Laser hair removal has become a common choice for both women and men, with people looking for a more permanent form of hair removal that will offer long-lasting results. If you’re considering swapping out your usual at-home hair removal options for something that will offer longer lasting results but have Asian or Black African skin, here are a couple of useful points to keep in mind before you book in for an appointment.
Suitable Laser Types
Laser hair removal options have come a long way since they were first introduced, and while it’s no longer true that they can only be used on those with fair skin, some machines will work more effectively on darker skin tones than others. In order to ensure that your laser hair removal treatment will be successful, if you have Asian or Black African skin, you need to know which type of lasers will be the most suitable for your skin.
One of these is the Diode Yag laser, which is the advanced technology we use in our Harley Street clinic for patients with darker skin tones, in order to ensure that the hair removal treatment will be effective. Although Diode laser hair removal requires several treatments in comparison to other laser machines, it carries minimal side effects and short downtime.
No Pain, No Gain?
When it comes to laser hair removal, especially on darker skin tones, most people assume that the procedure carries the same level of pain as laser tattoo removal, however, we are happy to confirm that this is not the case. While it’s true that laser hair removal isn’t entirely pain-free, most of our patients report a sensation similar to a rubber band being snapped against their skin during the treatment, however, this sensation only occurs while the laser is being used on the area. Following the treatment, it’s also normal to experience some redness and itching – similar to the feeling of sunburn – but this is completely normal and should subside after the first few hours. Others note that it feels very similar to the sensation felt when waxing.
Results Take Time
Yet another common misconception surrounding laser hair removal – for any skin type – is that you will only require one session in order to see results. However, in order for the treatment to be effective, you will need to book in multiple appointments. As we have already mentioned, this takes multiple sessions but is far more effective, lasting and gentle on darker skin tones in the long run. This is due to each hair being at a different stage of the hair growth cycle. It is important to understand the hair growth cycle. Between starting to grow and falling out years later, each hair passes through 3 main stages, anagen, catagen and telogen.
