Right now, the preferred method of long-lasting hair removal is laser treatments – but just how effective is laser hair removal for unwanted body hair? Understandably, many people want to know if the promises of this advanced technology can really deliver. At Lazur La Vie in Nyack, NY, we know that laser treatments for hair removal are extremely effective for those who are looking for a permanent solution to reduce body hair growth.
How Effective Is Laser Hair Removal?
To put it simply, laser treatments for hair removal are exceptionally effective – most treatments can successfully remove 80 to 90% of unwanted body hair, and can produce long-lasting effects in terms of reduced hair growth. Compared to the continual task of shaving, waxing, tweezing, and depilatory creams, laser treatments produce long-term results for the vast majority of people.
What Are Your Results Like?
Overall, most people who use this treatment can expect results that will last for several months or even years, depending on the aggressiveness of your treatment and how well the treatment works for your unique biology. Some people can achieve truly permanent hair loss, which can last for a couple of years, while others can enjoy next to zero hair growth for up to one year.
That said, if you want your results to last for as long as possible, you will need to attend regularly scheduled maintenance appointments, which are typically scheduled once a year. These appointments will top-up the damage to your hair follicles that will prevent hair growth and will also keep your skin silky smooth.
When Will You See Results?
After your first treatment, you may not see any significant results for several days or weeks. Your results will happen over time as the hair follicle is damaged and your unwanted body hair falls out. While it may appear that your hair is regrowing, what’s really happening is the hair being slowly pushed out of the follicle. This process will take up to four to six weeks because of different hair growth rates.
How Many Treatments Will You Need?
In general, most people who use laser treatments for hair removal can expect at least four to six treatment appointments to produce ideal results. You will need several treatments because the hair on the body grows in different cycles and because this treatment is most effective on hair follicles that are newly growing. Your treatments will be spaced about one month apart.
Sometimes, the number of treatments you need will also depend on the density of your hair, as well as how many areas you are treating at one time. People who have thick body hair or hair that grows more densely typically require more than four appointments to achieve desired results.
How Long Are Your Appointments?
Most of the time, your laser treatments can be completed within as little as 30 to 60 minutes. Some factors, such as how many treatment areas and the quality of your hair, may determine how long your appointments will take. Fortunately, because these treatments are simple, they will not take a huge chunk of time out of your day and you will be able to return to your normal daily activities after your treatment is complete.
How Does Hair Color and Skin Type Factor Into Your Treatment?
Both your hair color and skin type can determine how quickly you will see results and overall the number of treatments you will need. Generally, laser treatments work best on darker hair pigments since the technology can more easily detect dark hair against the skin, which is why people with darker body hair may have better or faster results. Because light skin has a higher contrast to body hair, some laser treatments also work better for fair-skinned people.
However, this doesn’t mean that those with dark complexions or people with lighter body hair can’t also use laser treatments. For those who have blond, red, grey, or light brown hair, and for those who have medium to dark complexions, you will probably need more than four to six treatments to achieve your results.
How Can You Make Sure Your Treatment Is Successful?
Frankly, you can’t control much about your body hair – factors like genetics and hormones will determine how much hair you have, how dark it is, and how densely it grows. Likewise, short of skipping the tanning booth, your skin tone and type isn’t something you can change for the sake of laser treatment. However, there are several things you can do to make sure your treatment is as successful as possible. Some of your pre-treatment guidelines will include:
No Waxing or Tweezing
For your laser treatment to work correctly, there must be a hair shaft in your hair follicles, as this is what the thermal energy uses to deliver follicle-damaging heat – in other words, without hair, your treatment will not work. Both waxing and tweezing removes hair from the follicle root, so it’s best to make sure you do not wax or tweeze any treatment areas for at least four to six weeks before your appointment.
Shaving, on the other hand, is okay to do 24 to 48 hours before your appointment. This is because shaving only shortens visible hair and does not remove hair from the root, which will not interfere with the ability of the laser.
