Menu Close

What Are The Benefits Of Laser & IPL Hair Removal?

Benefits Of IPL Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a very successful method of long-term hair reduction. It is a safe method used by thousands of people to remove and slow unwanted hair growth. It is important to understand the benefits and downsides of using laser hair removal.

Minimal Side Effects

There are only a few minor side effects of laser hair removal, and those which do occur tend not to last more than a few days.

How Does IPL Laser Work? Click here to find out.

Cost Effective

Once you begin your journey with laser hair removal, you will no longer need to spend your money on regular expensive wax treatments, depilatory creams, razors or other methods of hair removal. It may be more cost up front, but over your life, you will save a huge amount by no longer having to spend on these procedures. What Is IPL Facial Treatment? Click here to find out. You will also save yourself a great deal of time that would otherwise be spent shaving or waxing.

How Long Does It Take To See Results From IPL Hair Removal? Read our article to find out.

No Ingrown Hairs

Unlike waxing, threading and epilating, you will not have to put up with painful and unsightly ingrown hairs. Neither will you have to tolerate razor burns or irritation. Laser hair removal can even improve ingrown hairs.

What To Do After IPL Treatment? Click here to read more.

No Waiting For Hair Growth

You don’t need surface hair for a laser hair removal treatment. In fact, you are encouraged to shave soon before your session to prevent you scorching any of the surface hair. This means that while you are waiting for the laser hair removal to work, you can remain fuzz-free, unlike with waxing and other hair removal methods where you must have long enough surface hair before a session.

Precise

Laser hair removal specifically targets hairs right down at the follicle. This is a particular benefit over intense pulsed light (IPL) hair removal as the use of the laser makes it more suited to treating people with dark skin tones. The precision also means you should get results sooner.

Fast

Most patients can achieve permanent hair loss within 3 and 7 sessions, so laser hair removal is very successful.

Effective

Most patients can achieve permanent hair loss within 3 and 7 sessions, so laser hair removal is very successful.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Laser Hair Removal Treatment?

Disadvantages Of Laser Hair Removal

Upfront Expense

Laser hair removal comes at a price. Clinics can charge very high prices, especially when compared to other forms of hair removal such as waxing, however, in the long run, you will save money. However, you can also find much cheaper alternatives, for example by buying an at-home laser hair removal device. These cost a fraction of the price of the salon treatment, yet have the same technology, so they get the same results.

It Takes Time

You won’t see overnight results. The hairs will gradually fall out as they die in the weeks after the treatment session and it may take a few sessions before you notice results. At least in the mean-time though, you can continue to shave until it takes effect!

Potential For Short-Term Changes In Pigment

Exposure to the light may result in the treated skin changing color temporarily. However, this will usually resolve quickly.

No Tanning Before Or After Treatment

Before you have a laser hair removal treatment, it is important to make sure you have not got a tan. This means both a natural tan from sunlight and fake tan from a bottle.

Not Suitable For Everyone/Where

For example, you should not treat your eyebrows, genitals or men’s facial hair with laser hair removal. You may also find it is not effective on fine, peach fuzz hair. Those with dark hair against fair skin will notice the best results, and fairer hair will probably require you to have more sessions, but you can still get great results with the right equipment.

Is It Safe To Perform IPL When Pregnant? Click here to find out.

Side Effects Laser Hair Removal

What Are The Side Effects Of Laser Hair Removal?

A huge benefit of laser hair removal is that the side effects are minimal. You may encounter some discomfort during the procedure while the hairs are literally being zapped, which may prickle, but it should not hurt.

After the laser hair treatment, your skin may show signs of irritation. This may be in the form of redness, swelling, itching or tingling. This is normal and should subside within a few hours, just like other hair removal methods. You may notice some slight alterations to the pigment of the skin – it may get marginally lighter or darker, but this is usually only temporary. After your laser hair removal, your skin may feel delicate to touch and will be more sensitive to light. This is easily solved by ensuring you cover it with adequate sun protection.

Some rare side effects of laser hair removal are blistering, crusting or scarring. These are more likely to happen if you over-treat your skin by going over an area more than once. If they do occur, make sure to keep them clean to prevent infection.

