Laser Hair Removal- Is the cost to be Hair Free Really worth it?

Did you know that laser hair removal is the most popular aesthetic treatment among non-surgical aesthetic treatments? Did you also know that more than 60% of the population is interested in having laser hair removal? Furthermore, did you know that only 9% of those who said they were interested in laser have had a treatment? Those are interesting statistics, but so what?

Most people want laser hair removal, after all the notion that one can be hair free is certainly going to raise eyebrows. Imagine never worrying about the inconvenience of shaving your face every day. For you guys who suffer from painful razor rash, I just heard a collective sigh of relief. Hey ladies, how does the idea of not having to shave your legs, underarms or bikini sound to you? You may be thinking- what would I do with all that time saved? And how about saying goodbye to those pesky razor nicks?

So, with all the reasons to have laser why have less than 10% of interested people had it done? Like most things in life there is always more than one answer. Let’s talk about the 3 most common:

Is laser safe for me? Laser is safe for everyone as long as pre and post treatment instructions are followed. When someone tells you that a laser can remove unwanted hair from almost any place on your face and body you want to know it’s safe. Laser hair removal has been performed in the United States for many years. And advances in technology as recently as 2008 have made laser hair removal safe for all skin types. Around the same time consensus solidified around laser wavelengths like the Alex and YAG as the gold standard for safety and results. Since then advances in the field of development have not changed much. We call this the, “the point of diminishing return”. That means technology has reached of level of safety and effectiveness that not much remains to improve on. Today, laser manufacturers are limiting their R&D to ways to make treatments faster by increasing the spot size of the hand piece.
The bottom line: Laser hair removal is safe for everyone, (yes, that means you). The treatment is FDA approved, time tested and effective. Millions and millions of treatments have been performed successfully in the United States. But, laser also has risks so be sure to schedule a consultation before you start.

I can’t take the pain! Everybody knows someone who has had laser hair removal. If you ask anyone you know about their experience they would likely mention the sensation similar to a rubber band being snapped on your skin. Is it true? Well, everyone has a different tolerance level. Most clients in our spa don’t mind the slight discomfort they feel during the treatment. Today’s methods for managing comfort are a far cry from 10 years ago. In those days messy numbing cream was required and didn’t work all that well. In these formative years of laser hair removal the common notion of pain was borne- as it felt like rubber bands were being snapped on the skin. Numbing creams are outdated and rarely used but the mention of it revives the mantra of a different era when it comes to comfort and laser hair removal.Today, most high quality spas use super cooling blowers attached to the hand piece of the laser. These blowers naturally numb the area being lazed by pushing air chilled to -50F directly onto the skin being treated. This method is safer and more effective.
The Bottom Line: While treatments are more comfy these days the first treatment is always the one you feel the most. That’s because the hair follicles are their thickest and most dense. Here are a couple of tips to make your first treatment as comfortable as possible. That will ensure you have a second one!
• Shave the area the night before.
• Take an ibuprofen 30 minutes before your treatment.
• Try to arrive to the appointment early. If skin is hot due to the weather or rushing/running to make your appointment it can increase sensitivity and cause PFE (irritation on the skin) post treatment.
• During treatment if you feel uncomfortable ask your technician to apply aloe-vera gel to the area being treated. Aloe is a natural cooling agent, combined with the blast of cold air, you will be to handle treatment on the most sensitive of areas with no trouble at all. It is a great secret, rarely used, but it works!

How much did you say? Let’s face it, money matters. While lasers are very safe in the right hands, be sure to get a second opinion and make sure you price shop. Under no circumstances should you base your choice exclusively on price. It will end up costing you twice as much in the long run.
Old and outdated techniques and technology are commonly used in discount spas and don’t achieve quality results. So, sure you may find the price you want to pay, but when you don’t see any results you will have to start over and pay all over. Not only losing your hard earned money but also months of lost progress. This is a story often repeated in our spa from clients who left looking for better pricing, only to return wishing they had never left to begin with. Don’t learn the hard way. Paying for quality ensures you get the results and experience you want from this process. And consider this, unlike razors and waxing, laser hair removal is permanent.
So what is a fair price to pay for laser when fees seem to be all over the place? Good question. Here’s a guide for laser hair removal in NYC. Of course every market is different, so be sure to shop around.
Groupon- You can buy a series of 6 treatments on a small area for as little as $150. That’s really cheap. Many of these spas have to really cut corners to make those numbers work. But, what corners are they cutting? Inferior technology, inexperienced technicians, rushing through treatments or all the above?
Bliss Spa- A single small area treatment of laser hair removal will set you back $150. That’s $900 for a package of 6 treatments. As any New Yorker knows Bliss is a top tier spa and uses the best technology and products. But, $900 isn’t affordable for most people.
Skin Bar NYC- A single small area treatment of laser hair removal costs $100. Membership packages for the same area costs $59 per treatment, plus they throw in 2 free touch ups. Skin Bar has a strong reputation for safety, results and customer service. All at a price that makes it affordable for any New Yorker.
The bottom line: The range you should expect to pay for a small area should be $50 to $100. Anything above $100 is just gouging the client. You can double that number for larger areas like Brazilian, topping you out at about $200. For large areas like full back or legs you can double the price again to a rate of up to $400.

High quality laser hair removal is not inexpensive. Consider this when you begin your research. There are a number of expenses that go into the cost of providing high quality service that most of us don’t think of when we are considering laser. Expenses like the purchase and maintenance of high quality equipment, hiring experienced technicians, extended appointment times to ensure comfortable, thorough treatments and a support staff that offers the highest level of customer service. These are the elements you should be looking for in your research. If you visit a spa and notice that any of these important factors are missing then it’s probably not the place for you.

If you are considering laser hair removal in New York City, give Skin Bar a call. Our team of laser experts have performed hundreds of thousands of successful treatments. And we are available to answer any questions you may have regarding laser hair removal.