Laser hair removal side effects: Is it safe, is it painful, and more

Table Of Content

• Tips for Reducing Pain from Laser Hair Removal Procedures
• Find more top doctors on
• How much does laser hair removal hurt?
• Arms: Mild/moderate pain, medium/long sesh 🌶️ 🌶️
• Best Laser Hair Removal Service for Sensitive Skin
• Medicate Prior to the Appointment

While anesthetic (numbing) creams can help to minimize the pain, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends only using them when absolutely necessary and at the lowest dose possible. Still, there are portions of the legs that may hurt more during the procedure depending on sensitivity, such as your inner thighs compared to your shins. Our team did the very hard work of testing all the top-rated laser-hair removal studios.

Tips for Reducing Pain from Laser Hair Removal Procedures

Laser hair removal is a procedure that uses a laser, or a concentrated beam of light, to get rid of hair in different areas of the body. Overall, numbing cream has been deemed safe when used in small amounts on small areas of the body and when applied by a professional. But I'm personally the biggest fan of their laser-hair removal service. First of all, the pricing is v transparent and didn't require me to ask a ton of questions and practically sign my life away to figure out how much everything would cost. Plus, I felt so comfortable in the studio and never felt rushed.

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“These are mild side effects and usually resolve in one to three days,” he says. The doctor will press a hand-held laser instrument to your skin. Depending on the type of laser, a cooling device on the tip of the instrument or a cool gel might be used to protect your skin and lessen the risk of side effects. Laser hair removal is usually safe and effective for most people. Only an experienced healthcare provider should perform the procedure.

How much does laser hair removal hurt?

When done by a trusted technician, it can guarantee long-term results with minimum side effects. It works best on those with contrasting skin and hair colors, for example, light skin and dark hair. It's important to keep treated areas out of the sun and away from indoor tanning equipment.

Arms: Mild/moderate pain, medium/long sesh 🌶️ 🌶️

It's a front-runner for hair removal since the laser works to destroy the hair follicle and delay regrowth, often for years. Laser hair removal can be very effective in keeping treated areas hair-free for months, or even years. Better still, when hair does regrow, it’s likely to be less noticeable. Maintenance treatments may be required to keep areas hair-free – check with your dermatologist.

Depilatories are chemical-based, so these tend to have the most side effects. Blisters, rashes, and burns are possible, and you may feel mild pain from the acidic nature of these products. When done right, shaving doesn’t pose as many side effects, but the results don’t last long because you’re only removing hair from the surface of the skin.

Many people describe the sensation as similar to a sunburn. A practitioner may apply a cooling device to a person’s skin just before the laser is used. Before embarking on the therapy, however, people should make themselves aware of some side effects of laser hair removal, as well as some myths that surround the process. Before getting laser hair removal, you should thoroughly check the credentials of the doctor or technician performing the procedure. Depending on the laser or light source used, you and the technician will need to wear appropriate eye protection. They'll also apply a cold gel or use a special cooling device to prodct the outer layers of your skin and help the laser light get into it.

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It might not work as well for people with dark skin or hair that’s blonde, gray, white or red. Laser hair removal uses a process called selective photothermolysis. Heat from a laser destroys cells that have a lot of pigment (color).

Medicate Prior to the Appointment

The laser should damage only the hair follicle while avoiding damage to the skin. Therefore, a contrast between hair and skin color — dark hair and light skin — results in the best outcomes. No, laser hair removal can't permanently remove hair, but it can reduce your hair, says board-certified dermatologist Rachel Westbay. Although not a guarantee, it is not uncommon for hair to regrow down the line. Sometimes when you think of laser hair removal spaces, you may envision stale med-spas with fluorescent lighting and a very clinical feel. But throw that image in the trash when you think of Ever/body.

From North Upland to Lomita, we're helping to keep the people of Los Angeles feeling good. When you need your next appointment, rely on Fresha for the absolute best. There are also 20 local five-star rated places around you to consider if you're in the market for VIP treatment. See what people around you are recommending, and book the best business for you.

At Elase, we employ the most effective lasers for our clients, targeting two different wavelengths in hair removal. One wavelength focuses on the blood supply to the hair follicle, cutting off circulation and causing the hair to fall out gradually. The other wavelength targets the pigment of the hair follicle, destroying it immediately.

