It is a surprisingly common issue that a lot of women and men have faced. You were due to go out to meet with your friends at a pool party or the beach, and you have a quick shave of your face, legs, or armpits beforehand, so you can feel at your most confident. However, when you get into the car, you look down at your legs and see that now some of the hairs which you thought you had removed are poking out. Plus your skin feels hot from razor burn. Not a great way to start a fun-filled afternoon with friends!
There are many problems that people may face when regularly shaving, but there are other problematic aspects of using semi-permanent hair removal techniques as well. If you use creams to remove your hair, you may find that you are overly sensitive to some of the ingredients, and these can burn your skin. Also, they don’t tend to smell very nice either!
An epilator can be a great way to create a longer-lasting effect when removing hair. However, this process is also usually very uncomfortable and is in essence tweezing hair at a fast speed, which once again can cause irritation.
The most long-lasting and practical approach to unwanted hair
So, if you are somebody who has been looking for a way to remove hair permanently, you may have considered laser hair removal. Many people consider laser hair removal to be higher-end and too expensive to afford, but the majority of clinics that offer this treatment can offer it for a lower price than you may expect. Therefore, if you are fed up with hairs that never want to be shaved or shaving rash, then this treatment can be something to consider.
A Helpful Guide to Laser Hair Removal
In this guide, you’ll be introduced to what laser hair removal is, the most commonly used tools to make it accessible in local malls, and what the overall advantages of this procedure are.
Why is it so popular?
Laser hair removal is popular as a way to remove hair from almost any part of the body because it is permanent. Not only is this convenient, but for many people, it can alleviate issues with self-confidence. As mentioned before, it is now also accessible in the majority of spas and clinics specializing in skin care.
Laser hair removal is not as expensive as you think
You do not have to pay an excessive amount of money for this treatment.
In fact, many spas such as dermani Medspa can offer laser hair removal at extremely affordable prices. Best of all, unlike shaving or depilatory cream, if you have this procedure performed at a spa, you can rest assured that you were getting the highest quality results and that you won’t have to do anything.
Another reason why laser hair removal is so popular, particularly amongst women, is that eradicates the need for you to shave every day. If you have excessive levels of hair growth having hair removed via laser treatment can mean you can say goodbye to your razor or epilator for good. This will save you time and a lot of money!
Photo by Nico Becker
What areas can be treated?
Almost any area of the body can be treated with laser hair removal, which will leave you with smoother and softer skin. It is suitable for people of all skin tones and ages, and while it is commonly used on women, men can have it performed on them too.
It can be used to treat sensitive areas, such as the face and the bikini line, and even areas that are difficult to access for most people, such as between the buttocks or the back.
While you may be concerned that using lasers in sensitive areas will cause an issue, don’t worry! The lasers are targeted at the hairs and will leave the surrounding skin undamaged.
What can you expect from the treatment?
If you are looking to choose somewhere to have laser hair removal, ensure that it is a dermatological or cosmetic surgery that has the experience and the appropriate equipment to remove hair.
What to expect
When you attend your initial consultation, you will be asked about your medical history and your medication use, as some medicines can make the skin more sensitive. You need to list a history of skin disorders, such as acne or scarring, that you may wish to have reduced via laser treatment. You will also need to disclose any past hair removal procedures that you have undertaken.
This will give your team the opportunity to discuss the risks and the expectations. They will then take photos of areas to be treated, so you can see the difference in the treatment in a before and after photo comparison. In order to prepare for laser hair removal, you will need to stay out of the sun, and you will need to avoid lightening your skin. You will also need to avoid any other hair removal methods in the area, such as shaving or plucking for at least four weeks.
If you are taking blood-thinning medications, this will need to be reviewed with your doctor if you are aiming to undertake laser hair removal.
Pre-preparation for laser hair removal
However, trimming and shaving of the area that is going to be treated is recommended the day before the procedure. This removes the hair above the skin, which could result in skin damage from potentially burned hair, but it leaves the hair shaft intact below the surface, making the entire process easier to manage for both you and your skin team.
The treatment usually requires 2 to 6 visits and the interval between these will vary depending on where you are having hair removed.
When you are undertaking the treatment itself, you can expect to have a cool gel placed onto the areas where the treatment will target, and when your team is using a laser to remove the hair, there will be intense heat that damages the hair follicles or inhibits growth. This may feel like something akin to a warm pin prick, but that is about it.