Overall, most people find they recover from laser hair removal very quickly with minimal side effects and no complications. The recovery period is so short that you could even have a session during your lunch break and return to work with no issues.

Does It Cause Infertility?

laser removal pregnancy

No, laser hair removal does not cause infertility.

If you are planning to have laser hair removal on your bikini line, you may be concerned about it affecting your fertility. Laser hair removal cannot cause infertility or affect the ovaries because it does not go deep enough through the body tissues to be able to reach them. The laser is controlled so that it only targets the hair follicle and it cannot pass through the abdominal wall which is strong and thick due to the presence of muscle.

In addition, the beam from the laser is made up of light energy. Light energy cannot break molecules apart and therefore cannot affect the DNA or cells. This is because it is not a form of ionizing radiation like x-rays are, which can pass through the body and affect cells on a molecular level.

However, if you are pregnant or trying for a baby, it is best to delay your laser hair treatment until after you have had the baby and finished breastfeeding as there has not been enough research into laser hair removal during pregnancy.

Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?

No, laser hair removal is not painful. You may encounter some discomfort throughout the procedure – this has been described by many as feeling as though a rubber band is being snapped against your skin, but you should not find it painful.

Will Hair Grow Back After Laser Hair Removal

IPL and laser hair removal are forms of long-term hair reduction. While they can result in the inhibition of hair growth, results won’t necessarily be permanent, and you may need an occasional maintenance session to keep on top of it. However, many people have found both IPL and laser hair removal to be very successful, finding hair growth reduced by up to 80% and the hair that does grow is often thinner, slower and less noticeable. There are some differences between the two, so you may like to read more about how they compare.

Is Laser Hair Removal Safe For The Face?

Laser Hair Removal Safe for Face

Laser hair removal is safe for use on women’s faces and can be very successful. Many women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) turn to laser hair removal as a solution for the induced hirsutism with great results. Laser hair removal can be used for the treatment of the face below the cheek line, for example, the upper lip and chin.

However, laser hair removal should not be used to treat areas that are particularly close to the eyes, which are very sensitive. For this reason, you should not use laser hair removal to treat eyebrows. No matter which area of the body you are treating, you should always wear adequate eye protection and never stare directly into the beam.

Laser hair removal, however, is not suitable for any scalp hair or men’s facial hair as the hair in these areas is too dense and could result in burns. All other areas of the body are suited to laser hair removal, however, other than the genitals.

Laser Treatment For Hair Removal Cost

Just as different salons charge wildly different prices for waxing, costs of in-office laser hair removal can vary dramatically. On the other hand, if you are looking for a cheaper option without compromising on the results, you can try using an at-home laser hair removal device.

Salon Laser Hair Removal Cost

The cost of laser hair removal depends greatly on what, where and how often you require a treatment session. Dermatology clinics and skincare salons can charge a very high price. An example would be a popular American salon which charges $1050 for a series of 8 treatments on a female underarm, or $1400 for 8 sessions on the full bikini. For men, the same clinic offers 8 sessions on the chest for $2450.

At Home Laser Hair Removal Cost

In comparison, you can buy at-home laser hair removal devices for less than $500. These are safe to use on all areas of the body which can be treated by laser hair removal in a salon, and they are developed using the same science, so they still achieve fantastic results. By choosing to purchase an at-home laser hair removal machine you can treat yourself in your own home at a time that suits you. It also saves you exposing personal areas of your body to salon technicians if you are shy.

Benefits Of Laser Hair Removal Or Waxing

Laser Vs Waxing

In comparison to laser hair removal, waxing is a short-term solution for getting rid of unwanted body hair. You will get immediate results, although you will likely experience some discomfort during the procedure. Effects can last for several weeks and some people find that hair grows back thinner. However, there are a number of side effects associated with waxing. People with sensitive skin often find that irritation can occur and last a few days or even a week, with some areas that have thicker hairs being prone to bruising. Waxing can also result in painful ingrown hairs which are difficult to treat.

In comparison with waxing, laser hair removal has many benefits, including results that are a long-term and minimal irritation. Laser hair removal does not result in ingrown hairs either.

