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Is Laser Hair Removal Right For You?

by Brandi Concolino

For those of you who know me, you know how much I love helping people feel better about themselves and grow in self-confidence as they begin to feel more comfortable in their own skin. Laser hair removal is one way I help clients progress along their journey of transformation and develop the confidence and self-assuredness that comes with freely expressing yourself and being proud of who you are.

I can hear it now, “That’s great, but lasers don’t work on me. I’ve already tried it.” Well, I’m here to tell you to give it another try. The lasers of today are nothing like the lasers you may be familiar with from years past. You no longer have to have pale skin and dark hair to have a successful laser treatment. 

The Melanin Connection

Lasers are attracted to melanin, which is a naturally-occurring skin and hair pigment. We all produce melanin, but it is produced at higher levels by people who have darker hair, skin, and eye colors. That’s why laser hair removal was targeted towards people with dark brown or black hair for so many years – they produced more melanin, so the treatments were more successful. 

Does that mean fair-haired, light-skinned people can’t take advantage of laser hair removal? Not at all! As I said above, lasers have changed a lot in recent years. They are much more sophisticated, and we can now treat all skin colors and ethnicities safely and successfully. 

Preparing for Laser Hair Removal

There really isn’t too much prep work that clients need to do before their laser hair removal session. I may ask you to have it within 24 hours of your appointment; this helps clear longer hairs out of the way so the laser can target the hair root, which is where growth happens. You’ll also be advised to avoid sun exposure before and after treatment or use any topical products that cause photosensitivity. This can cause negative side effects when used in conjunction with laser hair removal. I also always advise checking with your practitioner before beginning treatments. We will review and go over your medical history before beginning to make sure we discuss any medications that could pose a potential problem with laser hair removal. 

Electrolysis is a great option for those who are not candidates for laser. Some of my clients have both dark and light hair. There are two options for them. They can do a full round of laser treatments and then begin electrolysis when they’re done, or they can do them in tandem. With each laser treatment, the hair gets finer, thinner, and more sparse. Electrolysis can then be used to destroy any hairs that are left if they’re too fine for the laser. 

Whether you’re tired of dealing with unwanted hair or have skin complications from shaving or waxing, you do have options available to help you. I would love to talk to you and help you begin your journey to being body hair-free!

Ready for Your Beautiful You Transformation?