Some DIY beauty tricks are totally worth it. You can save time and money by dyeing your roots or plucking your brows in the comfort of your bathroom. But laser hair removal?
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While the procedure used to only be available in the dermatologist’s office, these days you can buy small devices to zap away hair yourself.
But before you kiss your razor goodbye, find out what dermatologist Rachel Ward, MD, has to say about the safety and effectiveness of these devices.
Laser hair removal devices work by killing the hair follicle. But hair grows in cycles, and the lasers only damage follicles during an active cycle of hair growth. So it takes multiple treatments, about a month apart, to completely stop hair from regrowing.
For some people, laser hair removal is not entirely permanent. You might need a maintenance treatment every year or so to keep stray hairs from cropping up.
The process doesn’t come cheap. Professional laser hair removal can cost a couple hundred bucks per treatment, and it might take half a dozen sessions (or more) to knock out every follicle. You could rack up more than a thousand dollars in pursuit of a bald bikini line.
Meanwhile, you can order an at-home hair removal laser for somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 or $500. At first glance, it seems like a better investment. But there are some important caveats, Dr. Ward says.
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There are two types of at-home devices for hair removal. One is a true laser, and the other uses intense pulsed light. Both types remove hair, and both are less powerful than the device you’ll find at the dermatologist’s office, Dr. Ward explains.
That’s good and bad. On the one hand, with less power comes less responsibility. These devices are safe for amateurs to use at home, so you don’t have to worry about singeing yourself in the name of smooth skin. (Still, make sure you follow the directions exactly — because laser.)
But with less power also comes less effectiveness: The at-home devices don’t work as well as the pro models.
More downsides: It’s hard to cover a lot of territory — like an entire leg — with the small at-home devices, Dr. Ward says. And they might not be strong enough to get completely hair-free. “Over multiple sessions, you’ll reduce the amount of hair you see — but it probably won’t be a home run,” she says.
One of the biggest drawbacks to at-home laser hair removal? The tools only work on a narrow range of hair and skin colors. The lasers zero in on pigments in the hair follicle and are only effective when there’s a lot of contrast between skin and hair. That means the systems are recommended for people with light skin and dark hair.
In people with darker skin, there’s a risk of burns — though to prevent that, many at-home devices have sensors that block them from working on darker skin.
If you don’t have the pale-skin/dark-hair combo, professional lasers are the only option. “The lasers we use in the dermatology office are more sophisticated and can be used in patients with skin of any color,” Dr. Ward says.
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If you have the right hair and skin tones, the devices are generally safe to try, Dr. Ward says. But it’s important to use them correctly.
DON’T use them:
When doing the math, consider that at-home devices might have limited battery power or contain light cartridges that will need to be replaced, Dr. Ward says. And no matter how often you use them, you might never achieve total hairlessness.
“It depends on the person, but professional hair removal usually gives you a bigger bang for your buck,” she says.
Everyone with unwanted body hair has likely heard of at-home hair removal devices—and we’re not talking about waxing kits and razors! These devices promise permanent hair removal in the comforts of your own home, without the pitfalls of razor burn or the pain of waxing. It might sound easier than professional laser hair removal, but before you decide to take the plunge with at-home hair removal devices, find out what the experts at Milan Laser Hair Removal in Detroit have to say about the differences between professional laser hair removal and at-home hair removal devices.
At-home hair removal devices typically use one of two technology types: true laser (diode) or intense pulsed light (IPL) technology. Both can remove hair, but the results are dramatically different between at-home devices and professional laser hair removal. The intensity of at-home devices isn’t as high as lasers in clinics, and the area treated is much smaller than with in-clinic lasers, so it takes a long time to do an area. And less intensity means less effectiveness, and many find that hair grows back faster and results are less permanent than professional laser hair removal.
True laser hair removal uses focused laser light to target the hair follicle. Light is absorbed by the pigment to heat and destroy the follicle so it can’t grow back. When performed correctly, results from professional laser hair removal are permanent—within seven to 10 treatments, most Milan Laser clients are 95%+ hair-free.
On average, there’s about a 70% reduction in unwanted hair after three months of using IPL and diode devices at home. And typically, hair will grow back once you stop using at-home devices, and there’s no guarantee that users will see results.
Not all at-home hair removal devices are regulated by the FDA, so safety is not guaranteed. With these devices, you’re on your own with following the instructions, which can be complicated. Diodes, in particular, have a greater potential for user error and carry a high burn risk, especially for those with darker skin tones.
And many at-home devices cannot be used for facial hair removal, something that people with PCOS often want to be treated. Professional laser hair removal can be done on nearly any body area, and those hard-to-reach areas are easily treated by providers with medical oversight in a few minutes. At-home devices are time-consuming and painful when treating larger areas and may require multiple sessions to treat a full area. So, not only are in-clinic laser hair removal treatments quicker with better coverage, but they are also more comfortable because the laser has built-in comfort features to reduce any potential discomfort.
A huge drawback of at-home laser hair removal is the effectiveness on a narrow range of skin tones. These devices only work when there’s a dramatic contrast between the skin tone and hair color, meaning fair skin and dark hair. People with darker skin tones have a greater burn risk, and some devices will shut off if the skin tone isn’t compatible. Professional laser hair removal is the only safe option for those with darker skin tones.
And with professional laser hair removal, there’s never a one-size-fits-all process. For example, Milan Laser’s highly trained team of laser hair removal experts creates customized treatment plans for each client to ensure treatments are as safe and effective as possible. Some lasers, such as the Candela GentleMax Pro used at Milan Laser, include two laser technologies to treat all skin tones—the Nd: YAG for darker skin and the Alexandrite for lighter skin tones. That means, unlike at-home devices, professional laser hair removal is safe and effective for all skin tones.
Initially, the lower price point might be tempting to those wanting to kick unwanted hair to the curb. After all, it’s only a one-time fee, right? Wrong! With IPL and diodes, there are hidden costs—replacement cartridges, attachments, and the need for continued shaving and waxing when you don’t get the desired results.
While professional laser hair removal may be more of an initial investment, the cost of laser hair removal is more affordable than most people think. Look for places that offer unlimited laser hair removal packages and great specials, like Milan Laser. You’ll never have to worry about touch-up fees or other surprise costs down the road because your results are guaranteed for life. And some, like Milan Laser, may even offer affordable, no-interest laser hair removal payment plans that can be as low as $29 a month.
The best way to get hair-free for good is with professional in-clinic laser hair removal. Not only is there medical oversight, but you’re also in the hands of experts who will safely and thoroughly treat the areas you want hair-free.
Treating yourself at home might sound worthwhile, but in the end, at-home devices take wayy more time—batteries die, the treatment area is very small, and because the intensity is lower, it takes more sessions to see results. With professional laser hair removal, treatments are quick—most can be done over a lunch break—with no downtime, and the results are permanent!
Best of all, in-clinic treatments are done in a judgment-free environment by friendly medical professionals who care about you and your reasons for wanting smooth, hair-free skin.
Ready to lose that unwanted hair for good? Give the experts at Milan Laser a call at 933-NO-RAZOR or visit a local laser hair removal expert at any of Milan Laser’s Detroit locations. They are conveniently located in Sterling Heights, Novi, Roseville, and Royal Oak.
Learn more about laser hair removal in Detroit.