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Types of Laser Hair Removal: Choosing the Best Option for Your Skin
January 29, 2025
types of laser hair removal

Looking for permanent laser hair removal in Calgary? Understanding the types of laser hair removal available is essential to choosing the right treatment for your skin. By knowing which laser works best for your specific skin type, you can achieve optimal, long-lasting results.

The Best Lasers for hair removal: Nd:YAG and Alexandrite

The Nd:YAG laser is perfect for people with darker skin. This laser goes deeper into the skin while avoiding the top layer, which means it won’t burn or damage darker skin tones. 

It also seeks out hemoglobin in the hair follicles rather than the pigment, making it a color blind laser for hair removal. If you have olive to dark black skin, this is by far your safest choice. 

While the heat from the laser can still be absorbed by the pigmentation in the skin, applying a lot cold to the area before, during and after the treatment is VERY important and will ensure that your skin is safe.

The Alexandrite laser works great for people with light to medium skin and is NOT safe for olive, brown or black skin. If you have fair skin and dark hair, or fair skin with light brown to medium blonde hair, you’ll love how effective this laser is. Yes, it can treat blondes if the correct settings are used! 

Other Options and Why They’re Not as Good

IPL isn’t actually a laser, even though many places advertise it as laser hair removal. Think of it like using a flashlight instead of a laser pointer – it’s less precise and often doesn’t work as well. 

While you might see IPL hair removal deals in Calgary for lower prices, you’ll likely need many more treatments to see results and the results are far less likely to be permanent. 

IPL is also extremely risky for darker skin so always ask for a small patch test first to ensure your skin is safe and that the treated hair sheds out after the treatment.

Diode lasers are common in many Calgary clinics, but they have some downsides. They often hurt more than newer lasers as cold air cannot be used in conjunction with these contact lasers. 

They also don’t work as well on fine or light-colored hair. Again, make sure to always ask for a test patch and ensure your skin is safe and the hair sheds out after the treatment.

Why Cooling is SO Important

Getting comfortable laser hair removal means keeping your skin cool during treatment. This isn’t just about comfort – it’s about safety too. The best Calgary laser clinics use different ways to keep your skin protected:

Cold air (Cryo) machines blow super-cold air on your skin during treatment. This makes the whole process much more comfortable and lets the technician use the right laser strength to destroy the stem cells, without hurting your skin.

Some clinics also use ice packs or special cooling rollers before and after your treatment. These simple tools can make a big difference in how comfortable you feel during and after your session, as well really help to keep your skin safe from the heat.

How to make the right decision

If you’re searching for “best laser hair removal Calgary” or “permanent hair removal near me,” look for clinics that match these lasers to your skin and type. A good clinic will check your skin tone and hair color before suggesting the right laser for you. 

They should also explain how they’ll keep your skin cool and comfortable during treatment and offer to do a small area for free to ensure the correct settings and that your skin tolerates the laser well.

Remember that the cheapest option isn’t always the best. Many Calgary beauty bars, home clinics and spas offer deals on laser packages, but make sure they’re using the right technology for your skin. Finding a clinic that uses either Nd:YAG or Alexandrite lasers with good cooling systems will give you the safest and most effective results.

types of laser hair removal

types of laser hair removal

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