What Age Should I Start Laser Hair Removal?
There is no “right” age to begin the laser hair removal process. Patients under 18 can have laser hair removal if a parent also consents to the treatment and they understand the importance of sun protection before and after treatment. Individuals under 18 will need a parent’s consent prior to treatment. If you are under 18 and want to eliminate or reduce your body or facial hair, we recommend a consultation that includes you, your parent or guardian, and your treatment provider at Citrine.
How Many Laser Hair Removal Sessions Will it take?
Eliminating unwanted hair requires several treatment sessions, generally anywhere from 6-8 is the most common. Not all hair follicles will have active growth during your first session. After each treatment, you will see less hair growing back, and it will appear more sparse. Most patients need an average of six treatments, making sure to wait until there is enough hair to warrant shaving prior to coming back for their subsequent treatment. After treatment, many people will have yearly maintenance treatments to control stray hairs.
How To Prepare For Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal will take several sessions because it can only target actively growing hair follicles. Following these suggestions will protect your skin and ensure your treatments are maximally effective
Hair Removal
You need active hair follicles for your treatment to be effective. You should avoid hair removal methods that pull out the root or dissolve hair at the root like waxing, epilating, and plucking. You can still shave, and we recommend shaving a day before your appointment.
Sun Protection
Sun exposure or artificial tanning can affect how well the laser works and increase your risk of side effects. Medical GradeSPF like SkinBetter’s SunBetter and covering up the treatment areas will make treatment safer and more effective. If the skin is tan at the time of treatment, it will require a decrease in the settings and energy delivered in order to avoid burns which means it may take more treatments to get to the desired effect.
Bleach
Bleaching your hair removes the pigment in the hair itself. Hairs without pigment (or grey hair) cannot be targeted by the laser, so they will not be effectively destroyed during treatment. Stop bleaching hair several weeks before your appointment so you can treat all your active hair follicles.
Am I A Good Candidate For Laser Hair Removal?
Most people over 18, and some people under that age, make good candidates for laser hair removal. Our providers have the skill to safely treat most shades(except gray) of hair on all skin tones. You may not be a good candidate if you have certain skin conditions or are prone to photosensitivity. Grey Hair cannot be targeted with the laser so we highly recommend seeking our laser hair removal treatments before the area you want treated starts to develop grey hairs.