Is Laser Hair Removal Painful? How to Reduce Pain from the Procedure

Table Of Content

• Medicate Prior to the Appointment
• Laser hair removal may be painful on your more sensitive areas
• Is Laser Hair Removal Painful, and Can You Make it Hurt Less?
• About Mayo Clinic

It works exactly like it sounds – intense light is pulsed to the hair follicle, which disrupts hair growth. While the mechanism of action is similar to laser hair removal, it is less powerful and takes more sessions to get the desired result. Most people have maintenance laser treatments every 4 to 6 weeks, but it differs from person to person. Ask your dermatologist for guidance on when it’ll be safe for you to have follow-up treatments. Facial hair removal is a common concern for many individuals, whether it’s addressing unwanted hair on the upper lip, chin, or cheeks. While the facial skin is generally more resilient than other areas of the body, certain regions may still be sensitive to laser treatment.

Medicate Prior to the Appointment

Each pulse of the laser takes a fraction of a second and can treat many hairs at the same time. The laser can treat an area approximately the size of a quarter every second. Small areas such as the upper lip can be treated in less than a minute, and large areas, such as the back or legs, may take up to an hour. Laser hair removal is one of the most commonly done cosmetic procedures in the U.S. Laser hair removal tends to be most painful on delicate areas of skin with lots of nerve endings, like the armpits, upper lips, or bikini line.

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Laser hair removal may be painful on your more sensitive areas

Plus, they're considered cosmetic devices, not medical, which means they aren't held to the same standards as professional tools. Laser hair removal is considered a safe procedure when done by a licensed professional. However, it’s not completely without risk, and you might experience some pain depending on which part of the body you’re getting treated.

Is Laser Hair Removal Painful, and Can You Make it Hurt Less?

In order to avoid potentially uncomfortable side effects, Dr. Malik recommends doing your research before selecting a place to get the treatment done. “It is vital to see someone with an in-depth knowledge of the skin and which lasers are okay for specific skin types, as not all lasers are appropriate for laser hair removal,” he says. During laser hair removal, a laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair.

Additionally, Dr. Malik notes that even after your treatments, you may find that you need an annual treatment as a touch-up. It’s unlikely that treatments will target all the hairs in their growth phase. Some hair will grow back, but it’s usually lighter and thinner than before. Your skin might be red, swollen and a little painful after laser hair removal. Don’t expose the treated area to natural or artificial sunlight. You should be able to go back to normal activities right away.

Schedule the Procedure Around Your Period

Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. Treating a small area, such as the upper lip, might take only a few minutes. Treating a larger area, such as the back, might take more than an hour. Scars may also form if people do not care for the treated area correctly afterward.

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And let’s be honest–you may already feel poorly, and the side effects of laser hair removal won’t help. Since your skin will be sensitive after laser hair removal, your physician will recommend that you avoid getting direct sun exposure. You should avoid the sun for 1 month before the procedure to 1 month afterward. After this time, apply sunscreen to the area of treatment every day. Wet a clean, soft washcloth with cool water and place it on the treated area for several minutes at a time.

The hairs will eventually grow back, though they are often finer, lighter, and less likely to be noticed than before. By taking care of the treated area after laser removal, such as by using a moisturizer, a person may prevent any lasting issues from this treatment. If you have darker skin, your doctor may prescribe skin bleachingcream.

Shaving

This treatment may also be ideal for areas of the body that are difficult to shave or wax. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these IPL and other devices do work to remove unwanted hair, but it often takes many sessions, and the results are rarely permanent. IPL devices are generally safe, and they have been approved by the FDA for hair removal. One thing that may help no matter your personal tolerances is applying ice. Cold compresses can reduce inflammation, which is indicated by redness and swelling.

The lasers only penetrate the skin and do not reach or affect any other organs. Laser hair removal is usually safe, even in sensitive areas such as the groin. After the first treatment, many people will only be hair-free for a few months.

Shave the area that will be treated two to three days before a treatment. Laser hair removal treatments won’t work on areas where the hair is longer than a grain of rice. After treatment begins, avoid waxing, tweezing and plucking hair in the treated areas. In the weeks leading up to your procedure, avoid tanning beds and stay out of the sun as much as possible.

