Your guide to laser hair removal

Laser hair removal uses concentrated light energy to target hair follicles. The energy is absorbed by the pigment in the hair, damaging the follicle and reducing future growth. Because it targets pigment, it works best on hair that’s darker than the surrounding skin.

Hair grows in cycles, and the laser only affects hair in its active growth phase, which is why a course of sessions is needed. Most facial areas take six to ten sessions and body areas six to eight, with facial sessions spaced four to six weeks apart and body sessions six to eight. One or two maintenance sessions a year may be recommended after that.

4 to 6 weeks before: avoid waxing, plucking, threading and electrolysis, as the laser needs the hair root in place. Avoid excessive sun exposure and tanning beds.

2 weeks before: stop using self-tanning products.

24 hours before: shave the treatment area. Don’t apply fake tan, oils, lotions, deodorant, perfume or makeup to the area.

On the day: arrive with clean skin, and wear loose, comfortable clothing if a larger area is being treated. Mention any new medications at your appointment. Some, including certain antibiotics, increase skin’s sensitivity to light.

The area is cleaned and you’ll be given protective eyewear. The laser handpiece is applied to the skin and delivers short pulses of light to the follicles. Most people describe each pulse as a warm snap, like an elastic band lightly flicking the skin, and cooling is used throughout to keep it comfortable.

Sessions are quick. An upper lip takes around 5 to 10 minutes, underarms 10 to 15, a bikini line 15 to 20, and full legs 45 to 60.

Mild redness, slight swelling around the follicles and a feeling of warmth are all normal, and usually settle within a few hours to 48 hours.

For 24 to 48 hours: avoid hot baths, saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs, vigorous exercise, and perfumed products on the treated area.

For 7 to 14 days: avoid direct sun exposure and use SPF 30 to 50 daily on exposed treated areas. Don’t wax, pluck or thread between sessions. Shaving is fine.

Shedding: treated hairs can appear to keep growing for one to three weeks after a session. This is normal. They’re shedding from the follicle and will gradually fall out.

Most side effects are mild and temporary: redness, swelling, skin sensitivity, itching, or short-lived pigment changes. Rarely, blistering, burns, scarring or infection can occur.

Contact the studio straight away if you experience severe discomfort, blistering or any unusual reaction after treatment.

Laser hair removal may not be suitable if you’re pregnant, have an active skin infection in the treatment area, have recently tanned skin, take certain photosensitising medications, or have particular skin conditions. All of this is checked at the consultation, and every new client is patch tested before their first treatment.