What to Know About Getting Laser Hair Removal Before You Commit

This is a hard question to answer because the cost of a laser hair removal treatment is dependent on the place you go. "Laser costs as little as $75 per session for the chin or upper lip to as much as between $500 to $700 per session for full legs," Karavolas says. "There are payment plans as well as packages that are more economical." As we said, it's an investment but well worth it in the end.

Pain is relative, and just how much laser hair removal hurts depends greatly on the individual getting the treatment. Another big factor to consider, however, is where you're getting your hair removed.

Generally speaking, the areas where the skin is thinner (like your underarms) as well as anywhere where there are a lot of nerve endings (i.e. near your genitals) tend to experience more pain than thicker-skinned areas like, say, your forearm. Most people describe the sensation like a more intense snapping of a rubber band. Luckily, there are a lot of new lasers available these days (like the Zimmer Cryo) that feature a built-in cooling technology that emits super-cold air on your skin while applying the laser to minimize the pain.

Gone are the days when laser hair removal was only safe for people with light skin tones. "In this day and age, lasers are so advanced that people of all skin colors and hair types are candidates," Karavolas says. While it used to be an issue because the lasers would target the pigment in the skin as well as the pigment in the hair, new advancements in technology have fixed that.

"Alexandrite Lasers have a short wavelength that are more potent on the epidermis and therefore are more suited for lighter skin and lighter hair," he says. "ND YAG lasers are best suited for dark skin and coarse hair, as they bypass the epidermis, therefore giving a safe treatment without damaging the skin." Those with dark skin should just check with the location they plan on visiting to ensure they have the proper equipment.

Although it's often touted as a permanent treatment, laser hair removal is really only intended to reduce the hair growth, which slows with every treatment. You can expect much less hair growth after six or more sessions, but just how long the results last varies from person to person. The key is consistency. If you stop treatment before finishing the recommended rounds, you might experience sprouting (even if it is less than normal) after a few months.

"Depending on the area treated, it can take two to three sessions to start seeing results," Karavolas says. But keep in mind that everyone is different and that timing can vary. For permanent hair reduction, it usually takes six to eight sessions in total — or more depending on how thick your hair is — spaced about six weeks apart. This is because you have to wait for the hair to come back during the next growth cycle each time. Your technician will be able to give you an idea of how many treatments you'll need and how frequently you should return.

Laser hair removal doesn't come with many side effects. Immediately after treatment, "[there] may be some redness, irritation, and some inflammation that resolves within a few hours to a few days," Karavolas says.

If you're pregnant, you'll want to check with your doctor before getting laser hair removal. Karavolas says they can treat most areas during pregnancy but they don't do the bikini line or abdomen, though "there are no known contraindications."

If you're booking your laser hair removal appointment in the spring or summer, you will need to be more careful to ensure the skin doesn't get any color by avoiding the sun and wearing a high SPF. You also can't have any self-tanner products on at the time of your appointment.

"If treating areas that have a lot of hair — such as bikini, legs, [and] back — shave one to two days prior," Karavolas says. As with most lasers, you should also avoid any retinoids for a few days before treatment and antibiotics five days before.

How naked you should expect to get depends on the area you're getting treated. For an underarm session, you can leave your shirt on as long as the sleeves can be rolled up. "By rolling the sleeve up right towards their shoulder, the underarm area is exposed, thereby allowing the technician to treat the area," he says. "Normally, one keeps their bra on."

For your bikini line, you have options. "Keeping the underwear on is fine, as the bikini line covers a few inches outside and a few inches inside. One can also wear disposable underwear that could make the treatment much easier." If you leave your underwear on, the technician may ask you to pull your clothing to the side to ensure it doesn't get in the way.

Laser hair removal is a fast, in-and-out treatment. Depending on the size of the area, a laser hair removal session should only take 10 to 30 minutes. Small areas like underarms will take 10 minutes or less, while larger areas, like the back or legs, will take upward of 30 minutes.

Laser hair removal aftercare is pretty simple: no hot showers, saunas, or steam rooms immediately after, although lukewarm showers are OK. You also shouldn't work out the same day as treatment. "Once irritation is gone, workouts can begin," Karavolas says.

This next part is a biggie: "You can shave in between sessions but cannot wax or tweeze," he says. Laser hair removal targets the hair follicle, meaning tweezing or waxing, which pulls out the hair by the base, is a no-go.

Unlike waxing, you're allowed to shave between sessions without worrying about tampering with the results. When it's time for your next follow-up appointment, just make sure the hair is still visible.

"Any topical retinoids or harsh antibiotics that may cause photo-sensitivity should be avoided," Karavolas says. This is important to note if you plan on getting an area on your face treated and use skin-care products with retinol in them.

Here's the tricky part. Even though hair removal is top of mind in the spring as you book your summer vacations, that's not the best time to get it. "The best time to start laser hair removal is fall to winter," Karavolas says. "If you expose your skin to the sun without sunscreen or get very tan, we recommend you wait for the cooler months."

First, it's worth noting that the strength of the laser in a dermatologist's office is always going to be much stronger, and therefore more effective, than any at-home laser hair removal device. That said, if you are a good candidate and have the right tools, you can safely perform the treatment at home — so long as you're smart about it.

"At-home laser hair devices are pretty safe and are great alternative to professional laser hair removal," dermatologist Marie Hayag, MD, previously told POPSUGAR. "Most devices don't actually use 'laser' but intense pulsed light, which is absorbed by pigment in the hair follicles. The repeated heating of the hair follicles destroy them and thus decreases hair growth."

Even though these devices are generally safe to use at home, you should still be aware that they're designed to reduce hair growth — not permanently remove it. "The at-home devices use lower energy settings than the in-office treatments so it takes longer time to treat the area and more treatments are needed," Hayag says. "However, it is a great maintenance treatment for in-between professional laser hair removal and is a wonderful option for home use."