The light energy is converted to heat, which damages the tube-shaped sacs within the skin (hair follicles) that produce hairs. Laser hair removal is safe and effective for most people when performed correctly. It may take multiple treatments to remove unwanted hair completely, and permanent hair removal is not always guaranteed. An experienced, board certified professional will work to reduce side effects from laser hair removal by using the right types of lasers for your skin and hair color or type. They will also ask you about your medical history and any medications you take that might cause adverse reactions. A rare risk is that laser hair removal can end up having the opposite effect and cause increased hair growth.

Areas with thicker skin and fewer nerves, like the legs, arms, and back, tend to hurt less. Discuss your overall pain tolerance with your provider, and ask them about methods they can use to decrease your risk. Options include numbing agents, icing prior to treatment, and chill tips on lasers.

It’s also worth noting that some people might not notice enough hair reduction after their first session. “It is important to realize it takes multiple treatments, ranging from five to 10,” says Dr. Evans. You might notice redness and swelling for the first few hours after laser hair removal. Most people see about a 10% to 25% reduction in hair growth after the first treatment. After all your treatments, you may not have new hair growth for several months or years. Again, there is no evidence that laser hair removal causes infertility.

After enough treatments, it may stop growing back altogether. Just before the procedure, the hair that will be undergoing treatment will be trimmed to a few millimeters above the skin surface. Usually, the technician will apply a topical numbing medicine minutes before the procedure to help with the sting of the laser pulses. They'll also adjust the laser equipment according to the color, thickness, and location of your hair being treated, as well as your skin color.

If you have light skin and dark hair, you will likely see good results from laser hair removal that can last much longer than other hair removal methods. Like your skin and arms, the stomach tends to have thicker skin, so laser hair removal doesn’t hurt here as much. Back laser treatments can hurt as much as the bikini line or underarms due to the sheer number of hairs in this area. But it totally depends on the area of your body you're wanting to be hair-free. The bikini line is a common area for laser hair removal, particularly for individuals seeking long-term hair reduction in preparation for swimsuit season or intimate grooming. However, due to the delicate nature of the skin in this area and the proximity to sensitive nerve endings, some individuals may experience increased sensitivity during treatment.

55 Ideas for Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights

Table Of Content

• Natural Chestnut Dark Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
• Ways to Wear Blonde and Brown Hair
• #4 Mahogany Brown Hair with Beige Blonde Highlights
• Cool-Toned Blonde Balayage
• Auburn Highlights
• Platinum and Blonde Highlights

A root-to-tip, full head of sandy tones can be achieved using your favourite Blondor pre-lightener, such as BlondorPlex. A root-to-tip, full head of sandy tones can be achieved using your favorite Blondor pre-lightener, such as BlondorPlex. Get the dark-to-light graduation of dreams with deep, rich roots and subtle brightness through the ends. On this brown ombre, the lift is virtually imperceptible and comes with the added bonus of making hair look fuller. For extra volume, ruffle EIMI Dry Me dry shampoo through just-tonged strands, which will lend a little extra texture.

Natural Chestnut Dark Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights

Allow the nuances in color to shine through with a wispy, yellow-brown lob. If you’ve wanted a shorter do but aren’t ready to make the full-chop commitment yet, then a lob is the way to go. This length is definitely short, but you can still rock some longer hairstyles, a perfect way to ease into a shorter length. Money pieces don’t have to be intense and bold—here, the blond strands frame the face, then softly blend into the brown base, giving a dreamy look.

Ways to Wear Blonde and Brown Hair

The "brassy" hair color usually gets a bad rap, primarily for its perceived unwanted orange undertones. But when you pull off the shade (and undertones) perfectly like Jessica Biel, they look natural rather than neon. As a natural brunette, one of the easiest ways to experiment with color is to simply drizzle in some subtle, caramel-hued highlights à la Priyanka Chopra.

#4 Mahogany Brown Hair with Beige Blonde Highlights

"They're a fabulous way to incorporate a brown that isn’t too copper or red without the work of lifting and depositing the color back," says Valdes. "It adds a perfect gradient that most people like without the long-term commitment. So it helps maintain the natural shine and integrity of the hair." Next to her infamous glowy skin, J.Lo is known for her honey blonde hair. These chunky '90s highlights demonstrate how to upgrade a signature look without completely going out of your comfort zone. The warm-toned blonde also works to flatter her skin's warm undertones.

