Laser Hair Removal: The Pros and Cons

There are quite a few options for removing hair from unwanted places, but laser removal is definitely one of the better and more long-lasting solutions. Lasers work by detecting and burning the pigment cells located within each hair follicle. There is no doubt that in the hands of an expert, the hair removal technique is fast and long-lasting, with a lot less pain than waxing. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean there are no cons of the technique at all. To help you make an informed decision, here are all the pros and cons of laser hair removal that everyone should know before deciding on it.

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It Reduces Hair Growth Significantly

Unlike electrolysis, which brings about permanent hair removal, laser hair removal is not permanent in the true sense of the word, but it does reduce the growth of hair in the region significantly after just a few sessions. Once a number of sessions have been carried out though, the person in question may never need to shave that region again.

Laser Hair Removal is Versatile

Almost every other form of hair removal is limited in its scope for application, but lasers can be used to remove hair from just about anywhere, including the face, underarms and even the genitalia. It is versatile because the method is a lot less painful than most other processes of hair removal and when used properly, it doesn’t leave any long-lasting or adverse side-effects. Aside from that, the pinpoint precision offered by laser in such operations is also unmatched.

Reduced Pain

While laser hair removal is not painless, it isn’t nearly as agonizing as waxing is and that’s a huge point in its favor. Usually, ice is the only thing that’s necessary to control the sting associated with the process, so expect your technician to apply a lot of ice, both before and after the session. People with extra-sensitive skin may need a numbing gel though, but that’s generally not required. The best part is that the pain begins to diminish in intensity after each session.

Reduced Expenses

As mentioned earlier, laser treatments greatly reduce the growth of hair and may eventually thin out the strands or slow their growth down to a crawl. Hair growth decreases, and over time, it could even eliminate the need to wax or shave completely, saving you a lot of money down the line. After all, waxing sessions are just as expensive as they are painful! Razors and other shaving equipment will become useless or at least, much less useful than before as well, adding further to your savings, as opposed to just a few laser hair removal sessions.

Ingrown Strands are Not an Issue with Laser Treatments

Ingrown hair strands are painful and look ugly at the same time, but they are often the unavoidable side-effect of threading, epilating and even waxing. When a laser is used to get rid of unwanted hair, ingrown hair is never a side-effect that you need to worry about and that’s a major advantage of the procedure. As it happens, ingrown hair issues might actually be eliminated through laser treatment.

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Shaving Before the Procedure is Not a Problem, But Encouraged

Laser procedures do not depend on the surface hair’s length because it tracks the pigment within the follicle itself and administers accordingly to burn it down to the roots. Therefore, if someone is going in for a session of facial hair removal, they should shave beforehand to make the sessions more effective and shorter. It’s a big relief for women who want to get rid of facial hair but would rather not go out in public with a beard!

It Does Hurt a Bit

Generally, it shouldn’t hurt all that much, but when the technician involved is not good enough or experienced enough, it might hurt, burn, and scar more than it should, which is a risk with laser hair removal. The good news is that you can eliminate this risk by being clever in your selection. Instead of just rushing into the first clinic you see. Do your research on the laser hair removal clinics  or the city of your choice and go through the reviews before choosing a place. If a customer did not have a good experience at the clinic, rest assured that he/she will be sure to mention it in the user review section.

Laser Treatments are More Suited to People of Lighter Skin Tones

This is not to say that only light-skinned people can go through laser treatment successfully because that is far from the truth. Having said that, it’s also true that the contrast in between the skin tone and the hair color has to be prominent enough, or the laser may struggle to differentiate between the skin and the hair. In such situations, you need to find a clinic that is equipped with a Nd:YAG laser or something similar that’s capable making the distinction. Ideally, people with light-skin and dark hair make the best candidates for laser hair treatments.

It Takes Time

The sessions themselves do not take much time at all but the time lapse in between two sessions can be as long as six weeks or more. Also, if the body surface in question is particularly wide and dense in hair follicles, it may take anything between three to eight sessions to see significant results. The six-week gap can be considered as a good thing really, given that the sessions can be quite expensive also, depending on the clinic and the particulars of the treatment necessary.

As should be obvious by now, there aren’t too many cons to hold against laser removal, as long as you do your research about the clinic before going in. It’s safer, less painful, and even profitable in the long run, as compared to most other conventional methods of hair removal. One can argue that it takes a few months to show results, but once it does begin to show results, they are still better than going through painful and abrasive processes like waxing every month for years on end.