the skinny on laser hair removal

join us in the 21st century where the only way to live is hair-free. laser hair removal (LHR) is one of the most rewarding gifts you can give yourself (or someone else). once you experience life without shaving, stubble, or ingrowns, you’ll never look back. did you know the average woman spends 72 days over the course of her lifetime shaving her legs? that means approximately 1,728 hours. we think you can find a better use of your time

we will always be full disclosure with you and provide education on every service offered at house of preservation, so you know what to expect

my personal experience getting LHR, so you can get a real girls opinion...

if you suffer from ingrown hairs, you know how unsightly and irritating they can be. i started out waxing, and the brazilian process was pure torture. we've all seen Steve Carell get waxed in the 40-year old virgin, and i can honestly say he wasn't exaggerating. sadly, the ingrowns always returned and had to be plucked (i cringe writing this). i was always a skeptic on whether or not LHR actually worked, but thankfully while in laser school, i got to try it out for myself. i'm writing this post to tell you that not only did IT WORK, but i literally live a new life.  i no longer have to bring a razor when i travel. i shave *maybe* once a month and that's just to get the small patches of very fine, light-colored hair that were stubborn during all my treatments (i've had about 10 treatments total)

PS. if you had LHR when it first came out- it's night and day different. we have a lot of clients that were scared from their experience a decade ago, but technology has improved so much

here's what you need to know before booking your first appointment... 

how it works

it works by emitting a beam of light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. the light energy is then converted to heat, which damages the follicles that produce hairs. this damage drastically reduces and inhibits future hair growth

are you a candidate

hair color and skin type determine the success of LHR. the more obvious the target, the better the outcome. for example, there needs to be a contrast between hair and skin color, such as dark hair and light skin. in these people, the hair has much more pigment than the skin, allowing it to absorb more light energy and be heated to a higher temperature. a higher temperature means better destruction of the hair follicles and therefore more successful treatments. the risk of damage to the skin is greater when there is little contrast. LHR is also less effective for hair colors that don't absorb light well, such as gray, white, red, and blonde

how many treatments will you need

hair grows at different rates for every person and for different areas of the body. depending on what area you treat, will determine how many treatments are needed. hair has 3 different growth cycles and needs to be caught in the "active growth phase" for the procedure to be effective. sessions are typically spaced out 6-8 weeks apart to ensure they're catching this phase as not all hairs in an area grow at the same time

what to expect

unlike waxing, you won't leave the treatment session completely hair-free. the hairs will instead drop out as they die over the next few weeks and those which have not been affected due to the stage of the growth cycle they were in for the first treatment will require another session (or more)

does it hurt

minimal or no discomfort. of course, this varies based on personal pain tolerance. most find it manageable. the particular equipment we use has a cooling device which helps in reducing any discomfort during the treatment

how long does the procedure last

it depends on the size of area being treated. smaller areas like upper lip and underarms only take a minute or two, while full legs can take half an hour. it's very quick and (almost) painless

does the hair come back

if you complete the proper amount of treatments, you will achieve permanent reduction of hair growth. hairs that do grow will do so slower, so you won't need to shave as often. they will also grow back thinner and paler, so they are less obvious. maintenance treatments will be necessary every few months or yearly to maintain your results

before your appointment

make sure to arrive freshly shaven with no sun or spray tan- this is extremely important *pre and post* treatment. this includes tanning beds, which we pray you have already banned from your life. a good sunblock with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as the primary ingredients should be used religiously

do not wax, tweeze, or use hair removal creams 4-6 weeks prior to treatment for best results

post care

we will provide you with complete information about post-care, but here's a few to note: avoid sun exposure (above), hot showers, hot tubs, and saunas for 2-3 days following treatment, no working out or sweating for 24 hours, and do not shave the treated area for 1-3 days post-treatment