I tried laser hair removal and these are the 15 things to know before getting it done

7. You can have almost any part of your body lasered

The most common areas for laser hair removal are the legs, underarms and bikini. But, you can have almost any area on your body treated including, lips, chin, neck, arms, stomach, back and shoulders. 

8. Laser works on all skin tones

You may think that if you have dark hair and dark skin that the laser could have difficulty picking up the pigment in the hair, but this isn’t true. What is crucial is that the right wavelength is matched to your skin type. As mentioned earlier, there are different types of laser hair removal. Ruby is best for fair skin, Alexandrite is recommended for olive skin, while ND:Yag is best suited to dark skin. We asked the head aesthetician at Young LDN and they said that combining the ND:Yag and Alexandrite lasers enables them to treat all skin and hair types.

9. But do your research if you have more melanin-rich skin

The heat from laser can trigger post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in dark skin. So it’s worth doing your research to find the right treatment for you. Ideally the laser that is used will have a cooling device. 

10. You might need to rethink your beauty regime

Abrasive ingredients such as scrubs, AHAs and retinol should be avoided two days before and after treatment. You may also want to add an extra shot of hydration to your skincare routine, such as a hyaluronic acid serum. 

11. Always visit a fully-qualified practitioner

If you’re considering getting laser treatments you should always use a fully-qualified practitioner; any outlandish bargains are probably best avoided. So far, there does not appear to be any long-term health risks associated with the procedure. Temporary side effects may include mild redness, bobbly skin and itchiness. Also important: having a patch test done and checking that clinics are CQC-approved and that their technology is FDA-approved.

12. Avoid laser when you have your period

Fluctuations in hormones during your period may make the skin more sensitive and the procedure more painful than usual.

13. You may need top up treatments

There’s a common misconception that you’re 100% hair free forever when you have laser hair removal. Most people report 90 percent permanent reduction in hair growth but hormonal changes can make hair grow back. So you may need to book in for additional treatments further down the line.  

14. Long-term it’s cheaper than a monthly in-salon wax

Laser hair removal is a short-term investment – prices can start from around £50 per session and you’ll need about 6 treatments – but long-term it can save you time and money waxing, shaving or epilating. Fun fact: if you pay the average price for a bikini wax every month from the ages of 18 to 50, you’ll spend around £10,000 on your bikini area alone. That figure doesn’t include the amount you’ll spend on razors and other hair removal methods over the years