Laser hair removal is one of those things you put off until you are fed up with waxing and shaving. You know what else I was fed up with? Ingrown hairs, red bumps, razor cuts, painful bikini waxes, and stubble hairs.

A few months back, I decided to put my misery to an end by giving laser hair removal a try.

Let me first start by mentioning that my first experience with hair removal treatments was not great, I thought I was getting laser but it turned out that I wasn’t, it was a treatment called IPL which stands for intense pulsed light that uses broad-spectrum light instead of laser. I have to say, I felt kind of deceived as I was never told the difference between IPL and other types of laser by the technician who performed the treatment. I didn’t know that it wasn’t a form of laser until I went to the Private Clinic in Dubai and learned about all the different kinds of lasers that target different skin types. Watch the video below.

Some therapists don’t go out of their way to explain any of that to their clients, which is very disappointing. You need to be careful with which type of laser you choose to go with, as it affects your results. My experience with IPL was a complete failure. It didn’t do anything at all, not to mention it was painful. It’s an older technology and less powerful than laser. Most of at-home hair “laser” removal kits are a form of IPL, and it requires more sessions to see results.

I was fortunate enough to discover The Private Clinic in Dubai, they’re known as the best place for laser in the area. They use state of the art machines and they have the most experienced laser experts on site that can be fully trusted. Joy was my laser therapist who analyzed my skin closely to determine the best treatment for my skin type.

Laser Hair Removal Machine at the Private Clinic

There are 6 different skin types that will determine which laser type is the right one for you. Skin types 1-3 very (fair- light-medium) contains a small amount of melanin and tends to burn easily.

Skin Types 4-6 (olive, tanned-very deep tones) contain more melanin and do not burn as easily. I happen to fall towards skin type #4.

Skin type is not the only deciding factor; different hair colors absorb light differently. White and grey hairs contain no melanin, red and blonde hairs have a small amount of melanin, while dark brown and black hairs have a higher percentage of melanin. The more melanin the hairs contain, the better it absorbs light.

Generally speaking, laser is all about matching the light and pulse duration to the melanin in your skin and hair follicles without affecting the tissues around it. The heat energy from laser is supposed to destruct the hair follicle and inhibit it from growing.

Since I have an olive skin tone with thick dark hair, the machine that works best on my skin and hair type is called ND Yag.

I’ve had 3 sessions of laser using ND Yag and I can’t believe how effective it was on my hair. I saw a difference after my first session by about 20-30% hair reduction. See the below picture.

1 week after first laser session without shaving

Hair grew slowly and finer

On the other hand, I saw 50% of hair reduction after my third session. I literally don’t have to shave as often as I used to and I can go a full 1.5 weeks without touching the razor. I also noticed that my bikini area is a lot softer than before which is a true definition of freedom!

After my third session. 50% less hair.

Here is a brief description of the different kinds of laser to be aware of:

Diode Laser: uses a single wavelength of light and best used on pale-medium skin tone.

Nd Yag laser: uses longer infrared wavelengths that directly target the hair follicles. It works best on tanned and darker complexions. This type of laser is often used to remove tattoos and hyperpigmentation and works great for hair removal.

Alexandrite laser: uses shorter infrared wavelengths but great for fine hair with light to olive skin tone. This type of laser targets large surfaces (i.e legs & back) faster due to its fast repetition rate. Since it covers more ground at a faster rate, it can cause a bit of discomfort during the treatment.

Ruby: one of the first lasers invented, works great on very pale skin and fine hairs. If you have extremely fair skin, look into this one.

Note: Please keep in mind that some clinics tend to buy these machines under different brand names of some sort (i.e Cynosure, Candela, LightSheer, CoolGlide, etc) so just ask your therapist how they fall under the categories above.

Before care:

-Don’t wax at least 1-2 months before your laser to allow the roots of the hair follicles to be detected by a laser.

-Shave the area one day before your laser treatment. You need to have a smooth surface to work with in order to make your session more comfortable.

– Avoid sun exposure 1-2 weeks before the treatment and excessive sweating 24 hrs after your laser session.

– Don’t use electric razors or epilators.

– It’s better to avoid laser when you’re on your period or close to getting your period as it might hurt more around that time of the month.

– If you don’t have high pain tolerance, I suggest using a numbing cream 1 hr before your treatment.

The Aftercare:

– You need to avoid sun exposure for 2 weeks and make sure to apply sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher

– Don’t wax between sessions. Avoid waxing altogether if you‘re going to invest in laser hair removal.

– Wait about 7 days after your laser treatment to shave (if you have to).

– Don’t apply bleach on your skin or chemical peels after your session.

– If you’re doing a facial laser session, avoid masks that contain BHA and AHA acids.

Just like there is a risk with anything you do with your body, if the laser is done in the wrong hands it can cause permanent scarring and burn marks. That’s why it is very important to choose the right clinic with a well-trained therapist who can take care of all your needs.

The therapists at the Private Clinic in Dubai have medical backgrounds and know exactly what they’re doing; I was completely in safe hands. They listen to their clients and will stop at any point if you feel any pain, they check in every few minutes to make sure that you’re okay. Both facility and equipment at the Private Clinic are kept super clean and up to date. They change the nozzle of the laser machine between every client and sanitize everything fully (this point is a deal maker for me). I can’t recommend them enough plus they have amazing reviews on Google. Do your homework and I am sure you will be satisfied with the end results

Be inspired,

MM