Everything I wish I knew about laser hair removal
I booked in to have my underarms, legs and bikini all zapped of hair and was told 6-8 sessions should do the trick. Yet, 30 sessions later, my bikini and underarms are still growing as wildly as the day before I started my treatment plan – something I wasn't expecting at all.
So, is laser hair removal a scam? TikTok seems to think so. Some users of the social media platform are documenting their experience, and their regrets of having multiple laser hair removal sessions with less than impressive results.
I'm not hating on laser hair removal entirely and I know it can be successful. While it didn't work for my bikini line and underarms, my legs have been smooth ever since I ended my sessions which is very confusing. Having so many sessions under my belt, there are definitely things I wish I understood about the treatment before I booked in...
To find out what the heck was going on with my pubes and pits, I asked an expert, Shireen Forster, the founder of Laser Me Out, to explain. 'Some people feel misled because laser hair removal requires multiple sessions and isn't always fully permanent – many experience hair reduction rather than complete elimination,' she says. 'Inconsistent results, poor provider techniques, and variations in individual hair cycles can also contribute to dissatisfaction.'
Before embarking on my hair removal journey, I was aware that your hair/skin contrast is a major factor for successful treatment (dark hair on a lighter skin tone will see far greater success than hair and skin of a similar tone). But, what I wasn't aware of was all the other important factors – and I wish I had known before. 'While hair/skin contrast is important,' says Forster. 'Other factors like hair thickness, hormone levels, genetics, and the type of laser used play a role in effectiveness.'
Hormones? Let's talk about those. Turns out, if your body is a little more hormonally charged (including those with PCOS, pregnant people, or those with naturally high testosterone levels), laser hair removal can be way less effective. Hormonal changes can also trigger hair growth even after seemingly successful laser treatments.
Oh, and let's not forget that hair grows in cycles. At any given time, only a certain percentage of your hair is in the active growth phase (known as the anagen phase), which is the only time laser is effective. That's why multiple sessions are needed – you have to catch each follicle at the right time.
For my more persistently bushy areas, I've made the decision to swap to electrolysis to tackle my unwanted hair - an actually permanent hair removal solution.
The difference between these treatments? I asked Dr Hiba Injibar, founder of Dermasurge Clinic: 'Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment in hair follicles with laser energy, which weakens the follicle and slows future growth. Electrolysis, on the other hand, involves inserting a fine probe into each follicle and using an electrical current to destroy it, leading to permanent removal.'
It sounds like an easy switcheroo, which made me wonder why electrolysis isn't as popular, but, delving into it, there are pros and cons to both treatments. 'Laser hair removal is faster and less painful,' says Forster. 'But, it's ineffective on blonde or grey hair. Electrolysis is slower and more painful but provides permanent results and works on all hair and skin types.'
Something else to consider is the cost. Typically, laser hair removal will cost around £40-£150 per session, with 6-12 sessions needed but isn't always permanent. Electrolysis will set you back around £30-£200 per session, with 8-15 sessions needed, depending on the size of the area being treated, but, it is permanent.
For me, a combination of both treatments (spread out over a long period of time) has proven to be the most effective way of making myself hairless from the chin down. It's come at a hefty cost and it's certainly not pain-free but, would I do it all over again? Absolutely. I'm waving bye bye to that bush once and for all.
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