Cool-Toned Blonde Balayage

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Sandy blonde hair blends well with both lighter and darker shades, making it ideal for highlights and balayage. However, the subtle shifts between hues in sandy blonde can be challenging to achieve artificially. Rather than a flat, all-over bleach blond, sun-washed blonde incorporates a variety of warm golden highlights in shades such as peach, honey, and amber. These sunny tones look like the sun’s kissing rays have been artfully painted on them for a silky, blended look with lots of natural variation. In golden blonde hair, the play of light often creates natural-looking highlights and dimension.

Bohemian souls can express their unique style with blonde and purple highlights. Simply perfect for a girl who’s not afraid to show her true colors and attitude. Long hairstyles will almost always help you show off your new highlights in a glamorous way. Having longer locks also means you can play around with the color distribution. Josephine Skriver wants us to say "yes" to sunny, honey highlights with darker brown lowlights. Eva Marcille makes a statement with extra-long box braids in a warm, light-brown hue—but she doesn't stop there.

Foiled Highlights

The foundational color remains gold, enriched with the ‘spice’ tones, adding depth and dimension. The inherent brightness of gold shines through, even though the spicier tones might slightly mute it. Rapper Latto's natural curls feature a golden blonde ombré that adds a warm, glowing effect. Jaz Sinclair's playful curls demonstrate how blonde highlights can add dimension and shape to natural hair texture.

Platinum and Blonde Highlights

Use a curling iron to get glamorous Hollywood waves and be ready to take on the day. Beige highlights are a great option for a brunette trying out highlights for the first time. If you are considering dyeing your hair, consult a professional on what shade of highlight will work best with your skin tone. If you wear your hair up, ask for a full highlight so you can see the highlights in the back with your hair up.

Shaggy Blonde

The contrast between the golden base and caramel accents creates visual interest and texture. Beach blonde typically incorporates a subtle root shadow or darker roots with brighter, sun-kissed ends, reflecting how prolonged sun exposure lightens hair. Face-framing highlights around the front create a flattering glow.

Subtly bleached ends are a quieter way to try your hand at the brown blonde hair trend. This is another great way to try out lighter locks without making a long-term commitment. This high-contrast shade features a light blonde fringe area with a rich fox brown base. The tones in this medium-length hair contrast the lowlight and highlights.

Read on to see how expert colorists and clients — including celebrities, models, and more — are embracing different takes on bronde hair color. There's a lot going on with Meagan Good's hair, and all of it (unsurprisingly) good. You can see the brown-to-caramel color play out in different styles and textures, from her dreads to her loose braid to her undercut. Serena Williams's long, spiraled locks are giving us goddess vibes. The gradience from her deep raven hue to a bronzey blonde complements her glowing skin.

Sun-washed blonde mimics the natural lightening effect the sun has on hair. This shade of blonde exudes a warm, bright, multi-tonal color with a soft, diffused finish, creating a casual, relaxed vibe. Honey wheat blonde possesses a warm golden glow reminiscent of ripened wheat fields under the sun. Combines the warmth of honey with the soft, neutral allure of wheat, creating a multi-dimensional shade. This natural luminosity gives the hair its distinct appearance, allowing for soft contrast against various skin tones.

This warm hair color is the perfect choice for brunettes craving a lift during the summer months. What a seamless blend of dark chocolate brown hair with blonde highlights! Blonde and brown hair has always been the perfect base for a creamy hue.

43 Brown Hairstyles With Blonde Highlights

Table Of Content

• Blonde Highlights and Splashes of Rainbow
• Curly Brown Hair and Baby Highlights
• #44: Chocolate Brown Hair with Dark Blonde Highlights and Lighter Front Pieces
• Awesome Champagne Blonde Ombre Highlights in Chocolate Brown Hair
• Blonde Top, Brown Base
• Quiz: What are the Best Brown Hair Colors for You?

This tousled mane of hair makes the most of its natural thickness. The stylist added a touch of golden highlights starting at the crown, working down to a brilliant blonde with artful balayage strokes. The sun-kissed lower half of this hairstyle makes it look silky smooth and buttery soft. The butterscotch tone of the blonde works with the warmer brown shade perfectly. This edgy style has the perfect balance of a light brown base that's amplified with highlights and lowlights. These highlights run through the hair in a disorganized fashion, letting the natural brunette hair peak through the ginger blonde color.

