Laser hair reduction is a great option for those who are tired of shaving, waxing, and tweezing. It’s also a great solution for those who have ingrown hairs.
The pulsed light from the laser is absorbed by the melanin in your hair, and the energy is converted to heat that damages the hair follicle and prevents it from producing more hair.
Painless
Unlike shaving, tweezing, and waxing, laser hair reduction treats unwanted hair at the root, which prevents it from growing back and leaves your skin silky smooth. Plus, it’s much faster than electrolysis.
In the hands of a skilled Licensed Professional, laser treatments can be comfortable and safe for most skin types. During the treatment, the laser sends out pulses of light that are absorbed by pigment in the hair follicle. This heats the follicle, causing it to disable its ability to grow new hair.
Because the laser treatment only works on hair that is in its growth cycle, it may require multiple sessions to get rid of all of your unwanted hair. But, the hair that does grow back will be thinner and less pronounced than before, leaving you with more permanent results. This is what makes laser hair removal one of the best options for long-term hair reduction. For some, it’s even permanent.
Convenient
If you’re tired of shaving, plucking, and waxing your hair, laser treatment can help. These treatments are very safe and effective and they’re not painful. Laser hair removal will remove your unwanted body hair for good and you won’t have to worry about ingrown hairs or razor bumps.
A series of treatments are needed for the best results. Laser light is absorbed by the pigment in your hair follicles and then heats up, permanently disabling it so that hair will never grow back. Most people find that their hair will be eliminated after 6 treatments.
Some areas of your body respond to laser treatment better than others, such as your armpits, chest, and legs. You will need to schedule your sessions every four to six weeks depending on the area you want to treat. Your skin might feel a little hot or prickly after your treatment, but this is a temporary sensation. It’s not uncommon to see some hair regrowth between treatments, but it will be finer and sparser than before.
Prevents Ingrown Hairs
Traditional hair removal methods (shaving, tweezing and waxing) remove the top layer of the skin but leave the hair follicle intact. This allows the hair to grow back quickly and can cause ingrown hairs.
Laser hair removal prevents ingrown hair by destroying the hair follicle with pulses of light. This limits hair growth and can eliminate the need to shave or use other methods of hair removal.
The best candidates for laser hair reduction have a contrast between their skin tone and the color of their hair, which allows the laser to “see” the follicle. That’s why those with sunburned or dramatic tans or even those who are using faux tans might not be good candidates for laser treatment. However, a prescription cream called eflornithine (Vaniqa) decreases hair growth and could be helpful for some people. It may be more effective in conjunction with laser treatment. However, it’s also not a substitute for laser hair removal.
Safe
Laser hair reduction is safe for most people, but may not be suitable if you are pregnant, have a history of skin cancer or tattoos, or take medications that increase photosensitivity (like steroids). Laser treatments can also be less effective on darker skin tones.
A licensed practitioner numbs the treatment area with a topical cream and then glides a hand-held device over the skin to deliver light pulses beneath the surface of your skin. A cooling function on the device helps to protect your skin and keep you comfortable. The light energy is absorbed by your dark melanin pigment and converted to heat that destroys the hair follicle. Your hair will fall out, and when it grows back it will appear finer and sparser.
Some regrowth is typical, but your results will last for months or even years with occasional touch up sessions. Unlike shaving or waxing, laser hair removal actually targets the root of your hair to prevent it from growing back, so it is a long-term solution for unwanted hair.