Laser hair removal in London: things to know before you go

Before you book an appointment with one of our amazing clinics and start enjoying a stubble-free, fun life in the city, we’ve answered some of the burning questions on laser treatment to give you a smooth transition into your treatment.

What are the side effects of laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal is a common and popular treatment with very few risks to worry about. Your clinic will begin the first session with a consultation, at which point you can ask for a skin test to assess how you may react to the treatment.

Here are a couple of the most common side effects:

• Tingling. Because laser hair removal is effectively damaging the follicles of hairs, it can lead to a slight irritation. However, this is normal and very similar to waxing or plucking, so the redness or tingling will usually ease off after a couple of hours.
• Pigment change. Following laser hair removal, the pigment in your skin around the targeted areas can get lighter or darker, depending on your skin tone. Don’t worry, this is temporary and will fade back to normal relatively quickly.
• Scabbing. After treatment, your skin might begin to scab or crust over. However, you can combat this by applying a soft, fragrance-free moisturiser.

Is laser hair removal permanent?

Laser hair removal is one of the best ways to keep your body silky smooth for years on end. It’s been said that 90% of hair removal patients have permanent hair loss after eight sessions. In some cases, it can grow back, but the hairs will be finer and fewer in number.

According to the experts, you’ll need up to six repeat visits, with six weeks in between each session.

What do I need to know before my laser hair removal appointment?

• Shave it off. It may sound strange, but you’ll need to shave the area of skin being treated before your appointment at the salon. Savour the moment, it may be the last time you clutch a razor.
• Speedy sessions. Each session can take from 15 minutes to over an hour, depending on the area you’re zapping. So, make sure to factor this in before you book a session during your lunch break.
• No pain no gain. A hand-held device will be pressed to the area, which will trigger the laser. This sensation is often described as feeling like there’s an elastic band snapping at your skin.
• Dodge the gym. The heat from the laser stays in your skin for up to 24 hours. Because of this, its recommended you stay away from any warm environments as this harbours bacterium and can cause a spot outbreak.
• Bye-bye ingrown. If you’ve had a battle with ingrown hairs – good news, laser hair therapy can help, as it encourages the hairs to grow straighter.

Can laser hair removal eliminate hair from my face and upper lip?

If you’re self-conscious about unwanted hair on your face and you’ve exhausted all of the at-home hair-removal methods, go professional and consider facial laser hair removal.

The great thing is, laser treatment on the upper lip and face is a lot quicker than the rest of the body, usually only taking a speedy 10 minutes. Although it comes with a price tag, the amount of time and money you’ll save on products will make it worthwhile. Better yet, we’ll help you find the best laser hair removal in London, with up to 89% off.