Everyone does what they want with their body hair. If you are one of those who want to get rid of it, there are methods that are more effective than others. Before taking the plunge and opting for laser hair removal, you probably have a lot of questions running through your mind.
How exactly does laser hair removal work? Which parts of the body are affected? Is laser hair removal suitable for everyone, and what can you expect in terms of price and results?
To dispel any lingering doubts or concerns you may have about this topic, we explain everything you need to know about laser hair removal.
What is the life of a hair?
It is important to understand how hair grows.
Our hair grows in a hair follicle. To be more precise, it is an invagination of the epidermis into the deeper layers of the skin, i.e. into the dermis and even into the hypodermis. They are found all over our body, except on our lips, the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet.
It is in this small bubble that the bulb forms, which is the only living part of the hair. As it grows, its shaft emerges from the skin. This is the visible part of the hair, also known as the keratinised part. It will be more or less long, hard and thick depending on the area of the body and more or less coloured depending on the concentration of melanin (the pigment in hair).
The length of the hair cycle therefore varies from person to person, but also depending on the area of the body. It will also vary depending on the hair removal technique used.
In all cases, the hair cycle is always divided into three phases:
– The anagen phase: this is the final growth period, during which pigmentation is completed. 85% of our hair is in this phase. This is the phase in which laser treatment is most effective. This phase can last from several weeks to several months (depending on the area of the body, the type and nature of the hair, as well as our genetics and metabolism).
– The catagen phase: a transition period that generally lasts 24 days, during which the hair stops growing. This accounts for 3 to 4% of hairs.
– The telogen phase (or resting phase) lasts between 5 and 6 weeks. The hair stops growing and eventually falls out. Its life cycle ends, making way for a new hair. Approximately 13% of hairs are in this phase.
What is permanent laser hair removal?
Now that we know a little more about the life cycle of a hair, let’s take a look at the medical technique of medical lasers for hair removal. It allows hair to be permanently destroyed.
Laser energy is light energy that attaches itself to the melanin in the hair as it passes over the skin. Melanin is the pigment in hair (and skin), which is what gives hair and skin their colour. The intensity of the laser is therefore adjusted to the concentration of melanin in the skin at each hair removal session to ensure effective and safe treatment.
By attaching itself to the melanin in the hair, the laser light is converted into heat. This new energy travels down the hair follicle to the base of the hair, known as the bulb.
The heat will be strong enough to permanently destroy the bulb by burning it, causing the hair to fall out naturally in the days following the laser hair removal session. The burned bulb is permanently destroyed. To destroy a bulb, it is therefore important that it is clearly visible and that as many as possible are present during laser hair removal treatment.
And what about your skin?
You may be concerned about light and heat pulses penetrating your skin. But when you think about it, your skin is already used to it.
The laser’s light energy is absorbed by melanin. That is why, before starting your session, we always choose a laser (and more specifically a fluence level) that is compatible with your skin pigmentation.
To adapt to your skin type, we use the Fitzpatrick scale. This scale allows us to determine how different skin tones react to sun exposure. It also allows us to ensure that the laser light is absorbed by your melanin without leaving any marks or causing any negative effects.
It is therefore important to avoid sun exposure before and after a laser hair removal session to prevent any risk of burns or pigmentation disorders. The length of time required varies depending on the type of laser used (from a few days to several weeks). It is therefore important to follow the instructions given by your doctor.
The different types of permanent hair removal
One of the main questions you may ask yourself is: what is the best hair removal method?
The two best known are laser hair removal and intense pulsed light hair removal.
The first, as already mentioned, involves burning the hair root using a highly precise beam of light. Depending on your phototype (i.e. your skin type), the most suitable laser from among several medical lasers will be used to achieve the desired results.
– The Alexandrite laser, for example, is better suited to treating fair and very fair skin (i.e. skin types 1 to 3);
– The NdYAG laser is used more for skin types 4 to 6 (i.e. dark and black skin, as well as tanned skin). Its wavelength allows for the permanent removal of hair from dark skin without any risk. However, this type of laser may require more sessions.
– The Diode laser is suitable for almost all skin types (phototypes 1 to 5). It is less painful than the Alexandrite laser, very precise and highly effective.
As for pulsed light (or flash lamp) hair removal, this technique is more diffuse and therefore less precise than laser, with much lower fluence. In other words, more sessions will be needed for optimal results.
The advantages of laser hair removal
The main advantage of laser hair removal is obvious: no more regular shaving or gritting your teeth during waxing. This is especially true for areas that are not always easy to reach or may be more sensitive. Permanent hair removal is possible on very specific areas of your face or body, for example, and also allows you to remove hair from your back.
