Perhaps you have considered or been considering laser hair removal. It may seem a little too science fiction to be a real, and the price tag is enough to scare off most people. But if you struggle with hair that grows thick and fast, constant razor burn, and ingrown hairs, then it might be time to delve a little deeper into the process and weigh up the pros and cons you might hold about laser hair removal.
What is laser hair removal?
Hair growth occurs in cycles, and not every follicle goes through each cycle at the same time and at the same speed. Laser technology targets follicles that are about to enter the anagen (active) phase of hair growth, effectively destroying the follicle itself and therefore ending hair growth to a specific area. Laser treatment takes several processes to achieve results because of this growth cycle and must be spaced out by 4-6 weeks, start to finish. You’re looking at a few months to complete treatment.
It’s long been said that laser removal was most effective on lighter skin that grew darker hair, but advancements in the technology are yielding results for darker skin now as well. The laser itself looks for pigment in the skin to target. That being said, lasers still only work on dark hair; blonde, gray, red, and white hair aren’t ideal for laser hair removal. Light forearm hair and facial “peach fuzz” growth might slow down with laser treatment, but the results will be disappointing when compared to other areas.
There are affordable options
Groupon has been a game changer for those seeking laser hair removal. Some of Dubai’s top rated clinics have offers on Groupon. Buying your treatment packages through Groupon usually delivers at least a 50% discount on the total cost, and sometimes even more. Triple check the fine print though, as the clinic offering the discount might limit each patient to only one Groupon purchase.
Groupon will allow you to buy treatments on a small, medium, large, or extra large area, so you’ll need to check the spa or clinic’s website to see how they define the sizing of each treatment area before you purchase. For example, your bikini line might be a medium treatment area while a full Brazilian will be an extra large treatment area.
Before your treatment
1. You need to shave
That’s right. It might seem weird to people who are used to waxing, but if you’re having laser hair removal, you need to shave the area before. Shave is around 8 hours before your treatment. Basically you need to shave as close to your appointment as possible, but also give your skin some time to recover from being shaved so it isn’t too sensitive.
2. Stop other treatments before and during laser hair removal
Ideally you shouldn’t wax, pluck, use depilatory creams or bleach your hair 3 to 6 weeks before your first treatment, and during the rest of your treatment period. If there aren’t any hairs present (because they’ve been waxed) or if the hairs are light (because they’ve been bleached) the laser won’t work on them.
3. Stay out of the sun
You do not want to undergo laser hair removal on sunburned skin! In fact, it’s best if you have no tan at all (including making your skin darker using self-tan creams). Try and keep the area out of the sun for at least 4 weeks before the treatment and apply sunblock to exposed areas (which you should be doing anyway…). After your laser treatment, you also need to be cautious about sun exposure.
4. It might not be pain free
Although a lot of systems are advertised as pain free, different people experience laser hair removal differently. You might experience anything from slight discomfort (often described as an elastic band snapping on your skin) to pain that’s really quite intense. Generally people with darker skin and people with coarser hair experience more pain. If you have sensitive skin and you’re worried about the pain, you can take an oral anti-inflammatory about 30 minutes before your appointment (most therapists recommend ibuprofen). Most technicians apply a numbing cream to the area before your appointment so arrive early.
Laser hair removal can be more painful if you undergo the treatments around the time you’re menstruating. Do what you can to arrange your appointments around your period, but if you can’t avoid going at that time of the month, seriously consider your pain management options.
5. You must stick to your schedule
Depending on the treatment area, you have to go for repeat treatments every 4-8 weeks. It’s really important that you don’t push your appointments out because the schedule is based on the hair-growth cycle.
6. You’ll need more than one session
Placecol told us that most people require 6 to 8 sessions to achieve desired results, but some lucky people may need as few as 4. The good news is that you will start to see hair reduction from your very first session.
A quick internet search will show you just how much people love the results from laser hair removal. Most people experience 95% hair removal, and the hairs that remain are usually very fine.
Is laser hair removal permanent? Usually, but not always. Your body could produce more hair follicles that haven’t been lasered, so you might see some new hair growth in a few years. A maintenance treatment every few years should sort that out if it does happen though, so it’s goodbye to waxing, shaving and plucking!
