Ready to begin your laser Journey?
Can I begin my laser journey?
Hair Colour
Taking a look at the hair colour chart will give you a rough indication if you will be suitable for laser hair removal.
- White hair- laser will not work on this hair colour as its pigment less.
- Red hair- laser will not work on this colour hair, as the laser light is red it is unable to see this pigment.
- Grey hair- laser will not work on this colour hair as its pigment less.
- Blonde hair- Laser will not work on this colour hair as its too light.
- Dark blonde hair- laser will not work on this colour as it is too light.
- Light brown hair- laser will be able to target the melanin in this colour hair however it may take more sessions, and will work better where the hair is thicker. A more thorough consultation can be performed to ensure both myself and you will be happy with the results.
- Brown hair- laser will work well on this colour hair.
- Dark brown hair- laser will work very well on this colour hair as its deep of pigment.
- Black hair- laser will work very well on this colour hair as its deep of pigment.
Am I suitable for laser?
Skin Type
My Nd:YAG Medical grade laser is safe to treat all skin types on the Fitzpatrick scale from fair to black skin. When treating darker skin types, the energy needs to be adjusted accordingly as the melanin in the skin will absorb the light energy causing risks for potential burns and hypopigmentation. However, with the right experience and knowledge darker skin types can be treated safely and effectively.
Paitents health and wellbeing is top prioirty
Not Suitable?
Beside those with blonde/white/grey and red hair, there are a few contra-indications which may stop or temporarily stop you being able to have treatment.
Pregnancy- No laser until after 3 months of birth or stopping breastfeeding.
Diabetes- Can’t be treated due to lack of skin sensation and poor healing.
Tattoos- Restricted. Must be worked around.
Impetigo- Needs to have cleared up before start of treatment.
Eczema- Restricted. Must be worked around.
Psoriasis- Restricted. Must be worked around.
St John’s Wort- No laser until 6 months after supplements have stopped being taken.
Epilepsy- Referral letter from the GP required.
Skin cancer- Can’t have laser.
Will Laser work for me?
Am I Suitable?
Several factors go into making someone a good candidate for laser hair removal, and unfortunately it is not suitable for everyone. To understand these factors, it’s important to understand how lasers work when targeting hair. Lasers are a type of pulsing light that is very intense. This light targets the melanin in the hair, which is what gives the hair its colour. By targeting the melanin, the laser source energy is converted into heat energy which is absorbed by the shaft of the hair subsequently damaging the blood supply to the hair follicle inhibiting growth. With that in mind, your specific hair and skin types make a difference in the effectiveness of laser hair removal, the darker the hair the more energy that can be absorbed and the more effective the treatment.
There are many reasons why men and women decide to have hair removal, some for cosmetic reasons some medical reasons and some for insecurity issues. Laser is the best solution for people who suffer with irritation from other forms of hair removal such as shaving and waxing. Razor bumps burns and rashes can be painful and unsightly- you can see improvements from as little as one session. A common side effect from waxing can be in growing hairs which too can become very painful. Laser will drastically help in growing hairs and also improve the skin tone and texture where pigmentation has occurred due to scarring, as the laser not only targets the hair follicle it will also rejuvenate the skin.
There are 3 causes of hair growth and this is worth taking into consideration when going ahead with laser.
Firstly, you have genetically determined (hypertrichosis) some people are just hairier than others, different ethnicities can play a part.
Secondly, you have topical hair growth. This is caused by stimulation such as shaving/waxing, ever wished you hadn’t shaved that fine fluffy hair on your stomach when you were a teenager? As now you have thick black terminal hairs growing up to your navel. Or that one hair on your chin has turned into 6?
Thirdly you have systemic, this is endocrine stimulated and can be caused by things like polycystic ovaries or thyroid imbalances. Please see the tab Hirsutism if this is the category you feel you fall into as this will change your treatment plan slightly.