While the colder months are upon us, this may be the perfect time to start your laser hair removal treatments. Laser hair removal can be an excellent way to permanently get rid of pesky body and facial hair, especially by the time beach season rolls around. Although many who have already undergone LHR swear by this method of hair removal as a tried and true way to deliver great results, there are several stubborn misconceptions that linger about laser hair removal. To provide the facts about this beauty treatment, here are the top three myths about laser hair removal debunked:
It’s Painful
Lasers that are used in the cosmetic industry are designed to be as painless as possible, particularly in procedures like LHR where anesthesia is not necessary. While it’s true that older lasers were once more painful than modern ones, most patients today feel little to no discomfort during their laser hair removal treatments.
Through a process called photothermolysis, the laser heats the hair follicle until it can no longer produce hair. This can cause a warming sensation on the skin. At best, patients feel no discomfort at all. At worst, the feeling is often likened to a light pin prick or the snapping or a rubber band. As a bonus, if you’ve ever experienced waxing or threading, laser hair removal is likely to be much less painful.
It Doesn’t Work on Darker Skin Tones
Although lasers are generally known as more efficient with lighter skin tones and darker hair because the light from the lasers is not significantly absorbed into the surrounding skin, this doesn’t mean the treatment can’t work on darker skin tones. Instead, patients with dark skin may simply need a different setting for the desired results.
Since the popularity and usefulness of the procedure ensures that advancements are always being made, today’s lasers can be adjusted for proper strength in order to deliver ideal results on dark-skinned patients. Be sure to seek a qualified cosmetic specialist who is familiar with a variety of skin tones and corresponding laser adjustments, and you should be able to see beautiful results with laser hair removal even on ethnic skin tones.
It’s Too Expensive
Laser hair removal is a relatively affordable cosmetic treatment. Costs vary depending on the total number of sessions and the size of the area(s) being treated, and you may feel as though you are spending a lot of money at once. However, if you compare the costs of laser hair removal to the total costs of a lifetime of waxing, shaving or threading, you’ll likely find that LHR can actually save you money in the long run.
It’s also important to factor in the relief of not having to deal with ingrown hairs, razor burn or embarrassing stubble, as well as the advantage of treating hard-to-reach places like the back or shoulders. While laser hair removal may seem like an indulgence, your investment can also be a wise and cost-efficient decision in the long-term.
Unwanted facial and body hair is a problem that plagues both men and women. Chances are, hair removal in some form is already part of your normal routine. As one of the safest hair removal treatments offering long-term results, laser hair removal provides a simple solution to a time-worn problem once the misconceptions over treatment are set aside.