How Do You Know If Laser Hair Removal Is Working
Unwanted hair can be permanently removed with the popular laser hair removal procedure. It functions by burning the hair follicle and stopping it from growing back by using the heat produced by a laser. Every area of the body with undesired hair, such as the arms, legs, back, chest, and face, can be treated with laser hair removal.
And how does it operate? Here is an explanation of how laser hair removal functions and why you have to think about it for your upcoming procedure.
This article provides information for questions such as how long does it take for laser hair removal to work and how do you know if ipl is working.
Despite its wide-spread adoption, many are still asking – how effective is laser hair removal? Like any cosmetic procedure, there are certain things you can do to make your laser hair removal sessions more effective.
1. Take Advantage of the Best Technology
Using cutting-edge technologies is one of the most crucial things you can do to increase the efficiency of your laser hair removal. Over the past few years, a number of improvements have been achieved in laser hair removal. These developments raise both the effectiveness and your degree of comfort. The Soprano XL, for instance, has DualChill technology built-in. So, you won’t use analgesics or cooling gels to maintain your skin’s comfort. This will facilitate the technician’s job and cut the session time.
2. Understand You Will Need Multiple Laser Hair Removal Sessions
One of the biggest misconceptions individuals make is expecting everything to be resolved within their first session. Only hair that is just beginning to grow can be affected by laser hair removal technology. Your hair follicles cycle back and forth between the growing and dormant phases on every region of your body. Hence, no matter how big or tiny the area is, several sessions will be needed. You can only achieve your ideal outcomes by doing this. You will be a lot more pleased with your results after each session if you realize this from the outset.
3. Avoid Removing Hair by the Roots for 6 Weeks Prior to Your Treatment
Many professionals recommend that you avoid removing hair by the roots for at least six weeks prior to your session. This means you should avoid methods such as tweezing and waxing. The better alternative is to either save or use a hair removal cream which is designed to only remove the visible hair above the skin, such as Nair. This will ensure the laser hair removal session targets all of the follicles in the growth phase. It might be surprising to find out how often you pluck or wax and end up breaking the hair off below skin level, yet accidentally leave the follicle behind.
4. Avoid Caffeine for 24 Hours before Your Treatment
While it is not necessary, you may want to avoid caffeine for 24 hours prior to your session. Some people have reported this can reduce the level of pain experienced as well as help you relax.
5. Shave the Day of Your Laser Hair Treatment
It is extremely helpful if you shave the day of or day before, your laser hair removal session. By shaving the excess hair, it will be easier for your technician to find and target your hair follicles. This makes the treatment more effective and also can shorten your session time.
6. If It Hurts – Tell Your Technician
The final tip is always communicate with your technician throughout the process. If it hurts or is uncomfortable let them know. There are a number things they can do to soothe your skin, including lowering the intensity of the laser.
When To See Results From Laser Hair Removal
Most people start to see their hair fall out three to five days after their laser hair removal session. The hair follicles in the targeted areas are damaged with each laser pulse. Once the hair follicles are damaged, they release the hairs they were growing, and they can’t grow any more hairs. The number of sessions required will depend on the person’s skin type, hair color, and thickness.
The darker the hair and the lighter the skin, the fewer sessions will be required. However, you should keep in mind that you will definitely need multiple sessions per targeted area because the laser can only destroy hair follicles in the active growth phase. Unfortunately, hair follicles in the same treatment area are in different stages at the same time. That’s why you need four to six sessions for long-lasting results.
How Often Can I Get Treatment?
Most people schedule their laser hair removal sessions four weeks apart. If you need four treatment sessions to achieve your desired results, it may be 12 weeks and a few days before you can enjoy long-lasting results. On the other hand, if you need 10 sessions to achieve your desired results, it will take roughly 36 weeks and four days to achieve long-lasting results.
Is This Treatment Safe?
Yes, this treatment is incredibly safe for most individuals. It works by targeting the melanin, or pigment, in the hair. The laser light is absorbed by the melanin and converted into heat. This heat damages the hair follicle and inhibits future hair growth. It also causes the burned hair follicle to release the hair it was growing. Since the laser only hones in on highly melanated hair follicles, your surrounding skin tissue will not be affected by the laser.
How Long Does It Take For Laser Hair Removal To Work
You can expect a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after the first treatment.
To remove the hair, most patients need 2 to 6 laser treatments. After finishing the treatments, most patients do not see any hair on the treated skin for several months or even years. When the hair regrows, there tends to be less of it.
How Should I Prepare for My Treatment Session?
To prepare for your hair removal session, you should avoid sun exposure before the treatment. You should also avoid plucking, waxing, and tweezing the hair you want to remove. You should also avoid using any products on the skin that contain retinol or alpha hydroxy acids.
Note, shaving before your scheduled treatment session is a good idea because it helps to remove the top layer of skin. This makes it easier for the laser to target the hair follicles. Shaving also helps to ensure that the laser treatment is more effective. Also, keep in mind that you should try to come in without cosmetics applied to your targeted treatment areas. If you are wearing lotion or makeup, it will be removed before your treatment begins.
How Long Will My Treatment Session Take?
Typically, a treatment session lasts between 15 and 30 minutes. However, a variety of factors, such as the size of the places you are treating and the quantity of areas you are treating, will affect how long your treatment session will last. Your laser therapy session might only last five minutes if your primary objective is to get rid of unwanted hair from a limited area, such as your chin or underarms.
