One of the main questions asked when people are seeking laser hair removal is whether laser hair removal hurts or not.
This isn’t an easy question to answer unfortunately but if you want a quick response people say it’s about as painful as an elastic band flicking against your skin.
Laser hair removal works in “blasts” so when you’re using an at home laser hair removal device, or getting it done at a clinic, each time the trigger is pressed this is one blast.
What this means is that the pain associated with laser hair removal is not constant as some people seem to think, rather it’s more like two elastic band flicks per second if done quickly.
Much of course depends on your own pain tolerance. To some people if you’re used to pain laser hair removal will not hurt at all; you will barely notice it’s happening!
To others, especially if you’re not used to laser hair removal, you may feel some discomfort. You need to remember that the laser hair removal isn’t damaging your skin, just your hair follicles. So it’s actually a good thing feeling pain; it means it’s working!
Most pain will come post treatment from accidently rubbing the treated area against something. Or forgetting to put cooling gels on the treated area. This sort of pain is more of an annoyance than “pain” in the traditional sense.
Luckily there are loads of things you can do if you find that the pain of laser hair removal is too much. These methods should reduce laser hair removal pain by loads. Firstly most devices have various intensity settings.
So if you’re finding things too painful you can turn the intensity down from 4 to 3. This will mean the treatment is less effective and will take longer to do, but you should also be able to get used to that level of discomfort. Therefore you eventually can go back up to level 4, or even level 5.
All good laser hair removal systems at a clinic should have these settings.
Laser hair removal numbing cream is also an option. This can reduce pain by up to 40-60%. All good clinics should have this on offer if you request it and you can also buy it yourself for home systems. We recommend Dr Numb.
I know it’s hard to do but try not to think about the treatment you’re receiving. Keep your mind off it. Just have a similar frame of mind like you would if you were having a massage, or shaving with a razor.
A lot of the pain can be mental. You wouldn’t think getting flicked by an elastic band was unbearable would you? That’s because you know it’s not damaging you in any way. Neither is laser hair removal (apart from your hair follicles!)
In conclusion we can say that laser hair removal does hurt a bit but in no way is it unbearable and there are loads of ways to reduce pain so it’s at a very comfortable level. We think that the pain associated with it are well worth the results. The question you need to ask yourself is does laser hair removal hurt so much that I won’t get it done?
If you have a question which isn’t answered on this site already, please feel free to get in contact with the at home laser hair removal team.
