Ought to You Get Laser Hair Elimination? Estheticians Weigh In

For individuals who select to take away their physique hair, it might generally look like there’s no such factor as an ideal possibility. Shaving can result in bumpy, irritated pores and skin (razor burn, anybody?), to not point out it’s time-consuming. Waxing is extra environment friendly, however requires a specific amount of hair re-growth and, for some individuals, can result in pesky ingrown hairs that go away discoloration behind.

For individuals who battle with each these choices, laser hair removing can supply an answer. Whereas it’s not with out its personal drawbacks, it might eradicate most of the points related to conventional hair removing and provides individuals the outcomes they’re searching for. On this publish, I’ll reply all of your urgent questions on laser hair removing with the assistance of Madalaina Conti, a New York-based, licensed esthetician specializing in laser hair removing, inflammatory pores and skin circumstances, and built-in wellness. I’ll additionally share my very own expertise with laser hair removing—let’s dive in!

How Does Laser Hair Elimination Work?

In keeping with Madalaina, there are a number of several types of lasers for hair removing. The most typical are Alexandrite and Nd:YAG. 

Alexandrite lasers principally work by choosing up the distinction between the pigment within the hair versus the pores and skin, which means they work finest on individuals with honest pores and skin and darkish hair (gentle brown to black). For a similar cause, Alexandrite lasers aren’t appropriate for darker pores and skin tones (this might be Fitzpatrick skin types 4-6).

Nd:YAG lasers, however, work by passing gentle vitality instantly beneath the follicle. The sunshine vitality turns into warmth, which weakens the follicle and causes the hair shaft to detach and shed. Over time, the absence or weakening of the follicle reduces hair progress. Since Nd:YAG lasers don’t depend on distinction, they’re an important possibility for these with darker pores and skin tones.

(Enjoyable Reality: Dr. Fitzpatrick created his eponymous scale to assist dermatologists gauge a affected person’s threat for pores and skin most cancers, however he was additionally the one to get Tretinoin FDA-approved for wrinkles and anti-aging. Once I first began my profession, I used to be fortunate sufficient to meet him and witness this course of firsthand!)

Does Laser Hair Elimination Work on Blonde Hair?

In case your hair is white, gray, or very gentle blonde, laser hair removing is probably not a great possibility for you. Each Alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers are finally drawn to the pigment within the hair, and that is how the vitality supply will get directed. If there may be little to no pigment within the hair, the lasers could have a a lot more durable time concentrating on it efficiently. 

There have been developments that make it simpler to focus on blonde or gentle hair. One is laser dyeing, which entails artificially dyeing the hair to “trick” the laser. One other is lengthy pulse lasers, which can be safer for these with blonde hair. Even with these choices, remember the fact that laser hair removing usually isn’t as efficient for gentle hair as it’s for darker hair. Be sure you seek the advice of along with your supplier earlier than committing, and ensure they’re being upfront about affordable expectations.

How Many Periods of Laser Hair Elimination Are Wanted?

“In my expertise,” says Madalaina, “this could range fairly drastically relying on the system and the shopper. Extra basic machines often require eight or extra periods, and I discover machines like mine that use a mix require round six for finest outcomes.” She added that the therapies are often spaced 4 to 6 weeks aside for the face, underarms, or bikini, whereas the remainder of the physique usually requires six to eight weeks of downtime in between. That is to make sure that the world being focused is on the proper stage of hair progress. In any other case, therapies aren’t as efficient.

Are Contact-Ups Required?

Madalaina notes that touch-ups will depend upon the shopper’s hair kind in addition to the system used. It’s additionally a matter of choice and depends upon how fastidious somebody needs to be. Madalaina says most purchasers solely require one or two touchups per 12 months, however some desire to return in additional usually. “The beauty of shaving versus waxing is that you could shave in between and it received’t mess up the hair progress cycle,” she says. “This implies you may keep easy between appointments and don’t must undergo the awkward progress stage required with waxing.” 

Does Laser Take away ALL Hair? What Are Reasonable Expectations?

The brief reply is not any. I personally first tried laser hair removing in 2005, and I distinctly bear in mind being informed, “You possibly can throw away your razor, you’ll by no means must shave once more.” This was positively an over-exaggeration, however lately, practitioners are much more upfront about setting practical expectations. I attempted it once more three years in the past, and I’d say it completely eliminated about 90% of my hair (which is fairly nice!). Now, it’s generally known as laser hair discount as a substitute.

Whereas laser hair removing doesn’t take away 100% of hair, it may be life-changing. It considerably reduces hair progress (which means a lot of the hair received’t develop again in any respect), and the hair that does stay is thinner and really sparse. This makes it much more manageable and signifies that shaving is less complicated and far much less frequent. One other bonus? Other than just about stopping ingrown hairs of their tracks, laser hair removing fades previous discoloration brought on by ingrowns and irritation. The result’s a lot smoother, brighter pores and skin general, even after only one session. 

In keeping with Madalaina, the one approach to completely take away all hair is thru electrolysis, which she notes is a painful and tedious course of.  

What’s the Greatest Time of Yr to Get Laser Hair Elimination?

The most effective time of 12 months for laser hair removing is fall or winter. I all the time inform my purchasers that that is the very best time of 12 months for skilled therapies on the whole, and the reason being that you just’re much less prone to get solar publicity. Many therapies make the pores and skin briefly extra photosensitive, and laser hair removing is not any exception. The advice is often that you just keep away from any solar publicity on handled areas two weeks earlier than AND after your appointment. 

