The ABCs of Laser Hair Removal

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The ABCs of Laser Hair Removal
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Synopsis

1. What Is Laser Hair Removal?
2. Who Is a Candidate for Laser Hair Removal?
3. Which Laser Hair Removal Equipment Is Best?
4. Benefits of Laser Hair Removal

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What Is Laser Hair Removal?

• If youve been looking for an effective and
  efficient way to remove hair and dont want to
  keep waxing, shaving or tweezing, you may want to
  think about laser hair removal.
• Currently, laser hair removal is one of the most
  common beauty treatments in the United States.
  During this process, beans of light that are
  highly concentrated are placed on the hair
  follicles to draw the hair out. The pigment in
  the hair follicles absorbs the light from the
  laser machine, which destroys the hair.
• Are There Specific Benefits?
• There are a number of benefits to laser hair
  removal, and the treatment can be done on various
  parts of the body, including the bikini line,
  arms, legs, underarm and face.
• One of the reasons that people choose laser hair
  removal is because the procedure is very precise.
  The laser can target hairs that are difficult to
  remove without damaging the skin around the hair.
  
• Laser hair removal is also pretty quick. The
  pulse of light in the laser takes less than a
  second to affect the hair. This hair removal
  method also allows you to treat lots of hair at
  one time. Each second, lasers can treat an area
  of hair about the size of a quarter. Smaller
  areas of the body like the upper lip can be
  treated in less than 60 seconds however, large
  areas like the legs and back can take about an
  hour to treat.
• This method of hair removal is also predictable.
  Most people who get their hair removed with
  lasers will be able to enjoy permanent hair
  removal after getting three to seven treatments.

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What Is Laser Hair Removal?

• Preparing For Your Appointment
• Its important that you prep your skin for laser
  hair removal. This protects your skin and ensures
  that the procedure is effective.
• Laser hair removal isnt just the zapping of
  unwanted hair from your follicles. It is actually
  classified as a medical procedure. This means
  that the people who perform the treatment on you
  should be trained so that there are very little
  risks. Before you have your hair removed with a
  laser, make sure that the credentials of the
  doctor or technician can be confirmed.
• About a month or so before your appointment, make
  sure that you limit the amount of waxing,
  plucking or electrolysis you do. Remember that
  the laser goes straight for your roots, and when
  you wax or pluck your hair, your roots are
  removed temporarily. So, if you pluck or wax your
  hair too much before getting lasered, the
  procedure wont be as effective.
• What Should You Expect?
• Right before laser hair removal, youll have your
  hair trimmed so that its just above the surface
  of your skin. The laser machine will be adjusted
  according to the thickness of your hair and skin
  color. Adjustments will also be made to the
  machine based on where youre getting the hair
  removed.
• Be sure to talk to your skin care specialist and
  laser hair removal professional about any
  concerns or questions before you begin. After you
  have a clear understanding of how laser hair
  removal works, you may find that you want to use
  this as your primary hair removal method.

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Who Is a Candidate for Laser Hair Removal?

• If youve been thinking about laser hair removal,
  you may be wondering if you are a good candidate
  for the procedure. There are a few things to be
  aware of before your laser hair removal
  appointment so that you can be prepared and get
  the right results.
• Skin Tone
• Laser hair removal works by targeting melanin.
  The concentration of melanin is high in both dark
  skin and dark hair. So ideally, youre a great
  candidate for laser hair removal if you have dark
  hair and light skin. However, there are special
  machines and settings for people who have darker
  complexions or hair that is not very dark. This
  is why you have to have the procedure done by a
  professional who knows how to work with various
  complexions.
• Skin Area
• Its also a good idea to get laser hair removal
  if youre looking to treat a large area of your
  body. This is because laser hair removal is a
  quick process, so you can remove hair from areas
  like your back and legs in a matter of minutes.
• Taking Precautions
• Depending on the light source youre using for
  laser hair removal, both you and the professional
  performing the hair removal may have to wear
  protective eye gear. You may also have to have
  special gels or cooling moisturizers applied to
  protect the outer layers of your skin. This makes
  it easier for the laser light to get through the
  skin.

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Who Is a Candidate for Laser Hair Removal?

• After the protective coating is applied, your
  technician should apply a pulse of light to the
  area that is being treated. He/she will then
  watch the area for a few minutes to ensure that
  the right machine settings are being used for the
  removal process. The technician will also check
  your skin to see if there are any negative
  reactions on your skin. No matter the color of
  your skin or hair, youll have to continue
  getting laser treatments until your hair is no
  longer growing.
• Risks and Recovery
• For about a day after your laser hair treatment,
  the part of your skin that has been lasered will
  look and feel a lot like sunburn. Its important
  to keep your skin moisturized or use cold
  compresses to ease the discomfort. If you got
  laser hair removal on your face, wait a day
  before wearing makeup. If you find that your skin
  is blistering or especially red, wait a little
  longer before using facial cosmetics.
• Its also important to note that over the next 30
  days or so, the hair that has been treated will
  fall out. This is why its important for you to
  wear sunscreen so that you wont have any changes
  in your skin color. Its pretty rare that youll
  get blisters from laser hair removal, but this is
  more likely to happen if you have darker skin. If
  you have a darker complexion, you can also
  experience other side effects like redness,
  swelling and scarring. This is why its best to
  have a small section of your skin tested first
  before treating an entire area with lasers.

