Preparing for Your First Laser Appointment? Here’s What to Expect

When you are tired of the hassle of shaving regularly and cringe at the thought of the rash you got last time, you used hair removal cream, it is time to schedule a laser hair treatment for permanent hair removal.

Laser hair removal is a safe, effective way to give yourself the smooth skin you have always wanted. Here is how to prepare and what to expect at your first laser hair treatment.

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Laser hair treatment is a simple medical procedure that forces your unwanted hair to go away permanently. A laser tool concentrates a beam of light on your skin to heat and destroy your hair follicles, thus preventing or delaying hair from growing in that spot without damaging the surrounding skin. After your laser treatment, your hair should fall out over a period of several weeks.

A series of several treatments are required to achieve the desired result of hair-free body parts, although maintenance may be needed in the future for upkeep. Best of all, the light and heat of the laser do not permanently affect your skin.

When
you have laser treatment, you no longer need to waste time and energy
shaving or plucking your hair. There are many different body parts
that are suitable for laser hair treatment, including:

• Armpits
• Back
• Bikini Line
• Brazilian bikini
• Forearm
• Chest
• Chin
• Legs
• Upper lip

Who Can Get Laser Hair Removal?

The the success of laser hair treatment depends greatly upon a person’s skin tone and hair color. Hair with strong pigment is the most ideal type for this procedure since the laser targets the pigment. And the greater the contrast between the hair and skin offers the biggest success, since the hair is what absorbs the light from the laser against your background skin color. Therefore, a combination of light skin and darker hair works best for this form of permanent hair removal.

However, advances in technology have enabled darker skin to successfully receive the most current lasers that can destroy the hair follicles. This has opened the door for many more people to experience the benefits of this safe procedure. But if your hair is white, pale, or light-colored, this may not be the best option for you.

A consultation with a professional at Daired’s Salon & Spa Pangea can determine whether this procedure is appropriate for your coloring. Also, coarse or medium hair is better than fine hair for the same reason that the laser reads it better.

What To Expect From the Procedure

While some people tolerate this treatment easily, others might experience minor discomfort. Some people have described it as having their skin snapped with a rubber band. However, the discomfort or pain only lasts for a second or so, and by the time you experience it, it is over.

Certain body parts may feel higher amounts of discomfort while other parts appear immune to it. For example, the skin on your upper lip is pretty thin, so if you get it lasered you are going to feel it more than the thicker skin on your arms.

Discomfort can be avoided by the use of a topical anesthetic before treatment. You may also wish to take a pain reliever pill such as ibuprofen approximately 30 minutes before your appointment as long as you can safely do so. If you have ever had your skin waxed, you should know that laser hair removal is not nearly as painful as the waxing process.

The time for each session varies depending upon how large a body surface you are going to have treated. If you are planning to get parts of your face lasered, your specialist is going to give you a pair of goggles or sunglasses so that your eyes are protected throughout the treatment.

After the procedure, any redness or irritation can be soothed with ice packs or cold compresses. These minor side effects should go away within a few hours or at most a couple of days. Some people describe their after-effects as mild sunburn, while others do not have any noticeable difference.

Laser hair removal should be done in a series of 4 – 6 treatments so different stages of hair growth can be treated and removed. Each treatment should be scheduled between 2 and 10 weeks apart. In between treatments, you are going to notice that any hair growing in
comes in much finer and in a sparser way.

With this safe procedure, you are not going to receive any ingrown hairs as you might with waxing. In fact, since you are destroying hair follicles, you are not giving them the opportunity for ingrown hairs to occur. Once you have finished your series of treatments, you should have either the complete removal or an extremely substantial reduction of hair. This enables you to enjoy the freedom that comes from not being a slave to your razor several days a week.

How To Prepare for Your First Laser Hair Treatment

There are certain steps that you can take to ensure that you receive the highest results while minimizing any chance of irritation. If you follow them as best you can, your risk of discomfort should be eliminated or greatly reduced and the efficacy maximized.

• Shave as Directed

Generally, your practitioner is going to ask you to shave your hair with a new razor about 12 hours before treatment. This is because the laser targets hair follicles just below their surface. Be sure to go to your appointment with bare skin that has not been moisturized.

• Resist Specific Hair Removal

For the laser to work properly, it is best to cease certain hair removal methods for at least a month beforehand. When you wax, sugar, pluck or receive electrolysis, the hair follicle is disrupted. This may interfere with the results you get from your laser hair treatment, so just avoid them altogether.

• Shun the Sun and Booze

Try to avoid direct sun exposure for several days to several weeks before your laser hair treatment appointment. If you do happen to spend a significant amount of time outside, cover up as much as possible and use a comprehensive sunscreen. Do not get an artificial tan either, since the darker skin that follows makes laser skin removal more difficult.

And, avoid drinking any alcohol the night before your treatment. This way, you do not run the risk of having a hangover, which no doubt makes any kind of procedure more uncomfortable.

Remember to
Let Your Practitioner Know About Any Prescriptions

Be sure you discuss ahead of time any medications that you may be taking since they might affect how your skin tolerates the procedure. For example, if you are on antibiotics for an illness you may want to wait until you have finished the course of the medication.

Since antibiotics happen to be photosensitive, having your treatment while taking them could cause your skin to experience hyperpigmentation or even a burn from the laser.

Contact Daired’s Salon & Spa Pangea To Get Started Today!

Now that you have learned how simple and effective laser hair treatment is, contact Daired’s Salon & Spa Pangea to set up an appointment. Our clean and welcoming facilities and professional staff are here to help you achieve permanent hair removal so you can have the smooth, hair-free skin of your dreams. 

When you want a calm, luxurious place for your hair, skin, or med spa needs, Daired’s Salon & Spa Pangea is the place to go. From manicures to cosmetic enhancements to the latest in cuts and colors, we are your one-stop beauty service emporium. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.