Blonde Highlights and Splashes of Rainbow

The stunning golden blonde highlights with multiple tones offer a bright, sun-kissed dimension. Hair mostly light brown with blonde highlights is a classic look that will never go out of style. Anchored in a medium to light blonde base, this shade serves as the primary canvas for the intricate blend of honey and wheat tones. While carrying warmth from the honey, the wheat element provides a neutralizing effect, preventing the color from becoming overly warm. In his Glamour Magazine article, he endorses honey wheat blonde as one of the most flattering hair colors for 2023.

Curly Brown Hair and Baby Highlights

You can also choose to keep a portion of your brown hair without highlights – like the lower part in the example above. To compensate, lighten the entire top part with champagne blonde highlights leaving a few wisps of your natural brown here and there. For a subtle approach, choose a deep caramel tone to outline either wavy or curly hair with lowlights.

#44: Chocolate Brown Hair with Dark Blonde Highlights and Lighter Front Pieces

When blended with light ash blonde, these glinting tones evoke the bubbly golden color of champagne. The overall effect is multidimensional blonde hair that catches the light beautifully. Upon closer inspection, some variations may exhibit faint reddish or auburn undertones, especially under direct sunlight. Honey blonde hair may evoke the warmth of autumn’s golden leaves or late-summer sunsets. Depending on lighting and maintenance, honey blonde can shift slightly in its warmth, oscillating between deeper ambers and brighter golds.

Awesome Champagne Blonde Ombre Highlights in Chocolate Brown Hair

Effortlessly cool with lots of texture, it embodies the laidback SoCal style. The base for chestnut blonde is typically a neutral beige or ash blonde, which prevents brassiness. Hand-painted throughout the lengths are ribbons of chestnut and auburn hues, applied using balayage or babylighting techniques. It’s fundamentally a blonde shade, but its uniqueness lies in its cool silvery undertones.

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Blonde Top, Brown Base

For this look, BlondorPlex + 6% was used to lift ribbons of hair to a level 5, before Koleston Perfect 5/73 + 4/0 was applied to refine the base colour. Color Fresh Mask in the shade Copper Glow was then left on the highlighted sections for 10 minutes to create that fiery finish. We're loving these red hot chili highlights on a chocolate brown base. For this look, BlondorPlex + 6% was used to lift ribbons of hair to a level 5, before Koleston Perfect 5/73 + 4/0 was applied to refine the base color. Silver locks are on the rise, as clients embrace their gray hair regrowth by adding pewter highlights to their blonde, brunette hair or black hair.

Work with your stylist to find a hue that pairs well with your natural hair color. Then, use a curling iron to add a bit of contour to your otherwise long and stagnant mane. This pin-straight, golden blond balayage looks great on ladies with naturally dark manes.

If you decide to use a curling iron to replicate her loose waves, don't forget to prep strands with a heat protectant spray first. This balayage looks so natural that you’ll forget you’re rocking blonde highlights. If you just want a subtle enhancement to your brown locks, show this picture of Jessie James Decker to your stylist. You don’t have to book a sunny vacation to mimic Blake Lively’s color.

It usually has a cool base, often a pale ash or platinum blonde, providing a bright hue devoid of orange or yellow undertones. A subtle ashy undertone may emerge in certain lights, lending the shade a cooler edge and distinguishing it from a pure honey blonde. This hair color can evoke the comforting feel of a harvest season with its harmonious balance of warmth and neutrality.

Strategic butterscotch highlights around the face can create a striking yet balanced look. It has a tactile look and feel that eschews harsh contrasts, giving the hair a soft, enveloping appearance. While having a neutral base, champagne Blonde carries subtle golden undertones that differentiate it from other platinum or cool blonde shades. This glamourous shade of blonde showcases a depth that can appear more natural on various skin tones. The champagne blonde also has a distinct sheen not commonly seen in other blonde variants. Champagne blonde is a glamorous, elegant blonde hair color with subtle warm undertones like the sparkling luxurious beverage.

If you’re into effortless looks, balayage is the way to go—as it grows out, a rooted balayage only looks more lived-in, as opposed to messy. Switch up your usual curling iron routine by directing the curls towards your face instead of away. The results are a classic and chic look you’ll come back to again and again. Extend the look with TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Extend Hold Level 4.