Thinking of getting laser hair removal? Here’s what to expect and how it compares to waxing and shaving.
If you’ve been keeping up, you’ll know I got my first-ever Brazilian a few months ago, along with a full-body wax. Why? Content, duh.
READ: I got a Brazilian wax for the first time. Ouch.
Anyway, a month on, my pubic hair had grown back in by about half an inch and I hadn’t really had issues with ingrown hairs or the like. Plus, in that time, I also got used to having a bald groin—no more pubes sticking out of my bathing suit or snagging on clothes? Sign me up! However, I didn’t really want to subject myself to another torture fest, so, I thought I’d try out a new hair removal technique instead—I booked myself in for a Brazilian and underarm laser hair removal session at Lyla Beauty Salon.
Ahead, find the full account of my experience and how it shaped up against waxing and shaving.
What is laser hair removal?
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Laser hair removal is pretty self-explanatory—the device uses lasers to target and burn hair follicles to destroy them, which prevents hair regrowth over six to nine individual sessions. At Lyla Beauty Salon, they use the Elysion-Pro, a medical-grade diode laser machine from Spain that is renowned for its safety, effectiveness and versatility.
The diode laser essentially works through USP (Ultra Short Pulse) technology, which uses different wavelengths to target each follicle specifically. When compared to IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), another form of hair removal, it’s a lot more efficient as IPL uses a broad spectrum of light wavelengths which delivers unfocused energy to the hair and skin with a lot more wasted energy.
In addition, while IPL’s broad spectrum can increase the risk of pigmentation and burns, the Elysion-Pro is equipped with an effective cooling system to reduce the chance of this happening, which—according to the experts—makes it the superior technology. Before heading in for your laser appointment, do your research into the tech behind your studio and ask lots of questions so you can make an educated decision about what’s right for you!
The experience
The room was, once again, very comfortable and hygienically prepared. After I’d stripped down and changed into my fluffy little towel dress, I laid down on the treatment bed and waited for the treatment to start. The session began with a dry shave—having someone else shave my pubes and armpits really isn’t a sensation I can say I’ll ever get used to, but I digress. Either way, tickling and snagging sensations aside, it was over soon enough.
Then came the gel. The cooling sensation was, again, very strange in my nethers, but not unlike a trip to the gynaecologist. The gel acts as a barrier to mitigate the heat of the laser, but I liked that it cooled my freshly shaved skin down and calmed any potential irritation.
Finally, the actual lasering happened—I’d say that it wasn’t exactly painless, especially on the groin where I experienced a sharp shocking sensation, but it was a lot less offensive to the senses than a Brazilian wax. Plus, the actual lasering happens so quickly that you really don’t have to sit through very much discomfort before it’s all over. All in all, the entire Brazilian and underarm session wrapped in under 20 minutes, and the longest part of the process ended up being the dry shave which took up around 80 per cent of the entire session.
The result
Immediately after the treatment, I had a little redness and bumpiness on my skin, but the irritation subsided within a couple of hours. In terms of hairiness, I was still really stubbly after my treatment, which is apparently expected. In fact, it looked like my hair had even grown a little between being shaved and lasered.
Of course, I wasn’t just growing pubes at record speed. Having your hair appear longer after lasering is normal—after the hair follicle is lasered, it starts to shed, which can make it appear longer and darker. However, over the course of five days to several weeks, it will fall out by itself. For me, I definitely noticed hair falling out after two weeks, but the results were very patchy. I’m unsure of whether this had to do with how my treatment was performed or just how my body reacted to it, but rather than a fully bare pubic bone and armpit, I had a slightly less full bush overall with some strips of hair missing.
I’m sure that the results would be more consistent after a few more sessions, so once I decide I am ready to fully commit, I’ll be heading back for rounds two through 10! As of now, however, my pubic hair has all but grown back—albeit slightly less bushy—so I can confirm that if you happen to decide that laser isn’t for you after your first session, you don’t have to worry about the patchy results staying for good.
The aftercare
My therapist was pretty thorough with aftercare. All in all, it’s pretty straightforward:
- Be gentle with the area you have lasered
- Don’t exfoliate or scratch at the lasered area
- Avoid sun exposure to the lasered areas during your treatment period and after one to two months following the treatment and always use sunscreen to avoid any issues arising.
- Expect a little shedding
- If you’re struggling with bumps and redness, treat the area with a cold compress. As you’ve just had your hair follicles obliterated, a little irritation is expected.
Overall, if I had to pick, I’d definitely opt for laser hair removal over a wax. As long as you’re keen on committing to a bare bush, it’s really a no-brainer! Until I’m ready to delve into the bare necessities, however, I’m content with a regular scissor trim.
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