What to Know Before You Get Laser Hair Removal

I’ve been telling myself for years that I’m ready for laser hair removal. Sure, it may be costly and unpleasant, and based on the region of choice, it may entail allowing a stranger to get up and personal with your most sensitive bits. However, as someone who waxes and frequently shaves, imagining an end to the annoyance, time, and ingrown hairs that I encounter made that tired elegance slogan seem like a practical reality.

Clearly said, there’s a lot to talk about when it comes to the societal constructions that surround our aesthetic choices, and I wish to be clear about one thing: body hair is nothing to be embarrassed by. Permanent aesthetic procedures, like a laser, are incredibly personal and are not for everyone. That being said, for me, laser hair removal was not about permanently removing unwanted hair. Instead, it was about streamlining my beauty regimen and keeping my life a little more straightforward.

What Exactly Is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is among the most efficient method to remove unwanted hair from the body and face. According to Dr Szabolcs Papp’s, “laser hair removal works by transmitting light at a precise wavelength that targets melanin, the pigment that colours hair, to a depth sufficient to operate on the hair bulb.” “The desired result, hair removal, is caused by thermal harm to the hair bulb caused by the power in the light being absorbed by the pigment contained there.”

It is critical to speak with a specialist before treatment to establish which wavelength will be utilized depending on skin colour and type. Skin can be burnt if skin colour and laser settings are not adequately accounted for (i.e. focused enough).

The Advantages of Laser Hair Removal:

  • Pulsed light is used by lasers to target, break down, and eliminate the dark pigment in the hair. This explains why it looks so good on black hair. Sadly, this also implies that the lasers will affect skin pigments, which might result in discolouration.
  • Lasers and pulsed light treatments are more effective on those with darker hair and lighter skin tones.
  • Patients with a pale complexion and black hair are the best candidates for laser hair removal. The laser is generally unsuccessful in people with blonde hair since there is little colour present in the hair bulb for it to target, and it relies on this target for its mode of action.
  • Using the wrong sort of equipment and lasers on darker skin tones might result in discolouration.
  • If you have dark skin, you should never have an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment. Those with black complexions are more likely to have unfavourable effects such as persistent hyper or hypopigmentation. This is because more pigment surrounds the hair follicle, which might be accidentally targeted and killed by the laser. This is not to say that people with darker skin tones cannot benefit from painless laser hair removal in Dubai. It merely means that consulting with a board-certified dermatologist is even more vital since the physician must select the correct laser and employ the proper settings to reduce risk.

Lasers have gone a long way, and technology is constantly evolving. When you arrange your consultation, explain your skin tone and hair colour, and ask the clinic what lasers they use (and whether they will deliver outcomes with your hair and skin tone). Some establishments specialize in eradicating light hair or using lasers for deeper skin tones, making it easy to predict what sort of therapy you’d get.

What Should You Expect From Laser Hair Removal?

The beauty-is-pain metaphor may seem a little tired these days, but I can’t lie: I found the procedure to be unsettling. While sessions are brief—no more than 20 minutes for me—my best summary of the treatment is that it feels like you’re being slapped repeatedly by a rubber band. Different regions can hurt considerably, so keep that in mind while discussing the areas where you’ll have the operation done with the expert.

In-Office Vs At-Home:

While at-home hair removal devices are not as successful as in-office procedures, they have come a long way. At-home gadgets function likewise to skilled therapies yet consume less energy. They take more time to use, but they can assist and are a fantastic choice for maintaining gains between expert treatments. The vast majority of at-home hair removal devices do not employ lasers, but rather an Intense Pulse Light (IPL), a light-based technique that targets pigment to damage the hair growth after repetitive sessions.” Since IPL emits a broad spectrum of light instead of a specific wavelength, it is suitable for people of all skin tones.

Consequences:

Sunshine is also prohibited. If a laser is used on a body region that has recently been sunburned, it will be excessively hot on the skin and may cause blistering, hyperpigmentation (dark spots), and scarring. As it may be enticing to absorb the rays, make sure any sunbathing is done at least two weeks first or one week after your therapy. As a result, I’d advocate beginning treatments in the autumn or winter (mainly if you reside in a cold region) so that sun exposure is no longer a worry in the summer.

Aftercare:

Laser hair removal takes around six months on average, with treatments every 4 to 6 weeks. However, it is relatively uncommon to experience some benefits right away. My hair came back considerably sparser than before following my first session. Even so, it takes weeks for the hair to come out and further procedures to altogether remove hair. Shower exfoliation with a sugar wash will assist speed up the process.

Costs:

This hair-zapping treatment can be expensive, and the cost varies based on your location and the region you want fuzz-free. If you’re creating a tiny area like the upper lip, anticipate paying between AED 300 every session, but expect several hundred AED for places like the legs and arms.

The Final Words!

I know it’s apparent. However, I’d like to emphasize that everyone would have a different notion of which method is best for them. There are patterns in men’s laser hair removal, just as in cosmetics and skincare, but what’s hot now may not be what’s best for you. At the same time, Taylor observes that the armpit, bikini, and lower leg appear to be the most commonly treated locations.