Laser Hair Removal FAQ

If you are thinking about getting laser and your current method is waxing, stop the use of wax or we would recommend you stop waxing 4-6 weeks before your first session to ensure your follicles are full and you have enough hair to treat.

Do not apply any fake tan, moisturizer, cream, oil, or lotion to your skin prior to your treatment.

Shave the area the night before and not the day of treatment, because when you shave you slightly exfoliate and irritate the area so allow the extra time overnight for the skin to regenerate and make treatment more comfortable. Shaving the day of your treatment will cause your skin to feel more sensitive throughout the treatment and may limit the amount of energy you can use due to skin sensitivity.

This is all down to the individual. Below is an average number of sessions for someone who has pale skin, and dark hair that is dense, has no underlying medical issues, and attends their sessions and top-up sessions at the time frame given to them.

- Face 6-12 Sessions (Most difficult areas to treat, due to hair being finer and more follicles being present)

- Bikini and Underarm: 6-10 (Labia is one of the most difficult areas here, due to skin color being darker)

- Large areas, legs/arms, etc 6-10 (Knees, Upper thighs due to thick skin on knees or finer hairs on thighs)

After these sessions have been completed maintenance sessions are required, most people will need an average of 2-3 maintenance sessions a year.

Again this differs from person to person but on average a 4-6 week gap initially depending on the area being treated.

This does depend on the rate of regrowth. We would recommend every 4 weeks for facial hair and 6-8 weeks for the rest of the body. After that, we may extend the gap in-between sessions to an 8-10 week interval or longer if necessary. Your treatment area will be continually assessed throughout your course of treatment and your therapist will recommend when you should return for your next session

The reduction you receive is permanent, but it is impossible to achieve 100% permanent hair removal. Over the course of treatment, your hair and the amount of it that you have will change dramatically - and we mean dramatically. What starts off as rough, coarse, and thick hair will eventually become soft, thin, and light hair. You will have areas where the hair has completely disappeared.

Top-up treatments are recommended to keep these finer hairs away and are typically needed once or twice a year. At Soho laser house - Brampton we provide treatments for life.

Medical-grade, Candela Gentle Max Pro Plus. This technology is TGA approved and uses both, Alexandrite and nd:yag technology to provide the best treatment results

Sun tanning is not recommended while having laser hair removal. Sun tanning does have an impact on the amount of sessions needed and will impact on your results.

You can apply fake tan approximately 4-5 days after your session and use it in between each session. It is extremely important that you don’t use any tan for a week before your treatment and ensure that you are exfoliating your skin daily to remove any residue. If there is any residue on the skin we cannot perform your treatment until all tan is removed

No, shaving is the only method of hair removal recommended while having laser. Waxing in between your sessions will affect hair growth patterns and affect results

Depending on how sensitive your skin is after laser it is quite safe to start lightly exfoliating about 3-4 days after your treatment, just be gentle for the first week or so. We really do recommend exfoliating in between your laser appointments to avoid ingrown hairs forming under the skin.

When we initially perform a patch test we do this on the most sensitive part of the area to give you a true reflection of what you will be feeling. We adjust settings in accordance with how sensitive you are and what you can manage personally. As with most treatments it depends on the person and on the area being treated but we will always ensure you are comfortable.

The lasers we use all have additional cooling devices to decrease any sensitivity you may feel throughout your treatment. The vast majority of people say it’s the anticipation and thought of it which is the worst part, the actual treatment itself is fine. For the first few pulses the energy can feel a little sharp but over the duration of a session it does get easier to manage.

Absolutely not, we would ask that you use a tampon if having your bikini area treated. You may be more sensitive but it is not necessary to cancel, it happens all the time and is not a problem.

Laser hair removal treatments will help you achieve permanent hair reduction, there are no treatments on the market which offer complete hair removal. Clients can see up to 80-90% hair reduction, this can vary as every client responds differently.

Unfortunately, we can not treat blonde, grey/white, and some types of red hair. Laser works best on dark pigmented hair.

Yes - hair supplements can affect your treatment progress as they can stimulate hair growth. We recommend to not consume hair supplements during the treatment course.

There are no conclusive studies on laser being safe or unsafe for pregnant women. We advise clients to obtain mandatory medical clearance prior to proceeding with treatment.

Temporary side effects may include: redness, itchy skin, mild follicle swelling, irritation on treatment areas. All of which are normal. It is important to follow the correct aftercare.