Unwanted hair is a pain, but removing it shouldn’t have to be. We tried out a new pain-free laser-hair removal process to see if there was something to it

Anyone who’s heard of hair removal associates it with being uncomfortable, painful, and not always as successful as expected. Thankfully, new technology now allows for a gentler, close to painless and, most importantly, effective treatment that will permanently rid you of unwanted hair. Although the course of treatment is pricey, it’s a good investment that will leave your skin smooth without irritating razor burns and bumps.

How it works
Traditional laser treatments used IPL (intense pulse light) which is, in fact, not a laser at all. It uses a spectrum, or ‘scattergun’ effect, of high-intensity pulses of visible light to target the hair, but doesn’t completely destroy the follicle. Instead, hair thins out or becomes lighter. More treatments will deliver the desired hair-free results.
The Soprano IN-Motion technology, uses an 810 nm (wavelength) diode laser that only targets the hair’s melanin and follicle with very low energy pulses. This results in the cells within the follicle being gradually heated and, eventually, destroyed. Having never previously experienced laser treatment, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the treatment was not only quick and comfortable, but didn’t leave my sensitive skin with any signs of redness or irritation.

Is it safe?
Absolutely. Approved by the FDA in 2005, it is used worldwide as a safe and beneficial permanent hair removal solution.

Who is it for?
With traditional laser treatments, those with darker skin tones stood the risk of pigmentation. Not anymore. This treatment works on all skin types and tones with the biggest precaution being trying to avoid sun exposure during your course of treatments and to stay away from waxing and plucking between treatments too.

How many treatments will I need?
Depending on your hair colour and texture, you’ll typically need eight to 12 treatments. The darker and coarser the hair, the better, as the hair’s melanin is more, and that’s what the laser targets. Barring stray dormant hairs that may have been hiding during your hair cycle (and can be removed with a touch-up treatment) your hair will not grow back once the follicle has been damaged and destroyed.

Try it out
The Laser Beautique has various clinics in Joburg and Cape Town, with prices ranging from R410 for a single nasal hair session to R1 050 for shoulders and R2 920 for full back. They also offer budget packages that include up to eight sessions. Or, you can customise a package according to your needs.
Visit thelaserbeautique.co.za or email info@thelaserbeautique.co.za.

For more grooming tips, page through your April issue of Man.