It’s for you too sis ! : A Black Woman’s Guide To Laser Hair Removal”
The idea of laser hair removal (LHR) has always sounded amazing, fairy-tale like to say the least. But if I’m going to be absolutely honest with y’all, I have always been hesitant about going through with it until recently. Why you ask?! Well, mostly because black women don’t get laser hair removal. Or at least, they don’t talk about getting laser hair removal, not like other groups of women do. I mean think about it, when is the last time you saw a black curly haired queen gushing about her hair removal journey. I’ll wait…..*crickets*…*crickets*…. I follow lots of content creators, influencers, and normal people alike on IG and I always see people talking about how great LHR is , but none of them are ever black. Which made me think, oh this must not be for me. Isn’t that crazy?!
Is LHR for ?
The science of lasers also plays a HUGE role in keeping black women and people with darker skin tones out of the laser hair removal hot seat.
Essence Magazine https://www.essence.com/beauty/laser-hair-removal-black-women/
“In the most incredibly simplified terms, LHR works by targeting the darker pigment of the hair follicles, so the best candidates have pale skin and visible hair. If the entire canvas (meaning skin) being worked upon is darkly pigmented, the laser could potentially just zap away willy-nilly and burn the canvas.”
Not to mention the terrible horror stories. I’ve heard of people being burned by lasers, having an allergic reaction, scarring, or paying hundreds of dollars for it to not even reduce the amount of hair. Moreover, there is a large amount of negativity among the topic and not a whole lot of positives.
However, I’m here to tell you its NOT taboo and it is most definitely a POSITIVE. LHR is for black women too! Most importantly, lasers have come a long way and I can personally tell you that I exited my first LHR treatment flawless and pain free.
My Experience
Here is my account of my LHR experience:
I remember thinking “What if this leaves a scar? Is this going to hurt? Do I even really need this? ” These are the thoughts that ran through my mind while sitting on the table as Kristin calibrated the laser at Ageless Med Spa.
Less than 3 minutes later, she was done, I was pain-free and my underarms looked as though they had never been touched.
My Technician and Spa
In mid January, I went to Ageless Med Spa in Katy, Tx for my very first LHR treatment. The spa is located off of Grand Parkway, right by the Charming Charlies and Time Square. This may sound weird, but I prefer to get my aesthetic treatments done in the burbs. I have noticed that you can find the same quality or better at more affordable rates than in the city My esthetician and laser tech is Kristen Yoho. She has performed at several LHR for years and she is extremely knowledgeable, honest, and personable!
Consultation
Before you even step foot in the LHR treatment room, you have to fill out a slew of forms and questions about all types of things like medications your taking, your hair type, skin treatments, exercise, etc. The paperwork is very thorough and although it might seem like the questions are unrelated or prying into your life. You should try to answer every one in the most detail that you can. Kristin stressed the importance of the paperwork to me early on. She explained that the answers to the questionnaire help her decide what settings she needs to use for the treatment. So remember to be candid, be open, and don’t be afraid to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Prep
I had previously made an appointment to get my LHR done about 2 months prior but my appointment was cancelled when I got there because I was on antibiotics. For those of you who don’t know, antibiotics can cause photosensitivity which can result in a burn if laser hair removal is performed. Although I was a bit annoyed I had to come back, I was also comforted and somehow vindicated that I had chose Ageless Med Spa for my treatment. It was obvious that they cared about the well-being of their clients and not just the money.
Other than that, there really is no prep needed. I hadn’t shaved in 5 days out of pure laziness. Kristen did let me know that because my hair was a little grown out that I would smell burning hair during the treatment (YUCK). I would recommend shaving before you come in so you don’t have to experience the gross smell. In contrast, you definitely DO NOT want to wax or pluck the area right before an appointment. It is recommended to forgo these procedures for 2 weeks.
The Laser
Ageless Med Spa uses the Candela GentleMax Pro Hair Removal System. This laser is the Gold Standard for Laser Hair Removal in ALL Fitzpatrick skin types (MANY lasers do not do this). It is a dual wavelength laser platform that combines the fastest and most powerful 755 nm Alexandrite laser with an equally powerful 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser for high performance treatment capabilities in terms of efficacy, performance & safety. GentleMax Pro targets the hair follicle at the root with a blast of therapeutic heat. Not only is GentleMax Pro the fastest laser hair removal procedure, it’s also the most comfortable—the patented Dynamic Cooling Device delivers cooling blasts of liquid cryogen during the treatment to keep you comfortable and virtually pain-free.
Pain Level
I would compare the pain to being popped by a rubber band or a brief sting. Its a little uncomfortable but totally bearable. They don’t use any numbing cream at Ageless Med Spa and honestly they don’t need to. And if you’re thinking that I have a high pain tolerance…. you would be wrong. For instance, I barely made it through my second microblading appointment because I was in so much pain AFTER numbing. The best part is, once the actual laser hair removal has been performed, there is absolutely NO pain. I was shocked! There are no lingering effects.
Tips For LHR
Firstly, you have to do your homework on whatever establishment you go to for Laser Hair Removal. Secondly, make sure you look at their reviews. Thirdly, ask them the right questions during your consultation.
Ask things like:
- How many lasers do you have?
- What measures do you take to ensure that my treatment will go smoothly?
- How long have you been performing laser hair removal?
- Ask for before and after pictures of people with your skin tone or darker?
In conclusion, my laser hair removal experience at Ageless Med Spa was wonderful! I had a great session and I’ve already seen a reduction in my hair growth after just one session. I’m going back for my second treatment next Monday. I will make sure to update you guys here and on my IG. Also, I’ll make sure to get more pictures next time.
