It’s 2021 and laser hair removal is no longer just some far-off notion. As laser hair removal becomes more and more popular and accessible, more questions arise.

If you’ve ever wondered just what laser hair removal is and how it works, you’re not the only one. In order to see if you may even be interesting in getting it done, you need to at least know the basics.

Here are some of the most common questions you may have about laser hair removal. 

Different Kinds

First, you need to know that there are different methods to laser hair removal. 

Laser Hair Removal

There is traditional laser hair removal, which focuses on a small part of the body in a precise way. Laser hair removal penetrates deeply into the hair follicles. It can only be done by a professional.

IPL

There’s also IPL, short for Intense Pulsed Light. Though it’s very similar, it isn’t technically laser hair removal, but it is close and used frequently. IPL is more customizable and can be adjusted based on the person’s skin tone and how coarse their hair is. 

It works by sending scattered pulses of light to damage the hair follicles, causing them to not produce hair.

Does it Hurt?

The biggest question on everyone’s mind: is this going to hurt?

That depends largely on what your pain tolerance is like. It’s zapping the follicles of your hair, so it’s not exactly comfortable. The pain is very quick and short, and only happens in a tiny area of skin. 

It also depends where you’re getting it done. If you get it on your legs, that’s going to hurt a lot less than, say, your armpits. Getting a Brazilian will probably be the most painful, since the skin there is thin and sensitive.

For the most part, the pain is temporary and not too bad. Afterward, you will probably feel like you have a sunburn, and your skin may be tender. You may want to take a painkiller to handle any residual soreness.

Does it Last?

Okay, but is laser hair removal permanent? The short answer is no.

You may assume that laser hair removal is sort of a one-and-done thing. While that would be awesome, it’s unfortunately not the case. 

How it works is that in the beginning, you will need 4 to 6 initial treatments to get the hair follicles as weakened and damaged as possible. This process works best on individuals with fair skin and dark, coarse hair. This combo allows the laser to work more effectively. It does work on all skin and hair types, however.

After your first round of treatment, you will notice some serious results. It will take your hair longer to grow back, and it will grow back weaker and thinner. Over time, it can possibly disappear entirely.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case for most individuals. Most people will need 1 or 2 treatments to maintain a hairless appearance. 

If you ask us, that still beats the heck out of getting a wax every month or shaving every day.

Is it Expensive?

So we know it can be very effective and that it does hurt a bit, but how much is it going to cost you?

Brace yourself. Traditional laser har removal done at a skin care facility can cost around $300 per session, depending on the area you are working with. Yes, per session. So multiply that and you get… well, quite an investment.

Luckily, there are now handset devices that allow you to get IPL laser hair removal at your home, so those are worth looking into.

Is it Right for Me?

Ultimately, only you can decide if laser hair removal is right for you. Consider your pain tolerance, your patience, and your budget to decide if you want to try it.