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Which Laser Hair Removal Equipment Is Best?

• Now that you know a little more about the people
  who are the best candidates for laser hair
  removal and how the process works, youll need to
  know about the right equipment. Its important
  that the technicians you choose are using the
  right tools for your hair and skin type. This
  will increase the chances that youll be pleased
  with your results. The right tools also ensures
  that the hair is properly removed from your
  follicles. This means that you should see
  improvement with each treatment, and that after a
  series of sessions, your hair will be permanently
  removed.
• When it comes to the right device for lasr hair
  removal, youll need to talk to your therapist
  about the devices that are ideal for the type of
  skin you. A number of practitioners suggest the
  long-pulsed NDyg is the best laser to use. Other
  professionals say that the Lightseer is the
  highest quality laser hair removal machine. It is
  possible that either of these machines could work
  well. The length of time that you need to use the
  laser and the color and condition of your
  complexion will help your technician decide which
  machine to use. It has been said that NDYgis
  ideal for darker skin and Lightseer, also
  referred to as a diode laser, is ideal for people
  with lighter skin. Theres also a laser called
  the alexandrite laser, and this device could work
  for a variety of skin types. Alexandrite lasers
  are not as common, but are effective for lighter
  and medium skin, so if you think this is the
  device you want to go with, talk to your laser
  hair removal professional about the possibility
  of using this device.

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Which Laser Hair Removal Equipment Is Best?

• Be sure to talk to your technician which machines
  need to be on your skin for the longest amount of
  time to get great results. If you can use the
  laser less than one second per hair follicle,
  this is ideal. A quick treatment keeps your skin
  from getting burned or scarred.
• No matter what type of laser you use, remember
  that you have to prepare your skin for the
  procedure so that you wont experience scarring
  and irritation. You should shave your legs the
  day before your appointment. Its best to use a
  brand new razor and lots of shaving cream to
  ensure that your skin is as smooth as possible.
  This also makes your hair follicles more
  prominent so that the machine can get to the hair
  right away. Be sure that you dont add any lotion
  or oils to your skin after bathing, because the
  moisturizers will make it more difficult for the
  laser to work. If youre getting your underarms
  waxed, dont apply deodorant before your
  appointment. Make sure that you can see the roots
  of your hair before you go in for your laser
  treatment, since you shouldnt pluck or wax
  before your appointment.
• You can also ask your laser hair removal
  specialist if you can view before and after
  pictures before you have your hair removed. This
  can help you decide on the right device for your
  skin.

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Benefits of Laser Hair Removal

• Hopefully the information youve read has given
  you a clear idea of what laser hair removal is.
  Youve also learned about the machines that are
  best for this procedure. While youve learned
  that laser hair removal is a common procedure and
  whether or not youd be a great candidate, you
  may not be clear on all the benefits of this hair
  removal process.
• There are several perks to having your hair
  removed by laser as opposed to other forms of
  hair removal. If youre still not sure if laser
  hair removal is right for you, here are some of
  the benefits to consider.
• One of the main reasons why people use lasers to
  take hair off their bodies is because the process
  is fast. If youve ever spent half an hour at the
  sink or shower shaving your arms or legs, you can
  likely appreciate that sensitive areas like your
  bikini region and underarms can be fully treated
  in about 20 minutes.

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Benefits of Laser Hair Removal

• Its also important to note that laser hair
  removal is cheaper in the long run. Even though
  the treatments are more expensive initially than
  shaving or waxing, when you think about the fact
  that you wont need these things after your laser
  treatments are over, youll be saving money. When
  you finish your series of treatments, youll
  never have to buy another razor or hair removal
  cream again. The overall cost of laser hair
  removal has also gone down over the years, since
  people are aware of new technologies and
  equipment that is more cost-effective. The cost
  of waxing, however, has increased. If you have to
  get waxed every month, youll likely see the cost
  add up pretty quickly. You may also notice that
  your skin may have an adverse reaction to shaving
  and waxing, such as ingrown hairs, razor bumps
  and redness. Once you have your hair lasered, you
  wont have to worry about treating these skin
  issues again, which means that laser hair removal
  could be the best treatment for you if you have
  sensitive skin.
• Another benefit of laser hair removal is that you
  wont have to remove hair daily. This means it
  wont take as long for you to get ready when
  youre heading to work or a special event. You
  also dont know to grow out your hair in between
  treatments. You can shave in between treatments
  and this could make it easier to remove the hair
  from the follicles so you can stop the growth
  process quicker.
• Of course, the amount of treatments youll need
  is something you should discuss with your
  technician. If you have very thick or coarse
  hair, it could take more treatments than if you
  have lighter or thinner hair. The total time of
  treatment could span between 1 and 3 months,
  depending on the part of your body being treated.
  After every laser hair removal session, you
  should see at least a 10 reduction in hair in
  some cases, youll see a 15 reduction. Talk to
  your technician about any existing health
  conditions as well, since these could affect your
  treatments as well.

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  -machine-professional-equipment/

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