Hey guys!
We’re back and talking about the myths and realities of laser hair removal! As with anything, there is a ton of misinformation out there about laser but I’m here to clear a few things up for you!
I’ve heard it’s painless.
I hate to break it to you, but it’s not. I’ve written about this a few times, but laser does have a certain degree of pain. Obviously some parts will be more sensitive than others, and everyone has different pain tolerance levels. Some will find it extremely painful while others will find it more uncomfortable than anything.
The overall consensus we hear from clients is that it is uncomfortable but managable.
I won’t need all 6 sessions.
For whatever reason many people seem to think that they only need to have 1 or 2 sessions. I’m not sure if it’s because they feel like their hair is too sparse, or because they think they fall into the perfect candidate category. Regardless, most (like 95%+) people will need at least 6 sessions, if not more.
Our hair grows in different cycles, which means that not all of your hair will be in the active growing phase required for the laser to be effective. Any hair not in this phase will not be affected by the laser. The only way to ensure those hairs get zapped is to come once every 4-8 weeks (depending on the body part) to ensure you get all the hairs in the active growth phase.
All lasers are the same, so I’ll just get a Groupon for the best deal.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this. As with anything, if the deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is. It’s important to remember that companies can market IPL (Intensive Pulsed Light) machines as Laser. When it comes down to it though, IPL is not nearly as effective as a diode laser.
Before you spend your hard earned cash, ask the salon/clinic what the name of their machine is and do some research on your own. IPL machines use an intense pulsed light to help reduce hair growth. The light is scattered over the surface of the skin whereas diode lasers target the hairs and send concentrated light into the follicle of the hair. This usually means people require many more sessions of IPL than Laser and often isn’t nearly as effective.
I have a darker skin tone, I guess Laser won’t really work for me.
The laser that we use at BE is great for people with all skin tones! That being said, if your skin tone is on the darker end of the spectrum you will need more than the 6 sessions included in the package. We know this, so we will prorate your single session price based on the amount you paid for the package (you need to purchase a package initially to get this deal).
The reason you may need more sessions is because the laser targets the pigment in the hair. So if both the skin and hair are dark, it’s more difficult for the laser to find the hair against the skin. This doesn’t mean it won’t be effective, it just means you’re going to need a few more sessions.
Once the hair is gone, I won’t ever need laser again!
Well, not necessarily. Hormonal changes can cause some hair to come back. But don’t worry - this is totally normal! We do offer touch ups (if you buy a package, you get 2 touch ups for free) for these sorts of situations. There isn’t any sort of timeframe we can give you for when you need to come in for a touch up, but once you’re satisfied with your results, you can come in whenever you notice you have some darker hairs starting to come back.
And that covers most of what we hear at the salon. If this didn’t cover any of your questions, don’t hesitate to reach out! We would be happy to answer any questions or further explain anything you’re still confused about.