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Laser Hair Removal FAQs

Laser hair removal has been around for decades and chances are most of us know someone who has had it done. Still, many people have the same questions about laser hair removal and this post is dedicated to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Q: Does laser hair removal hurt?

A: Yes, although how much it hurts varies from person to person, the area being treated, and even the time of the month.  Laser hair removal has often been compared to the feeling of an elastic band snapping on the skin. That is a pretty good description and one thing to remember is that the pain is very temporary. If you can grin and bear it through the procedure the results are long-lasting. Areas with thick coarse hair (think bikini line) will hurt more than others where the hair is finer. The good news is that thicker hair tends to be destroyed more quickly since there is so much dark pigment in the hair follicle to absorb the destructive laser energy.

Another tip is that some people avoid laser hair removal right before their period as your sensitivity to the pain can be heightened at that time of the month.

Q: How many times do you have to have laser hair removal done?

A: Typically, you can count on 6 sessions for each area where you are having hair removal done. This is a general rule, however, since there are other factors involved that could mean you will need more or less sessions. In any case, it is always cheaper to buy a package and most places that offer laser hair removal will be open to transferring the value of your package to a different area if you do end up needing less treatments.  This is a good question to discuss at your initial consultation.

Q: Can laser hair removal be done on dark skin?

A: This depends on the laser. Some lasers were only designed to work effectively on light skin and dark hair. Other lasers work on all skin tones and hair that has a dark root. This is something that you should discuss on consultation with the laser hair clinic you are visiting.

In any case, laser hair removal is a very routine procedure that has been done for decades. The results are long-lasting and it continues to be a very popular and effective option for reducing or removing unwanted hair.