Laser hair removal shouldn’t hurt. As with any beauty treatment, each appointment should feel like a bright spot in your day! But the thought of having your hair zapped away with laser probably sounds a little painful.
Thanks to modern technology, we’ve found a lot of ways to prevent laser hair removal pain. In this post, we’ll explain how to make laser hair removal less painful, with tips for before, during, and after your treatment.
Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?
While pain tolerance can vary widely from person to person and body part to body part, most patients describe the pain from laser hair removal as a light sting. It’s often compared to getting stung by a rubber band. You shouldn’t feel any burning, and the pain shouldn’t be so strong you can’t handle it with ease.
The pain rarely lasts beyond each zap, and the treatment time is surprisingly quick. That said, most of our patients report that their laser hair removal at SEV isn’t painful at all.
Preparing Before Your Appointment
Before your appointment, here are a few things to do that will help you reduce pain levels:
- Schedule based on your cycle. Sensitivity to pain is higher when you’re on your period and lower during ovulation, so if possible, try to schedule your appointment for two weeks after your period.
- Follow all pre-care instructions. Make sure that your skin is healthy and intact before your appointment, and don’t schedule if you’re experiencing any redness, irritation, or open lesions in the treatment area.
- Ensure that your skin is at its base color. Avoid any unprotected sun exposure or sunless tanner use. For two weeks before your appointment, avoid using skin-renewing skincare or undergoing peels and similar treatments.
- Shave the day before. This will give your skin enough time to recover from any post-shaving irritation while ensuring that the laser can still penetrate effectively to the root of your hair follicle.
- Nurture your body.Don’t skip meals, forget your water bottle, or miss out on sleep when you know your laser appointment is coming up. It’s much easier to tolerate discomfort when you’re nourished and well-rested, whereas hunger, dehydration, and lack of sleep are all proven to increase pain perception.
- Have a coffee. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to skip your morning coffee before getting laser. Research shows that caffeine can increase pain tolerance levels, especially for women.
- Nurture your mind.Your mental health also plays a role in pain perception. Research shows that when you’re nervous or afraid of pain, you’ll actually feel it more. In the lead-up to your appointment, meditation can be an excellent mental prep tool.
Reduce Pain During Laser Hair Removal
Once it’s time for your appointment, these are the best ways to reduce pain during your laser hair removal treatment.
1. Cold is Your Friend
Nowadays, the best laser hair removal machines have built-in soothing features like cooling gusts or cold tips. Studies show they significantly reduce pain during laser hair removal treatments. All laser hair removal machines at SEV include such features so our clients experience minimal to no discomfort.
2. Communicate With Your Nurse or Laser Tech
During your treatment, you can make laser hair removal less painful by simply speaking up. Your nurse or technician should check in with you throughout the treatment, and adjust intensity settings as needed.
3. Take an OTC Pain Reliever
If you’re particularly sensitive to pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain relief treatment like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Take your painkiller approximately 45 minutes before your appointment. Make sure to speak to your doctor or pharmacist before starting a new medication, and follow dosage instructions carefully.
4. Bring a Distraction
One of the best ways to limit pain without medication is to distract yourself from it. Start a chat with your friendly laser technician or nurse, browse social media, play a phone game, or anything else that comes to mind. Don’t be shy – your laser specialist will understand if you need a distraction.
Post-Treatment Care and Possible Side Effects
After laser hair removal, pain and tenderness usually fade within a few hours of treatment. A little redness, itchiness, or swelling may remain for a day or two. These aftercare guidelines will help you deal with any pain and prevent unusual or lasting side effects:
- You can use an ice pack to calm the treatment area.
- Use fragrance-free lotions to soothe the skin, and consider topical cortisone cream if there is significant irritation.
- Laser hair removal makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, so protect the treated area by keeping it covered and using sunscreen.
- Avoid activities that can raise your body temperature, such as using saunas or jacuzzis, intense exercise, or hot yoga.
Laser Hair Removal With a Soft Touch at SEV
We’ve taken measures to ensure laser hair removal at SEV is as pain-free as possible. All of our machines have a cooling feature to minimize pain. Our expert nurses and laser technicians will make sure that the treatment settings are calibrated to your pain tolerance and skin type.
As a result, hundreds of our clients report that their experience at SEV is completely painless. If you’d like to discover just how tolerable laser hair removal can be, book an appointment at your nearest SEV.
