Alright, let’s get down and dirty about… laser hair removal. I’ve known it was a thing for a while but a swimmer friend of mine down here in Texas was raving about getting it done years ago and I was intrigued. I started doing some research and decided I’d like to try it out! I’ve had six treatments so far and I am loving the results… enough that I thought I’d share with you all in case you were contemplating laser hair removal, too! Whether you’re tired of buying razor after razor, don’t want to keep scheduling waxing appointments, or want to say goodbye to razor burn and ingrown hairs, laser hair removal may be worth considering. 

How does laser hair removal work?

Laser hair removal uses highly concentrated pulses of light to remove hair. The laser is able to selectively target your hair (instead of your skin) because it’s drawn to the pigment in the hair. Your hair has a growth cycle with resting and falling-out phases, so not all hair is present during every treatment. This is why multiple treatments six weeks apart are suggested to ensure every hair is treated.

You can get any dark hair treated – arms, legs, bikini, armpit, face, etc. As mentioned above, the hair must be dark to absorb the laser light. So if you have blonde leg hair, you are out of luck, my friend. The style of your laser treatment is entirely up to you. Since I live in Texas and am swimming way more than when I lived in Illinois, I was very intrigued by the possibility of not having to shave *ahem* down there as much or at all. You can just do your bikini line, leave a small landing strip, or get the Brazilian, which means it ALL goes. And yes, they get your butt, too.

Does it hurt?

I won’t sugarcoat it for you: YES. It hurts like a bitch. Thankfully it’s only 5-10 minutes for a whole session and you’re done for at least 6 weeks. It literally feels like someone snapping a rubber band on you over and over again. You usually have the option of numbing cream for an extra cost. They typically have stress balls to squeeze, too. It sucks during, but it’s not sore or anything afterward. You can also ask your technician for a quick break if needed. Most have had some sort of laser hair removal treatment, so they literally feel your pain and will accommodate.

Is it a lot of work?

Not really. They have you shave the area you’re treating the morning of so the laser isn’t wasted on grown-out hair and focuses on the root instead. The appointment itself is literally about 10-15 minutes total. You might be a little tender for a couple hours after and then red for 2-3 days, but that’s about it. You can carry on as usual, except avoid direct sunlight for the next couple of weeks.

How much does it cost?

It varies greatly by your location, so please do your research. Many have multi-session packages that offer a deeper discount. Mine ended up being $100 per session, which was great for the Austin, TX area. I also add a tip to each session. I saw online that 10-20% is typical, so I do that based on how the session went.

How do you find a good clinic?

Always do your own research for any beauty treatments. Here are some things I did during my initial research phase before deciding on a clinic.

• Read reviews: Look up their Yelp page and their Google reviews to see what the overall concensus is. The more the better here!
• Ask questions: Call around and ask questions. Set up a consultation, which was typically free. Ask any and all questions you can think of – sensitive skin, the area in question, how many sessions are typically necessary, etc. You should feel totally comfortable before purchasing a package or single session.
• Location: I’d recommend finding somewhere close-ish to you so you’re not driving too far, but it is only once every 6 weeks or so, so if the perfect place is a little bit farther away – do it!
• Start small: Before jumping into a large area like your legs, maybe try out underarms or upper lip first to see how your skin reacts to treatment.

So, do you recommend it?

I love it and would recommend it. Even if you only do a couple of sessions, it greatly reduces the hair’s growth rate and thickness. It’s been wonderful not having to worry about shaving as often and now it’s a much easier task than before. I think I might look into doing my armpits at some point, too. Overall, it’s a huge YES, do it if you’re thinking of it. I have found it very worth it.

Have you or would you get laser hair removal? Comment and let me know!