Is men's laser hair removal worth it?
Life presents us with many an opportunity to take our tops off. Whether we are playing sports, burning in the gym, body-slamming sand on holiday or taking part in other shirtless activities, we want to take those layers off and feel confident in doing so. Not too much to ask, is it? But as hairy men, a lot of prep goes into tackling our torsos before the magical unveiling can happen. Some mornings are dedicated to plucking nose hair, others are for tweezing that powerful monobrow. And let’s not mention the shaving and waxing. Excess body hair can happen for a multitude of reasons- genetics, age, ethnicity, and of course… high levels of testosterone. You asked, and we answered (with help from our hair removal experts). Here’s what you need to know about laser hair removal for men.
What is laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal is a long-term treatment which uses pulses of laser light to destroy the hair follicle. The treatment can help get rid of unwanted hair on almost any area of the body; including your legs, arms, neck, back, bum (yes, including the crack), and face. It can remove a little or a lot, from small amounts of ear hair to large areas of back or chest hair. Men's laser hair removal can help save time and money that you'd usually spend on waxing, shaving and tweezing.
What happens during laser hair removal treatment?
During a session, a cooling gel or cooling air spray is applied to the treatment area. Once the area feels numb, a specialist will use a hand-held machine to laser the unwanted hairs for 15 minutes to 1 hour. You won’t be in pain, but you will feel a sensation similar to an elastic band snapping against your skin (think Year 7 maths class). At Transform, we use a variety of highly reliable machines across our clinics, including Lightsheer, Quantum, Lumenis One, Soprano and Harmony. Each has their own benefits, so it’s best to speak to a specialist before committing to a treatment plan. Top tip? Shave before each session, it’ll give you better results and the treatment will be quicker and easier to perform.
How long does laser hair removal take?
Laser hair removal for men takes the same amount of time as it does for women. It takes a few months to complete a course of laser hair removal, depending on how many sessions you need. Most people leave 4-6 weeks between facial hair removal sessions and 6-8 weeks between body hair removal sessions; leaving it too long or having another appointment too soon could result in the treatment working ineffectively. You’ll notice the hair will grow back less and less, with the follicle reducing by 10-15% each time until it goes completely. Top tip? You’ll need to keep the treated area out of the sun for two weeks after a session, so bear this in mind when you are planning to have the treatment done in time for summer or a big do.
Will people know I’ve had laser hair removal?
We understand that one of the main concerns over male hair removal is whether the results will be too obvious. The good news is that nobody will know unless you tell them! Like any semi-permanent treatment, laser hair removal does come with mild side effects which will be discussed with you at your first consultation. If you experience a side effect of laser, it will instigate straight after the treatment and may last for a few days. Side effects of laser hair removal for men could include:
1. Slight swelling around the follicle
2. Mild bruising (in sensitive skin)
3. Crusting or scabbing
4. Irritation of the skin
How much does laser hair removal cost?
We regularly perform male hair removal treatments on customers of all skin types. You can relax knowing that not only is laser hair removal a commonly performed procedure, but you’ll be in the expert hands of our CTC qualified practitioners and nurses. Laser hair removal cost at Transform depends on the area(s) you wish to have treated and can be discussed at a free consultation.
