Laser diode hair reduction uses a focused wavelength of light to target the pigment in the hair follicle and gradually reduce its ability to produce hair.
I'm treating the hair at the right stage of its growth cycle, so with a consistent series of treatments, the hair becomes finer, lighter and much less noticeable over time.
Diode laser is particularly suited to brown to black hair, especially when the hair has good pigment and enough thickness for the laser to target the follicle. It can be used across a range of skin types, but the settings and approach need to be tailored carefully to your skin tone and hair.
The easiest combination to treat is generally darker, stronger hair against lighter skin. There is more pigment for the laser to identify, so these hairs often respond more readily and may require fewer treatments.
Laser works by targeting pigment in the hair, so very blonde, white and grey hair can be difficult or impossible to treat effectively. Brown and black hair generally respond best.
Very blonde, white, grey and some red hairs can be much more difficult to treat because there isn't enough pigment for the laser to effectively target.
Fine, light or blonde hair is more difficult because there is simply less pigment for the diode to find and target. These hairs can require more treatments and a little more patience.
Your consultation is important. I'll look at your skin, your hair and your medical history before deciding whether diode laser is right for you.
I may recommend delaying or not treating an area if you have recently tanned or sunburnt skin, an active skin infection or irritation, open wounds, or a significant skin reaction in the area we want to treat. Certain medications can also make treatment unsuitable or require medical clearance, so I need to know about anything you're taking, particularly medications that increase photosensitivity.
If you're pregnant, have a history of abnormal scarring or keloids, recurrent cold sores in the treatment area, or a condition or medication that affects how your skin responds to light, we'll discuss this before treatment and decide whether laser is appropriate for you.
I may recommend waiting if you have certain recent procedures or medical conditions.
Sometimes it's not a no, but let's wait until your skin is ready. I look carefully at you, your skin, your hair and your situation before recommending diode laser, because I'd rather postpone than treat skin that's not ready.
The laser light is attracted to the pigment in the hair and travels down towards the follicle, where the treatment is intended to damage the follicle and reduce its ability to produce another hair.
I use diode laser technology for Laser Hair Reduction.
This is a diode laser system designed specifically for hair reduction, with the wavelength and settings adjusted to suit your skin tone, hair colour, density and the area being treated.
I chose this technology because the treatment is exceptionally fast, while still allowing me to tailor the treatment properly to the individual rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
And sometimes for very small areas, such as eyebrow shaping, above the lip or on the face, I still use my Fotona Nd:YAG 1064.
With my diode laser, treatment is very comfortable for most people.
In fact, it can sometimes feel so comfortable that people look at me and say, "Is that really working?"
Yes, it is.
When I first started performing laser hair removal, it could be quite painful.
The technology we have available today allows me to treat effectively while making your experience considerably more comfortable than it was years ago.
Treatment times vary depending on the area we're treating, but something I want you to know is that the actual laser treatment is incredibly fast.
For example, if your full back is shaved before you arrive, I can technically treat the whole back in less than two minutes. The extra time in your appointment comes from shaving, applying the gel, getting you positioned properly and cleaning everything up afterwards.
I also don't believe in simply waving the laser over your skin and sending you on your way. Once I've treated the area, I'll often spend another 5 to 10 minutes going back over the back, depending on how sparse or dense the hair is, the colour of the hair and what I'm seeing in the skin. In other words, I give it a really good go.
Legs can sometimes take a little longer because of the contours of the body and the amount of surface area we're covering.
If it's your back and you simply can't reach it, I'm happy to shave it for you. If I need to shave the area, there will be an additional shaving charge because it takes extra treatment time. If you arrive shaved, there is no additional shaving charge.
Most people need a series of treatments, rather than just one or two.
As a general guide, I usually recommend 6 to 10 sessions, spaced appropriately apart so we can catch the hair in the right growth cycle.
Some areas respond much faster than others, and some people will need more treatments to achieve the result they're looking for. Hair colour, density, hormones and the area we're treating all make a difference.
