Opening treatment guide...

Laser Hair Removal | My Beauty Protocol

Correction

Laser Hair Removal

Laser Hair Reduction

Plain-English name: Hair Reduction Laser

Also known asNd:YAG Laser (1064nm)Alexandrite Laser (755nm)Diode Laser (800–810 nm)

Educational info only, not medical advice. Ask a qualified provider. Disclaimer · Terms

A concentrated beam of light targets the pigment in your hair follicles.

Downtime: 1 day
Sessions: 2–6
Pain: Low to medium
Cost per visit: Price level 3 of 5
Full course: 2–6 sessions over 6–10 monthsAsk the total price for all of them.
Results start: In 1–3 weeks
Results last: Long-term reduction; touch-ups

Long-term hair reduction over several sessions; touch-ups are common.

Check first: Active tan or recent sunburn.

Will it work for me?

Skin tone

Often used on tones I–VI, with the right settings.

IVery Light

IILight

IIIMedium

IVTan

VBrown

VIDeep

Often usedAsk first

Skin tone ranges differ by device. Ask which device they will use for your skin.

General info, not a check of your own skin.

What people use it for

Tap one to see how it helps.

Skin types to ask about first

Sensitive or Redness-proneAsk first

Needs a gentle, barrier-safe plan and careful screening.

Breakout-proneAsk first

Active breakouts in the area may need to calm down first. Ask your provider.

Some people try this firstCheaper, same-day options. They cover or style. They don't treat.

For unwanted hair
- Shaving: quick and cheap; hair comes back in days
- Waxing or sugaring: lasts a few weeks
- Hair removal cream: test a small spot first
What it won't do: Hair always grows back. You repeat it for life.
No waxing if you took isotretinoin in the last 6 months.
Stop retinoid creams a few days before waxing your face.
Waxing & Sugaring Hair Removal Cream
Source: AAD: How to wax

The laser type matters more than the brand.

In no special order. Ask which one they use, and why.

Laser types

Devices

Ask your provider

Which device and settings will you use for my skin, and why?
Can we do a test spot first?
What result is realistic for me, and after how many sessions?

Before and after your visit

Plan it around your lifeMakeup, sun, workouts — see what fits around your treatment.

The visit

Duration: 15–60 minutes
Total course: 6–10 months
Session interval: 4–6 weeks

What to expect, and what to avoid

Recovery

Up to 1 day of redness and bumps

Avoid sun

2 weeks

No makeup

24 hours

No sweat or heat

48 hours

Your provider may give you different timing.

Day by day

Before your visit: ask when to start
- No tanning or strong sun
- Don't use sunless tanners.
- Wear broad-spectrum SPF 30+ every day.
- Tell your provider if you've taken isotretinoin or get cold sores.
4 weeks before
No waxing or plucking for 4 weeks before
24 hours before
Shave the area 24 hours before
Right after your visit
Avoid hot showers, saunas and hot tubs for 48 hours
After your visit
- Apply soothing aloe or hydrocortisone
- Wear sunscreen every day
- Redness and little bumps resemble razor burn for 1-24 hours. Hairs will shed and fall out over the next 2 weeks. Results start to show in 1–3 weeks.

Side effects, and who should wait

Who may want to think twice

Active tan or recent sunburn
Photosensitizing medications or recent isotretinoin
Pregnancy as a precaution
Active infection or open skin
Grey, white, very blond, or red hair responds poorly
Use Nd:YAG or appropriate diode settings for Fitzpatrick V-VI

Possible side effects

Common

Perifollicular edema (red bumps around hair)
Mild redness

Less common

Blistering
Skin lightening or darkening (sometimes permanent)
Scarring
Cold sore flare-ups or infection
More hair growing near the treated area

Your own risks may differ. Ask a qualified provider.

How it works, and common myths

The dark colour in hair absorbs the light; the heat damages the root.

A little more technical

Specific laser wavelengths are absorbed by follicular melanin, converting to thermal energy that destroys the bulge and bulb of the hair follicle.

Selective photothermolysis of follicular melanin.

Mechanism category: Targeted Photothermolysis; Laser light is absorbed mostly by the dark pigment in the hair root. The heat damages the follicle.
Energy type: Variable (Nd:YAG, Diode, Alex); Different lasers suit different skin tones. Nd:YAG (1064 nm) is often used on darker skin; Alexandrite (755 nm) on lighter skin.
Common device / product names: Nd:YAG Laser (1064nm) · Alexandrite Laser (755nm) · Diode Laser (800–810 nm) · Long-Pulsed Nd:YAG Laser (1064nm) · Alexandrite Laser System · Venus Velocity
Clinical descriptor: Laser Hair Reduction