Investing time and money into laser skin treatments or hair removal is a big commitment and it’s useful to do plenty of research to find the right salon for you. We’ve pulled some of our most asked questions to give you all the facts and figures. For more information and to speak to one of our laser experts please leave your details on our laser form and we’ll come back to you shortly >
Is it safe?
Carried out in the right environment with a full consultation, laser hair removal and skin treatments are completely safe. All of our laser therapists complete a rigorous training regime and work with a mentor to develop their skills. They conduct a thorough consultation with all clients before treating them – this will include checking to see whether you have exposed your skin to the sun recently, making sure that you aren’t on certain medication and conducting a patch test. When carried out by a qualified technician, laser shouldn’t damage the skin and there is no evidence that links laser to skin cancer or in fact any other conditions.
Will it hurt?
We get a lot of clients that are very hesitant as they have had bad experiences in the past or heard horror stories from friends but there is another way! We use a Candela machine that is used by many medical professionals and has a unique ‘skin cooling system’ to minimise discomfort. During your patch test your technician will test the intensity on several different settings and you can select which level you are comfortable with.
What is the biggest mistake people make?
Not coming back for the recommended number of treatments for hair removal. We find that clients need between 3 and 6 treatments to effectively disable the hair follicles from growing. Laser hair removal is only effective during the hair growth cycle, which is why you need to have several sessions to target all of the follicles in the correct phase.
Will I be hair free once I have finished the treatment?
This varies from client to client. The laser treatments disable the hair follicle so if you do get any new hair coming through it will be much patchier and finer. You may need to book in for a maintenance appointment once a year to zap those remaining hairs but over time these will continue to diminish.
Is it effective on dark hair?
Absolutely! In fact the ideal combination for effective laser treatment is dark hair and pale skin – because the laser targets the melanin (dark pigment) in the hair. For this reason, it was previously quite tricky to treat people with darker skin tones but advances in technology mean that we can now treat all skin types. Because of the lack of melanin in the hair follicle, we cannot treat blonde, red, grey or white hair.
How do you treat sun damage
In the same way that hair follicles contain melanin so do some of the visible signs of sun damage such as dark sun spots, age spots, freckles or red cherry spots. We can use lasers to target these pigmented areas and leave the surrounding skin unaffected. The laser heats the area and causes a fine crust to form, this then peels away taking the darker area with it, revealing new, blemish free skin. For this treatment, it is important that the surrounding skin is not tanned as that would cause this to absorb the laser beam as well and could cause burns.
What are thread veins, isn’t it dangerous to remove them?
Thread veins are small, dilated capillaries that lie close to the skin’s surface branching out in a spidery pattern- they are most commonly found on the legs and face. It isn’t dangerous to remove these small veins and it can be much less painful than other vein removal treatments, as well as having quicker visible results.
I am concerned about ageing – do you have anything that can help?
We have recently introduced laser skin rejuvenation which can dramatically improve the appearance of ageing and sagging skin over time. It works by stimulating collagen production (the skin’s ‘scaffolding’ system) which strengthens the structure of the skin resulting in skin that is smoother and more toned, with its youthful glow restored.
How much does it cost?
We have a comprehensive price list that clearly shows the cost of single treatments and courses so that you can mull these over in your own time. Committing to laser can seem like a large initial outlay but when you add up how much you will spend on waxing and shaving over the years you will soon see the saving. If you are interested in laser treatments you can ask for a price list at our Chelsea, Notting Hill and Islington boutiques.
You can read more about each treatment that we offer here >
And also book a patch test and consultation in our Chelsea, Notting Hill and Islington boutiques online now.
