How Much Does a Laser Hair Removal Technician Make in the UK?

Shaving and waxing are only two of the many methods used to remove unwanted hair. However, laser hair removal has also gained popularity as a means of de-fuzzing undesired hair; in 2016, it was one of the most often performed non-invasive cosmetic procedures in the United States, as reported by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Going into a doctor’s office to have hairs blasted off your body with a laser is not only painful, but it can also be somewhat terrifying. When you give it any thought, it seems a little insane.

How Much Does a Laser Hair Removal Technician Make in the UK?

Have you been thinking of doing laser hair removal but feel scared it may hurt? Or perhaps you aren’t sure what to expect? We talked to seven women to find out what laser hair removal really feels like. Read below to learn the truth about their personal experiences from the good to the not-so-smooth to the downright hairy, er, scary.

“I’ve actually had laser hair removal a couple of times. The first time was on my neck and sideburns and it was at a spa. I had about six treatments, and the hair mostly came back. I later found out that the lasers at spas (for the most part) are much less effective than the ones in dermatologists’ offices. I recently decided to go back under the laser in a dermatologist’s office. It had been awhile since my first experience, so I didn’t remember what to expect. This time I got my neck, sideburns, upper lip, chin, and bikini line—I went all in. To be honest, it didn’t really hurt, not even on my face! The machine blows some cool air right after the laser so it doesn’t stay hot very long and in my head, I kept saying ‘temporary pain, permanent results’ and it got me through. I’ve had only two treatments so far, and I’ve already seen a much bigger difference than when I went to the spa. I definitely recommend this to anyone who is a good candidate.” —Dana Q., 33

Related: How To Turn Off The Hormones That Cause Hair Thinning
“I went into my first appointment literally shaking. I had been burned both physically and emotionally by waxing so I was apprehensive of laser hair removal. I was pleasantly surprised though. Don’t get me wrong—it still hurt to have hot laser shot at my bikini line, but it definitely wasn’t as painful as I imagined it to be.” —Claudia O., 23

Many of us spend countless hours a year removing unwanted hair from our bodies. We use all kinds of methods to remove hair, like shaving, waxing, and bleaching. Yet, none of these offers a permanent solution and can be painful or even dangerous. If you’re ready to tackle unwanted hair, call Metro Dermatology in Elmhurst, NY to discuss full body laser hair removal.

What Is Full Body Laser Hair Removal?

Laser technology allows professionals to target hair with pulses of light applied to the skin. The light from the laser is absorbed by the pigment of the hair and travels down the shaft to the hair follicle. It’s in the follicle that the light turns to heat.

The heat disrupts and destroys the follicle when it’s in its active growing phase. Once these follicles are destroyed, they can no longer grow hair, and the results are permanent.

Why Do We Have Hair Everywhere?
Before the modern-day, meaning before houses, heat, and clothes, our hair was much thicker and played a vital role in our survival. It acted as a barrier to debris, pests, and other foreign objects from getting to our skin. It also regulated our temperature, keeping us warm in cold weather and hanging on to sweat to cool us in hot weather.

We have hair growing on every part of our bodies except for the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet because these needed to be sensitive so we could sense injury or dangerous conditions.

Now, we don’t need hair everywhere, and we spend a lot of time trying to remove it.

What Is Hair?
Hair is something we all take for granted without really knowing what it is. To understand why full body laser hair removal works, we have to know what makes up our hair. Our hair is made of the protein keratin. The shaft of the hair is the part we can see, and the cells in that part of the hair are no longer alive.

The Follicle
This is where all the action happens. The follicle anchors the hair to the skin. The base of the follicle is known as the hair bulb and this is where cells divide and grow to make the shaft of the hair. Blood vessels nourish the cells here, and hormones are delivered to change our hair’s growth during different phases of our lives.

The color of our hair is determined by our genetics and is created by pigment cells that produce melanin in the follicle. As we age, these pigment cells die and our hair loses its color, turning gray.

Hair’s Growth Cycle
Our hair grows in a four-stage cycle. You’ll notice you lose hair every day. Most of us lose about 100 hairs from our heads daily. Not all of our hair is growing at the same time, which is also why you’ll see that hairs on your head are always at different lengths, which can add to frizz and flyaway hair.

Growing Phase
This is known as the anagen phase and is the active growing phase. This stage in the cycle can last between two and seven years, depending on your genetics. How long this phase lasts will determine the length of your hair.

The growth phase can be different lengths of time depending on the part of your body on which it grows. The longest growth phase is found on our scalps.

