Is Laser Hair Removal Really Worth It?
Are you tired of having to shave all the time to maintain smooth hairless skin? Are you over how much it costs and how much it hurts to get waxed? Maybe you’ve considered getting laser hair removal, but are wondering whether it's actually worth it. No need to fret and research different horror stories, this blog post is going to break down how laser hair removal works, lay out what you should expect and explain why laser hair removal is definitely worth it!
What is laser hair removal?
Let’s start with the basics, how on earth does zapping someone with a laser get rid of hair?! The process involves a laser emitting a light that is absorbed by the pigment in the hair, known as melanin. The light energy is converted to heat, which damages the hair follicles, which are small sacs in the skin that produce hairs. This damage inhibits or delays future hair growth, leaving you silky smooth. At Aspire B&A, it’s a quick process, and for most is next to painless, depending on the area and personal pain threshold.
Now, let’s talk about a few things you should consider before getting the treatment.
Patience is a virtue!
Your hair grows at different stages. The four phases of hair growth include anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen. Each phase lasts for a different length of time, and in order for the laser hair removal to work, it needs to zap the hair follicle at the right growth stage. This means you have to have regular appointments, around 8-12 sessions are suggested to get rid of all of the hairs.
Put down the tweezers!
You can’t wax, pluck, tweeze or dye the hair you are having treated. All of these actions can impede the laser hair removal process. Instead, you can shave in between sessions for upkeep.
It works on all skin types.
Older laser technology was unsuitable for darker-skinned people, as darker skin attracted the laser and put them at risk of being burnt. Make sure the esthetician you’re going to is using a laser safe for your skin. Here at Aspire Beauty & Aesthetics, we pride ourselves on being inclusive of all, and have made sure we use the correct laser technology to be able to provide the treatment to all skin types.
Pre-care and After-care is important.
In order to have the most effective treatment possible, make sure you’re paying attention to the pre and after care instructions.
Before the appointment:
Clean shave the area(s) 24 hours before.
Make sure you arrive with no lotion, deodorant, makeup etc.
No waxing or fake tan 4 weeks prior to appointment.
No UV light exposure (e.g. sunbeds) for 8 weeks prior.
After the appointment:
Avoid exposing skin to UV light (sunlight or sunbeds) or self-tan for at least 2 weeks after treatment.
Avoid heat treatments such as spas, steam rooms and saunas for 7 days.
Avoid excessive scrubbing or applying pressure to the skin for 4-5 days.
Avoid shaving the treated area for 72 hours after.
Avoid waxing, tweezing and threading for the complete duration of the treatment course.
Avoid hot baths and hot showers for 48 hours.
Avoid anything that involves chlorine for 48 hours.
Avoid make-up on the treated area for at least 48 hours.
Avoid the application of perfumed products or bleaching creams for 48 hours.
Avoid exercising for at least 48 hours.
Finally, is laser hair removal really worth it?
Absolutely! There are so many benefits to laser hair removal, beyond just being hairless. For example:
Laser hair removal will rejuvenate your skin, leaving it feeling softer and silkier. This procedure also works well on improving the appearance of your skin while enhancing your muscle tone, as well as solving other concerns like strawberry skin (dark spots on skin).
Unlike other forms of hair removal, such as epilating, threading, and waxing, with laser, you will no longer have to worry about painful ingrown hairs, razor irritation or burns and the marks these can leave behind
It's a non-invasive treatment with quick recovery time and minimal side effects.
It’s low maintenance. Once you have completed your main course of treatments, most people enter the “touch-up” phase. This usually means you require maintenance treatments 2 to 3 times over the course of a year.
Provided you have your hair removed by an experienced and trained technician like we have at Aspire B&A, the light beams operate with exact precision when it comes to targeting your unwanted hair. A professional treatment will also mean that the skin that surrounds the hair follicle remains intact and undamaged.
Once you start going for laser hair removal sessions you won’t have to worry about spending money on products such as depilatory creams, razors, costly wax treatments or any other method you used to remove your hair before. While you pay more up front, when comparing having no hair for many months or even years at a time you can save a significant amount of money, stress and time!
The results are long lasting! After getting laser hair removal, up to 95% of the hair won’t grow back for a number of months and sometimes even years. When or if the hair grows back, your hair will be less coarse, lighter as well as a lot less noticeable. For some people, the hair will be gone permanently.
So… what are you waiting for?! If you’re someone who removes your hair, laser hair removal is by far one of the best options, and we offer it for all skin types at Aspire B&A, located in Hounslow, catering for all your skin care and self care needs! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.