If you’re human, you’ve almost definitely debated laser hair removal before, especially if you’re no stranger to ingrown hairs. But you can’t just whip out a laser like you would a shaver. For everything you need to know before undergoing laser hair removal, including prep and aftercare, here’s some light reading before investing in the silkiest, smoothest legs of your life.
You’ll probably be surprised to hear that most patients have described it as less painful than waxing! Like a rubber band being pinged at the skin, and if you can handle multiple hairs being pulled out from your skin at once, you can definitely handle laser hair removal.
At Young LDN, we’re able to deliver painless hair removal with a built-in cryo cooling system combined with a Zimmer cooling device, reducing and soothing the rubber band sensation. Painless hair removal? Yes please.
While the treatment itself isn’t painful, you may cause yourself unnecessary pain if you don’t follow pre- and post-treatment recommendations, so our advice? Religiously follow everything we’re about to tell you.
AVOID DIRECT SUN EXPOSURE
To prepare for laser hair removal, direct sun exposure must be avoided for 10-14 days. Now, during colder months, is ideal for laser hair removal with less sun and a winter wardrobe, especially if you’re going for full-body laser hair removal.
SHAVE THE TREATMENT AREA 24 HOURS BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT
Unlike waxing, you don’t have to feel like a yeti in the lead-up to your appointment. Shaving before laser hair removal is vital to achieving painless hair removal, as the laser will singe any hair above the surface and burn your skin.
Make sure that you shave the treatment area exactly 24 hours before your appointment. Shaving right before your laser hair removal session can irritate your skin and make it more sensitive to the laser.
STOP WAXING OR PLUCKING AT LEAST 4 WEEKS BEFORE
Waxing or plucking removes the hair from the root, and for laser hair removal to work, it must contain hair. Switch to shaving before laser hair removal as it only removes hair above the surface and leaves the hair follicle intact.
GET A PATCH TEST
Getting a patch test before your laser hair removal appointment is essential to know whether you’re a viable candidate for the treatment, and which laser setting is the most effective on your hair and skin type.
SKIP OUT ON CAFFEINE
Caffeine makes the skin more receptive to pain, meaning you probably won’t have painless laser hair removal. So, do yourself a favour and skip out on anything that contains caffeine for 24 hours before your session.
APPLY COOL COMPRESSES
The treated area may feel hot and slightly tender post-laser hair removal, so having a cold compress handy throughout the laser removal aftercare process will reduce the heat and temporary swelling.
STAY CLEAR OF POTENT SKINCARE INGREDIENTS
We love potent skincare ingredients just as much as the next skincare junkie, but we recommend avoiding your fix for a few days post-laser hair removal to avoid irritation. This includes body lotions and scrubs if you’ve undergone full-body laser hair removal.
CONTINUE TO STAY OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT
As part of laser hair removal aftercare, you must avoid sun exposure for 10-14 days as your skin will be more sensitive and more likely to burn.
AVOID ANY SWEATY ACTIVITIES
Give yourself a day off from the gym, you deserve it. Oh, and because sweat contains bacteria that can irritate sensitive hair follicles post-laser hair removal, resulting in an infection or rash.
STICK WITH SHAVING IN BETWEEN SESSIONS
Laser hair removal aims to weaken the hairs by cutting off blood flow, eventually preventing them from growing. Whenever you wax or pluck your hair, blood flow increases in the area and allows it to regrow – the complete opposite of what you’re trying to achieve.
Typically, 6-8 treatments are needed at 6–8-week intervals for the body, and 4-6 for the face.
There are different types of laser hair removal in London, with the most popular being IPL and a combo of Nd:YAG and Alexandrite.
IPL
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) laser hair removal systems are suited to a wide range of skin types as they can be customised to skin tone, hair type, and treatment area. Plus, they can target large areas, so you can put down the shaver you hate so much quicker.
However, while it may speed up the process, it’s not as effective as Nd:YAG laser hair removal in London. IPL laser hair removal isn’t recommended on darker skin tones or skin that has had a lot of sun exposure as it may cause hyperpigmentation.
ND:YAG AND ALEXANDRITE
At Young LDN, we use the best laser hair removal technique which consists of a combination of Nd:YAG and Alexandrite lasers to effectively treat all skin tones and most hair types. Both Nd:YAG and Alexandrite laser hair removal devices can treat larger areas with longer wavelengths, so fewer energy pluses are needed, making the experience more comfortable.
Although, fine hair can be tricky to reach with a Nd:YAG laser hair removal device, which is where Alexandrite lasers come in to get those hard-to-reach hairs.
The cost of combination Nd:YAG and Alexandrite laser hair removal in London, Notting Hill, begins at £50 a session for a small area, going up to £250 a session for larger areas. Discover why laser hair removal prices vary. For the full laser hair removal price list at Young LDN, please see here.
With every session, hair will appear finer and fewer in number until they stop growing altogether. Depending on your hair cycle, hair-free results can last up to 10 years with top-up treatments every few years.
While laser hair removal can be performed on men and women, according to a recent study, women will spend approximately 72 days of their lives shaving their legs! And men who shave daily won’t be far behind. So, run, don’t walk to Young LDN to start saving precious minutes today.
