Laser hair removal: how many sessions are needed to completely get rid of hair?

Modern cosmetology offers several options for solving the problem of excess hair on the body. The most effective device that can easily cope with fluff, as well as hard stubble, is rightfully a laser. However, preparation for the procedure involves a number of nuances and subtleties. For those planning to undergo laser hair removal on the face for the first time, a logical question may arise: is it necessary to shave the face before laser hair removal, what length of hair should be left for hair removal. Let's try to figure this out!

Why shave your hair before laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal is an effective, but rather complex method of hair removal. During manipulation, the laser acts on the hair follicle, which contains a high-molecular pigment - melanin, melanin absorbs energy, heats up and after which the hair dies.

But it’s no secret to everyone that the longer the hair on the body, the worse the laser heats it. Therefore, the laser energy will not be able to get to the bulb.

Therefore, for a clear result, it is necessary to perform laser hair removal on short hairs.

Another important reason why you need to shave before laser hair removal is burns. For severe hairiness, the cosmetologist sets the maximum beam strength. Firstly, it will increase pain, but also cause a burn.

How long does the procedure take on different parts of the body?

The time of a procedure such as laser hair removal depends on several factors. First you need to choose a laser, which comes in several types. Exist:

diode;
neodymium;
alexandrite.

It is advisable that the procedure be carried out with dark hair on light skin. Then there will be no problems with lasers, because any of the ones mentioned will do.

If your skin is dark, tanned, your hair is blond, red, or gray, then you need to choose a laser installation more carefully. You also need to take into account the individual characteristics of the client.

Another common question is at what age can this procedure be done. Is it necessary, for example, to spend money and time on laser bikini hair removal? Laser hair removal is acceptable for women and men over 18 years of age. Girls require written consent from their legal representatives. Nobody set a maximum age - there are no restrictions on the upper age limit. However, older adults have an increased risk of adverse reactions and discomfort after the procedure.

The laser hair removal procedure lasts from 5 to 60 minutes. Masters can do it in about 15 minutes, if we talk about hair removal from:

upper lip;
temples;
chin;
belly;
interbrow area.

But it is worth remembering that the duration of the laser hair removal procedure depends on the complexity in different parts of the body. So, processing takes from 20 minutes to 1 hour:

belly;
buttocks;
backs;
lower back;
hands;
hips;
shins.

The bikini area, considered one of the most labor-intensive, also takes on average about half an hour.

Experienced cosmetologists advise women to use package offers. That is, order several types of laser hair removal at once at competitive prices. For example, it is advisable to spend time on laser hair removal of the bikini, thighs and lower legs.

Experts say that special attention should be paid to choosing a center. Proven professionals should work there. The place should inspire trust and a feeling of comfort. Everything must be sterile, clean and hygienic. It must be remembered that procedures are carried out only in equipped rooms.

In no case should you forget about special glasses. During manipulations, the doctor and the patient should wear eye protection from the effects of sharp flashes of laser light. Only in this case will the master most likely be truly professional in his field and remove body hair efficiently. If you do not follow this rule, negative consequences and health problems may occur.

The duration of the laser hair removal procedure is short. Only further - less. The time frame depends on the color of the hairs, age and sensitivity of the body. Impulses can greatly influence a person. After the first session, you should not think that everything is over. You should start preparing for the next sessions.

The need for proper preparation

In order for hair removal to be productive and bring the desired result already at the first session, you need to prepare for laser manipulation correctly.

Shave the affected area.
Or grow your hair to the required 1 mm, this is only necessary if it was previously removed by wax or electrolysis.
Refuse decorative cosmetics.
Do not use other means for depilation (sugaring, waxing, epilator, etc. with this type of shaving, the hairs are cut off at the root)
Do not take hormonal drugs, so as not to cause side effects in the body.
It is not recommended to sunbathe under the sun or in a solarium, otherwise, under the influence of the laser, pigment spots may appear on dark skin.
Two weeks before the procedure, avoid going to the pool and limit yourself from physical activity to completely eliminate unnecessary irritation from sweat and redness.

General recommendations for preparing for the procedure

In conditions of correct and safe implementation of the procedure, areas of the armpits, bikini, face and other areas require responsibility on the part of both the client and the cosmetologist. There are general rules for preparing for the hair removal procedure:

2 weeks before the session, avoid aggressive sun rays, do not sunbathe and visit the solarium.
3-4 days before the procedure, shave the hair in the desired areas.
Before the session, it is advisable not to take hot baths or visit the sauna so that the blood vessels remain at rest.
In many cases, before the procedure, painkillers - creams, gels - are applied to the working area.
The technician must wear sterile, disposable gloves.
The required number of sessions is 6-10 repetitions, with an interval of 4-8 weeks.

What should be the length of hair before epilation?

The optimal hair length when working with a laser is 1 mm. But some cosmetologists ask their clients to shave immediately before the procedure. This is not due to the desire of the specialist himself, but to the type of laser that will be used.

If you are not sure that you will properly treat the area with a razor, in some beauty studios cosmetologists offer this service - to treat the epilated area for an additional fee. Each beauty salon has its own price category for such a service.

Laser hair removal for blonde hair is a reality

Thanks to the diode laser you can get the fastest effect. It covers a large area of the body, and the built-in cooling system makes the procedure painless.

To remove blond hair, it must be artificially saturated with melanin. There are two options on how to do this:

restore natural melanin using special tablets;
use a spray with synthetic melanin.

Our cosmetologist will determine how you will increase the level of pigment in the body during a preliminary consultation. Sign up and you will get answers to all your questions.

