Ought to You Get Laser Hair Elimination? Estheticians Weigh In

For many who select to take away their physique hair, it could generally look like there’s no such factor as an ideal choice. 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 certain quantity of hair re-growth and, for some folks, can result in pesky ingrown hairs that depart discoloration behind.

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

How Does Laser Hair Elimination Work?

Based on Madalaina, there are a couple of several types of lasers for hair elimination. The commonest are Alexandrite and Nd:YAG. 

Alexandrite lasers mainly work by selecting up the distinction between the pigment within the hair versus the pores and skin, which means they work finest on folks with truthful pores and skin and darkish hair (mild brown to black). For a similar motive, Alexandrite lasers aren’t appropriate for darker pores and skin tones (this might be Fitzpatrick skin types 4-6).

Nd:YAG lasers, alternatively, work by passing mild power straight beneath the follicle. The sunshine power 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 a terrific choice 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 mild blonde, laser hair elimination will not be an excellent choice for you. Each Alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers are finally interested in the pigment within the hair, and that is how the power supply will get directed. If there may be little to no pigment within the hair, the lasers can have a a lot tougher time concentrating on it efficiently. 

There have been developments that make it simpler to focus on blonde or mild hair. One is laser dyeing, which includes 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, take into account that laser hair elimination usually isn’t as efficient for mild hair as it’s for darker hair. You should definitely seek the advice of along with your supplier earlier than committing, and ensure they’re being upfront about affordable expectations.

How Many Classes of Laser Hair Elimination Are Wanted?

“In my expertise,” says Madalaina, “this could differ fairly drastically relying on the machine 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 rely upon the shopper’s hair kind in addition to the machine used. It’s additionally a matter of desire and is determined by how fastidious somebody desires to be. Madalaina says most purchasers solely require one or two touchups per yr, however some favor to come back in additional usually. “The wonderful thing about 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 Sensible Expectations?

The quick reply is not any. I actually first tried laser hair elimination in 2005, and I distinctly bear in mind being advised, “You may throw away your razor, you’ll by no means must shave once more.” This was positively an over-exaggeration, however nowadays, practitioners are much more upfront about setting reasonable 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 an alternative.

Whereas laser hair elimination doesn’t take away 100% of hair, it may be life-changing. It considerably reduces hair progress (which means many 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? Except for nearly stopping ingrown hairs of their tracks, laser hair elimination fades previous discoloration attributable to ingrowns and irritation. The result’s a lot smoother, brighter pores and skin general, even after only one session. 

Based on Madalaina, the one method to completely take away all hair is thru electrolysis, which she notes is a painful and tedious course of.  

What’s the Finest Time of 12 months to Get Laser Hair Elimination?

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

Be taught why winter is the perfect time of yr to eliminate brown spots (and the right way 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 vital 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 differ relying on the machine). In case you’re utilizing Accutane for pimples, you’ll wish to wait a minimum of a month after your final dose to get laser hair elimination. Once more, be sure you test along with your supplier for particular directions.

Madalaina provides that you simply’ll wish to shave the areas which are going to be handled the night time earlier than your appointment. “This ensures the simplest remedy since we would like the sunshine power to have easy accessibility to the follicle as an alternative of getting to waste power on floor hair progress (which may 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 recent, 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 remedy, 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 appease post-treatment.

In the case of laser hair elimination aftercare, an important factor is hydration. I all the time advocate that purchasers use one thing light 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 should 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 are detaching to shed via the floor. I discover bodily scrubs actually efficient for this, however ensure you use a scrub with rounded particles to stop any tearing or scratching of the pores and skin. 

The right way to Discover the Proper Supplier for Your Therapy

Earlier than reserving a remedy, ebook a session. The machines used for laser hair elimination are highly effective, and used incorrectly (or on the mistaken particular person) they’ll trigger harm. It’s necessary to search out somebody expert who takes the time to reply all of your questions.

“I’d advocate trying into the kind of laser that finest describes your pores and skin and hair kind after which performing some 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 in case you can, ask these round you to gauge trustworthy experiences! I additionally have a tendency to love smaller, extra specialised studios vs. bigger chains. Lasers are highly effective, consideration to element is all the pieces, and it’s best to really feel that you’re getting a personalised expertise. Good suppliers will all the time exit of their method to acquire in-depth information of your routine and targets to maximise your expertise. They’ll stroll you thru expectations, guarantee you’re snug 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 Sincere Evaluate of) Laser Hair Elimination

I obtained laser hair elimination 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 (aside from the ache) was the truth that I needed to let all the pieces develop out for a couple 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 elimination, however as Madalaina identified, you may shave. Ultimately, that awkward re-growth stops virtually altogether. 

I had ten therapies in complete and, as I discussed, it eliminated about 90% of my hair. I’ve a mixture of blonde and darkish hair within the areas that had been handled, so the blonde didn’t actually get picked up by the laser. Nonetheless, this hair is so skinny and lightweight 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 differ drastically person-to-person. There’s an opportunity I had a leg up since a few of my follicles had 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 stated, I’m actually proud of the outcomes and positively favor it to the waxing I used to be doing all these years. I’m in a position to consider it so much much less, and it’s yet one more factor I don’t have to fret about!

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

Movie star Esthetician & Skincare Skilled
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 skilled has created a real-world answer — merchandise which are 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.”