Below is a list of frequently asked questions from clients who are interested in Laser Hair Removal.

If you have a query that isn’t answered below, please do get in touch with us and we’d be more than happy to answer your questions.

Is hair really a problem?

Females alone spend an average of £12,000 during their lifetime on temporary hair removal methods, including 72 days of their life spent shaving their legs!

Removing body hair also ranked as one of women’s most hated beauty regimes, with 35% of women polled saying ‘they loathed shaving their legs more than anything else!’

‘Back hair’ is also one of the top concerns for men.

 

So is it any wonder why men and women are looking for an alternate solution to manage their hair growth?

Why laser?

Laser technology is more effective and achieves substantially better results in terms of permanent hair reduction compared to other hair removal methods.

The treatment process is fast and almost painless working out financially more economical in the long term compared to other methods of hair removal.

 

There is also the added benefit of not having to ‘grow’ the hair between treatments which can be both embarrassing and frustrating.

Why have we chosen the Lumenis Lightsheer Desire?

More and more people desire to have permanent hair reduction. They want a treatment that is effective and comfortable, which is why we have invested in the Lumenis LightSheer Desire Laser Machine.

Lumenis has been in the business of making medical and cosmetic lasers for more than 30 years. The Lumenis LightSheer Desire Technology represents the industry’s ‘Gold Standard’ and proudly sits in a class of its own. Its superior safety and effectiveness have been proven in extensive clinical trials and long-term clinical practice.

 

Not forgetting, Lumenis is one of the world leading brands in the laser industry and we would not have invested in this brand if we did not believe it was the best on the market in terms of safety and effectiveness.

How does Laser Hair Removal work?

All lasers target the pigment located inside the hair follicle. The light from the laser is absorbed by the pigment and then this energy is converted into heat, resulting in destruction of the hair follicle.

Not only is the root/bulb of the hair destroyed but also the sides of the follicle, where the cells responsible for pigmenting the hair are located.

 

This can result in delayed re-growth of the hair however in most circumstances the majority of hair follicles are permanently destroyed and will not grow back.

Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?

No matter how good a laser therapist you are, it is impossible to remove 100% of the hairs, no matter what anybody claims.

Laser treatments are only approved by the FDA for “permanent hair reduction” NOT “permanent hair removal”.

 

Typically you can expect to see a 80% -95% reduction in hair growth following a course of laser hair removal.

Is laser Hair Removal Painful?

No, the LightSheer Desire’s advanced technology uses a ‘ChillTip TM’ which helps to continuously cool the skin during the session. For those unfamiliar with laser, it is very similar sensation to an electric facial.

Is Laser Hair Removal safe?

The LightSheer Desire’s superior safety and effectiveness have been proven in extensive clinical trials and long term clinical practise. Numerous studies have validated the safety and efficacy of the technologies behind the LightSheer Desire.

 

Thousands of studied customers have been and are still benefiting from the gold standard performance and patient satisfaction.

Is there anything that may restrict me having Laser Hair Removal?

The following list can restrict or prevent a client from having Laser Hair Removal:

 

• Pregnancy
• Use of Sun Beds/Tanning Injections/Tanning Pills
• Diabetes (Requires a letter from your GP)
• Semi-Permanent Make-Up (local)
• Tattoos (local)
• Active Tans
• Pacemaker
• Heart Disease (Requires a letter from your GP)
• Epilepsy (Requires a letter from your GP)
• White/Grey Hairs
• Vitiligo
• Anti-Depressants
• Systemic Lupus
• Contagious Diseases/Disorders
• Skin Cancer
• History of Cancer (Requires a letter from your GP)
• Chemotherapy/Radiotherapy
• Acne Medications (such as Roaccutane or Tetracycline)
• Dysplastic Nevi (local)

Are there any side-effects from having Laser Hair Removal?

Normal side effects which may occur following laser hair removal treatments include itching, pink skin, redness, and swelling around the treatment area or swelling of the follicles (follicular edema).

 

These side effects rarely last more than a couple of hours, if at all, however occasionally on sensitive skins it can last up to two or three days, although this is unusual.

What will I look like after Laser Hair Removal?

Post treatment reactions vary from individual to individual, however due to the nature of the treatment, it is not uncommon for clients to experience short term redness (similar to after you have waxing).

 

However a light mineral make-up may be applied directly after and therefore appointments can be booked during a lunch break with no visible indications of treatment afterwards.

Are there any factors which may influence my hair growth?

The following factors can have an influence on hair growth:

 

• Hereditary and ethnic background
• Puberty
• Pregnancy
• Menopause
• Normal Ageing Processes
• Medication
• Stress
• Obesity
• Hormonal Imbalances such as irregular menstrual cycles, polycystic ovaries and thyroid abnormalities

How many sessions will I need?

The majority of clients require a minimum of six sessions, although it is not uncommon to require eight or more, depending on the individual skin/hair type.

How far apart are the sessions from each other?

After your first official laser treatment, we would recommend you coming in two weeks afterwards so we can observe how your skin has reacted, adjust any settings and complete your second session.

 

We would then recommend 4-6 weekly intervals for the face, underarm and bikini areas and 6-8 weekly intervals for the larger chest, back, legs and arm areas.

What are the costs per session and do I get any discount?

For costings please see our Laser Hair Removal treatment page.

All treatment areas can be purchased in a course of six, whereby you receive the sixth treatment FREE.

