Category: Lasers

Laser Hair Removal Tips

Are you ready to toss out your razor, throw away your bleaching kit, and cancel your next waxing appointment? Try laser hair removal! It’s becoming more and more popular all the time, and for good reason. Laser hair removal procedures are safe, effective, and comfortable. Whether you want to remove the hair on your upper lip, your legs, or nearly anywhere else on your body, your first appointment will be less nerve-racking if you know what to expect. With that idea in mind, we’ve compiled a list of laser hair removal tips so that you can prepare yourself for the procedure.

Laser Hair Removal Tips

Do your research. Before you have the procedure, spend a little time researching the science, the process, and the basics of laser hair removal procedures. For example, did you know that dark hair is easier to treat because the laser relies on color discrepancy? Did you know that multiple treatments are necessary because hair grows in three different stages (growth, rest, and transition)? To learn more about how laser hair removal works, check out this previous blog post.

Be realistic. Laser hair removal won’t magically remove all the hair in the treatment area at once. Multiple treatments are almost always necessary, and some hair types are simply not well-suited to laser treatments (such as fine, blonde hair). Effective treatments typically result in 80-85% hair reduction. To ensure that your expectations are realistic, discuss your questions and concerns with your technician during the consultation.

Prepare your body correctly. Before laser hair removal, you should not wax, tweeze, or bleach the hair in the treatment area, and your laser appointment should be scheduled at least six weeks after your last wax. You will also need to stay out of the sun, as tanning will affect the pigmentation of your skin, and you should avoid caffeine to ensure that you will be relaxed. Finally, shave the area a day or two beforehand so that “stubble” is visible. Your technician will have more specific instructions.

Avoid the sun. We’ve already mentioned that you should refrain from unprotected sun exposure before your treatment, but this rule is also true after your treatment. Stay out of the sun and when you are outside, use SPF liberally.

Choose your treatment facility carefully. Look for a facility that offers modern technology to ensure that the treatment will be both comfortable and effective. Additionally, be sure to consult with your technician before you commit to the procedure. If you aren’t comfortable with the state of the facility, the customer service, the technician’s personality, or their answers to your questions, start shopping for a new facility!

Communicate with the technician. Before and during the procedure, ask as many questions as you like. Give feedback regarding the pain as well, so that the technician can make adjustments to improve your comfort level (such as lowering the laser’s intensity or providing a numbing cream). And if you have any questions post-treatment, just give the facility a call.

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If you’re interested in receiving laser hair removal and you live in Springfield, Missouri, contact DermaHealth. We own four different lasers (the GentleMaxPro, the Prowave, the CoolGlide Yag, and the DSL), which help us target large areas of hair, hair in sensitive areas, and even lighter hair colors like red, dark blond, and light brown. To learn more, please give us a call at 417-447-7777 or click here to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

After spending countless hours plucking, shaving, dying, and waxing, laser hair removal can be a godsend. It’s safe, it’s effective, and it can help you reduce unwanted hair. However, the word “laser” doesn’t exactly comfort prospective patients. It’s especially difficult to trust if you can’t comprehend how a laser could reduce hair growth. Understanding a technology is the first step towards embracing it, so let’s investigate. How does laser hair removal work? How can a laser reduce the growth of hair? How do lasers target hair follicles without damaging the surrounding skin? Scroll down to find out!

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Targeting the hair’s pigment, the laser travels down to the base of the unwanted hair follicle, damaging the follicle so that it will stop producing hair. Using selective photothermolysis (SPTL), the laser uses a specific wavelength of light and pulse duration to target the melanin (i.e., the pigment) in the area without damaging the surrounding tissue (your skin). The hair follicle heats up and becomes damaged, hindering future hair growth. Because the laser relies on color discrepancy to accurately target the hair follicle, darker hair colors (black, brown) are easier to treat than lighter hair colors (white, gray, blond), and coarse hair is easier than fine hair. Although the treated hair probably won’t fall out immediately, it should be gone within 10-14 days of your treatment. You can expect to reduce the hair in the area by 80-90%.

Why are multiple treatments necessary?

Hair grows in three different stages (growth, rest, and transition). At the time of your first treatment, some hair follicles will be growing, some will be resting, and some will be transitioning. This is important to note because the laser can only effectively treat hairs that are in the growing phase (also known as the anagen phase). To target every hair in the area, the treatment will need to be repeated 3-6 times, to catch every hair in its anagen phase.

Is there only one type of laser used in laser hair removal?

No, a variety of lasers are used. These different lasers help technicians target different colors of hair, types of hair, and skin sensitivities. For example, the GentleMaxPro is useful in a variety of areas because it’s comfortable and can cover large areas quickly. The CoolGlide Yag works well in sensitive areas, while the DSL can effectively treat light brown, dark blond, and red hair.

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So throw away your razors and cancel that waxing appointment! Laser hair removal is safe, effective, and can be performed in a variety of areas and on a variety of hair types. What more do you need to know? If you’re interested in laser hair removal and you live in Springfield, Missouri, contact DermaHealth. We own four different lasers (the GentleMaxPro, the Prowave, the CoolGlide Yag, and the DSL), which help us target large areas of hair, hair in sensitive areas, and even lighter hair colors like red, dark blond, and light brown. To learn more, please give us a call at 417-447-7777 or click here to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!