Laser Hair Removal: What Is It & Is It Worth It?
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Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes
Summary: In this blog we detail and explore what laser hair removal is and whether it’s worth it. We’ll discuss the laser hair removal costs, how long laser hair removal lasts for, whether it’s safe and if it hurts. Read on to discover more about laser hair removal…
Laser Hair Removal: What Is It?
Laser hair removal works by sending a light of laser through the pigment in the hair. The light then converts to heat, which damages the hair follicle and the root of the hair. This damage then inhibits and prevents future hair growth from that follicle occurring.
Common areas for laser hair removal include the armpits, bikini line, chin, upper lip and legs. It’s possible to remove hair from any part of the body with laser hair removal apart from the eyelid and eye area. Skin where there’s hair that’s been tattooed cannot and should not be treated with laser hair removal.
Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?
Laser hair removal is the most permanent option for getting rid of unwanted hair but that’s not to say it’s permanent. There isn’t a method to guarantee eliminating hair for good totally yet. You will need to do a bulk of initial appointments and then go back on the odd occasion for top-up laser treatments.
The laser targets hair that’s in its active growth stage (the Anagen phase) and destroys it’s follicle and the hair’s bulb. Hair can appear finer and less noticeable after one treatment, but it can take 8-12 appointments to see and feel the full effects of laser hair removal. This is because each hair strand enters the growth phase in its life cycle at different times and the growth stage is when you need to damage the follicle.
Most people report around a 90% reduction in hair growth after the laser hair removal process, but a fluctuation in hormones on an individual basis can occasionally trigger hair growth to reoccur. Your clinic may advise top up treatments a few times a year to keep stray unwanted growth at bay.
Hair color and skin type will play a part in how successful laser hair removal is too. Because of the way laser hair removal works, the pigment of the hair should pick up and absorb the laser light - not the pigment of the skin. So, the darker the hair is and the lighter the skin is typically equates to the better results. Laser hair removal is usually less effective on blond, gray, red and white hair because it’s usually lighter than the skin it grows from.
Does Laser Hair Removal Hurt?
There is a quick, sharp pain when engaging in laser hair removal treatment. Some people describe it as like having an elastic band flicked against the skin.
A variety of factors can contribute to making it more or less painful. For example, you’re more likely to experience a sharper pain if your body temperature is higher at the time of your appointment, how sensitive or how thin the skin is in the area that you’ve elected to have laser hair removal, and sometimes can be affected by where you are in your menstrual cycle. Some clinics use a cooling mechanism in their therapy rooms which emits cold hair wherever the laser is pointing to help reduce any pain you may experience.
Is Laser Hair Removal Safe?
Yes and no. There are home laser hair removal kits you can purchase, but people tend to take more risks on themselves in private, get over confident with a laser and overexcited at the prospect of removing an unwanted area of hair for good. In the hands of a qualified professional, and in a reputable, specialist clinic, laser hair removal can be a perfectly safe treatment to engage with.
How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost?
Laser hair removal is not the most affordable process. The cost of laser hair removal will vary dependent on the size of the area you’re treating and how many treatments you opt for (your clinician will advise you). It can range between $100-800 per session, but according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, most laser hair removal treatment costs around $429 per session in the USA.
This is usually what leads people to opting for at-home laser hair removal: it’s cheaper. If you do decide to try hair laser removal at home, make sure you follow the instructions to a T to avoid hurting yourself.
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