A few years ago I decided to stop shaving my legs…

I’d had it up to “here” with the ingrown hairs and little red bumps that formed on my lower legs, so I filed my old school razor in trash can, and vowed only to wax my legs moving forward.

Waxing, I soon learned, is great… for a couple days. 

Then the hair begins to creep back in and you’re stuck with it until the next waxing session (usually two to three weeks). 

At the end of last summer, I put my hairy foot down. “No more!” I decided… It was time for a better, more permanent option.

The Benefits of Laser Hair Removal

Laser Hair Removal works to damage the hair follicle, which in turn minimizes hair growth. The laser uses a pigment seek and destroy method whereby it targets pigment cells that reside in the hair follicle. Once the melanin (pigment) in hair is targeted, the laser burns all the way down the hair follicle and root. 

For many of our patients who have tried Laser Hair Removal, it only takes a few sessions for you to be able to throw away your razor and cancel your waxing appointments. 

But because we believe knowledge is power, we’ve put together a list of the 7 things you should know before you sign up for your first session: 

1) Laser hair removal works best on the following areas…

Laser hair removal can be used anywhere you have hair, but the best results we’ve seen in clinic happen on the following areas: bikini, underarms, forearms, lower legs, neck, back, chest, lip, and chin.

2) Laser hair removal doesn’t work for everyone

Since the color of the pigment in the hair follicle is what the laser targets, laser hair removal works best on subjects with sufficient hair/skin contrast. For patients with darker skin tones, sometimes the pigment-rich skin competes with the hair follicle for the laser’s attention. That said, if you have darker skin, you may still be a candidate, but you’ll want to have a consult done before purchasing a session to ensure the treatment will be effective.

3) Laser hair removal requires you stop taking specific medications

All medications that are photosensitive need to be stopped at least one week prior to treatment. It’s important to note that most antibiotics can be photosensitive, so if you have an infection, it may be wise to push your treatment back a few weeks.

4) You’ll see real results after about 5 to 7 treatments

Everybody is different, but the key to getting the best results is consistency. If you start treatment, you’ll want to make sure you’re returning every 4 to 6 weeks. It’s also important to note that laser hair removal works when the hair is in its active growth rate, and different parts of the body have different growth rates. That means some spots can require more time than others. All that said, the industry average for the vast majority of clients is five to seven treatments for full hair removal.

5) Attendance is mandatory

We love helping our patients get amazing results, but one of the biggest mistakes we’ve seen patients make is not completing the necessary amount of treatment sessions. Sometimes when patients see the growth rates slowing down, they stop scheduling appointments, but that’s exactly the time you should turn up the juice! When you’ve got the hair on the ropes, it’s best to finish it off with consistent treatments (again, 5 to 7 is the industry average).

6) Before your appointment you must shave.

This may sound surprising, but in order for the laser to penetrate into the root of your hair, you’ll need to shave the area being treated before your session. The operative word is “shave” – Do not wax, tweeze, or bleach any hair one month before your session. The roots needs to stay intact so the laser can effectively eliminate the hair.

7) Aftercare with SPF is mandatory

Post treatment, we always recommend staying out of the sun as much as possible. This helps avoid skin irritation, and allows your body to heal and process the treatment quickly. If you must venture outside, please use copious amounts of chemical-free SPF to protect your newly treated skin.

To find out if you’re a candidate for Laser Hair Removal, or to book your first laser hair removal appointment and secure your savings, call us at 800-954-7590 or use our new online booking system by clicking here.