Using Laser Hair Removal For The Underarms

Using laser hair removal on the underarms is perfectly safe. You may find that it is a more sensitive area to treat as the skin is more delicate than on the legs. It may not be suitable for you if you have a contraceptive implant in your arm, so it is best to check with your doctor first.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many benefits to laser hair removal. If you would like to find out more information about laser treatment for hair removal, check out our reviews of at-home laser hair removal kits.

13 Comments

  1. Sharon Wilson-Smith

    I like that you talked about how laser hair removal can help you to save more money in the long run because you will no longer need to spend money on regular wax treatments. My sister and I are interested in laser hair removal. We’re thinking whether or not the money that we will invest for the treatment is going to be worth it. Based on your article, you will no longer have to spend on a regular hair removal treatment once you opt for laser hair removal which gives me the idea of how the procedure can be the most cost-effective way to save a huge deal. I will make sure to consider visiting a dermatologist with my sister soon.

  2. Jade Samson

    It’s great to know that laser hair removal can help you to prevent dealing with painful and unsightly ingrown hairs. My daughter has been complaining about ingrown hairs in her armpit. There was even a time that she had armpit scarring because she has been trying to deal with the itchiness caused by ingrown hair. It’s important for me to help her find a solution so she won’t have to worry about having ingrown hairs. For me, laser hair removal is going to be a great choice for her, so I will make sure to share your blog with her.

  3. Kiara Woodsland

    The best part of your article for me is when you talked about how you can expect hair removal treatment to not be painful. It has been weeks since I heard about laser hair removal, but I’m hesitating with the process because of the pain that may be associated with it. My anxiety of getting painful treatment has been reduced because of your article, so I’m glad that I researched about it. I will make sure to consider laser hair removal treatment as soon as possible.

  4. Latoya Anderson

    It’s interesting to know that laser hair removal on women’s faces is possible and safe to use. I have unwanted hair on my upper lip which I wish to be removed because I feel anxious when people look at my face. My goal is to find a safe treatment that can help me to get rid of hair on my face. Now that I’m aware of how I can take advantage of laser hair removal for my face, I will make sure to consider it. Thanks!

  5. Pamela Brown

    The best part of your article for me is when you talked about how laser hair removal can help you to not worry about putting up with painful and unsightly ingrown hairs unlike with the other hair removal process. My problem with ingrown hair has not changed ever since. Because of how it causes irritation to my skin, I’m looking for a hair removal treatment that can help me to improve ingrown hairs. I will make sure to consider laser hair removal soon. Thanks!

  6. Pamela Brown

    My sister and I are looking for the best way to remove unwanted hair on our underarms in the most non-irritating way because we both have sensitive underarms. This is why I’m glad that you talked about how safe laser hair removal is for underarms, most especially that skin in our underarms is more delicate than on the legs. We’ll make sure to consider laser hair removal. Thanks!

  7. Ava Murphy

    It was really nice to know that most patients achieve permanent hair loss within 3 and 7 sessions which prove its effectivity. This is a great tip for me because I don’t want to deal with unwanted hair anymore. My goal is to be skin hair-free as soon as possible, so I will make sure to consider laser hair removal. Thanks!

  8. Kate Welling

    I have been looking into laser hair removal for quite some time. I really would want it done around my eyebrows but I am listening to your tip about how our eyes are really sensitive and those areas should be off limits. I will look into looking for a laser hair removal specialist to get more information.

  9. Deb L.

    I have had laser treatments (5 sessions), electrolysis (three different times, one of those every week for over a year), and none of it worked. I still have full chin hair and a mustache. Waxing and/or depilatories break me out, so I have retreated to shaving every day like a man. I hate it, but nothing has ever worked to even diminish, let alone permanently remove, my facial hair. It’s very embarrassing.

  10. Kate Hansen

    I loved how you mentioned that you can get immediate results with laser hair removal. My sister was telling me last night about how she was thinking about getting it done so that she won’t have to waste time waxing, and she wanted to know more about the extra benefits it could provide. I’ll make sure to pass this information along to her so that she can know more about the benefits of laser hair removal!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *