Laser Hair Removal – A Safe, Quick and Effective Way to Permanently Reduce Unwanted Hair

Laser Hair Removal College Station is a safe, quick, and effective way to reduce unwanted hair permanently. It works best for people with contrasting skin and hair colors, such as light skin with dark hair.

The laser’s energy passes through the skin and is absorbed by the melanin in the hair. This heat destroys the hair follicle, making it impossible for it to produce more hair.

Adding laser hair removal to your salon’s treatment list increases client satisfaction and profits. This cosmetic procedure has grown in popularity among men and women looking for a safe, non-invasive alternative to traditional shaving, plucking, and waxing. In addition to reducing time spent on hair removal, the process can also alleviate the irritation caused by razor bumps and ingrown hairs.

Before you start offering this popular aesthetic service, consult with your state and city health services to find out what regulations apply. Most states require you to have a doctor on hand during the treatment and/or a facility permit. Others allow a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant to perform the procedure.

For laser treatment to be effective, the hair follicle must be visible beneath the skin. Before you receive your first session, you can prepare the treatment area by lightening the skin if needed, shaving or trimming, and avoiding other methods of hair removal, such as tweezing or waxing. You should also avoid sunless skin creams or other products that will darken the skin because they will interfere with the laser’s ability to see the hair follicles.

After your first treatment, your results will improve with regular sessions. Depending on your skin and the amount of unwanted hair you have, you may need 6 to 10 treatment sessions.

You will need to maintain your results by regularly attending follow-up sessions to keep unwanted hair from growing back. This will help prevent hair follicles from becoming active again and will keep the hairs that have been treated from growing thicker or darker.

When you are ready to offer laser hair removal at your salon, choose a device from a manufacturer that offers training and support. In addition, you should make sure that the company has experience selling and servicing their machines and provides a business builder program and service guarantee.

The most common treatment areas for laser hair removal are the face and body. For women, this includes the legs, armpits and bikini line. For men, it is typically the chest and shoulders.

Preparation

During your initial consultation, your laser hair removal technician will discuss your medical history and the procedure itself. You will also be able to ask any questions you may have. Afterwards, you’ll be ready to book your first session!

Before your appointment, you should shave the area that will be treated. This is important because the laser will only target hair follicles that are attached to the skin, and it won’t work if your hair is too long. You should also avoid waxing and plucking hair in the treatment area, as this can cause permanent damage to your skin.

It is also a good idea to exfoliate the area the night before your treatment. This is because it can help to remove any dead skin cells in the area, which will make the laser treatment more effective. However, be careful not to use a harsh exfoliation product. This can cause cuts in the skin that could be painful and affect your results.

You should also disclose any medications you’re currently taking to your laser technician. This is because some medicines, including oral and topical ones, can interfere with how the laser works. Similarly, some medications can make your skin more sensitive to the treatment.

In the days leading up to your appointment, you should also try to stay out of the sun as much as possible. Natural or artificial tanning can make your laser hair removal sessions less effective, as it can interfere with the ability of the laser to target the skin’s pigment.

Finally, you should also avoid tanning beds altogether, as they can cause uneven pigmentation and a greater likelihood of side effects. In addition, it’s a good idea to wear sunscreen every day, regardless of whether you’re in the sun or not.

Treatment

Laser hair removal involves a series of treatments, with sessions being spaced apart depending on the area treated. Most patients need to undergo two to six treatments. During treatment, the technician will cover your eyes with goggles to protect them from the laser’s light beam, as well as apply a cooling gel or use a cold air device to protect your skin and reduce discomfort. You may also opt to have a topical anesthetic applied for comfort as well.

You’ll need to shave the area prior to your appointment, as a slight stubble allows the laser to easily locate hair follicles and target them effectively without over-heating and damaging the skin. Waxing and plucking are also recommended to be limited in the weeks leading up to your procedure, as they remove hair follicles and roots, which will make it more difficult for the laser to find the follicles during treatment.

The practitioner will then hold the handpiece against your skin with the laser pointed at the area, releasing the trigger to deliver pulses of light to the skin. The duration of each pulse lasts just a fraction of a second. Small areas such as the upper lip can be treated in less than a minute, while larger areas such as legs and arms can take up to an hour.

Each pulse of the laser targets a single hair follicle, leaving the surrounding skin undamaged. The heat of the laser destroys the follicle, which means that hair cannot grow from it again. However, since your body’s hair follows a cycle of resting, shedding and growing periods, you will need several treatment sessions to achieve the best results.

Some common side effects of laser hair removal include a burning sensation, discoloration of the skin, hyper- or hypopigmentation, flare up of acne and other skin conditions and scabbing. If you experience any of these or other serious complications, contact your practitioner for advice and to discuss whether a change in laser type or settings is needed.

Most people compare the feeling of a laser pulse to a warm pinprick and report that the procedure is quick, painless and relatively comfortable, although some skin redness and swelling may follow after treatment. You can expect some hair to regrow, but it typically tends to be thinner and lighter in color than before.

Post-Procedure

When your laser treatment is complete, the skin may feel sensitive, swollen and bumpy. This is a normal side effect and usually subsides within a few hours or days. To help alleviate these symptoms, apply a cooling aloe vera gel or lotion to the affected area to soothe irritation and itching. Using a cool compress or ice pack wrapped in paper towels can also help reduce pain and swelling. It is recommended that you avoid direct sun exposure to the treated area for a month after your Laser Hair Removal. You should also use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day to keep your skin protected from harmful UV rays.

It is recommended that you gently exfoliate your skin with a washcloth or scrub around three times per week to help prevent the formation of blackheads or stubble. It is also recommended that you refrain from plucking, waxing or other forms of hair epilation between treatments to avoid reactivating the damaged hair follicles and prolong your results. While you can continue to shave areas that grow unwanted hair, a shaving razor should only be used on very short hairs and should never be used over a painful or bleeding area.

You will notice that some of your hair grows back after a few treatments as hair follicles move through their cycles of resting, shedding and growing. This is because not every single hair follicle gets destroyed during the laser session. However, after a series of treatments the majority of hairs that grow in are much lighter and less noticeable.

Having realistic expectations of your results from Laser Hair Removal is important. Using the wrong technique or treatment plan for your specific type of hair growth can lead to permanent damage and even scarring of the skin. Your dermatologist will evaluate your skin and hair types, lifestyle and medications to recommend the best Laser Hair Removal treatments for your unique situation. This information will be discussed during your consultation before your treatment begins. This will also be a good time to ask any questions you may have.