There are a lot of myths floating around about laser hair removal. For example, some say it can zap hair away in seconds. Others say the hair never returns. If you are tired of removing unwanted hair by yourself at home, laser hair removal may be a good option for you. But you should not make your first laser hair removal appointment based on rumors. Here is the truth about how the laser hair removal process actually works.
By Team Savant
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Myth 1: Laser Hair Removal Magically Vaporizes Hair
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A top rumor about laser hair removal is a single appointment gets rid of your hair immediately and you can see it vanish right in front of your eyes. That is not true. In fact, your clinician may have to shave the hairs to the best length before treatment begins. Then the laser light is used to weaken each hair by targeting the melanin inside. Melanin is what gives hair its colour. Only after the hairs have weakened over a prolonged period do they fall out. That will not occur in the skincare clinic office, but well after you return home.
Myth 2: You Only Need One Laser Hair Removal Appointment
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Another rumor you may have heard is you only need one laser hair removal appointment. In reality, your clinician may schedule you for a series of treatments. The lasers for hair removal are incapable of weakening hairs enough to remove all of them after a single treatment. Sessions are usually done in groups of four to six and scheduled with several weeks in between each appointment.
Myth 3: You Cannot Have Laser Hair Removal on Your Face
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You may think you cannot have laser hair removal done on your face, but that is not technically true. Lasers can treat hairs on your face, if the hairs are dark. You have to wear special eye protection during most laser treatment appointments. Doing so is especially important when the procedure is being done on your face.
The main reason facial laser treatments are not as popular as those on other parts of the body is how they work. They are capable of removing hair from large areas of skin in a few minutes. For that reason, it is more common to use them to treat legs, bikini lines and other areas with a lot of hair. Removal of a few hairs, such as unwanted hair growth on your face, is often easiest at home with tweezers, or by having other types of treatments, such as electrolysis.
Myth 4: Anyone Can Have Laser Hair Removal
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Contrary to popular belief, laser hair removal is not a great solution for everyone. There are factors that can make it a poor choice for you. For example, dark skin can make the procedure difficult. The laser targets melanin, which gives both skin and hair its color. If your skin is dark, the laser may focus on your skin instead of your hair. That can lead to patches of discoloration on your skin.
There are new laser machines designed to help you, if your skin is dark. However, those devices are not in every clinic. You may have to hunt for a clinic with such a device. Also, the results you get from treatment with such lasers can be unpredictable. You may therefore find it more economical and less time consuming to try other hair removal methods.