Lasers generate light that converts to heat, damaging dark pigmentation and preventing future hair growth from appearing where they once did. But they aren’t foolproof – there may still be instances where new hair grows back in its place after treatment has concluded.
At-home laser hair removal depends on both your skin tone and hair color; for optimal results, the laser must be capable of distinguishing between eumelanin (found in blacks and browns) and pheomelanin (found in reds and pinks) in your locks.
Timeline
Laser hair removal uses pulses of light to target and destroy unwanted hair follicles, stopping them from producing new hair growth. It’s effective on most parts of the body including large limbs such as your legs and arms and smaller spots such as underarms or bikini lines.
How quickly results of at-home laser hair removal will appear will depend on both your individual skin tone and hair color, with lighter dark locks typically showing quicker progress on lighter skin tones than darker strands on darker complexions. Your pain threshold and level of comfort also play a part in how pleasant or unpleasant this process may feel to you.
Before beginning treatments at home with any laser hair removal devices, it’s crucial to conduct a patch test on an unnoticeable part of your skin and wait several days to observe how your body responds. If no redness or swelling develops after applying your device to this test spot, then your treatments can begin!
As a rule of thumb, typically four to six treatments will suffice to see long-lasting results. Your hair grows in cycles and the laser can only damage active-growth follicles at this time; other follicles will begin producing hair again at later dates, necessitating another session with us.
Maintaining your desired aesthetic requires regular maintenance sessions; otherwise you could see stray hairs emerging after reaching it. This is perfectly normal and shows that your natural growth cycle has not been fully disturbed by treatments you’ve received.
If stray hairs begin appearing more than a year after receiving laser hair removal treatments, professional touch-up appointments may be in order. Salons typically provide medical-grade laser hair removal treatments which are safer than at-home devices and can treat larger areas such as legs and bodies more effectively due to being designed specifically to treat different hair colors and skin tones.
Results
Laser hair removal utilizes high-intensity light pulses to target individual hair follicles. As heat from these pulses of light destroy pigmentation within each follicle, future hair growth is stopped – leading to thinner, less noticeable hair in an affected area over time – typically after four treatments sessions.
For long-term hair reduction on arms, legs, chest, underarms and bikini lines, follow-up treatments should be scheduled every few weeks until your desired aesthetic has been reached. If your wedding day is fast approaching, scheduling regular sessions will ensure minimal and inconspicuous hair on your special day.
Professional laser treatments tend to be more effective than at-home devices due to their higher power and customizable settings, yet at-home devices may still prove helpful, particularly for individuals with darker skin tones. Lighter-skinned individuals are especially well-suited for laser hair removal treatments as the contrast between their lighter skin tone and darker hair helps absorb laser energy into absorption cells in the laser treatment head. When choosing an at-home device for hair removal, make sure you understand its specifications so as to determine its suitability for your particular skin type before starting.
At-home laser hair removal devices usually produce lower light pulses than their in-office counterparts, so side effects should not be significant. You might feel heat or a slight zap similar to getting stubble burned; some devices come equipped with reminder apps so you can remain consistent in your treatment schedule.
Careless actions can quickly cause you to lose track of your goals, becoming easily disillusioned in the long road to achieving them. But patience is a virtue, and with consistent effort and a bit of dedication you will eventually see results for your efforts; once seen, they should last far beyond touch ups; you might simply no longer require as much extra hair in general!
Preparation
When scheduling a laser treatment, make sure to ask plenty of questions and follow the advice of your technician. They may recommend that you stay away from certain medications and skin products that increase photosensitivity (such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and retinol), prior to your session in order to avoid burns or scarring due to light from the device causing targeted hair follicles that don’t respond. If taking such products it would be wise to stop taking them several days prior to ensure no light targets hair follicles too dark responding while potentially avoiding burns or scarring due to device light illuminance targeting hair follicles too dark responding as well as potential burns/scarring issues caused by device light targeting hair follicles too dark for devices and laser device light source as light should avoid targeting hair follicles that don’t respond resulting from laser targeting devices light targeting hair follicles too dark responding as well as potential burns/scarring occur during session.
Dr. Rossi suggests shaving the area prior to your appointment, since hair follicles require pigment for light energy to work effectively. If you pluck or wax before having treatment done, the light won’t find them and will simply target the skin above them instead; your follicles will grow back darker requiring multiple visits for follow up treatments that waste both your time and money.
First step toward laser hair removal should be arranging an appointment at a reputable laser hair removal clinic. If unsure, seek recommendations from friends and check online reviews for testimonials from previous patients. Many clinics also provide free consultations so you can learn everything there is about laser hair removal before determining if it’s the best solution for you.
As part of your preparations for laser treatment, it’s wise to limit sun exposure and self-tanner use in the weeks prior. Lasers work best when applied on natural skin tone; any tint from self-tanning products could interfere with laser light and decrease effectiveness.
Once your treatment is over, be sure to moisturize afterward and follow any additional instructions provided by your technician. They may suggest using topical numbing cream prior to beginning or suggest wearing clothing that covers the area being treated. Avoid hot tubs, saunas and exercise as these may lead to heat damage which could potentially require further treatments in subsequent days.
Keep in mind that laser hair removal usually requires multiple sessions for optimal results, and additional maintenance appointments may be required in the future. By adhering to pre-treatment guidelines and caring for your skin after laser hair removal, you should see smoother skin quickly!
Safety
At home laser hair removal is conducted using electronic devices that are far less powerful than those found in medical clinics. These handheld machines emit light energy that targets melanin in your follicles and damages it enough to suppress future hair growth. When used properly at home they should also be safe; incorrect use may cause red, itchy and/or irritated skin reactions lasting several days and further damaging effects may arise as a result.
At-home laser hair removal devices that feature touchscreen displays make it easy to tailor treatment plans to different areas of the body, and provide multiple intensity levels so you can find one that meets your comfort levels without burning or irritating skin. When using such a device, make sure your skin is free from lotions or oils as this will allow light energy to more effectively penetrate targeted areas.
Some laser hair removal devices will request that you apply a topical numbing cream prior to using them, in order to minimize discomfort or pain that you might feel during the procedure. It’s essential to follow all application directions precisely as too much or too little numbing cream can impair how well it works, while tanning may expose skin damage from light energy produced by the machine.
Based on your skin tone and hair thickness, at-home laser hair removal should produce visible results within six or eight sessions. Commit to each session since hair grows back in cycles; darker complexions typically see faster results, though all colors require time before their hair has been fully eradicated from follicles.
At-home laser hair removal can be an excellent solution for most people, but it is essential to consider its limitations before making your choice. Though initially more costly than professional waxing services, purchasing at-home devices could save thousands in savings over time when compared with buying razors and shaving cream alone.
