Women who have unwanted facial hair know the struggle. Whether it’s a thin mustache, thick chin or neck hairs, or unwanted sideburns, many women are more than willing to do anything to get rid of unsightly facial hair. It’s embarrassing and incredibly frustrating to deal with facial hair. It can wreak havoc on your self-esteem and can even affect your confidence in being around other people.
While waxing and tweezing are quick fixes for temporarily getting rid of facial hair, they often lead to redness, irritation, bumpy skin, and ingrown hairs. Aside from these downsides, these types of treatments aren’t ideal for sensitive skin.
Not to mention, these painful hair removal methods don’t create lasting results. That means you have to keep doing it repeatedly. Therefore, you’re stuck in a never-ending cycle.
The good news is – laser hair removal is one way that can help you achieve permanent hair removal and eliminate your worries forever! In this article, you’ll discover the benefits of laser hair removal treatments for women. This will include common myths and truths about this popular procedure.
How does laser hair removal work?
- Laser hair removal is a safe and effective way to remove unwanted facial hair.
- Treatments to all skin types with the right laser (including those with sensitive, darker, acne-prone, or tanned skin).
- Laser technology targets the melanin in your hairs – which means that not only will you stop seeing hairs grow back (over repeated sessions), but you’ll notice that your hair will become finer and more sparse (in-between sessions). So, you’re not only getting long-term results but you’re also seeing immediate improvements as well.
Why is laser hair removal ideal for getting rid of women’s facial hair?
Laser treatments are permanent – they work by targeting the hair follicle to disable it. So, after multiple treatments (spaced out over a period of time), the goal is to have a 75% to 90% permanent hair reduction in the area treated. Keep in mind that facial hair is different on everyone, as it is hormonally-driven. Even after having 8-sessions, women should be prepared to have on-going treatments to keep the hair at bay.
Another benefit of doing this type of hair removal on women’s facial hair is that it can be used on virtually all skin types (including those with sensitive or darker skin) so that everyone can reap the benefits of this treatment. Since there’s no “one size fits all” laser, the appropriate laser would need to function for various skin types. For example, the same laser would not be used for dark skin as it would be for light skin. Your professional laser hair removal specialist would be able to properly guide you as to the type of laser that is best suited for your skin.
How can a woman prepare for laser hair removal on her face?
To prepare for a laser hair removal session, shaving before a treatment is required to help maximize the benefits of laser technology. The reason being is that laser energy is heat energy, and by leaving hair on the surface, it could result in injury to the skin. Also, you don’t want the laser energy to be wasted on the surface of the skin; but rather, you want it to penetrate the skin, and then seek the pigment by entering the hair follicle.
Laser treatments target melanin (which essentially is responsible for the pigmentation in your hair). Therefore, shaving your face before your session is needed to not only make it easier to see where the laser needs to be focused on removing the hair, but also to provide better results.
Laser hair removal myth
You might have heard the myth that shaving your facial hair prior to your session will lead to hair growing back in coarser or thicker, but that’s not true. As reported by the Mayo Clinic, “shaving hair doesn’t change its thickness, color or rate of growth.”
Since the laser technology will be targeting the root of the hair follicle, it will essentially be damaging it. By doing this, it causes the hair to gently fall out on its own (naturally, over time). And, as it regrows, it becomes sparser and finer. With each treatment, the follicle shrinks so that the hair it produces will become finer (because the opening is smaller). When the laser hits the follicle, the hair that is in it is ejected. This will shed within a few days to a couple of weeks after the treatment.
After multiple sessions, the hair follicles are destroyed, which means fewer hairs regrow, leading to long-lasting results. Not to mention – you’re left with beautiful, smooth skin. It also helps to resolve pigmentation issues that can be caused by ingrown hairs.
What can you expect after one session?
After just one laser hair removal treatment, you can expect to see a decrease in the amount of hair on your face. You might experience slight redness the day of the treatment (depending on how sensitive her skin is), but this goes away within a few hours generally. Over the next couple of weeks, you’ll notice that your skin will continue to look and feel softer and smoother.
What does the procedure feel like?
Most women would say it’s slightly uncomfortable at most. Unlike painful threading, sugaring, or waxing treatments (which pull the hair out of the pore), the laser pulses target the root of the hair follicle. As the laser wand passes over the skin, you might feel a flash of heat or a minor stinging sensation (similar to a rubber band). Most laser technologies have some type of built-in cooling mechanism that makes treatments more comfortable. In addition to this, highly sensitive patients may request a numbing cream before the session.
Can you wear makeup after a session?
After a treatment, you can certainly apply makeup. You’ll notice that your skin looks fresh, radiant, and hair-free, which will certainly boost your confidence.
As you can see, there are a multitude of benefits for getting laser hair removal for unwanted facial hair. It’s safe, effective, and efficient. Plus, it’s also a great option for those who are sensitive to other hair removal methods.
To learn more about laser hair removal, call WIFH at 404-832-0300 or book a complimentary consultation.