What You Need to Know Before Getting Laser Hair Removal

Getting laser hair removal was an investment, but let me tell you — it was well worth it.

After getting Brazilian waxes for almost two years, the visits started to add up and it felt like I was throwing money away at each visit.  I’d spend over $30 a wax (vs $60+, thanks to a package deal) and 2.5 weeks would fly by and my hair would start to grow back.  What a waste!  I knew I wanted to be hairless 24/7 and honestly, I was totally okay with permanent hair removal.

I tried at-home laser hair removal, but realized it was not for me.  My pain tolerance was too low for me to pull the trigger on the laser gun.  Plus, I realized later that I was too tan for the machine to detect my hair.  I jumped from salon to salon trying to find the right one that I felt comfortable with and it took me about a year to settle on a salon to do my laser hair removal.  Looking back on it now, it’s one of my best beauty investments.

Keep reading to if you’re interested in getting laser hair removal too!

The results won’t be perfect

Right off the bat, LaserAway let me know that they could not promise that 100% of the hair would be gone.  I’m glad they explained this to me right off the bat.  Because they set my expectations, if 90% of my hair is gone, I’d be totally happy.

The results should last, just as long as your hair doesn’t produce new hair follicles, which some women experience with hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy or menopause.  Also, keep in mind that hair grows at different rates on different parts of your body, so one session might not zap all your hair — which is why it’s so important that you schedule your sessions as far apart as possible so that the laser can target all your hair.

It’s expensive

You can go the Groupon route, but I wouldn’t advise doing so (more on that, I learned the hard way).  I ended up paying over $2k for legs, underarms, upper lip, and a Brazilian.  The price looks steep, but I think it’s worth it considering Brazillian waxes are usually $60+ per session and aren’t permanent.

If the price is still scaring you, LaserAway has financing options and you can also do it at-home.  I initially tried the at-home route (Lumina), but for my skin tone, it burned my skin too much — I couldn’t pull the trigger on the machine!  However, I have a few friends that did it at home and had amazing results.

Be patient

After one session, you’re not going to notice a difference.  You should expect your hair to fall about 2 weeks after your appointment and then your hair will start growing again in four to six weeks.  Like I mentioned above, four hair will grow at different rates at different parts of your body.

As you progress in your treatment, they will space out your sessions longer and longer to give your hair time to grow back.  This way, the laser will be able to target those stubborn hairs, making the success rate even higher.

All machines aren’t created equal

My first laser hair removal experience was actually at a place that had great prices and came highly recommended by a few people.  Long story short (you can read my Yelp review here), my bikini area was burned and I had blisters immediately after the session.  Their laser was not equipped for someone with my skin tone.  I found that with most of the Groupons in my area, although were cheaper, the machine used was older and because of my initial experience, I didn’t want to risk getting burned again.  I ended up going with Laseraway because they had a laser that could work with someone with dark hair and a tan skin tone.

Dark hair/light skin are the best candidates

The ideal candidate to get laser hair removal is someone who has dark hair and light skin.  The laser detects dark hair again the light skin better, which minimizes the chances of getting burned.  But now, there are newer models that are able to adapt to darker skin tones.

It might be painful

For me, the least painful area were my legs and the most painful area was my Brazillian.

The pain feels like a hot rubber band snapping against your skin and you will be able to smell your hair burning.  At Laseraway, they have really cold air blowing against your skin while zapping your hair to minimize the pain.  Trust me, it makes a difference.  The darker and coarser the hair, the more painful it can be.  Also as the sessions progress, the settings on the machine increase, so you might notice it hurting more.

The one area that I couldn’t tolerate was the Brazillian, so I had to numb myself at least two hours ahead of time and the numbing cream worked wonders.  I still felt a little bit of the laser, but it only felt like little snaps.

Winter is Ideal

Summer is actually not an ideal time to get laser hair removal because there is less contrast between your skin and your hair.  The tanner you are, the harder it will be for the laser to detect your hair and you may risk getting burned.  Go when you’re the palest so by the time Summer rolls around, you’ll have most of your hair gone.

After your appointment, they will tell you to avoid the sun as well.

No more waxing or tweezing the areas

In between sessions, you cannot do any waxing or tweezing.  The nurse explained to me that she wanted as much hair to grow in between each session so that the laser can eventually kill the follicle.  If you desperately need to remove your hair, she recommended shaving.  Before each appointment, come with those areas shaved.

Be vocal and honest to your nurse

Make sure you tell your nurse about any medication you’re taking.  There might be restrictions around certain medication and can make the laser hair removal process even more painful.

If you’re nervous (the sound of the machine certainly doesn’t help) about the entire process (i.e. the pain, being naked, etc), you’re not alone.  I was shaking during my first appointment!  I’d recommend taking an aspirin, numbing your problem areas, and not having any caffeine that day.  I was also pretty vocal to my nurse about when to slow down and what areas were hurting.

 

For me, getting my hair lasered off was one of the best beauty decisions I’ve ever made.  With only a few sessions left, my hair is much lighter and softer and I shave every two weeks now!

Have you gotten laser hair removal?  If so, what was your experience?  If not, are you thinking about getting laser hair removal?