How to Reduce the Density of Hair With Laser Hair Removal

For more than ten years, the popularity of laser hair removal has been growing as a permanent solution to unwanted hair. Dermatologists, estheticians and laser technicians perform this outpatient procedure, making it a safe and effective alternative to waxing, shaving, electrolysis and depilatories. A laser beam targets the active hair follicle and zaps through the skin, heating and disabling it. This causes a reduction in hair density by either permanently burning the follicle so that it never produces another hair, or debilitating it to the point where it produces thinner, lighter hairs.

Things You'll Need

• esthetician, dermatologist or laser technician

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Instructions

Research

• 1

  Set up a consultation with a laser specialist to find out if you are a good candidate for the procedure. The doctor or technician should examine your hair removal needs in person.

• 2

  Decide (with your technician) on the type of laser that works best for your specific skin and hair color. Most lasers work best on dark hair and light skin because they target the pigment in the follicle. If skin is too dark and hair is too light, the laser may not be able to spot the pigment or burn surrounding skin pigments.

• 3

  Get an estimate for the procedure. This should include an amount for each session and a recommendation for the number of sessions you will need (usually six to eight weeks) to achieve the desired results. Keep in mind that sessions are typically spaced in 6- to 10-week intervals--the length of a typical hair growth phase.

Procedure

• 4

  Shave the hair removal area one to three days prior to your treatment. Removing excess hair with a razor, as opposed to waxing or plucking it, will allow the laser to spot the follicle and focus all of its energy on it rather than the hair itself.

• 5

  Use a local anesthetic. They come in gel or cream forms and are applied right before the procedure to numb the area.

• 6

  Leave yourself an appropriate amount of time to have the procedure done correctly. Small areas such as underarms, bikini, eyebrows or lips can take as little as ten minutes, whereas the back or legs can take an hour.

Aftercare

• 7

  Apply a skin-soothing product such as aloe vera to the treated area. You should reapply regularly and for several days after treatment, as skin may feel sensitive and need to recover.

• 8

  Gently exfoliate your skin in the shower to encourage the skin to shed the treated area. Continue to do this for up to four weeks.

• 9

  Wait for new hair, which was dormant during the first treatment, to grow out. Go back for the next treatment once you have enough of this new growth for the laser to treat.