 15 minutes so preparing correctly is essential to minimise the time you’re sat in treatment.
Will laser hair removal hurt?
As with any treatment, it varies on a person to person basis as everyone has their own individual pain threshold that they can handle. Because modern laser hair removal machines are more advance than they were in the earlier part of the century, it’s very unlikely that you will feel any pain. Most patients, even if they have their most sensitive and intimate areas treated, don’t feel anything more than what you would associated with a snap of an elastic band during treatment. There’s no burning sensation, no bruising and as long as you take care of the aftercare correctly, very little redness and itchiness afterwards.
What happens next, is there any downtime?
There is absolutely no downtime at all after a laser hair removal treatment, although you really should avoid intense sunlight wherever it is possible as the skin may be a little sensitive for a week or two afterwards. As your hair begins to grow back, you’ll notice that the strands in the now dead follicles will fall out so it’s entirely possible that you will notice some form of shedding.
What are the do’s and don’ts of laser hair removal?
- DO – Shave your legs in between your treatments as this is the best possible way to remove the hair without causing damage to the root. It’s also worth noting that any visible hair (above the skin) will get singed otherwise and there may be a bit of a nasty burnt hair smell after that.
- DON’T – wax or pluck the hair between treatment as it will remove the hair from the root, the whole reason laser hair removal is so successful is that it zaps the pigment beneath the skin to destroy the follicle and if there’s no hair there, then there’s nothing for the laser to target
- DO – Avoid exposure to the sun for a week or two after your treatment, your skin will be sensitive and you will be prone to sunburn.
- DON’T – Use any makeup or products for around 24 hours after having your laser hair removal treatment, this will avoid clogging up the skin and causing any breakouts.
- DO – Make sure you exfoliate the area gently as this will encourage any of the dead roots and follicles to fall out, leaving your skin looking smoother and less shadowy.
So, now you have all the information needed to make an informed decision on whether or not you should undergo a laser hair removal treatment to get rid of that pesky hair that’s built up throughout lockdown!