Top 7 Benefits Of Laser Hair Removal [Ultimate Guide] (2024)

Laser hair removal is a very successful method of long-term hair reduction. It is a safe method used bythousandsof people to remove and slow unwanted hair growth. It is important to understand the benefits and downsides of using laser hair removal.

Table Of Contents

  • 1 What Are The Advantages Of Laser Hair Removal?
    • 1.1 Minimal Side Effects
    • 1.2 Cost Effective
    • 1.3 No Ingrown Hairs
    • 1.4 No Waiting For Hair Growth
    • 1.5 Precise
    • 1.6 Fast
    • 1.7 Effective
  • 2 What Are The Disadvantages Of Laser Hair Removal Treatment?
    • 2.1 Upfront Expense
    • 2.2 It Takes Time
    • 2.3 Potential For Short-Term Changes In Pigment
    • 2.4 No Tanning Before Or After Treatment
    • 2.5 Not Suitable For Everyone/Where
  • 3 What Are The Side Effects Of Laser Hair Removal?
    • 3.1 Does It Cause Infertility?
    • 3.2 Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?
  • 4 Will Hair Grow Back After Laser Hair Removal
  • 5 Is Laser Hair Removal Safe For The Face?
  • 6 Laser Treatment For Hair Removal Cost
    • 6.1 Salon Laser Hair Removal Cost
    • 6.2 At Home Laser Hair Removal Cost
  • 7 Benefits Of Laser Hair Removal Or Waxing
  • 8 Using Laser Hair Removal For The Underarms
  • 9 Conclusion

What Are The Advantages Of Laser Hair Removal?

Minimal Side Effects

There are only a few minor side effects of laser hair removal, and those which do occur tend not to last more than a few days.

How Does IPL Laser Work? Click here to find out.

Cost Effective

Once you begin your journey with laser hair removal, you will no longer need to spend your money on regular expensive wax treatments, depilatory creams, razors or other methods of hair removal. It may be more cost up front, but over your life, you will save a huge amount by no longer having to spend on these procedures. What Is IPL Facial Treatment? Click here to find out. You will also save yourself a great deal of time that would otherwise be spent shaving or waxing.

How Long Does It Take To See Results From IPL Hair Removal? Read our article to find out.

No Ingrown Hairs

Unlike waxing, threading and epilating, you will not have to put up with painful and unsightly ingrown hairs. Neither will you have to tolerate razor burns or irritation. Laser hair removal can even improve ingrown hairs.

What To Do After IPL Treatment? Click here to read more.

No Waiting For Hair Growth

You don’t need surface hair for a laser hair removal treatment. In fact, you are encouraged to shave soon before your session to prevent you scorching any of the surface hair. This means that while you are waiting for the laser hair removal to work, you can remain fuzz-free, unlike with waxing and other hair removal methods where you must have long enough surface hair before a session.

Precise

Laser hair removal specifically targets hairs right down at the follicle. This is a particular benefit over intense pulsed light (IPL) hair removal as the use of the laser makes it more suited to treating people with dark skin tones. The precision also means you should get results sooner.

Fast

Most patients can achieve permanent hair loss within 3 and 7 sessions, so laser hair removal is very successful.

Effective

Most patients can achieve permanent hair loss within 3 and 7 sessions, so laser hair removal is very successful.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Laser Hair Removal Treatment?

Top 7 Benefits Of Laser Hair Removal [Ultimate Guide] (1)

Upfront Expense

Laser hair removal comes at a price. Clinics can charge very high prices, especially when compared to other forms of hair removal such as waxing, however, in the long run, you will save money. However, you can also find much cheaper alternatives, for example by buying an at-home laser hair removal device. These cost a fraction of the price of the salon treatment, yet have the same technology, so they get the same results.

It Takes Time

You won’t see overnight results. The hairs will gradually fall out as they die in the weeks after the treatment session and it may take a few sessions before you notice results. At least in the mean-time though, you can continue to shave until it takes effect!

Potential For Short-Term Changes In Pigment

Exposure to the light may result in the treated skin changing color temporarily. However, this will usually resolve quickly.

No Tanning Before Or After Treatment

Before you have a laser hair removal treatment, it is important to make sure you have not got a tan. This means both a natural tan from sunlight and fake tan from a bottle.

Not Suitable For Everyone/Where

For example, you should not treat your eyebrows, genitals or men’s facial hair with laser hair removal. You may also find it is not effective on fine, peach fuzz hair. Those with dark hair against fair skin will notice the best results, and fairer hair will probably require you to have more sessions, but you can still get great results with the right equipment.

Is It Safe To Perform IPL When Pregnant? Click here to find out.

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What Are The Side Effects Of Laser Hair Removal?

A huge benefit of laser hair removal is that the side effects are minimal. You may encounter some discomfort during the procedure while the hairs are literally being zapped, which may prickle, but it should not hurt.

After the laser hair treatment, your skin may show signs of irritation. This may be in the form of redness, swelling, itching or tingling. This is normal and should subside within a few hours, just like other hair removal methods. You may notice some slight alterations to the pigment of the skin – it may get marginally lighter or darker, but this is usually only temporary. After your laser hair removal, your skin may feel delicate to touch and will be more sensitive to light. This is easily solved by ensuring you cover it with adequate sun protection.