After-care
Once the procedure is completed, there may be redness or swelling for the first few hours, and your team will likely recommend that you apply an ice pack. If you have a skin reaction directly after hair removal, a steroid cream may need to be applied to reduce inflammation.
You should avoid sunlight and tanning beds for 6 weeks, or as directed by your team, and use sunscreen every day in the treated areas. It is worth noting that in some instances the hairs that are targeted by the lasers do not fall out immediately, but your body will shed them over the next few days or weeks. This may look like continued hair growth and is why repeated treatments are necessary.
Hair growth and hair loss naturally occur in a cycle and for the majority of cases, laser treatment works better when your hair follicles are in a new growth stage of this cycle.
Longevity
Once you’ve finished all of your sessions, the laser hair removal will last for a minimum of 2 years. There may be maintenance sessions required to keep the area hair-free for longer, so talk to your team if you have concerns.
Continuous Motion Diode
At this point, you may be curious about the lasers which will be used to remove your hair.
Most clinics that offer laser hair removal use a continuous motion diode. This has a high repetition rate and can efficiently remove unwanted hairs and improve the tolerability of the skin. In short, when this laser is used, you are less likely to experience redness or soreness post-treatment.
Advantages of Laser Hair Removal
This can all sound rather intimidating, with all the prep work, lasers, and aftercare required! You may be wondering at this point what the advantages are of having laser hair removal performed?
There are many, but for most people, the key advantage of having this procedure is that it is fast, relatively comfortable, and has long-lasting results. But here are some of the other reasons why it may be advisable to undertake laser hair removal.
Precision
When you are shaving your legs, your underarm, or your face, you may develop something called a shaving rash, which is in essence a response to a sharp razor being dragged over the skin. This can be incredibly uncomfortable and can cause irritation.
A key advantage of undertaking laser hair removal is that the lasers are targeted at the hair follicle and the surrounding skin is left alone. When the procedure is over, although there may be some soreness, this is temporary and is unlikely to feel as sore or as irritating as a shaving rash.
It lasts longer and is environmentally friendlier
Consider how many razors, waxing strips, or epilators you have used in the last 2 years. Even if you are a fan of reusable options, such as cloth waxing strips and applying hot wax yourself, the process is rather long-winded and does not always give you long-lasting results.
Last longer
A key reason why many people choose laser hair removal is that the results last a lot longer. As mentioned earlier, they can last as long as 2 years, although you may need to have some touch-up sessions in between. But imagine two years of not having to shave or wax!
Faster
It happens to almost anybody; you have a busy week at work and you forget to shave. So, when it comes to shaving or waxing, it is incredibly longwinded and can result in you dragging the razor and cutting your skin accidentally.
Laser hair removal takes a fraction of a second for the laser to remove hair. Treating an area approximately the size of a quarter will take 1 second. Smaller areas, such as those on the upper lip, can be hair-free in less than a minute. Larger areas like your legs can take up to one hour.
Greener
Going back to the idea of how many razors or waxing strips you have used in the last 2 years it can feel, especially in 2022, exceedingly wasteful.
The elements of the razor which are thrown away will usually end up in landfills, as they are made of plastic.
If you use waxing kits at home, there are many aspects to it that may also need to be thrown away, such as the application spatula, the waxing strips themselves, and the containers which hold the wax.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
So, one advantage of having laser hair removal performed is that it offers a greener alternative to a common problem, as you won’t need to throw any part of the laser away!
Cost-effective
People spend a lot on hair removal and whether you are a big fan of waxing, or using razors and aftershave creams, this can add up to quite a large amount over a long period.
While you may consider undertaking laser hair removal to be excessively expensive, when compared to the number of products, razors, or waxing strips that are used to keep your skin silky smooth in a 2-year period, it is often more cost-effective.
Not only that, but if you have sensitive skin, you won’t need to spend excessive amounts of money on shaving moisturizers or numbing creams when you wax your skin. You will also not have to spend money on re-moisturizing dry skin post-shaving or epilating.
Final Thought
So, if you are fed up with using razors or waxing strips to get the silky-smooth skin you want, it may be well worth looking into laser hair removal. The treatment itself is faster, more affordable, and greener for the planet, and can also equate to longer-lasting results. In the long term, you will have to spend less money on things like moisturizers and oils, and it is less likely that those who suffer from skin sensitivity will develop dry skin, shaving rashes, or other irritations.
Also, the use of a laser is available in most skin clinics, so this procedure is more accessible to the majority of people. If you are looking for the best laser option for you, aim to find a clinic or spa that can offer a continuous motion diode laser, as these have the best long-term results.
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