Does Laser Hair Removal Get Rid of Hair for Good?

We all have hair somewhere that we don’t love. It might be thick hair on our legs, a unibrow, too much on our back, or a bikini line that just won’t stay in line. Both men and women suffer from unwanted hair, and there’s a whole industry-worth of options that have been produced to address it. Yet some options are definitely better than others. At Sun City Laser in El Paso, TX, we think laser hair removal in El Paso is the way to go.

This is fast becoming one of the nation’s most popular cosmetic treatments, and if you haven’t tried it for yourself, our team is here to help get you the effortlessly smooth skin you’ve always wanted.

Does Laser Hair Removal Get Rid of Hair for Good?

When you compare laser treatments to waxing, shaving, and all the other options out there, it really stands out as the best for long-term hair removal.

And like any other method of removing hair, it works best and gives you the most permanent results when you know how to use it correctly. This starts with knowing how your hair grows, how laser treatments work, and the best way to work with laser treatments for permanent hair reduction.

How Your Hair Grows

Your hair grows in cycles of shedding, dormancy, and active growth. Not all the hair in any one area is in the same part of the cycle at the same time.

Think about the hair on your head: it’s always growing, right? Yet if every hair were always at the same point in the growth cycle, it would go through periods where it grew quickly, followed by periods where it didn’t grow at all, and then periods when it all fell out at the same time. Instead, all the hair is at different points in the cycle, giving the illusion of steady, slow growth.

Laser hair treatments are very effective at targeting hair in the growing part of the cycle, but not very good at getting the hair in other parts of the cycle.

How Laser Treatment Works

A laser is simply focused light, and it targets the color in your hair. It follows that hair all the way down the shaft to the root. There, the laser’s heat energy damages the follicle so it can’t grow hair as it once did. The light of the laser is specially designed so it’s attracted by the pigment in hair but not by the pigment in the skin.

In the active growing stage, your hair is tightly connected to the follicle, but in the other stages of hair growth, that connection isn’t as secure. The heat from the laser doesn’t make it down to the follicle as easily. That’s why you need multiple treatments and why treatments need to be spaced out. As you wait for your next treatment, more hair enters the active growing stage and can be effectively treated.

Long-Term Results

As you get more treatment, more of the follicles are damaged and you’ll notice less hair. What does grow back will be thinner and will grow more slowly. In fact, some people actually achieve completely permanent results in some areas. But everyone sees serious, long-term hair reduction that will last for months.

Just an occasional maintenance treatment will be enough to maintain your smooth skin. The key to getting the best, long-term results lies in keeping up with your treatment schedule and maintenance treatments so you get all the hair in the active growing phase.

Is Laser Really Better?

Consider the most common way of getting rid of unwanted hair: shaving. Even if you have been doing it all your life and are very good at it, the hair will still come back. You’ll be dealing with stubble and new growth in just a few days (or even a few hours). And that’s not even considering issues like razor burn and those annoying nicks.

Plucking? Plucking is time-consuming and painful, and simply not a viable option if you have large areas to treat. And if you’re waxing, you have to wait for the hair to grow long enough to pull out. Not to mention that waxing appointments are costly over time and painful no matter what.

Then there are depilatory creams, and these are perhaps the worst possible option. These creams contain harsh chemicals—so harsh that the manufacturers include neutralizers to counteract the offensive smell they would otherwise give off. If you could actually smell these creams, you’d probably never use them! They can and do cause burns, rashes, and allergic reactions.

Laser Is Better

Laser is an option that gives painless, lasting results. There’s no need to let your hair grow embarrassingly long before treating it, and there’s no risk of ingrown hairs. It doesn’t have to be repeated every week, and it poses no risk of chemical burns. It can also be done quickly and conveniently. It truly is the best option.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

Results always vary according to your unique needs. It will depend on how thick the hair is in your target area, how quickly your hair grows, and how large an area you’re having treated. We recommend people start out with a package of three treatments. Some people will be happy with their results at that point, while others will need another package of three treatments to get their perfect results.

Once you have the results you’re looking for, getting a maintenance treatment about once or twice a year will be enough to keep those results. When we meet with you for a consultation, we’ll consider your individual needs and help you decide on a course of treatment that’s right for you.

