Laser Hair Removal is a rapid, yet gentle and pain-free way of removing unwanted hair effectively with long-lasting results. It also offers an effective solution to ingrown hairs with no more irritated skin and red bumps! Almost all parts of the body can be treated; the most common areas for women are the face, neck, bikini line, under arms, arms and legs.
The hair cycle has three stages. First is the Anagen phase which is the growth stage. This is followed by the Catagon phase (the transitional stage) and finally the Telogen phase (the resting stage). At any one time 85% of our hair is in the Anagen phase and it is this growth phase that is sensitive to laser treatment.
As each hair will be in a different part of the cycle, on average between 10-20% of the hairs will be affected with each treatment and then every 6-8 weeks the treatment should be repeated to target the next cycle of hairs. I usually advise that you will start to see results after the third treatment and then after 6 treatments you can expect to see around 90% reduction in hair. Results will vary depending on hair type as well as site, colour, phase of hair growth, hormonal influences and natural skin colour amongst other variables.
For the reasons above, how many treatments an individual will need is dependent on the individual’s response. You will be assessed carefully and depending on these variables give a more accurate view of likely overall response, treatment intervals and number of laser sessions required.
There is very little if any recovery time for Laser Hair Removal. For up to a week after your treatment direct sun exposure should be avoided and it is recommended to use sun block on exposed areas. It takes 14-20 days for the hairs to fall out following treatment and you can aid this process by exfoliating. In between Laser Hair Removal treatments it is fine to shave the area, however it is advised against waxing as this can disrupt the hair growth cycle and make subsequent treatments less effective. Gradually you will notice the hair start to shed in the treated area, it will continue to grow as you progress through your course though this will noticeably reduce the more treatments you have.