But that’s far from the only advantage of permanent laser hair removal. In addition to being permanent (and therefore more economical in the long term), this treatment is also:
– Precise: nothing is more precise than a laser.
– Fast: no more waiting for wax to heat up in a bain-marie or cool down on your skin. The same goes for electric epilators, which only remove 25 mm of skin per second.
– Permanent: each person reacts differently to laser hair removal. For some, the hair will be permanently removed, while for others, the process will be semi-permanent. But even in this case, regrowth will be much slower and the results will therefore last much longer than with any other technique. Overall, an average of 20% of hair follicles are destroyed during a laser hair removal session. On average, six laser sessions are required for each treated area.
– Aesthetics: thanks to permanent hair removal, you can say goodbye to ingrown hairs and folliculitis caused by shaving or waxing.
Please note: This method is not effective on white hairs, as the light beam must be absorbed by melanin, which white hairs no longer contain. Red hairs can also be more difficult to treat or even impossible, as the laser does not bind to certain types of melanin.
Which areas can be treated with laser hair removal?
The other good news if you opt for laser hair removal is that it can be performed on all areas of your body, including your face and body (except for mucous membranes).
The only slight difference is that, depending on the area you wish to have treated, the duration of the session and the method chosen may vary. Laser hair removal areas are generally classified into three categories:
– Small areas (such as the underarms, chin or toes);
– Large areas (legs, forearms, back, abdomen);
– And finally, sensitive areas (such as the bikini line or the intergluteal cleft).
For example, a laser session above the lips or underarms will take no more than 5 minutes. Allow 30 minutes for half legs.
Who is laser hair removal suitable for?
Anyone can undergo permanent hair removal. However, those under the age of 18 will need parental consent, and it is also advisable to wait until puberty is complete. It is important to note that hormonal maturity occurs around the age of 25. This is when our hair growth stabilises. Before this age, new hair continues to grow. So if you are under 25 and want to start this treatment, be aware that you will probably need more laser sessions to remove your hair, as well as regular annual maintenance until you reach this age.
Although laser hair removal is available to all women and men, it is still necessary to take a few precautions before taking the plunge.
At Maison Magnifisens, the doctor always carries out a preliminary diagnosis before proceeding with the first laser hair removal session. In addition to asking you to fill out a health questionnaire to provide us with information about your medical history, we will also take the time to examine any moles or tattoos on all areas to be treated.
Simple questions about your skin type, hairiness, and habits (such as sun exposure) will also help us guide you towards the most appropriate technique.
Contraindication:
Daily use of photosensitising medication is contraindicated with laser treatment due to the risk of skin pigmentation. If this is a one-off treatment, laser hair removal will be performed a few days to a few weeks/months after the end of the treatment. Again, it is important to discuss this with the doctor at the aesthetic medicine centre and follow their instructions.
How should I prepare for laser hair removal treatment?
Although it is quick and painless, laser hair removal is still a medical procedure. It is therefore important to take certain precautions before your session:
– Shave the area 2 to 4 days beforehand (the procedure is more effective on hair that is 1 mm short or flush with the skin).
– Avoid exposure to sunlight before your session for the entire period specified by your doctor. Protect the areas to be treated with protective clothing or SPF 50 sunscreen to ensure the procedure is more effective. This will also limit the risk of complications (even though these are very rare).
– Between sessions, you may shave or trim the treated areas.
NB: The permanent hair removal session will be postponed if you have recently undergone photosensitising treatment, or if your skin is infected, irritated or injured.
Laser hair removal: what results can you expect?
Now that you are ready for your first permanent hair removal session, what should you expect?
Pain: don’t worry. This method simply burns the hair at the root, and you will generally only feel slight discomfort regardless of the area. Most often, you will feel a slight tingling sensation, especially during the first few sessions. Just remember to moisturise well afterwards to soothe any warmth.
Last point: the number and frequency of sessions. In general, you have to wait until the first few sessions to see results. It all depends on your skin type. Depending on your profile (and the frequency of repetitions), sessions will be spaced 4 to 12 weeks apart. Touch-ups may be necessary in the coming years.
Trust us for your permanent hair removal. At Maison Magnifisens, we offer you the best solution for effective, long-lasting, painless and safe hair removal. For more details about the procedure and our prices, click here!
If you enjoyed this article, you may be interested in the following articles:
The undeniable benefits of regular physical activity in aesthetic medicine