When Can I Have My Treatment?

There’s no downtime with laser hair removal in El Paso, and lots of people schedule their treatment into moments when they have some time, like over lunch or during a session of running errands.

It only takes about five minutes to do a very small area, like the upper lip, and around 15 minutes to do a medium-sized area like the underarms or the whole face. Larger areas require proportionally more time, but these treatments are easy to fit into your schedule.

What Areas Can I Treat?

There’s almost no place that’s off-limits to this treatment. If you want to get rid of invasive sideburns, stop having to shave under your arms, thin out the hair on your chest, or have beach-ready legs at all times, you can do it. Other areas we can treat include:

• Face
• Neck
• Back
• Bikini line
• Stomach
• Brazilian
• Eyebrow
• Arms

 

Does It Hurt?

Today’s modern lasers are far more comfortable than the original IPL and laser hair removal technologies. We can offer creams and ice that make it even more comfortable, but in general, most people aren’t bothered by the way it feels.

What Is Downtime Like?

There is no real downtime needed after treatment. You can go back to your normal schedule immediately. The only thing we’ll advise you to do is to avoid the sun for a while. Treat your skin as if it had gotten a sunburn by keeping it out of the sun, babying it with moisturizers, and wearing sunscreen whenever you go out.

How Long Does it Take to See Results?

At first, it might appear that your treated hair is still growing. That’s because the hair will disconnect from the damaged follicle and needs some time to shed. That shedding looks a bit like hair growth. Once the hair is shed, however, which takes a day or two, the damaged follicles won’t grow back new hair for a long time.

Hair that wasn’t in the growing stage at the time of treatment will continue to grow, of course, but you’ll get those hairs at your next session.

Is This Like IPL?

IPL—Intense Pulsed Light—works similarly to laser in that it also uses light energy and it also damages the follicle using that energy. But the similarities stop there. Spa IPL devices use broad-spectrum light energy, which is less effective than the focused beam of the laser.

Some of the light is “lost” on the way to the follicle, which increases the risk of burns to the skin and means the follicle isn’t getting enough heat to really disable it for the long-term. These devices are especially problematic for people who have darker skin or lighter hair.

Even worse are those at-home IPL devices. They seem like a bargain when you consider the price, but they simply aren’t very effective. They are much less powerful, which is necessary to ensure consumer safety, and they require many more treatments to get results. And despite their lower power, they offer a greater risk of burns and are suitable for far fewer skin types and hair colors.

How Long Do I Have to Wait Between Treatments?

Every situation is unique, and when you come to talk to us at your initial consultation, we’ll help you plan out a treatment schedule that works for you. Most people need between one and four weeks between their treatments.

The most important thing, however, is not to skip treatments. Skipping treatments is counterproductive. It slows the process and may mean you’ll need more treatments to get to your goal.

The Advantages of Laser

This method of treating unwanted hair is completely different from other options. It can give you the smooth skin you’ve always wanted, and for longer, than any other hair removal option out there. It does so without the risk of nicks, razor burn, and rash. Here’s why we love this treatment:

It’s Convenient

Need to shave? You have to be in the shower or have access to your bathroom to do that. You can schedule a laser session any time you’re out of the house normally for work or to run errands. And with the short sessions, you don’t have to worry about disrupting your life.

It’s Effective

The more sessions you invest in, the more dramatic your results. After each session, you’ll notice less and less hair and smoother skin for longer periods. It will take a lot less effort to “clean up” for an outing or trip to the pool. This is a great option that eliminates the need for daily shaving and weekly waxing.

It’s Lasting

This treatment really lasts. You’re not going to see that unwanted hair again for months, and possibly even up to a year. With continued maintenance treatments, some people even see permanent results. Compare that to shaving: no matter how often you run the razor over your skin and get that smooth feeling, the hair just comes back, and almost immediately.

Are You Ready for Smooth Skin?

Come talk to us at Sun City Laser in El Paso, TX today to learn more about the benefits of laser hair removal and what kind of results you can expect. We know you want to be confident in your appearance, and our goal is always to help you reach yours.