Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?
By Aaliyah Albo
Picture a life where you never have to deal with unwanted body hair ever again. No more dull razors, no more messy wax strips, and no more lousy tweezers. Just effortlessly perfect hair-free skin, day after day, month after month. If this sounds like it's too good to be true, then you're in luck because with laser hair removal treatment, this could be your life!
Everyone wants silky-smooth hair-free skin - unless body hair is your thing, of course, but for most of us, dealing with unwanted body hair and stubble is a pain. Not to mention the ingrown hairs, razor bumps, and wax burns that are usually associated with traditional hair removal practices like shaving, waxing, and sugaring - yikes!
The good news is that laser hair removal treatment can help - but is it permanent?
Let’s find out!
What is Laser Hair Removal Treatment
Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that uses a concentrated beam of light (laser) to remove unwanted hair. During treatment, a laser emits a powerful light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) within the hair. This light energy is then converted into heat, which is used to destroy the hair follicle.
By targeting the hair follicles, hair production can either be significantly delayed or stopped altogether. When compared to other popular hair removal strategies like waxing and shaving, laser hair removal treatment produces the longest-lasting results.
Okay, but are the results permanent?
In short, no. Treatment for laser hair removal works by heating the hair follicles to prevent the new hairs from growing. This puts the hair follicles in a state of dormancy for a long period of time - much longer than with waxing and shaving. When the hairs do grow back, they will be much lighter, finer, and fewer in number.
Although treatment is often touted as a form of “permanent” hair removal, the procedure only reduces the amount of unwanted hairs in a given area. It doesn’t get rid of unwanted hair completely.
In fact, once you complete your initial round of laser treatment, maintenance sessions are typically required for long-lasting hair removal. These help to ensure that the hair follicles don’t regenerate. Depending on your specific individual needs, you may need a maintenance session once or twice per year.
How Many Laser Hair Removal Treatments are Needed?
There are many different variables that will affect the number of laser hair removal sessions you will need to achieve your desired look. Laser hair removal is most effective and best suited for individuals with dark, coarse hair and light to fair skin because dark hair absorbs light much better, allowing each laser movement to be more efficient.
However, if you have light hair and want to get rid of unwanted body hair, don’t fret because technology has come a long way, and there are now lasers that can treat all hair colors.
The area you are targeting and the density of hair follicles will also affect the number of sessions that you will need. Laser treatments can be performed on just about any area of the body except the eyes and surrounding areas. The most commonly treated areas include:
- Chest
- Back
- Bikini line
- Chin
- Upper lip
- Legs
While this tends to vary by person, generally, it is recommended that you start with four to six treatments in order to make sure each hair follicle in the desired targeted area is effectively treated. If after all of your treatments you don't get the results you wanted, the hair removal specialist will review further options with you to ensure you get the hair-free results you are looking for.
Does Laser Hair Removal Hurt?
Everyone is unique and perceives pain differently. Your pain tolerance will determine how much a laser hurts you, but generally, the pain feels more like a warm pinprick.
In fact, most people who have had the procedure done will tell you the pain falls somewhere between shaving, which is virtually painless, and waxing, which hurts like hell. So, if you’ve ever had your hair ripped from some of the most delicate areas of your body with hot wax, chances are that laser hair removal treatment will be a walk in the park for you.
Here are a handful of our best tips that can help make your treatment less painful:
Prepare your body. Preparing your body before your appointment is essential. It can help you to reduce the amount of stress that you may feel and relax before and during the session. One way you can prepare your body is by getting plenty of rest the night before the procedure. Sleep regulates your body’s pain sensors, which can help with how much pain you feel during the treatment.
Another way to prepare is by shaving the treated area as best as possible before going in for treatment. Having visible hair can get singed by the laser, which can leave burns on your skin.
Lastly, be sure to avoid scheduling any laser session before or during your period, because it can make your body’s pain receptors much more active.
Take a pain reliever. If you have a low pain tolerance level, taking a pain reliever 30 minutes before your treatment will help to ease some of the discomfort felt by the laser. Ask your medical provider what the best over-the-counter pain reliever might be for you or maybe try a numbing cream. An ice pack or cool compress can genuinely do wonders for any irritation you may feel, as well.
Stay hydrated. Try to drink about a gallon of water on the day of your laser hair removal treatment. If you’re scheduled for early in the morning, drink H2O before bed and right when you wake up. Staying hydrated is always important, and believe it or not, recent research has found that dehydration can make you more sensitive to pain. Try to avoid your morning cup of Joe before your laser hair removal session because caffeine is a natural diuretic which can leave you dehydrated. Hydration is key for pain-free laser hair removal treatment!
Properly care for the area. After your session, you should make sure to properly care for the area that received treatment. Take it easy for the next day or two and try to wear loose-fitting clothing to prevent irritating the area. When exercising or working out, keep in mind that the area should remain free of any sweat, dry, and clean, especially in areas such as the bikini line and underarms. Be sure never to scratch the area that was treated because it can cause further irritation.
A Final Thought
Laser hair removal treatment is an exceptional way to combat unwanted body hair. Although it might not be permanent, the results last much longer than other methods of hair removal like shaving and waxing.
Laser hair removal treatment has come a long way since its evolution in the late 1960s, and there are now at-home laser devices to achieve silky-smooth hair-free skin from the comfort of your very own bathroom.
KENZZI offers the world’s #1 at home IPL handset that aims to remove frustrating and undesirable hair, slow the aging process by reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and perfect the skin tone by treating pesky blemishes. In addition, multiple uses of this revolutionary device also increase collagen production in the skin, leaving you glowing from the inside out!
If you're looking to ditch your razor and trash those sticky wax strips, look no further because laser hair removal treatment can help!
Whether you go for an in-office visit to get professionally lasered or purchase an awesome at-home device like the KENZZI IPL Hair Removal Handset, beautiful hair-free skin is just a session away.
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