How Effective is Laser Hair Removal?
By Aaliyah Albo
Did you know that if you shave roughly three times per week, the number of shaving sessions you do adds up to a whopping number of 3,900 sessions over the course of 25 years? And if your hair happens to grow back faster than the average Joe, that number is even higher. That is a lot of time spent shaving if you ask us!
However, for many, traditional methods of hair removal like shaving and waxing are necessary to achieve silky-smooth velvety skin--until now.
Gone are the days of painful ingrown hairs, razor bumps, wax burns, and infinite plucking. Today, there is a much more effective way to achieve flawlessly smooth, hair-free skin that most people only dream of. Can you guess what that might be? If you said laser hair removal, you are correct!
Laser hair removal is a medical procedure typically done by a dermatologist that uses a concentrated beam of light (laser) to remove unwanted hair, even in the most sensitive places like the underarms, bikini line, and even the upper lip.
But, how effective is this popular hair removal method, really? Let's find out!
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal is an effective treatment that eliminates unwanted hairs. It utilizes state-of-the-art light technology to target the hair follicles deep within the skin, where other methods like waxing and shaving can't reach. Hair follicles are the sole culprit behind the production of unwanted hair. By altering them with laser hair removal, you can achieve baby-smooth, hairless skin.
It works by emitting a highly focused beam of light in short pulses. The lasers are color sensitive, making the laser light attracted to the melanin pigment in your hair. Melanin is a natural skin pigment that is responsible for providing color to your eyes, hair, and skin. When the hair absorbs the light, it immediately converts to heat, which then alters the hair follicle, generally stopping or at least minimizing the growth cycle. Two to three days after your laser hair removal session, the hair will begin to fall out in the treated area, and the follicle won't be able to produce new hair.
Who is an ideal candidate for this laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal is generally safe for people of all skin types and skin colors. Both women and men can appreciate the benefits that it has to offer. However, since the laser's light is attracted to pigment, laser hair removal is most effective when there is a contrast between the color of your hair and the shade of your skin. So, this means treatment works best for those with dark hair and fair skin.
Do you have dark skin or blonde hair and want permanent hair removal? Although this kind of treatment works best on the darkest, most visible hairs and light to fair skin, laser hair removal has come a long way since its creation in the 1960s. Today, there are many different lasers that can help people of all shades and skin tones, and can even be safe for those who have seen a little too much sun exposure of the years.
What kind of lasers are used, and does the type really matter?
There are four lasers that are primarily used for laser hair removal treatment:
Ruby Laser Hair Removal
In a world that is constantly evolving, Rubies can be considered relatively old, having been in use for laser hair removal treatment for quite some time now. This type of laser produces a very small beam of light that is ideal for people with dark coarse hair and light skin.
Since the beam of light on this laser is smaller, sessions are oftentimes longer, with more pulses of light targeting the treatment site. Lasers like the Ruby are becoming less popular in the beauty industry with the rise of newer, more effective laser innovations.
Some of the best advantages of the Ruby laser include:
- Long term hair removal can be achieved
- If hair does grow back, it tends to be finer and less noticeable
- Compared to other lasers, this laser is generally pain-free
- Built-in cooling equipment to minimize the chance of burns and swelling
Some of the disadvantages of the Ruby laser include:
- Can't be used on dark or even tanned skin or on white or blonde hair
- The Ruby laser has a slow repetition rate which may increase the duration of the treatment
- There are a few risks for side effects like scars, redness, burns, and swelling.
Alexandrite Laser Hair Removal
The Alexandrite laser produces a much longer beam of light than that of the Ruby laser, so it requires fewer pulses during a session, which comes with the benefit of lessening patient discomfort. In addition, this powerful laser has the ability to effectively remove hair on people with a wide range of hair color and skin tone combinations!
Some of the best advantages of the Alexandrite laser include:
- Very good skin penetration
- Known to be effective on fine and thinner hairs that are much tricker for other lasers to handle
- Extremely effective on light to fair skin tones
Some of the disadvantages of the Alexandrite laser include:
- The laser may cause pigment changes in the skin
ND:YAG Laser Hair Removal
This laser is one of the most innovative lasers available on the market today. It has the ability to distinguish between pigmentation and subtleties, effectively removing hair on any skin tone.
Some of the best advantages of the ND:YAG laser include:
- Works on almost all skin types, including darker skin complexions and tanned skin
- Laser of choice for darkly pigmented skin
- Larger body areas can be treated quickly
Some of the disadvantages of the ND:YAG laser include:
- Not that effective on white or light hair colors
- The laser may be more painful than others
- Has the potential to cause blistering
Diode Laser Hair Removal
Commonly referred to as the "Mercedes Benz" in the world of laser hair removal, the Diode laser offers a gentler touch, removing hair while also protecting the skin. This ensures you experience very minimal to no damage surrounding the tissue making this laser superior to the rest!
Some of the best advantages of the Diode laser include:
- This super laser features a longer wavelength, so it is able to provide better results among people with darker skin
- Provides a very deep and safe penetration into the layer of the skin to destroy hair follicles
Some of the disadvantages of the Diode laser include:
- There may be some temporary burns, scars, swelling, and redness following treatment
If you are unsure which laser is right for you, don't panic - the doctor or technician performing your laser hair removal treatment is a dermatology expert and will be able to assess your specific and unique skin type to pair you with the right laser to achieve beautiful, smooth, skin -- free of hair.
Okay, but how effective is laser hair removal, really?
If you are going to spend the time to get laser hair removal, obviously you are going to want to know how effective it will be, right?
As much as people like to believe it is 100% permanent, the truth is that this is not always the case. Now, it is important to keep in mind that everyone is different, so results tend to vary, but the truth is that treatment is only capable of providing 90-95% long-lasting hair reduction.
The good news is that when you do experience a little bit of hair growth down the road following treatment, hair grows back very fine and is quite sparse. For the best results, occasional maintenance sessions are a good idea to help ensure the hair follicles don't regenerate. Depending on your specific and unique individual needs, you may need a touch-up session once or twice a year after completing the initial round of laser treatment.
Can I buy a home laser device and just do it myself?
Great question. Home laser hair removal devices and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) has gained widespread popularity over the years for the many benefits it affords the user. However, not all products are created equal.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so it's of the utmost importance that you do everything in your power to take care of it--this means using top-quality products to achieve top-notch results. If you want hair-free skin from the comfort of your home, we highly suggest purchasing from an honest and reputable company with a true passion for providing safe and effective unwanted hair removal, like KENZZI.
KENZZI offers the worlds #1 at home IPL handset that not only aims to remove unwanted hair, but it may also help to slow down the aging process by reducing wrinkles and perfects the skin tone by combating blemishes.
The Bottom Line
Although laser hair removal isn't exactly 100% permanent, it's still without a doubt superior to having to deal with dull razors and sticky wax strips! If you want to avoid making an appointment at the clinic for treatment, try an at-home IPL device like The KENZZI IPL Hair Removal Handset. With KENZZI, you can get professional laser hair removal results, all from the comfort of your very own home, to effectively remove unwanted face and body hair.
If you want oh-so-silky skin without a hair in sight, professional laser hair removal or The KENZZI IPL handset can help!
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