 

We also offer ‘Pay as you go’ schemes to ensure it is affordable for everyone. If you pay for your course of six upfront you will also receive a discount.

How long does each session take?

The treatment time can vary considerably depending on the size of the area treated, and the particular technique used. A small area such as the upper lip may take only five minutes, while a larger area like the back or legs may take up to one hour.

How long will it take to see a result?

You should allow around 2-3 weeks for the hairs to start shedding following your treatments, you can aid this process by exfoliating twice a week with a gentle exfoliator or clean mitt.

 

You should start to see a difference after your second treatment.

I am nervous – what I should expect?

Don’t worry, you are not alone.

The thought of considering Laser Hair Removal can be an incredibly daunting prospect. The fear of the unknown, along with the occasional ‘horror story’ online or in the press, relating to adverse reactions caused by untrained therapists, means that most people will feel very apprehensive before having their first laser session.

We are all incredibly friendly and welcoming, and as soon as you lie on our cozy treatment beds you will hopefully feel more at ease. When you come in for your initial consultation, we go through an in-depth questionnaire to ensure you are safe to have the treatment, please do not be offended if sometimes we have to refuse treatment.

Your safety is our utmost priority and we will not compromise on this, so if it means waiting a few weeks longer we only have your best interests at heart.

If we decide we are able to treat you, we will do a patch test in that specific area.

All settings are recorded, and as long as you don’t have a reaction to the patch test we would book an appointment for two weeks times to evaluate the treatment, and potentially increase/decrease the settings accordingly.

We would then request you let us know if any adverse reaction such as itchiness, redness or irritation occurs, which rarely happens.

 

After your patch test we will always check through your consultation forms each time you come in to make sure nothing has changed since your last visit.

I am pregnant or planning a pregnancy – can I have Laser Hair Removal?

Unfortunately we cannot treat pregnant ladies, even though there is no documented evidence to suggest lasers can be harmful to the baby, we regrettably cannot treat you until eight weeks after the birth or until you have stopped breast feeding.

I am under 18 years old – can I have Laser Hair Removal?

Regrettably we cannot treat anyone under the age of 18 as we are not covered by our insurance.

I suffer with ingrown hairs, will laser help?

Absolutely. Even after a couple of treatments you should notice a remarkable improvement as the majority of your ingrown hairs will be terminated.

 

Within a few weeks, the area will be much smoother; we recommend you exfoliate gently twice a week to aid this process.

I have a tan can I be treated?

There should be no fake tan on the area to be treated, if you have applied a ‘gradual home self tan’ such as ‘Dove’ or ‘Olay’ you will need to leave it two weeks prior to your laser treatment or leave it four weeks if it is a ‘professional salon tan’ such as ‘St Tropez, Fake Bake, Sienna X’.

We regrettably will not conduct a treatment on a tanned area. This is because after the laser treatment the skin is more sensitive to UV light.

The treated area should be covered/protected from UV light for four weeks after Laser Hair Removal to improve the long term results and prevent complications from arising.

An SPF 30 must be used on any treated areas exposed to direct UV light continuously after the treatment until your course has finished.

 

Clients cannot use sunbeds whilst having a course of laser.

I have dark skin and tan easily can I be treated?

If you are interested in having Laser Hair Removal we would need to book you in for a consultation to assess whether you would be suitable for the treatment.

The melanin content in your skin is an important factor to consider and we would need to conduct a thorough consultation, and examine the area to be treated in order to recommend a suitable treatment plan.

 

We cannot perform any laser treatment until four weeks after you were last exposed to UV light without protection on.

I have blonde/red/grey hair can I be treated?

The laser energy is attracted to the pigment in your hair. The darker and thicker the hair is, the more successful the treatment will be.

White and grey hair does not contain any melanin so therefore we cannot treat these hairs with laser.

Blonde and red hairs are difficult to treat as they contain such a small amount of pigment.

As long as the hairs are darker than the skin tone we would certainly offer you a complimentary consultation where we can discuss your options.

Do the hairs need to be a specific length (like waxing?)

No, quite the opposite.

For a laser treatment to be successful we would require you to shave the area to be treated the day before you come in. This is because the laser is attracted to the pigment inside the hair and we want the energy from the laser to be focused on travelling down the hair shaft to the main source of growth, so it can be destroyed.

If there are any ‘hairs’ above the skin surface (ie if you have not shaved) the laser will be attracted to these thus wasting energy on the end part of the hair and causing potential skin damage and/or pigmentation.

Unfortunately all areas must be shaved, including the face.

How do I manage hair growth between treatments?

For optimal results we recommend shaving and/or cutting in-between your laser treatments. You cannot wax, thread or pluck hairs in-between a course of treatments.
Why do I need a patch test?

We will not undergo any form of laser treatment without a patch test. A patch test is done on a small section of the area requiring treatment.

The patch test provides us with the optimal settings in which to treat your skin and hair type successfully and highlights any adverse reactions you may have to the treatment.

All clients must wait seven days after their patch test before we can book their first session in.

What if I forget to shave?

We always keep disposable razors at the salon for those emergency cases! However we may not be able to proceed with the treatment, as we cannot always guarantee we will have the time to do this.

If we do have time we can do a dry shave but an additional charge may apply depending on the time it takes.

 

Please discuss with your therapist, if you need help with shaving areas such as backs, which are hard to reach. We can then allocate more time in the diary to ensure the area is perfectly prepped and ready for treatment.