Laser Hair Removal in Saffron Walden
Looking for a more permanent hair removal option than shaving, waxing or plucking?
At Bare Beauty, in the market town of Saffron Walden, we have the very latest in laser hair removal technology, also known as diode laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) laser.
It is fast, safe and effective and, depending on your personal hair profile, you may only need a few sessions to get maximum results.
To find out more, click the book now button for a free consultation.
What is IPL laser treatment?
Intense pulsed light (IPL) laser hair removal uses a chilled hand piece to cool the skin surface as a broad spectrum of light travels through the skin to the hair follicles.
The light is absorbed by the pigment in the unwanted hair, causing enough heat to shrivel and destroy the hair follicles.
Over the following days and weeks, the unwanted hair will begin to fall out, leaving your skin smooth and hairless.
The hair you see on your skin will be reduced with each treatment. Your hair has a growth cycle, so with each treatment more of the hair follicles are targeted.
We recommend that you have several treatments to effectively target all of your hair follicles.
It’s estimated that at any one time you can only see 30% of the hairs on the skin: the remaining 70% remain dormant, which is why you shave or wax.
Is laser hair removal effective?
Although results vary from person to person – we treat each client as an individual – in general IPL hair removal treatments are very effective.
Many people see a significant reduction in hair regrowth after just a few sessions of IPL treatment.
Where on my body can IPL be used?
Our IPL technology has a range of treatment heads, and each precision head can used across the whole body, even on sensitive skin:
Face hair removal
An IPL treatment session is an effective way to get rid of unwanted facial hair, including that tricky upper lip!
Legs hair removal
IPL is particularly good at reducing leg hair follicles, and even ingrown hairs, offering long-lasting results without the nicks and cuts from shaving.
Arms hair removal
Intense pulsed light treatment is fast and effective at reducing hair growth on arms for a sleeker look.
Underarms hair removal
IPL is also excellent at reducing underarm hair, eliminating the irritation that often follows shaving or plucking.
Bikini line hair removal
Get a sharp, clean bikini line that lasts longer and is a lot less painful than waxing.
Back and chest hair removal
Popular with both men and women with light to medium skin and dark hair, who want to reduce hair on their back or chest.
We would not advise people to have laser hair removal treatment on or around their eyelids or on any tattooed skin across their whole body.
Are all skin and hair types suitable for IPL hair removal?
IPL hair removal treatment targets the pigment in the follicles of unwanted hair, but it is not suitable for all skin types.
To be effective, there should be a visible difference between your skin and hair colour: for example, someone with dark hair and relatively light skin.
Using IPL hair removal methods on clients with darker or Black skin types is not recommended, due to the risk of skin discolouration.
Those with fair skin and hair, or people who have lighter hair may not have enough melanin in their hair follicles for the treatment to work.
Likewise, people with a naturally red hair colour are also advised to sidestep this laser treatment.
We can discuss all your options during a free consultation. Click the book now button to arrange yours.
The benefits of laser hair removal
There are lots of advantages from using an IPL device to get hair free skin. They include:
Precise
The light energy used by laser hair removal devices can target even coarse, dark hair without impacting the surrounding area, leading to long term hair reduction.
Fast
IPL hair removal takes just a fraction of a second and can treat multiple hairs at once. Depending on the client, removing unwanted hair from an upper lip could take around a minute, while full legs or a back could take up to an hour.
Effective
Every client who comes to us is different, but some people can see a visible difference after just a few sessions.
Does IPL hair removal hurt?
Although not entirely pain free, many people say intense pulsed light treatment hurts less than waxing or threading unwanted hair.
Preparing for an IPL treatment
It is advised that you don’t pluck, wax, or have electrolysis for six weeks before your planned laser hair removal treatment.
It is also strongly advised that you avoid sun exposure for six weeks before and after treatment. Sun exposure not only reduces the efficacy of IPL, it can also increase the risk of post-session complications.
We also ask you to avoid taking blood-thinners, anti-inflammatories or aspirin before the procedure. If in doubt, talk to your doctor.
Before your treatment
You will need to shave the treatment area at home beforehand so that the hair follicles can adequately absorb the laser light.
It is also advisable to shower and make sure the area is clean.
We will then trim the hair being treated to a few millimeters above the skin surface before the procedure.
After your laser hair removal
After your IPL session, you may notice slight swelling in the treated area, but this should disappear within a couple of hours.
The treated area may also be a little red for one or two days. You can use ice packs at home, or anti-inflammatory creams to ease any discomfort.
We would encourage you to avoid direct sunlight and any kind of indoor tanning equipment.
We ask you to wait for four weeks between your first two sessions, and after that, you can book IPL treatment as and when you feel your hair growing.
Click the book now button to arrange your free consultation.
Laser hair removal side effects
As well as your hair falling out 1-3 weeks post treatment, there are a few – thankfully rare – adverse effects from IPL treatment to be aware of.
Blisters can appear, particularly for people with a darker skin tone. In some cases, you may see grey hairs in the treatment area.
There is no evidence to suggest that IPL or laser hair removal causes skin cancer.
How many IPL sessions before I am hair free?
Each client is different: someone with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid issues may require more sessions than someone who doesn’t.
Normally, most clients need between 8 and 10 treatments to effectively minimise hair regrowth, with many achieving hair-free skin in that time.
Treatments are usually booked between 6-8 weeks apart, and during this period you’ll feel the next phase of body hair growth come through on your skin’s surface.
As for being hair free? Results vary from person to person but our results can last from months to several years.
Free IPL consultation and patch test
At Bare Beauty, we’ll always advise you on what to expect and how well you can expect treatment to work specifically for you.
The first step to this is booking a consultation with us. We’ll go through any concerns, health conditions, and establish your skin and hair types, before creating a treatment plan so you know what it will cost and how long it will take.
Our consultation is free but, should you wish to proceed, we will perform a patch test to ensure you do not experience any adverse reactions to the treatment.
The patch test costs £10 and can be redeemed against your first appointment.
Click here for prices and bookings.