Across all our staff and clinicians in all our clinics, we have amassed decades of experience of laser hair removal. And believe us, we have heard every scare story and myth going, at parties, from family members and in the media. A lot of the myths make the claim that it isn’t as effective as claimed by the industry, and others suggest it’s actually dangerous.
Now, we’re not saying that people should be lax when it comes to this type of treatment. In the wrong hands or with poor equipment, then yes, laser treatment can be at best ineffective, and at worst harmful. We accept that. But I think we can speak on behalf of all the caring, reputable laser clinics around the world when we say that with proper training, state of the art technology and honestly managing customers’ expectations, laser hair removal is both effective and safe.
Let’s go through the myths we’ve heard one by one and address them all.
Myth 1. “Laser hair removal is excruciating”
You’ll often hear people saying that laser hair removal is unbearably painful, to the point where it’s not worth having.
The truth – Many people experience hardly any sensation at all, and for those that do, they will usually describe it as like being snapped with a rubber band. It’s a quick, sharp sting that goes away immediately. Plus, we can use numbing creams and cool air jets to take away any pain. Pretty much all our customers come back for their second sessions, so that should tell you something!
Myth 2. “It takes forever – you’ll be going for years”
There’s an idea that laser hair removal is “like painting the Forth Bridge” – a task that never ends.
The truth – Typically, people need between six and eight treatment sessions, spaced a few weeks apart. That means that you can easily have it completed in well under a year. People do sometimes decide that they want other parts of their bodies treated, so it might seem like some people are going for years, but for one area, it is absolutely not a lifetime commitment, like, say, shaving.
(Bonus fact: scientists have worked out how to apply a long-lasting paint to said bridge, so even that isn’t a never-ending task any more!)
Myth 3. “It’s only for pale skin – not people with darker skin tones”
Some people think that because laser treatment targets dark pigments against pale skin, it won’t work on dark hair embedded in dark skin.
The truth – We’ll give the doubters a partial pass on this myth because yes, in the early days of laser hair removal, it wasn’t effective – and could be harmful – on dark skin. However, those days are over. Modern laser technology, particularly Nd:YAG lasers, is specifically designed to treat a full spectrum of skin tones safely and effectively. Also, at LaserHQ, everyone gets a full assessment before they go anywhere near a laser.
Myth 4. “It doesn’t last – the hair just grows back”
A common claim is that treatment might work temporarily, but isn’t permanent as claimed.
The truth – After a single session, then yes, hair will grow back. But laser treatment is not about a single session, and the reason why becomes clear when you understand how it works. We all have millions of hair follicles, each of which goes through a process of growth, transition, resting and shedding. Importantly, they are not all at the same stage on a given day – a proportion of all your hair follicles will be in each stage.
Laser treatment only works during the growth phase, so any hairs that are in the transition, shedding or resting phases will be unaffected. Sure, even after a full treatment course, a few hairs may have slipped through, and they’ll need to be re-treated, but the idea that the treatment as a whole is ineffective is false.
Myth 5. “It causes burns and skin damage”
People might know, or have heard about, someone who has suffered burns or irreparable skin damage during the laser hair removal process.
The truth – Some of these stories are no doubt true, while others are scaremongering. But when they are indeed true, it will invariably be because the person used an unregulated, unprofessional clinic, with poor equipment and little or no staff training.
At LaserHQ, we recognise the potency of the laser devices we use, and make sure that all treatment is done safely, by qualified, professional clinicians, in a safe, clean environment. We also make sure every customer has a full assessment and patch test, so we can gauge effectiveness and safety right from the start.
Myth 6. “It’s far too expensive”
We often hear people saying they would like laser hair removal, but could never afford it.
The truth – High quality laser hair removal requires advanced equipment that’s maintained to run perfectly, a fully trained clinician to perform the procedure, and safe, professional premises in which to perform it. Of course, that is going to have a cost attached to it.
But are these people comparing apples with oranges? Don’t forget that laser treatment is a one-off cost, compared to razors, creams, waxing sessions and so on, which are ongoing costs that mount up. And don’t forget that each time you do it, you’re spending time that could be better spent doing other things.
We also make payment more manageable by giving customers the option of paying per session, or they can save money by booking a whole multi-session treatment programme in advance.
Myth 7. “Blonde, ginger or grey hair can’t be treated”
Some blonde people will say that laser treatment is ineffective for them, so wouldn’t even bother trying.
The truth – Again, we’ll give people a pass on this one, because of all the myths, this is the one that’s closest to the truth. Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigments in the hairs, heating them up to the point where they destroy the follicle. Of course, if there is little or no pigment to start with, such as with white, light blonde or light grey hair, there’s nothing to heat up, so it won’t work.
That said, there are other factors at play, such as the depth of the follicle, skin tones and hair thickness.
And where does white finish and blonde start? There’s a point at which there’s enough pigment for laser treatment to work, and that is affected by the other factors mentioned above.
The only way to find out is to have a consultation, an examination and possibly a patch test. You might find out you’re just over the threshold. Learn more about laser treatment for blonde hair here.
Myth 8. “One session is all you need”
We’ve met people who are surprised when we tell them they’ll need multiple sessions, as they’ve heard it can all be done in one sweep.
The truth – This is a myth that makes laser hair removal look quicker than it actually is, which some unprofessional practitioners might have pushed to win customers.
At LaserHQ, we take customer expectations very seriously, and right from the start, we go into detail about how many sessions might be required, and what will happen after each. The false belief is actually the opposite of Myth 4 above, and if you’ve read that explanation, you’ll know why it could never be completed in a single visit.
Myth 9. “It’s only for certain body areas”
Laser hair removal might be thought of as a bikini line treatment by some people, or solely for certain other areas of the body.
The truth – Laser hair removal is safe and effective pretty much anywhere on the body. It’s great for dealing with sensitive areas like the upper lip, but it can also be used on large areas such as the back, legs and scalp.
As with any treatment, an assessment and a patch test will let us know how your skin and hair will respond, but if there is hair there, we can probably remove it with laser technology.
Myth 10. “It’s just a vanity treatment with no medical benefits”
It’s commonly assumed that laser hair removal is all about looks, and there’s no real benefit to people otherwise.
The truth – First up, there are real, life-changing benefits to laser hair removal that we are bringing to our customers day in, day out. For example, ingrown hairs, which can be painful, irritating and cause skin damage, can be treated with lasers. Folliculitis (infected hair follicles) can also be effectively dealt with using laser treatment.
But even with that off the table, it’s worth pointing out that looking great can work wonders for anyone, because good grooming can lead to self-confidence and a more outgoing personality, and that is an important factor in socialising, career progression and mental wellbeing.
We’d challenge anyone to claim they don’t do anything to make themselves look better, so we certainly make no apologies for helping people want to look their best!
Of course, laser hair removal isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and we’re all entitled to our tastes and opinions.
But unfortunately, the industry has long had to respond to a host of myths about the technology and the treatment. Sure, some of them might have had a grain of truth in them in the past. But with the latest technology, professional clinicians and a thorough consultation, laser hair removal is safe, comfortable, effective and most definitely worthwhile.