Laser Hair Removal: What You Should Know

This article answers common and important questions about one of the most popular cosmetic procedures globally, laser hair removal. The article, consequently, is important if you want to have this procedure. It won’t do to venture into the unknown.  

What is Laser Hair Removal and How Does it Work

As the name suggests, laser hair removal involves getting rid of excess hair with a laser, a narrow concentrated beam of light. 

Our hair is colored. It can be black, brown, russet, red, or blond. A pigment called melanin is responsible for this: it gives the hair its characteristic shade. Melanin has a feature: it absorbs light waves with a length of about 700-1,000 nm — the exact length that epilation lasers have. When hairs absorb such light, this pigment is strongly heated.

Since melanin is concentrated in the hair shaft and hair follicle, it heats them simultaneously. This temperature is enough to damage both the hair shaft itself and the blood vessels that feed the follicles. Some hairs are destroyed right during the procedure. But most hairs, having a dead root, fall out gradually, over 1-2 weeks.

How Painful is Laser Hair Removal

Most often, it is not painful. It’s no worse than the procedure with a regular household epilator or, for example, sugaring. However, the discomfort can still be there.

Although the laser works in a targeted way, focusing exclusively on the hairs, the heating also affects the surrounding skin. Some people may experience a slight burning and tingling sensation during the procedure. To avoid it, the epilation area is covered with an anesthetic cream. But sometimes, it is not necessary: as a rule, modern lasers have a built-in cooling mechanism that quickly lowers the temperature.

The types of laser hair removal are as follows. 

Ruby (694 nm wavelength). An outdated version. The ruby laser heated the melanin in the hairs and the surrounding skin. Therefore, the hair removal procedure was accompanied by pain and sometimes burned for swarthy people. Ruby laser is practically not used today — safer and more effective devices have replaced it.

Alexandrite (755 nm wavelength) is the option requiring a powerful cooling of the skin. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting a burn. The cosmetologist who performs this procedure must be experienced and well-versed in the laser settings to set the necessary level of cooling.

Diode (800-810 nm wavelength) is the mildest and safest option. Diode lasers cool the skin during operation. In addition, they are usually used together with a cooling cream. The result is no pain but mild discomfort if you have sensitive skin.

Neodymium (1,064 nm wavelength) is the universal option. Such lasers remove hair and tattoos, permanent makeup, and vascular reticulation. It is necessary to carefully and expertly adjust such a device — otherwise, the procedure can be unpleasant.

How to Make Laser Hair Removal Painless?

First, you have to thoughtfully choose the cosmetologist or dermatologist who will carry out the procedure. It should be a qualified specialist who has experience with a particular laser. Before you go to a particular beauty salon, read reviews of it. And of course, make sure that the laser machine is certified and bought from a trusted manufacturer, such as laser hair removal machines for sale australia. Your beautician needs to have had the necessary training.

Next, listen to yourself. Sensations during hair removal depend on various factors. Here are some of them:

• Individual pain threshold. What will be unpleasant to one woman, the other will not even feel. Perhaps you are one of the lucky women who feel no pain during such procedures.

• The area of the skin where the hair is removed. The more pain receptors it has, the more unpleasant the procedure is. Laser hair removal on legs or arms is less painful than treatment of the sensitive bikini zone or armpits.

• Monthly cycle. During PMS and menstruation, the pain threshold decreases. So it is better to epilate a few days after the end of menstruation: then the procedure will be maximally painless for you.

Conclusion

Laser hair removal is definitely to be recommended. You will notice the result already after the first procedure. The hairs will become thinner and rarer, growing much slower. And after the course, they will disappear. Your skin will always be smooth, even, and beautiful!