Everything you need to know about laser hair removal
Advantages of laser hair removal:
- no side effects, injuries or allergic reactions;
- short recovery period;
- effectiveness for all hair types;
- painlessness – only a slight tingling sensation is felt during the procedure;
- long-term effect;
- high effectiveness – if you follow the course, you can get rid of more than 90% of hair;
- saving time and money – after completing the course, maintenance procedures are performed once every six months, which also saves money compared to waxing or sugaring.
What are the types of laser hair removal?
There is a common belief that laser hair removal is ineffective for people with fair skin and hair. This is not true, the main thing is to choose the right laser. Modern devices are effective for any type of skin and hair. The main difference between laser hair removal devices is the wavelength – the longer it is, the higher the efficiency and the greater the depth of penetration. Today, there are 3 main types of hair removal equipment: alexandrite, diode and neodymium laser.
Clinics usually offer one of the best diode lasers, considered the gold standard of laser hair removal, Lumenis Light Sheer. It allows you to work with dark and tanned skin, removes even light and fine hairs. Effective on delicate areas that require high precision. Thanks to contact cooling technology, ChillTip protects the skin from overheating and burns, minimizing discomfort.
How to prepare for a laser hair removal procedure?
Laser hair removal itself does not require special preparation, but you must follow some simple rules:
- A few weeks before the procedure, do not remove hair using a method that involves removing the bulb: wax, sugar, electric epilator, tweezers. Only a razor can be used to remove hair.
- Two weeks before the session, you should not sunbathe, visit a solarium, or use self-tanning. If the procedure is performed in the warm season, it is recommended to use sunscreen.
- The required hair length depends on the equipment used for hair removal. If it is an alexandrite laser, then at the time of the procedure the hair length should be 1-3 mm. For a diode laser, absolutely smooth skin is required, so the specialist will recommend shaving all the hair in the area of the intended hair removal.
When to expect the result?
To assess the effectiveness of laser hair removal, it is necessary to understand the principle of its action. During the first procedure, only hair follicles that are in the active growth stage are affected. At first, it may seem that the hairs continue to grow, but in fact, damaged hair shafts are emerging. If necessary, you can use a razor to remove them. On average, after the first procedure, you can notice the result – about 10-25% of hair will fall out. Laser hair removal has a cumulative effect, so after each procedure this percentage will increase. However, many people stop doing laser hair removal without waiting for the effect. The fact is that there is a huge number of hair follicles in human skin, and in order to get rid of most of them, you need to undergo a course of procedures. This is especially true for the armpit and bikini areas.
How often should the procedures be performed and how many sessions will be needed?
For complete hair removal in each individual case, a different number of procedures will be required, this can only be determined by your beautician. On average, most women notice the desired effect after 4-6 procedures. The time interval between the first, second and third session is about 4 weeks, subsequent sessions are held after 6 weeks. After completing the course, the result is maintained for up to 5 years. Of course, this depends on the area of hair removal and the individual characteristics of the body, including the hormonal background.
Is laser hair removal safe?
Despite its long and successful history, there are still some concerns about laser hair removal. The laser beams used for hair removal do not penetrate deeper than the subcutaneous fat, so they cannot affect internal organs. Therefore, the widespread belief that women who have not given birth cannot have hair removal in the bikini area is nothing more than a myth. The probability of receiving excessive ultraviolet radiation during a laser hair removal procedure is several times lower than sunbathing without using a protective cream.
If you are still afraid or for some reason resort to outdated, traumatic methods of getting rid of unwanted hair, visit any aesthetic medicine clinic for a laser hair removal procedure. They have a fairly extensive fleet of laser installations at their disposal, whatever your task, cosmetologists will cope with it effectively, safely and painlessly.
Please note: I.D.Clinic does not perform hair removal procedures. This is a blog article.