Be taught why winter is the very best time of 12 months to eliminate brown spots (and methods to do it).

What Are Prep and Aftercare for Laser Hair Elimination Like?

Earlier than Your Appointment

As I discussed, stopping solar publicity to the areas you’re getting handled is important each two weeks earlier than and after your appointment. You’ll additionally wish to test along with your supplier about discontinuing energetic merchandise like exfoliating acids and retinol, and topical prescriptions like tretinoin or hydroquinone (Madalaina says this could range relying on the system). In case you’re utilizing Accutane for zits, you’ll wish to wait at the least a month after your final dose to get laser hair removing. Once more, you’ll want to test along with your supplier for particular directions.

Madalaina provides that you just’ll wish to shave the areas which might be going to be handled the night time earlier than your appointment. “This ensures the simplest therapy since we wish the sunshine vitality to have easy accessibility to the follicle as a substitute of getting to waste vitality on floor hair progress (which might additionally burn),” she says. “I discover shaving the night time earlier than to be the candy spot as a result of the shave continues to be contemporary, however the pores and skin’s had a while to recuperate. Shaving too near your appointment time can generally lead to additional sensitivity or irritation on the pores and skin.”

After Your Appointment

After your therapy, Madalaina says it’s finest to keep away from any heavy sweating or moisture for about 24 hours. “Skip the extraordinary exercise, swim, or sauna to keep away from irritation,” she says. In case you’re experiencing some discomfort, a quick, cool bathe can be utilized to assuage post-treatment.

In relation to laser hair removing aftercare, crucial factor is hydration. I all the time suggest that purchasers use one thing mild with out perfume or drying alcohol. It’s additionally finest to make use of one thing you’ve tried earlier than and know you received’t react badly to. Bear in mind, pores and skin is tremendous uncooked after being uncovered to the warmth of a laser, so it must be babied. You need to use a thick cream like Phytolipid Comfort Creme, which has calming plant extracts in addition to moisturizing lipids to assist restore the pores and skin barrier. Alternatively, you should utilize an oil like Pro Remedy Oil, which has a mix of 12 oils wealthy in omegas and antioxidants. 

Focus solely on hydration for the primary three to 4 days. After this, you may add shaving or exfoliating to your routine to assist slough off lifeless pores and skin cells and permit hairs which might be detaching to shed by means of the floor. I discover bodily scrubs actually efficient for this, however ensure you use a scrub with rounded particles to forestall any tearing or scratching of the pores and skin. 

Tips on how to Discover the Proper Supplier for Your Therapy

Earlier than reserving a therapy, ebook a session. The machines used for laser hair removing are highly effective, and used incorrectly (or on the flawed particular person) they will trigger injury. It’s essential to seek out somebody expert who takes the time to reply all of your questions.

“I’d suggest wanting into the kind of laser that finest describes your pores and skin and hair kind after which doing a little analysis on the laser your potential supplier carries,” says Madalaina. “I all the time discover phrase of mouth to be essentially the most dependable, so if you happen to can, ask these round you to gauge sincere experiences! I additionally have a tendency to love smaller, extra specialised studios vs. bigger chains. Lasers are highly effective, consideration to element is every little thing, and it is best to really feel that you’re getting a customized expertise. Good suppliers will all the time exit of their approach to achieve in-depth information of your routine and objectives to maximise your expertise. They’ll stroll you thru expectations, guarantee you’re comfy and might be completely satisfied to reply all your questions! Having a specialised laser or superior certification is all the time a plus.” 

My Expertise With (and Trustworthy Overview of) Laser Hair Elimination

I received laser hair removing on my underarms and bikini space three years in the past, and at that time, I’d been waxing them for 25 years! What I all the time hated about waxing (apart from the ache) was the truth that I needed to let every little thing develop out for a number of weeks between waxes. This meant I had about one week of easy pores and skin, after which I used to be caught with stubble for one more three or so. There can positively be some awkward hair progress between the primary few therapies of laser hair removing, however as Madalaina identified, you may shave. Ultimately, that awkward re-growth stops nearly altogether. 

I had ten therapies in complete and, as I discussed, it eliminated about 90% of my hair. I’ve a mix of blonde and darkish hair within the areas that have been handled, so the blonde didn’t actually get picked up by the laser. Nonetheless, this hair is so skinny and light-weight now that I don’t even go for touch-ups, and I barely even must shave anymore.

I do wish to say that outcomes can nonetheless range drastically person-to-person. There’s an opportunity I had a leg up since a few of my follicles have been already shot from so a few years of waxing, plus I used to be 50, and hair progress naturally slows down with age. That mentioned, I’m actually proud of the outcomes and positively desire it to the waxing I used to be doing all these years. I’m ready to consider it so much much less, and it’s yet another factor I don’t have to fret about!

Subsequent up, if you happen to get common waxes, learn my fail-proof information to stopping ingrown hairs.

Superstar Esthetician & Skincare Professional
As an esthetician educated in beauty chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching pores and skin, educating her viewers, and constructing an award-winning line of merchandise. Her hands-on expertise as an esthetician and trusted skincare professional has created a real-world answer — merchandise which might be formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get precisely what it must appear and feel its finest. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives across the globe, her huge real-world information and fixed analysis are why Marie Claire calls her “essentially the most passionate pores and skin practitioner we all know.”