No Tanning or Sun Exposure
Laser treatments emit energy that can potentially trigger melanin production, so to avoid hyperpigmentation, you should do your best to avoid tanning beds and unprotected sun exposure that can darken skin for at least two to four weeks before your appointment. You should also avoid any products that can darken your skin, as this can make your treatment less effective overall. Please wear SPF 30 or higher before your appointment – and continue wearing sunscreen between your appointments.
What Should You Do After Your Appointment?
In addition to wearing sunscreen anytime you plan to be outside, your top priority after your laser treatment will be taking care of your skin. Some skin on the body, such as the bikini area, is more sensitive than other areas, so it’s especially important that you soothe and comfort your skin during the first few days after your treatment. Some things you can do after your treatment include:
Wear Loose Clothing
Because your skin may be feeling a little sensitive after your treatment, you should do your best to wear lightweight, loose, comfortable clothing on any area of the body that has been treated. Cotton clothing is preferable since it allows the skin to breathe. If you can, wearing dresses or skirts is an ideal strategy. For sleeping, you should also switch to soft cotton sheets, as this will also feel soothing to the skin.
Make Sure You Moisturize
Keeping your skin moist after laser treatment will help your skin recover more quickly from the treatment. You should use fat-based lotions containing cocoa butter, shea butter, or ceramides to support the moisture barrier of your skin; using aloe vera after your treatment can also be beneficial.
Avoid Heat
When it comes to avoiding heat, it’s important to minimize your contact with more than just sunlight. You should not use any hot water on treated areas, including hot showers and hot tubs. You should also avoid saunas, steam rooms, and other sources of heat in the air that might irritate or dry your skin. When washing, please use gentle soaps and lukewarm water.
Where Can This Treatment Be Used?
Laser hair removal treatments can be used on virtually every area of the body, from the face all the way down to the toes. Any area of your body that has unwanted hair is likely eligible for this treatment, which can include:
- Face
- Upper lip
- Chest
- Stomach
- Underarms
- Forearms
- Back
- Bikini area
- Legs
Both women and men use laser treatments to remove unwanted hair and reduce overall hair growth. If you have hair on your body that you feel is embarrassing for your gender, such as women growing hair on the stomach below the belly button, then you should not be embarrassed. The hair growth on your body is largely determined by hormones like progesterone, so it’s common for younger women to have dense hair growth.
What Are the Benefits of This Treatment?
In addition to how highly effective and versatile this treatment is, there are several benefits that are attractive to people who use laser hair removal. For example, a major benefit is how long the results of this treatment can last. When your treatment is successful, you can expect your results to last for up to a year or more at a time before you need a touch-up appointment. Other benefits include:
Simplify Beauty Routine
If you prefer to be hair-free on one or more areas of the body, then you already know how much of a time commitment it is to constantly stay on top of your hair growth. Many people shave multiple times a week, particularly the legs and the underarms. Shaving is also costly in other ways, such as paying for shaving cream, razors, and handling knicks and cuts from the razor. By using laser treatment, you can cut down on both time and money spent keeping your appearance the way you like it.
No More Skin Irritation
One of the biggest cons of waxing, tweezing, and shaving is the amount of skin irritation that happens as a result of these hair removal efforts. Burns from wax, red skin from forceful plucking, and razor bumps and burns are all skin irritants that can be painful. For those with particularly sensitive skin, even stubble regrowth can be itchy and uncomfortable.
Correct Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hairs can happen as a result of shaving, waxing, and tweezing. Typically, ingrown hairs occur when hair grows crookedly from the follicle. Fortunately, laser treatments are able to correct and prevent ingrown hairs by “shocking” the hair follicle with heat that will correct the path of hair growth from the skin. You can reap this particular benefit between your sessions and even after you achieve your ideal results.
Start Your Highly Effective Laser Hair Removal Treatments Today
Laser hair removal is 80 to 90% effective for removing unwanted facial and body hair. This treatment produces long-lasting results that can simplify your beauty routine, correct ingrown hairs, and reduce skin irritation. If you think laser hair removal is an ideal treatment for you, please contact us at Lazur La Vie in Nyack, NY to schedule your first appointment today.