Contraindications

Laser hair removal, like other types of hair removal, has contraindications. Before visiting a specialist, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the list of contraindications:

fresh tan on the skin;
skin diseases in the acute stage or chronic;
moles or saw marks on the body;
ODS
Oncological diseases;
herpes;
varicose veins - this ban mainly applies to the arms and legs;
the body’s tendency to form keloid scars - tissue proliferation during injury;
presence of burns;
pregnancy period;
breastfeeding;
the presence of allergic reactions: rash, irritation;
skin damage: abrasions and scratches.
minors under 18 years of age.

Possible consequences

Cosmetologists claim that laser hair removal does not cause harm and does not cause severe pain. And possible negative factors after the laser can arise due to the stupidity of the client himself (did not adhere to contraindications) or a cosmetologist who is not sufficiently qualified. These include:

skin burns;
skin pigmentation;
allergic reactions;
inflammation of the hair follicle (folliculitis);
herpetic rash;
vision problems arise only when the patient does not wear special eye protection glasses intended for laser hair removal. Light rays negatively affect the retina of the eyeball.
Swelling or redness after manipulation. They go away on their own within 24 hours, without pharmaceuticals. But this can also be avoided if you ask the specialist in advance to cool the skin before starting the procedure.

Skin care after hair removal

It is recommended to follow the following tips to care for your skin during sessions:

hair removal after laser hair removal can only be done with a razor; it does not affect the follicle, which has a good effect on further sessions;
for one day, try not to wet the treated area;
do not go to the gym for the first 3 days;
take only contrast showers for 12 days;
do not apply scrubbing agents to the epilated area;
If hair removal was carried out in the facial area, it is better to refrain from makeup for one day.
It is recommended to apply Bepanten or children's cream, which has a softening effect, to the skin where there was laser exposure.

Preparation for the laser procedure is not difficult, the main thing is to listen to the advice and requirements of the cosmetologist. In this case, the smooth effect will last for many years.

How many laser hair removal treatments are needed to make hair disappear? 06/29/2018

Despite the fact that we are actively telling you about laser hair removal, you still have many questions: how often should the procedure be done, are you still worried that laser cannot be done in the summer and you need to wait until the fall. And you also ask why go to the salon if you can buy a machine for home laser hair removal in the store. We are answering several of your questions today.

With older generation lasers, laser hair removal was quite painful and could not be done on a tan (or black hair on white skin). Now what are the contraindications?

Our Alma Laser Soprano XL Ice device is equipped with two handpieces: with diode and with “Alexandrite” wavelengths. The presence of two types of waves allows you to select the appropriate parameters for the client depending on skin type, hair shade and location of hair follicles. Laser hair removal can be carried out in any season and even in summer, you just need to be careful and not expose your body to active insolation (read: sunbathing on the beach) a week before the procedure and a week after. It is also worth using products with SPF-50 after the procedure on open areas of the body and face.

The Alma Laser Soprano XL Ice laser hair removal device uses SHR (Super Hair Removal) technology: unlike previous generation technologies, the life of the hair follicle is suppressed not due to a single photo flash, but due to the progressive heating of surrounding tissues to a temperature that is uncomfortable for the follicle. At the same time, nearby tissues, due to the distribution of energy throughout the laser treatment area, do not overheat, and the “in motion” operating system massages the skin and smoothes out unpleasant sensations due to sliding. For maximum comfort, a cooling handpiece (-4 degrees!) is used to reduce the temperature of the tissues to the usual body temperature. It is thanks to the technology of the device and accompanying procedures that the risk of skin burns and discomfort during the procedure is eliminated.

For devices of the previous generation, the risk of complications remains: laser tissue burn, manifested by redness, swelling, and subsequently the appearance of crusts and hypopigmentation. Most often, such complications arise after hair removal with alexandrite lasers, which have the highest absorption coefficient of laser energy by melanin. Only hair removal using Soprano units is safe for tanned skin. It is the operation in the “energy accumulation” mode and the most modern cooling system that protects the epidermis from any damage.

How soon after the procedure can I go to the sea? Will there be pigmentation?

Previously, the impact was intense and targeted, and marks remained on the body, so the skin needed a long rest. The device used in our Wax&Go salons allows epilation on tanned skin, and tanning is prohibited for only a week before and after the procedure. After a week, use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50 to protect your skin.

How many procedures should be done and at what interval until the hair completely disappears?

The minimum number of procedures is 6, on average from 6 to 8 for the body, and 10-12 for the face, due to the fact that the concentration of hairs on the face is higher than on the body, more procedures are required. But everything is individual, and the number of sessions and the reaction depends on genetic factors, genetic status, color, hair structure and skin type. The exact number of sessions can be determined with a specialist at the first consultation.

Now there are a lot of gadgets for home hair removal. What do you think about them? Can they solve the hair problem? How long will it take? In what ways are they inferior to salon devices? Can gadgets be of help to a person who goes to the salon, but sometimes can do something at home himself?

There is home laser hair removal (the laser is sold in electronics stores), but this can be compared to treating your teeth at home yourself. Laser hair removal is a medical service and should be carried out using serious professional equipment, by a specialist with a medical education and in licensed salons. Home lasers lack diode technology, and there are no solid-state minerals that can create the required wavelength, pulse power and painlessness. Naturally, all the necessary parameters inherent in photons forming a wave from a diode matrix are missing (synchronism, monochrome, directivity of vectors, small spot divergence). At home, no one will determine contraindications, dosage, or predict a possible skin reaction. And no one guarantees the result, because home lasers operate at average characteristics, but with professional equipment, the required intensity of exposure is manually set by a specialist, based on human hair and skin.