Everything You Need To Know About Laser Hair Removal

Here’s a wild fact for you: up to 95% of American women remove some or all of their body hair. If you’re one of the millions that do, it’s probably the most annoying part of your beauty routine. No matter what method you choose–shaving, waxing, depilatory creams, epilating, etc–they all come with two huge disadvantages:

1. They cause pain and irritation. Shaving can cause razor burn and cuts. Waxing can cause ingrown hairs, and it also hurts every time you do it. Depilatory creams cause rashes and irritation, because they contain harsh chemicals that burn your hair off. That can be harsh on the skin, too.
2. They’re time-consuming because you have to do them over and over again. Consider this: women spend an average of 72 days shaving their legs over the course of a lifetime. That’s over two months of your life! 

What if there was a treatment that could allow you to reclaim that time, avoid constant irritation, and remove body hair forever? Lucky for you, there is one. It’s called laser hair removal. You’ve probably heard of it before, but you may not know how it works or what to expect. So let us tell you more, and see why laser hair removal is the treatment you’ve been waiting for!

How does laser hair removal work?

Laser hair removal works by directing the light of a laser at a pigmented hair. The light converts to heat, which damages the hair follicle and hair bulb. When the follicle and hair bulb are damaged enough, it results in permanent hair loss. 

What is the treatment experience like?

The hair that’s going to be removed is trimmed to just a few millimeters above the skin’s surface. Typically your treatment provider applies topical numbing medication before the procedure to minimize pain. Laser hair removal can hurt, especially depending on the area you’re treating. If you’ve ever been flicked with a rubber band, it feels like that. Still, when you consider the alternative–getting waxed every four weeks for the rest of your life, dealing with razor burn and ingrown hairs, etc–a little discomfort is worth it for the long-term results. 

How should I prepare?

This is super important: don’t pluck or wax the area for the entire treatment schedule. The laser targets the hair roots, which are temporarily removed when you pluck or wax them. So in order to get what you’re paying for, you should stick to only shaving the area between appointments.

Also: avoid sun exposure for six weeks before and after treatment. Sun exposure makes laser hair removal less effective. It can also create complications after treatment, which you don’t want. The good news is that this is a pretty easy rule to follow.

How long does it take before I will see results?

It takes two or three weeks after your first treatment to see a difference, and up to 8 -12 treatments to see the full results. Your appointment schedule will be optimized to catch your hair follicles at different stages of growth, so do your best to keep your appointments. That will yield the best results! 

While laser hair removal is super effective–it permanently removes about 90% of the hair–you may need periodical maintenance sessions, but it depends on the person. You would do those maintenance sessions once or twice a year if necessary. 

Where can I get laser hair removal treatments?

Only highly qualified medical personnel are authorized to perform laser hair removal. When you choose to book laser hair removal with the Upkeep app, you’ll have absolute peace of mind. We’ve hand-selected qualified providers because you deserve nothing less. Plus, you earn two rewards points for each dollar spent, which can be applied to future treatments! That’s right–you actually get rewarded for taking care of yourself. 

Are you ready to never shave again? We thought so. Book your laser hair removal treatment with Upkeep today!

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