Hair Removal - Flashlamps / Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

IPL Advantages

1. Some consumers have experienced long-lasting hair removal or permanent hair reduction.
2. Considered safe if performed properly.
3. Useful for large areas such as backs or legs.
4. Regrowth can come back lighter in color or finer in texture.
5. Light-skinned consumers with dark hair have the Best results.

IPL Disadvantages

1. Long-term data on safety and effectiveness have not been established.
2. Response rates have not been established.
3. Not as effective on unpigmented hairs and red or blonde hair.
4. Must be used very cautiously on darker skin tones or on consumers who tan themselves.
5. Improper treatment can cause burns, skin discoloration lasting several months, or patchy/grid-like regrowth
6. Requires eye protection.
7. Can be expensive.
8. Some find treatment painful.
9. Regulation varies by state, so inadequate controls exist to ensure competent practitioners.
10. Some consumers do not respond to treatment

How to care for the skin after laser hair removal

If you are spending the money to have laser hair removal, you should do everything you can between sessions to ensure your skin stays healthy. While the procedure may only take a few minutes, you should still take care of the area to recover quickly and avoid further discomfort.

1. Check the area for any abnormal reactions.

Your skin will be red and possibly swollen, but the pain should be minimal. A cold compress can help soothe the area immediately after laser hair removal.

2. Apply moisturizing cream to the treated area.

This may soothe any redness, but it also helps keep your skin healthy between treatments. Antibacterial lotions are not necessary and cause dryness. Ask your clinician to recommend a product if you do not have something handy.

3. Wait a couple of hours before showering after treatment.

When you do shower, soap and other skin products are perfectly fine to use. Just avoid rubbing the area dry--instead, pat it dry with a soft towel. Underarm areas that have been treated should be cleaned with alcohol every few hours for the first day.

4. Start shaving the area after 3 or 4 days have passed. Plucking, waxing and bleaching should be avoided altogether.

Just take care not to irritate the area while shaving. Harsh soaps and shaving gels may cause your skin to dry out.

5. Stay out of the sun. Even a small amount of sun exposure can cause severe burns and irritation.

If you cannot avoid the sun, use the highest SPF sunscreen possible at all times. Remember that you cannot have additional laser treatments with even the smallest amount of color added to your skin.

6. Scrub the treated area with a gentle exfoliating soap to help with the shedding process.

Your hair will gradually shed for a few weeks following treatment, and exfoliating can help this process along.

7. Continue to care for your skin even after the redness and shedding stops.

The healthier your skin is for your next treatment, the more successful it will be. Keep exfoliating and using moisturizer.

Find Best Salon

British Columbia:

Fresh Canvas Spa

How many laser hair removal treatments will I need?

The number of laser hair removal treatments required depends upon your skin type, hair coloring, coarseness of the hair, depth of the hair follicle and the size of the area that need be treated.

Generally, 80% - 90% of good candidates will need at least 4 to 6 laser hair removal treatments spaced 6 - 10 weeks apart to experience 70% to 90% hair reduction. The cycle of hair growth has three phases and laser is killed in the active growing phase. 4 to 6 treatments are needed to target ALL hair in the active growth phase.

After 4 - 6 treatments or so, patients should experience 70% to 90% of hair reduction. But some clients may require additional treatments because of skin type, hair coloring and genetic factors.

After all initial laser hair removal treatments, many patients still need the maintenance sessions once or twice a year for image ideal.

Laser hair removal can cause more hair growth, is it true?

In some women, laser hair removal on the face can cause a paradoxical increase in hair growth! This occurrence has been reported by consumers on various forums, although it has not yet been medically proven.
Laser hair removal cause more hair growth is a rare occurrence and appears to happen only when treating woman's face, Very few to men's back / shoulders / upper arms. Usually, this happens more often on darker skin types (type IV and darker) when treating fine or vellus hairs, and at somewhat low settings.

Now, medicine still can not explain this phenomenon, We can only using the correct laser to prevent it. So be sure that the person who is doing your treatment knows if you are at risk and how to prevent more hair growth

How to get laser hair removal on light colored hair?

Lasers are generally regarded as a safe and effective method of removing hair and have been commercially available since the mid-1990s. The light energy that causes localized damage is absorbed most effectively by darker objects, so the ideal candidate will have light skin and dark hair. However, the procedure can be performed on light colored hair.

1. Expect laser treatments to be less effective on light-colored hair, especially for darker skin. Because this type of hair has little pigment, it will not absorb much of the laser energy.
2. Consider laser hair removal for light-colored hair only if you also have light skin. Skin that is darker than your hair will make this option impractical for you.
3. Avoid the sun and tanning products completely prior to the treatments. You want the contrast between your hair and skin to be as great as possible.
4. Use lasers with large spot sizes and a short pulse width to compensate for the lack of pigment. The best choice should be an alexandrite laser. It has the largest spot size (up to 18 mm, depending on the model) and the shortest wavelength (755 nm), which is best for light colored hair.
5. Receive a greater number of treatments. Laser hair removal normally requires at least 4 sessions but 5 to 8 will usually be needed for light colored hair because of the reduced effectiveness of the laser.

How to get laser hair removal treatment on dark skin

It's very challenging for a practitioner to perform laser hair removal on someone with dark skin. That's because the melanin pigment, on the surface of your skin or epidermis, absorbs light. So, it can actually steal the laser light from getting beneath the epidermis to the real problem area. The laser may also injure the skin. You must have a highly skilled practitioner

Find a practitioner with experience performing laser hair removal on people with darker skin.

You need someone who is skilled at using different lasers -- the Diode laser, Alexandrite laser and the Nd:YAG laser.

Discuss the procedure during a consultation.

Talk to the practitioner about your skin. Have him prove his ability to choose the right laser with the right energy.

Protect the skin's surface by cooling it before using the laser.

The practitioner can use a contact cooling method and apply a chilled plate or a spray to your skin.

Use lasers with the longest wavelength of light.

Skin with melanin will absorb short wavelengths, so the doctor needs to use a longer wavelength to get through the epidermis. The skin may still absorb the light, but not to the degree of short wavelengths.

Alter the laser's pulse duration during the treatment.

The practitioner may use longer pulse duration for thicker hairs and leave the light on for a shorter period of time to remove thinner hairs.

Have at least three treatments for the best results.

Your practitioner will set up your personal treatment plan.

Apply a cold compress after treatment to soothe the bumps or redness that may appear.