
Laser hair reduction uses a concentrated beam of light to target the hair follicles. It involves a laser that emits light that is absorbed by the hair follicles. The pigment called melanin absorbs the laser light and destroys the hair follicle which stops the hair from growing.
People opt for laser hair reduction to get rid of unwanted hair. The most common areas where they treat are the arms, legs, underarms, chin, upper lip, and the bikini line. Nearly any area can be treated for laser hair reduction except areas that have tattoos and raised scars. The basic principle of laser hair reduction is that it works to target the pigment in the hair follicle not the pigment of the skin. Therefore, it only damages the pigment in the hair follicle and does not damage the skin.
The idea is for laser hair reduction to be a long-term solution to get rid of unwanted hair by stopping the hair follicles from growing new hair. The hair and a person’s skin type affect the success of laser hair reduction. The contrast between the color of the skin and the color of the hair is important because the laser targets the pigment in the hair. Therefore, laser hair reduction is ideal for people who have dark hair. It is not effective for hair that is light in color because it has little to no pigment which the laser can’t target.

Pre-care tips for laser hair reduction:
- Shave the area for the treatment before going to the treatment
- Avoid applying any makeup, deodorant, or lotion on the treatment area on the day of your treatment
- Avoid alcohol 24 hours before your laser hair reduction session
- Don’t wax the area for at least four weeks before the treatment
Post-care tips for laser hair reduction:
- Apply cold compress on the treated area
- Apply sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun
- The time between your sessions should be 4-6 weeks
- Avoid deodorants
- Avoid perfumed lotions
- Avoid make-up
- Avoid sun exposure
- Do not wax or tweeze your hair
- Avoid chemical peels