How Does Laser Hair Removal Exactly Work?

Laser for hair removal seems to be a mysterious thing for many people. Many think it is nothing more than science fiction in fact. The truth is that laser hair removal is not science fiction. It is an actual process that has become more and more popular since it was first introduced in the mid-1990s. In fact, millions of people have it done and swear by the procedure. It is less time intensive than shaving and far less painful than waxing.

The principle of laser hair removal involves causing localized damage to the follicle of the hair, without heating the area around the skin. Hair removal lasers also target melanin, which occurs naturally in the skin, giving both hair and skin its color.

Step 1: The lasers that are used depend on the where you go. The two most common options are laser beam and intense pulsed light. The laser uses a focused beam of energy on the hair follicle, while the intense pulsed light uses flashes of light. Depending on where you go, the technician will use a different type of laser, and the first step for them is knowing which will work best for you.

Step 2: Now, the technician will wash and prep the area of your skin with alcohol. If your face is being treated, then you will have to wear safety goggles to protect them from the laser.

Step 3: The technician will now adjust the laser to determine what wavelength is going to be best for you. The energy settings will also be tested. Usually the technician will put numbing cream on the area they are going to treat, but this depends on the pigmentation of your skin and just how sensitive the area is.

Step 4: The technician will also put some cream on the area being treated. This cream is to help the laser target your hair follicles. The cream is not a numbing cream, but more like what is used with ultrasounds.

Step 4: The laser beam will now target the hair follicles. It will burn the follicles but leave your skin relatively untouched. As the technician uses the laser on your skin, they will look to make sure that the laser is not doing too much damage. If it is causing you discomfort, they will adjust the settings to ensure that you do not feel any side effects.

Step 5: Once the procedure is done, you will be able to wipe off the area using a patting motion to get rid of the cream. At this point, the technician will schedule a new appointment with you and give you some Aloe Vera cream usually to help with the discomfort you will feel on the skin for the next three hours or so. At this point, you will get dressed again. Within two weeks you will see the hair falling out of your skin, which is generally how long it takes for the process to work.

Read more answers to your questions at our laser hair removal FAQ page.