If you add up the amount of time and money you spend on hair removal over months and years, laser hair removal starts to sound like a good option. Temporary hair removal methods like shaving and waxing only keep hair away for days or weeks. Laser hair removal can keep hair away for months to years, and with occasional maintenance, it can banish unwanted hair indefinitely.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal, also known as laser hair reduction, works by targeting the pigments inside the roots of your hair. The hair roots rest inside a hair follicle, where the cells that produce new hair growth live. The energy from the laser acts on the pigments in the hair root, causing it to heat up. The heat deactivates the hair-producing cells, stopping them from making new hairs.
Most people need several hair removal sessions because not all your hair follicles grow hair at the same time. Some will be in a resting phase during each treatment, but over the course of several sessions, the laser should have treated most or all of your unwanted hair.
Newer and more advanced lasers can target more hair colors, work safely on more skin colors, and provide a more comfortable experience than older systems. Find out what kind of laser hair removal system your provider uses so you can look up and research it. Providers who perform laser hair removal regularly will usually be happy to talk about their laser system with you.
Does Laser Hair Removal Hurt?
Newer laser systems feel more comfortable than older ones, but you may feel minor discomfort during the laser hair reduction process. People often describe the sensation as a rubber band snapped against the skin. Numbing cream can help make sure you feel almost nothing.
How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Last?
People can see permanent removal of up to 95% of their unwanted hair. The remaining hair will take a long time to grow back and will feel softer and finer. Treatments every one to two years will put these stray hairs back to rest and help keep you hair-free.
Is Laser Hair Removal Worth It?
Considering how long laser hair removal lasts, it can save you a lot of money and time in temporary hair removal treatments. The process involves little to no discomfort, and it works on almost everyone. People with gray or very light blond hair may not respond well since their hair contains little to no pigment for the laser to target.
If you want to go out with friends and not worry about whether you’ve shaved lately, or want to accept that last-minute beach invitation without trying to schedule a last-minute waxing appointment, laser hair removal may be worth it for you. Prepare for several sessions, anywhere from four to eight in general, and a maintenance session every year or two.
