Does Laser Hair Removal Hurt?

It’s a hair removal treatment that can permanently reduce your hair regrowing by up to 80%, making managing unwanted hair so much easier, but does it hurt? This is one of the most common questions we get asked about our laser hair removal sessions.

A laser hair removal device is used to damage your hair follicles. That’s essentially what happens. Hair follicles, which are in their active phase, that’s to say they have active hair growing out of them, higher than the skin surface, are heated to such a degree that they are rendered inactive and incapable of producing more hair.

Because the treatment only works effectively on hair follicles in the active phase, and only so many follicles are in the active phase at once, a number of sessions will be needed to damage the maximum number of hair follicles. We’ll talk more to you about the results you can hope to achieve when we meet you in person.

A consultation with our practitioners is necessary ahead of your laser hair removal treatment because we’ll need to assess your hair colour and skin type with a view to ensuring you’re a suitable candidate. Some hair colours respond better to this treatment than others.

How does it feel?

Although it doesn’t hurt and there’s no need for anaesthetic beforehand, the treatment can be deemed uncomfortable at times. Many have likened it to having elastic bands twanged on the skin. Afterwards you may experience some redness, possible swelling and skin sensitivity in this area. Your practitioner will give you advice on what to avoid rubbing into your skin immediately afterwards and for how long. There’s no downtime though and should be no long term adverse effects, apart from obviously, a significant loss of hair in your target areas.

You’ll also be given an idea of how soon you can book your next session. Bear in mind that if you’re hoping to be substantially more hair free by the Summer, or in time for a particular event, it’s essential  that you book your sessions in advance.

Which areas can be treated?

Large, expansive areas of skin can be made hair-free through laser hair removal, such as the back, the legs and the abdomen, just as easily as smaller areas. The armpits and certain small areas of the face are popular with this type of laser treatment. They take less time to cover with the laser hair removal device, but given their often prominent positioning (particularly with unwanted facial hair) make a huge difference to how you feel about your body. You should expect a boost to your confidence.

How long do the results last?

The results are permanent. Unlike waxing, shaving, sugaring, or any similar hair removal method, laser treatment will prevent the hairs from ever growing back. You need to be sure you won’t want hairy legs or armpits again when you embark on this treatment, although this is not a difficult decision for most people to make.

Laser hair removal treatment has an excellent safety record. If you’d like to find out whether it could provide you personally with effective results, then please get in touch to book your consultation today.