Laser Hair Removal: What Is It, Procedure, Safety & Side Effects

This heats the hair shaft and follicle to a critical point rendering it incapable of continued hair growth. It is a safe and comfortable treatment, with a built-in cooling system to protect your skin. It works best on light-to-medium skin tones with darker hair since its targeting capabilities depend on the pigment within the hair.

Best Laser Hair Removal Device for Face

When you shave, the razor cuts the hairs at the surface of your skin so that you cannot see the hairs. This causes small plumes of smoke that have a sulfur-like smell. To help you decide whether this treatment is right for you, you should review the following facts.

Best for Dark Skin

For years, our GH Beauty Lab experts have regularly tested all kinds of hair removal products, from waxing kits, razors and dermaplaning tools to depilatory creams and epilators. Soft to hold against your skin, this IPL device has a smooth silicone handle and a unique treatment head where the lamp is surrounded by a ring of silicone. Plus, there are air vents inside the silicone ring that deliver cool air to the treatment area.

Best IPL and laser hair removal machines to use at home in 2024 - Expert Reviews

Best IPL and laser hair removal machines to use at home in 2024.

Posted: Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:40:00 GMT [source]

Best Laser Hair Removal Device for Bikini Area

Shaving is time-consuming and often requires patience, while waxing and in-office treatments can be excruciating depending on your pain threshold and add up to a large cost. Fortunately, eliminating unwanted stubble or patches across the body has become easier, more cost-effective and gentle than ever thanks to a slew of at-home laser devices such as IPL. Here, you'll find the best options on the market based on featured technology, editor feedback, online costumer reviews, and dermatologist recommendations.

It also claims to reduce hair growth in as little as four 45-minute treatments. If you're looking to remove unwanted hair fast, this one's for you. Contributor Brigitt Earley first tested Braun's most popular laser hair removal device in the fall of 2023—to rave reviews.

Waxing

However, for best results, you would have to use the device fairly often, which may make it not all that different from shaving. It depends on the person, but people generally see results within 6-10 treatments. As previously mentioned, the devices available for use at home are not as powerful as the devices you would find in a dermatology office, and therefore more treatments are usually needed. Currently, electrolysis hair removal is the only method approved by the FDA for permanent hair removal.

Some may experience minimal hair growth in the treated area(s) which may require touch-up treatments to maintain optimal results. Meet Braun's newest laser hair removal device—one that the brand says is the only "smart" option in this category. The beauty gadget connects to a compatible smartphone app via Bluetooth and WiFi technology to tailor your treatment to your personal needs. Our tester was impressed with how well it assessed her skin tone and hair color for compatibility with the device, plus liked that it even guides you through the entire process.

Your medical provider will pull the area of skin taut and hold the laser to the skin at a perpendicular angle. They will press the laser down gently but firmly on the skin to ensure the hair follicles are close to the laser's surface. Several steps take place during a laser hair removal session. The length of treatment depends on the size of the area being treated. For example, treating a large area like the back may take more than an hour, but a smaller area like the upper lip may only take a few minutes. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of a series of laser hair removal treatments is $582.

Braun Skin i-expert

Personally, I chose to get professional laser hair removal after years of teenage trauma, but was disappointed to find out the results weren’t permanent. Experts say the effectiveness of laser hair removal may vary depending on your hair and skin color, as well as hormonal fluctuations. No, laser hair removal can't permanently remove hair, but it can reduce your hair, says board-certified dermatologist Rachel Westbay.

If you have darker hair or skin, see your dermatologist for a recommendation on the best laser hair removal treatments and devices for you. But in general, "IPL lasers, which stands for intense pulsed light, are much more inconsistent with their results, and they're not suitable for darker skin tones," says Dr. Downie. You can also read the device's reviews before purchasing one.

When that electric current travels down to the hair follicle, it zaps it dead, preventing a hair from ever growing there again. The procedure is typically done by a licensed and trained electrologist. Laser hair removal removes unwanted hair by destroying the hair’s follicle with a precision laser light.

You can buy tools to remove hair at home, but since this is a medical treatment, it's better to have a professional do it. There aren't any long-term studies on the safety or effectiveness of at-home devices. Plus, they're considered cosmetic devices, not medical, which means they aren't held to the same standards as professional tools. You should also avoid sun exposure for 6 weeks before and after treatment. Sun exposure makes laser hair removal less effective and makes complications after treatment more likely. Laser hair removal is one of the most commonly done cosmetic procedures in the U.S.

Although that super-affordable laser spa might sound better on your wallet, it might not end up being the best (or safest) option. Make sure that the person performing your treatment is licensed and knowledgeable (aka read reviews, DM people on Instagram who've posted before and afters—FWIW, we vetted all of the above studios carefully). IPL hair removal, including the Venus Versa™ system for hair, is one of the solutions we provide at Advanced Dermatology for hair reduction and smoother, bare skin. If hair removal is causing a skin problem or you suddenly have a lot more unwanted hair, a board-certified dermatologist can explain what’s happening and recommend an option that’s right for you. You’ll also find kits that allow you to perform electrolysis at home. Unlike professional electrolysis, kits don’t involve inserting probes into your hair follicles.