Some rare side effects of laser hair removal are blistering, crusting or scarring. These are more likely to happen if you over-treat your skin by going over an area more than once. If they do occur, make sure to keep them clean to prevent infection.

Overall, most people find they recover from laser hair removal very quickly with minimal side effects and no complications. The recovery period is so short that you could even have a session during your lunch break and return to work with no issues.

Does It Cause Infertility?

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No, laser hair removal does not cause infertility.

If you are planning to have laser hair removal on your bikini line, you may be concerned about it affecting your fertility. Laser hair removal cannot cause infertility or affect the ovaries because it does not go deep enough through the body tissues to be able to reach them. The laser is controlled so that it only targets the hair follicle and it cannot pass through the abdominal wall which is strong and thick due to the presence of muscle.

In addition, the beam from the laser is made up of light energy. Light energy cannot break molecules apart and therefore cannot affect the DNA or cells. This is because it is not a form of ionizing radiation like x-rays are, which can pass through the body and affect cells on a molecular level.

However, if you are pregnant or trying for a baby, it is best to delay your laser hair treatment until after you have had the baby and finished breastfeeding as there has not been enough research into laser hair removal during pregnancy.

Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?

No, laser hair removal is not painful. You may encounter some discomfort throughout the procedure – this has been described by many as feeling as though a rubber band is being snapped against your skin, but you should not find it painful.

Will Hair Grow Back After Laser Hair Removal

IPL and laser hair removal are forms of long-term hair reduction. While they can result in the inhibition of hair growth, results won’t necessarily be permanent, and you may need an occasional maintenance session to keep on top of it. However, many people have found both IPL and laser hair removal to be very successful, finding hair growth reduced by up to 80% and the hair that does grow is often thinner, slower and less noticeable. There are some differences between the two, so you may like toread moreabout how they compare.

Is Laser Hair Removal Safe For The Face?

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Laser hair removal is safe for use on women’s faces and can be very successful. Many women who suffer frompolycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) turn to laser hair removal as a solution for the induced hirsutism with great results. Laser hair removal can be used for the treatment of the face below the cheek line, for example, the upper lip and chin.

However, laser hair removal should not be used to treat areas that are particularly close to the eyes, which are very sensitive. For this reason, you should not use laser hair removal to treat eyebrows. No matter which area of the body you are treating, you should always wear adequate eye protection and never stare directly into the beam.

Laser hair removal, however, is not suitable for any scalp hair or men’s facial hair as the hair in these areas is too dense and could result in burns. All other areas of the body are suited to laser hair removal, however, other than the genitals.

Laser Treatment For Hair Removal Cost

Just as different salons charge wildly different prices for waxing, costs of in-office laser hair removal can vary dramatically. On the other hand, if you are looking for a cheaper option without compromising on the results, you can try using an at-home laser hair removal device.

Salon Laser Hair Removal Cost

The cost of laser hair removal depends greatly on what, where and how often you require a treatment session. Dermatology clinics and skincare salons can charge a very high price. An example would be a popular American salon which charges $1050 for a series of 8 treatments on a female underarm, or $1400 for 8 sessions on the full bikini. For men, the same clinic offers 8 sessions on the chest for $2450.

At Home Laser Hair Removal Cost

In comparison, you can buy at-home laser hair removal devices for less than $500. These are safe to use on all areas of the body which can be treated by laser hair removal in a salon, and they are developed using the same science, so they still achieve fantastic results. By choosing to purchase an at-home laser hair removal machine you can treat yourself in your own home at a time that suits you. It also saves you exposing personal areas of your body to salon technicians if you are shy.

Benefits Of Laser Hair Removal Or Waxing

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In comparison to laser hair removal, waxing is a short-term solution for getting rid of unwanted body hair. You will get immediate results, although you will likely experience some discomfort during the procedure. Effects can last for several weeks and some people find that hair grows back thinner. However, there are a number of side effects associated with waxing. People with sensitive skin often find that irritation can occur and last a few days or even a week, with some areas that have thicker hairs being prone to bruising. Waxing can also result in painfulingrown hairswhich are difficult to treat.

In comparison with waxing, laser hair removal has many benefits, including results that are a long-term and minimal irritation. Laser hair removal does not result in ingrown hairs either.

Using Laser Hair Removal For The Underarms

Using laser hair removal on the underarms is perfectly safe. You may find that it is a more sensitive area to treat as the skin is more delicate than on the legs. It may not be suitable for you if you have a contraceptive implant in your arm, so it is best to check with your doctor first.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many benefits to laser hair removal. If you would like to find out more information about laser treatment for hair removal, check out ourreviewsof at-home laser hair removal kits.

About the Author: Amy Tribe

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I discovered my passion for research when studying for my degree in Medical Imaging. Once graduated, I worked as a Diagnostic Radiographer and as a member of the hospital’s gastrointestinal imaging research team. I love learning about new technologies, particularly in the beauty field, and enjoy writing about how they can benefit our well-being. View my: Bio, Research Gate, LinkedIn & Twitter profiles.

View all post by Amy Tribe | Website

Top 7 Benefits Of Laser Hair Removal [Ultimate Guide] (2024)

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