If you love having silky, smooth legs but you aren’t so enamoured with the chore of shaving,
laser hair removal might just be your perfect solution.
While you may have heard that this popular treatment is highly effective at removing pesky,
unwanted hair, you might be wondering how often you need to go in to your favourite salon to
maintain the look, and how to determine if it is worth it to you.
How often you need to go in for Laser?
The short answer is the frequency will vary with different individual skin types, tones, and hair,
but it is typically advised that clients do laser hair removal about six to eight times for best
results. It is also recommended for clients to go in for maintaining their hair removal results at
least once a year for a few years. However, to answer those questions more in depth, let’s first take a look at what the laser hair
removal procedure is exactly, how to prepare for your appointment, and what to expect during
and after your treatment.
How does Laser hair removal work?
Whenever you get laser hair removal, on any body part, the pulsed light of a laser is shone
onto the area you are looking to smooth out. The melanin in the hair, which is
responsible for producing pigment, absorbs the energy from the light. When this happens, the hair follicle is damaged by the
heat, reducing and preventing future growth from that spot.
Essentially, it is a safe thermal injury to the hair bulb that leaves the follicle weaker, creating
thinner hair at first until eventually leaving you hairless after a series of sessions. Clients can
expect permanent hair removal within just four to eight sessions.
Since laser light targets the dark pigment found in hair, the majority of laser hair removal
options are often most effective on people who have darker hair and lighter skin tones. Each
client has different skin types and skin tones, so different wavelengths can be used depending
on individual client needs. This allows those with darker skin tones to avoid the laser
discolouring the melanin found in surrounding skin.
Laser hair removal for your skin: Consult
To determine which wavelength you would receive, or if this treatment is your best option, you
must first book a client consultation with a medical esthetician or dermatologist. They will be
able to make sure you get the best hair removal treatment option that is targeted specifically
for your own individual needs.
How should you prepare?
After your consultation where the wavelength and approach are determined, you will likely be
asked to return to the salon on another day for your first laser hair removal treatment.
You will need to make sure that you do not shave your legs a day or two before your
appointment and you will need to make sure you do not go tanning or use any self-tanners in
the days leading up to your treatment. Again, this is because the laser works by targeting the
melanin in the hair, so it will be most effective if melanin in the skin is minimal in comparison
to the hair.
Laser hair removal appointment
On the day of your appointment, you will be asked to not wear any lotions or other products
on the skin of your leg. The only exception is numbing lotion. Some clients will also find it
helpful to take a couple of ibuprofen before the treatment since the laser pulses can, in some
parts of the leg, feel like little zaps to the skin. They don’t always hurt, but some of the pulses
may land on more sensitive areas, and over a couple of hours might start to feel slightly
unpleasant.
What to expect during your laser appointment?
Your appointment might last an hour or two when you are getting laser hair removal on your
legs, while treatments for other smaller parts of the body might only take a few minutes.
You will, however, be able to see results right away. But if you are looking for permanent hair
removal, you will have to return for several appointments before you notice zero new hair
growth over time.
Leg hairs will fall out after about two weeks
You might notice that little leg hairs will fall out after about two weeks from your treatment.
Most estheticians will recommend that you exfoliate the legs 10 days after your laser hair
removal with a sugar scrub to help remove these hairs. These hairs seem like new growth,
but they were actually already growing inside you before the exfoliation helped to push them
out.
What side effects should you be aware of?
Laser hair removal is not recommended for people who are pregnant.
You should not wax or tan the area for three weeks before the treatment, and you should not
tan the area for two weeks after the treatment. Again, this is because of the way the laser
works to locate the hair with melanin.
The most common side effects are minor skin irritation, redness, and swelling. These are
likely to subside within a few hours post-treatment. People with darker skin tones may find
some skin discoloration, but this concern is typically mitigated by a thorough consultation at a
salon you trust before the treatment. A handful of times before potentially permanent hair removal
Like most things, the number of times required to attend a laser hair removal session can and
will vary. But it is typically about six to eight times for the legs. Included in our laser hair removal aftercare recommendations, is for
clients to return for maintenance hair removal sessions at least once a year for a few years.
Since laser hair removal treatment is still a scientific process being perfected with time and
technological advancements, results on the permanence of the hair removal can be different from
one person to the next.
Laser hair removal works better on some people than on others. Still, many people will find
they never have to shave again after trying laser hair removal treatment. Most people will
have to shave less frequently because even with regrowth, it will often be lighter and weaker,
and sparser. If you can make shaving a little bit easier, a little less often, it is definitely worth the investment
to try laser hair removal. See the hair removal options New Age Spa offers here.