The important thing is that we're not simply treating hair, we're treating hair at the right stage of its growth cycle. That's why consistency matters.
At your consultation, I'll look at your hair and skin and give you a realistic idea of what I think you'll need. I'd rather be transparent from the beginning than promise you a number that your hair may not follow.
Different parts of your body have different hair-growth cycles, so I don't treat every area on the same schedule.
Hair moves through three stages: anagen, catagen and telogen. Laser works best when the hair is in the active anagen growth stage, which is why we need to allow enough time for the next group of hairs to come through before treating again.
These are guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules. As your hair becomes finer and sparser, we may naturally start spacing your treatments further apart.
I look at what your hair is actually doing, rather than simply treating you because your four or six weeks is up.
There is no benefit in treating an area too early if there isn't enough new growth to target.
So don't worry if your treatment interval changes as we go.
The goal is not to treat you as often as possible. The goal is to treat you at the right time.
You can get on with your normal day straight after Laser Hair Removal. You may have a little warmth, redness or small bumps around the hair follicles immediately afterwards, but this generally settles quickly.
I do ask you to be sensible with the treated area for the first day or two, avoid anything that is going to excessively heat, rub or irritate the skin, and keep the area protected from the sun.
Laser Hair Reduction is priced according to the area being treated, because every area has different treatment times, hair density and surface area.
Your treatment includes appropriate preparation, the laser treatment itself, and my time assessing and treating the area properly.
I'll always tell you the exact price before we begin, so there are no surprises.
Upper lip: $45
Chin: $60
Underarms: $99
Bikini: $150
Brazilian / Pubic: $199
Half legs: $200
Full legs: $300
Arms: $200
Back: $300
Chest: $250
Abdomen: $200
Full body: $1,000
Call me for a clear picture of current pricing.
There are a few things I find myself repeating!
Shave. Shower. Arrive on time. Don't wax or pluck. Be consistent. Protect your skin from the sun.
Please shave the day of your appointment, or at least the night before, and arrive freshly showered and clean. I'm working in very close proximity to you, so this is simply about being considerate, and it means I can get straight to treating your hair.
My goal is to treat your hair, not spend your appointment shaving it.
Once you've started your treatment program, please don't wax, pluck, tweeze or epilate between treatments. Shaving is absolutely fine.
The reason is simple: the laser needs the hair to be present in the follicle. If you've waxed or plucked the hair out from the root, you've removed the target I'm trying to treat.
If you want really good hair reduction, you need to come in consistently and at the intervals we recommend. If you're inconsistent with your treatments, you're unlikely to get the result you're looking for. That's just how it is.
And please arrive on time. Your appointment time is there for a reason, and it allows me to give your treatment the attention it deserves.
You can have Laser Hair Reduction year-round, provided you're sensible about sun exposure and use proper sun protection.
What matters is that the skin we're treating is appropriately protected and isn't freshly tanned or sunburnt.
I ask that you don't go to the beach or deliberately expose the treated area to strong sun on the day of your treatment, and please don't plan on going out and baking yourself afterwards!
You can absolutely use self-tanner between treatments, but it needs to be completely removed before I see you. Please have your self-tan fully scrubbed off a few days before your appointment, so I'm treating your natural skin rather than a layer of colour sitting on top of it.
Those simple things make a real difference to how smoothly your treatment program progresses.
Once your hair-removal treatment has been completed or your hair growth is significantly reduced, you can ask me about pigmentation and skin texture.
If you have concerns about uneven tone, pigmentation, roughness or texture, particularly on areas such as the legs, we have additional treatment options and skincare solutions that we can explore.
Hair reduction may be the beginning of your skin journey, not necessarily the end.
| Activity | When |
|---|---|
| Makeup | Next morning |
| Gym | After 48 hours |
| Swimming | After 48 hours |
| Sauna | Day 5 |
| Sun | Ask me first |
| Alcohol | Next morning |