Laser Hair Removal is a Guaranteed Way to Eliminate Unwanted Hair. Here’s What You Need to Know Before Getting Started

Ideally, the light and laser technology loves light skin with dark hair, but because we know that the Rio Grande Valley demographic is made up of beautiful rich Latina shades, our device is safe to treat from the lightest skin type to the darkest skin type available, but regardless of your skin type, exposure to direct sunlight is a big “No! NO” right before your treatments.

Laser Hair Removal is also a great confidence booster for our younger clients. The stories we hear about young girls that get bullied or made fun of in school because of embarrassing unwanted hair just breaks our hearts and this is one of the quickest ways to help our girls feel confident. The only requirement is that they’ve been on their menstrual cycle for a year.

Once a girl has started her menstrual cycle her body starts releasing new hormones into their body. With the start of this, hormones will be put into a place that puts the hair cycle growth in place so that our hair removal experts can target the hair follicle at the correct time. It is absolutely imperative to target the hair at just the right time in order to see the results you wish to see. This in turn will save you money in the long run from having ineffective treatments done.

With 20 years of performing Laser Hair Removal, our Beautique Medical Spa experts have treated thousands of valley residents we know that hair grows at different rates depending on the body area and have found that the best results happen with monthly treatments for areas found on the trunk (think face, bikini, underarm, etc) and for extremities (arms and legs) sessions are spaced between 8-12 weeks depending on the hair growth cycles. So for example, if you’re having treatments on an area where hair grows quickly, such as your upper lip, you might have laser treatments every four weeks. If you’re having treatments done on a part of the body where hair grows slowly, like the arms, legs, and back, you might only have treatments every 10 to 15 weeks.

Three Growth Cycles, One Target: Understanding the Hair Growth Cycle

The Anagen Phase or the growth cycle is the stage that is laser hair removal’s target, that is the cycle that hair removal experts want to treat. To better understand how this works- imagine each strand of your hair sitting in an individual skin pocket deep in the dermis. These pockets are better known as follicles. Inside this follicle, each hair is deeply rooted at the dermal papilla and germinal matrix to form a hair bulb. The dermal papilla is how each hair receives its nutrients to allow it to grow. The Anagen phase takes about 4 weeks, therefore making it the most optimal time to undergo laser hair removal because it is the only time the hair is seen at the surface.

*The Anagen phase as pictured above, is the hair growth cycle that is most effective when treated with a laser hair removal treatment.

While in the Catagen and Telogen Phase hair is detached or simply resting and not growing. Making laser hair removal ineffective during these two phases.

Every 4 weeks the cycle repeats itself which is why you are scheduled to come in for regular sessions spanning from 4-12 weeks depending on the body area. This is because we’re targeting only the Anagen phase and while it’s impossible to know what cycle each hair is currently in, having regular sessions allows us as technicians to treat a growth cycle. The good thing is that there is no reason for you to worry about the nitty-gritty. Tracking cycles and optimal treatment settings are our job. All you need to do is make sure that you keep your appointments when they’re scheduled so that you see the results you want and not waste your time and money.

6 Ways to Prepare for Your Laser Hair Removal Session 

1. Refrain from using any body lotions, sprays, deodorant, or makeup the day of your session (if coming from work etc. you can remove your makeup during your appointment and you can bring deodorant to apply post treatment if treating your underarms).
2. Shave the area to be treated; do not wax or pluck
3. Avoid direct sun exposure and tanning beds for at least one week before your session.
4. Please check medications with our staff prior to treatment to make sure that you are not taking any photosensitizing medications that could interfere with your treatment.
5. Avoid bleaching or lightening any areas that are being treated. 
6. If you’d like to save money and get ahead to toe laser hair removal check out our “Hair Free Club”

While every client is different there is a possibility to see inflammation of the treated area, redness, itchiness, and irritation. This is dependent on the area being treated and your skin sensitivity.

Most clients do not experience any of these symptoms!

While we would love to provide you with a magic number for all there isn’t just one answer. For the most part, we have seen that after 9 sessions most clients visibly experience significant results. However, some clients have needed less while others have needed more. Remember that especially for women hormones play a big role in hair production. In some cases, we’ve had clients that had gone through about 9-12 sessions and were virtually “hair free” for years…until they had a baby and all of a sudden hair started growing all over the place, well that’s because the body kicked the dormant hair into life. The same has happened for women as they are heading into menopause and as the hormones start to regulate again it is not unusual for them to see a burst in hair growth which is easily treated. You can expect to see about a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after your first treatment. As you continue your treatments, more and more hair will fall out, and you’ll notice that it continues to grow back more slowly.

As experienced by one of our own, Esthetician, Veronica, needed a few more sessions than that. In her case, she had more than one hair strand in a pocket of skin, or follicle. This is a possibility for many clients – of course, because we are all unique. After your one-on-one consultation with one of our hair removal experts, you will have a better idea of what would be best for you. 

In conclusion, laser hair removal is a great option for those who want to permanently rid themselves of unwanted hair. Ideally, it should be performed by an expert and after consulting with an expert. Laser hair removal can work on a variety of areas including the face, legs, butt, underarms, bikini line, upper lip, and chin. It works by targeting the follicle so that it cannot produce any more new hairs.

Just remember achieving permanent hair removal is a process. Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. Commitment to keeping scheduled appointments is the key to success so that we don’t let too much time pass between hair growth cycles.  And, remember, nobody can guarantee 100% hair removal, if that is what you’re being told, it is a lie. Laser Hair Removal treats about 80%-90% of the hair, which is so worth it, especially if you have to shave daily, and it lasts about two. If cost is an issue, Beautique Medical Spa has thought about that as well. We know it can be quite pricey for so many sessions, so we encourage you if you are interested in a hair-free year, join our “Hair Free Club” for the best savings!  If you’re looking for something that’s more permanent than waxing or shaving, then laser hair removal may be your answer.