Considering Laser Hair Removal Treatment? 3 Things You Need To Know First
Unwanted hair can be a time consuming nuisance. Many people have grown tired of shaving or waxing, and it's easy to see why. The effects of shaving unwanted body hair only last for a few days at best, and you run the risk of cuts, in-grown hairs, and razor rash. Waxing lasts longer, but is still painful, and can be pricey when you consider how often it needs to be done. No wonder many people are turning to laser treatment as a permanent solution. However, there are a few things that you should know before you make your first appointment.
You'll Need Several Sessions
Did you know that not all of the hair on any given part of your body grows at the same time? It's true – hair growth goes in cycles, and different hair follicles can be in different cycles, even if the two follicles are right next to each other. Laser treatments will only affect hairs that are in an active growing cycle at the time of the treatment. That means that you'll need to return several times over a period of time, in order to catch different hairs as they enter an active growing cycle.
If you've been counting on laser treatment as a one-time permanent fix to your unwanted hair issues, this is important information. Laser treatment can be expensive, so make sure you've budgeted for a number of sessions. The good news is that, while the treatment isn't exactly one-time only, it is mostly permanent – usually when you've managed to laser all of the follicles during their active growing cycles, the hair growth does stop completely. Some people may see a few rogue hairs, as there are occasionally hair follicles that are not damaged enough to stop producing hair entirely. If you notice these hairs, you can either return for follow-up laser treatments, or just shave them when they appear.
Let Your Tan Fade
It's perfectly understandable to want to get hair removed before or during the summer season, when you're most likely to be showing skin and you want it to look smooth. It's a good idea to go for the laser treatment before you start hitting the beach, or at least take some time to let your tan fade before getting started.
Laser hear treatment depends on intense light being aimed at your hair follicles. If your skin is already tanned, aiming that intense beam of light at your skin could result in painful burns. It's possible to decrease the intensity of the laser, but when you do that, your treatment won't be as effective. Most reputable doctors and salons that offer laser treatment won't allow you to get a laser hair removal treatment with a tan, nor will they lower the intensity of the laser. They want you to be happy with your treatment and you will not be happy if you're taking care of burns, or if the hair treated by the laser never falls out.
Professional Treatments Beat Home Treatments
Believe it or not, there are home laser hair removal treatments now. The idea behind making at-home laser hair removal treatments available is a good one. It could serve to make treatments available for those who can't afford professionally administered treatments. However, if you can afford the professional treatments, for now, that's the way to go.
The home laser hair removal treatment machines do work, but they may be less effective than what you would get when an experienced professional does your hair removal. They're also more likely to be painful. They're not dangerous, and if you really can't afford to go to a salon or doctor, or you're just really set on home treatment, they can help reduce the amount of unwanted hair. But if you have a choice, you're still better off with a professional hair removal expert and a facility that offers a variety of laser hair removal machines, so that you can be treated with the one that meets your needs best.
Laser hair removal can definitely be right for some people, and it may be right for you. Make an appointment at a hair removal facility for a consultation to find out more about whether laser treatments can meet your needs.