On the other hand, if you aim to remove unwanted hair from your back, chest, upper abdomen, and lower abdomen, your treatment may take closer to an hour. We will advise you on how long you should expect your treatment session to take during your initial consultation. Note, your treatment session may take 10 to 15 minutes longer if you opt for the application of a topical numbing cream prior to your treatment.
What Can I Expect During My Treatment Session?
Before your treatment session begins, we will sterilize the treatment area thoroughly. Also, the treatment area will be shaved if necessary. Additionally, we will inspect the targeted treatment areas for signs of skin irritation. Next, we will apply a topical numbing cream to your targeted areas if you’d like. It doesn’t take long to apply the medication to the skin, but you should keep in mind that it can take 10 to 15 minutes to take effect.
Once your targeted treatment areas are prepared, we will calibrate the wavelength of the laser to target only your actively growing hair follicles. Once the laser is ready, it will emit pulses of light in the treatment area. Once that is complete, we will discuss your post-treatment restrictions with you.
What Should I Avoid After My Treatment Session?
You need to be aware of certain limits after the treatment. Initially, you need to stay out of the sun for a few weeks after the treatment. This is due to the possibility that the laser will enhance skin sensitivity and UV damage. For at least a week following the procedure, you should refrain from using any other hair removal techniques, such as waxing.
In the days following your treatment, it’s crucial that you don’t become dehydrated. To stay hydrated, drink plenty of water. However, in order to meet your hydration requirements, you can also consume other liquids like juice, tea, and coffee. Men should consume roughly 3.7 liters of water each day, according to recommendations. The recommended daily water intake for women is 2.7 liters. For quick effects following your treatment, it’s crucial to minimize dehydration.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Hair Removal Technique?
Using laser therapy to remove unwanted hair is a popular choice. It is incredibly safe for most individuals, including those who have light hair or dark skin. However, it is not right for everyone. For example, this treatment is not recommended for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, this treatment is not recommended for people who cannot stop taking medications that increase photosensitivity.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment if I Just Want To Thin My Hair Out?
Sure, there is a possibility that you will be deemed a suitable candidate for this procedure if your objective is to thin out your hair. For instance, males who detest how frequently they must shave or trim their facial hair are very common in pursuing this hair removal treatment for hair thinning. Women who don’t mind having arm hair but think their arm hair is overly thick because of a severe hormonal imbalance are also known to have hair thinning.
Remember that if all you want to do is thin out the hair in the treatment region, you might be able to get the results you want with just two or three sessions of laser therapy. Consequently, it might only take 4.5 to 8.5 weeks for you to obtain the desired appearance.
How Do You Know If Ipl Is Working
IPL stands for intense pulsed light, and it is a form of light therapy, similar to laser, it is used for various dermatological procedures including long term hair removal. IPL hair removal uses broad spectrum light which targets pigment in the hair and in turn kills the hair growth cells. Laser hair removal works similarly, however it only uses one intense beam of light. The end results of IPL and laser hair removal are very similar, except IPL is much more affordable.
You might have a hormonal imbalance
One of the top reasons why IPL hair removal doesn’t work boils down to hormones. Yes, believe it or not hormonal conditions can lead to ineffective hair removal. Our hormones encourage hair growth with the most common one being testosterone. Males naturally have higher levels of testosterone which is why they’ve more hair, especially facial hair. Women naturally have lower levels of testosterone and a woman’s testosterone levels are controlled by estrogen. This yin and yang type balance prevents women from growing as much facial hair (and other hair for that matter).
However, when a hormonal condition or imbalance strikes it impacts how much hair a female can grow along with its coarseness and the frequency at which it grows. If you’ve tried IPL hair removal many times, followed the instructions down to a T and have an ideal skin tone/hair color then chances are you perhaps have a hormonal imbalance. If so, we advise that you consult your physician.
You didn’t time your treatments correctly
It’s simple, but IPL hair removal effectiveness often boils down to frequency and consistency. If you’re scratching your head wondering “Why didn’t IPL hair removal work for me?” then it’s worth taking a second to work out if you made a mistake along the way.
It’s imperative that you shave (do not wax, see below) and it’s also really important that you stick to your hair removal schedule. We recommend you do one full body treatment per week so results will be visible by week 3 and by week 12 you’ll only need a touch up here and there. Yes, patience is required but so is consistency – stick at it and you will inch closer towards beautiful silky smooth skin.
You waxed before treatments
Believe it or not, this is one of the top reasons why IPL hair removal isn’t successful for people (after those that haven’t checked if their skin tone/hair color is treatable). Yes, you do need to remove the hair before every single laser hair removal treatment but you cannot wax it. If you wax before an IPL hair removal treatment, it’s pointless. It won’t work. And it never will if you keep waxing.
Why? Because the laser needs to identify the pigment to locate and target the hair follicle to encourage targeted hair loss. Waxing removes the entire hair and follicle so no pigment can be found by an IPL hair removal handset; which in turn renders the treatment useless.
Make sure you put the hot wax down and pick up a shaver next time.
Your hair color and/or skin tone isn’t treatable
It’s really important you check and see if your natural hair color and skin tone suits the laser hair removal process. Unfortunately, it won’t work for everyone and the same goes for laser hair removal in a clinic too. If this is the case, we recommend our powerful RoseSkinCo 4D Shaver for your closest shave yet. Yes, it’s not the same as IPL or laser hair removal but it’s without a doubt the next best thing.