Laser Hair Removal - Is It For Me?

Laser hair removal has become the hair reduction method of choice for many people, whether they want the treatment for cosmetic or medical reasons. But many people are concerned about whether or not they are suitable candidates for the procedure. The question of whether laser hair treatment is for you comes down to two questions:

Is your hair color suitable?
Is your skin color suitable?

Hair color

Laser hair removal works by flashing an intense beam of light into the skin. The energy from the laser beam is mainly absorbed by the dark pigment, melanin, in hair follicles, which heat up and are damaged. The darker the hairs, the more energy is absorbed, so the more successful it is. Conversely, white or very pale hairs absorb little of the light energy and are difficult, if not impossible, to treat with laser hair removal.

Skin color

Like dark hairs, the darker the skin, the more of the energy from the light beam is absorbed, and the more it heats up. This makes laser hair removal more of a problem for people with darker skin tones, as it is imperative to avoid getting the skin burned or scarred. This is not to say that it cannot be done, just that it needs to be done at a lower power to avoid skin damage, so usually it needs more sessions. Look for clinics that use NdYAG laser or IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) equipment as these are known to be better on dark skin, in fact advances in laser hair removal technology mean that having dark skin no longer prevents you from getting treatment. If you have tanned skin, whether from from the sun or from using tanning products, you should wait until the tan has faded completely before undergoing laser hair removal, as it will increase your risk of side effects such as blistering and discoloration.

With the latest developments in laser hair removal technology, more and more people are becoming suitable candidates for the procedure. Why wait any longer to achieve the smooth, hairfree skin you desire with laser hair removal, and say goodbye to shaving, plucking and waxing.

As laser hair removal becomes more commonplace, prices are inevitably falling. You should be aware, however, that you will need a number of sessions in order to achieve a permanent hair reduction. Laser hair removal only affects those hairs that are in the active growing phase (called the anagen phase). At any one time, about 85% of our hair is in this phase. The lighter your skin and the darker your hair, the fewer treatments you will need - people who are most suitable will usually need 6 treatments, those who are less "ideal" candidates may need 10 sessions for the treatment to be effective.

You should always shop around several clinics to get the best deal, but do not be tempted to cut costs by using an unqualified practitioner - always make sure the procedure will be carried out by a suitably qualified technician

Kerry Crosby writes articles on uklaserhairremoval.co.uk Laser Hair Removal. You can find out more about laser hair removal at uklaserhairremoval.co.uk uklaserhairremoval.co.uk