Transition Phase
This phase, the catagen phase, is a transitional period that lasts about ten days. This is when the follicle shrinks and detaches from the bulb and moves closer to the surface of the skin.

Resting Phase
The telogen phase of hair growth lasts about three months, and anywhere from 10 to 15% of our hair is in this phase at all times. The old hair is resting closer to the surface of the skin while new hair forms in the bulb of the follicle.

New Hair Phase
The exogen phase is when we shed our old hair as the new hair pushes out of the skin. The new hair then enters its growth phase and the cycle begins again. Most people can see between 50-150 hairs shed each day, and this is considered normal.

At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices That Actually Work

If you’re anything like me, using an at-home hair removal device is equal parts thrilling and terrifying. I find shaving to be a tedious, ingrown-hair fueled mess, but my first foray into the world of permanent hair removal didn’t go well. After spending hundreds of dollars at an esthetician’s office, I found laser hair removal to be not effective enough to justify the pain. Because I’m someone who can easily cosplay as Snow White (pale skin, dark hair, high pain tolerance), I’m the ideal candidate for laser hair removal. But alas, I had to give it up for the sake of my sanity and my wallet.

I thought I was resigned to using a razor forever, but in the interest of science, I tried the Braun IPL Silk Expert Pro device. Not only was it significantly cheaper, less painful, and less humiliating than the salon service, but I actually started to see results quickly. For all of the many methods of body-hair removal out there—from shaving with the best razors to sugaring to waxing and everything else in between—laser hair removal (both professional and at home) is the only strategy that promises more permanent results.

In terms of technology, at-home handheld hair removal devices come in two categories: IPL or a diode laser. A majority of at-home laser hair removal devices rely on IPL—intense pulsated light—therapy, in which tiny beams of light at different wavelengths zap the bulb within each hair follicle. “In essence, it is using heat to destroy the hair follicles,” says dermatologist Dr. Marisa K. Garshick, who mentions that dermatologists also use versions of IPL for photo rejuvenation procedures (a.k.a. fading dark spots). On the flip side, diode laser technology uses one single wavelength of light, which experts say can help minimize damage to the surrounding skin and be used safely on all skin types and shades. The light is selectively absorbed by the pigment, or melanin, within the hair follicle, making it a more targeted (and often more effective) approach to hair removal.

According to dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal, it’s important to note that most at-home devices are “best suited for small to medium hairs in small areas—upper lip, chin, cheeks, bikini, etc.,” he says. “They are typically not meant for large surface areas like the back.” (There are a few exceptions, but we’ll get to that later).

Prices for Laser Hair Removal in Different UK Clinics

ClinicUpper LipsFull FaceUnderarmsArmsBikini LineLegsFull BodyPulse Light Clinic£43.75£74£36.50£75£70£104.63 £182.81 for women and £196.31 for malesBare UK£45£165£80£120£95£245 (includes feet)£542My Laser£31£65£50£100£50£175£119 (only full back)Mayfair Aesthetics  £28£65£30£80£40£95£2080 for women and £2240 for men.The Private Clinic£65£119£86£152£92£303593Laser Clinic£35.98£49.98£9.00£99.98£39.98£129.98£339.98Park Private Clinic £32.50£104£42.50£120£52.50£145£280 (without face)Sk:n Clinics£216.98 (covers half of the face)£299.48£140.80£344.30£166.10£407.55£834.35 for women and £973.88 for malesSkin Perfection London£59£89£79£129£99£169£798Epilium£35£60£60£100 (lower arms only)£55£300 (feet included)£520 (excluding full face)

What to Expect During the Laser Procedure

Visiting a laser clinic for the first time can trigger nervous reactions in some people because they do not know what to expect. Some even erroneously equate it to going under the knife. But laser hair removal is a simple procedure that can last from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the area.If you are visiting a laser clinic for the first time, here are a few things to expect from the procedure.

• Cleaning:the technician must clean the area to remove dirt and oil.Application of Numbing Cream:your technician may apply a numbing cream to numb the area and ensure you do not feel any pain. But you can also tell them to skip the numbing cream if you are okay with the bit of pain you may feel. With this, it may be possible to save costs.Safety Gear:you will be asked to wear goggles to protect your eyes from getting damaged by the laser depending on the body part you present for treatment.Discomfort:this may come in the form of a tingling sensation, a sting, sunburn, or a more painful sensation.A sulphurous-smelling smoke should be expected as the laser destroys the hair follicles.If you are looking forward to treating a larger area, then you should know that you might end up spending a few hours there.