Can you do laser in the summer?

You’ll often hear us say that you can’t get laser hair removal done if you have a tan. This is generally true. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get laser in the summer months… let me explain:

If you have dark coarse hair, for example, we are still able to treat you with our YAG laser for your first few treatments, until your tan fades. If your hair is medium or light brown, we’ll need to use the Alexandrite laser, and in those cases, you cannot have a tan at all.

If you know you will not be in the sun much this summer, and you will be diligent with your sunscreen, summer may be the time to consider lasering your bikini or underarms or any areas that aren’t soaking up some rays!

Not having to deal with these key areas is life-changing! Once you start laser, you will be wondering why it took you so long! It’s a dream!

Upper thighs, lower backs, and bellies are also often safe zones as well, provided you won’t be exposing those areas to the sun very much. Plus, if you are a winter vacationer, summer is the ideal time to prep yourself for your upcoming winter holidays!

Of course, if you have any questions or concerns, we are always here to answer – and we can let you know at your consultation and patch test if we think this is the right time to start laser for you.

We are Laser Hair Removal Experts

After 25 years in the industry, we consider ourselves the Laser Hair Removal experts – we study laser technology, regularly upgrade our skills and knowledge, and know the equipment that gives you the best results.

A Laser is designed with a specific wavelength. That wavelength is chosen because it is the most effective at treating the target — whatever that may be. In this case, we will discuss the gold-standard wavelengths for permanent hair removal. 

Let’s get technical: a 755nm wavelength, commonly known as an Alexandrite laser,  is best at targeting light brown hair on a lighter skin type (generally best for skin types 1 - 3). 

At Freedom Medi-Spa, we often use an Alexandrite laser for these lighter skin types. The Alexandrite laser is designed to pick up even the lightest brown hair; it heats up the entire hair shaft delivering enough energy to virtually incinerate the root, preventing future hair growth.

Alternatively, the 1064nm wavelength, known as the ND:Yag, is best for targeting medium brown to black hair on a darker skin type (generally best for skin types 4-6).  

We use our ND:Yag laser for laser hair removal on our clients who have darker skin. This is the ONLY recommended laser to use for hair removal on darker skin. It has a low melanin absorption rate which works well for dark skin and is the gold standard.

Commonly, many clinics use an IPL or DPL for hair removal on lighter skin types (they should not be treating darker skin with these devices). When you try to permanently reduce hair on a skin type 1-3 with an IPL or DPL (which are both light-based technologies), you may find a decent result when destroying dark coarse hair,  but it is difficult for these machines to see medium brown hair. They definitely cannot see light brown hair. 

Unfortunately, this means many clients are left with sub-par results, or worse, hair that has lost its pigment that is not able to be lasered at all. (A low-powered technology can depigment a hair, rendering it impossible to treat with any laser). 

In other words - you need a medical-grade laser for best results. If you've tried treatments elsewhere and not been happy with the results - book a free consultation and with even just one treatment, you will see the difference a gold-standard laser makes.

September Promos Are HERE!

IT'S SEPTEMBER!! And it's time to try something new!

If you've always wanted to try Laser Hair Removal but haven't, or you've been to another clinic and didn't have great success, we want to give you the opportunity to try OUR laser.

From September 1-30, 2022, SAVE 25% OFF your FIRST SESSION of Laser Hair Removal at Freedom Medi-Spa.

We are experts in the industry, with over 25 years of laser hair removal experience. Come and see the difference a medical-grade laser makes, and be hair-free for Summer 2023!

PLUS --

Fall is a great time to stock up on your skincare and get back into a routine.

This month, take 10% off ALL Alumier MD Skincare Kits. This sale is only valid in-clinic, through the month of September.

Contact us to book your free consultation or to purchase your kit.

Laser Hair Removal Gets Rid of Ingrown Hair

Ingrown hairs suck.

​​Ingrown hair occurs when a hair that's been removed starts to grow back and curves into the skin. Shaving, tweezing or waxing can cause this to happen. An ingrown hair can cause tiny, swollen bumps on the skin that may hurt.

Did You Know: Laser Hair Removal gets rid of ingrown hair? 

With laser hair removal, as we permanently destroy the hair and the hair follicles, we’ll find fewer and fewer ingrown at every treatment. 

Conversely, consistent waxing has the hair coming back thinner and thinner hair cannot push through the skin as easily as a coarse hair. This will cause ingrown hair bumps. For some, they can be severe. 

As for shaving, when you shave, you’re cutting the hair at the epidermal level, not at the root. Some razors actually pull the hair up to give you a tighter shave, which can also cause an ingrown. When the grows back, the hair can get caught in the layer of dead skin at the top of your epidermis, causing it to get trapped and develop into an ingrown. 

In some cases, shaving may also cause razor burn, which irritates and causes inflammation in the skin, dropping the hair and ultimately causing ingrowns.

 

In addition to permanently removing your hair, laser hair removal combats ingrowns, too. Call us for your free consultation and test patch.

Why didn't my laser work?

Have you been to another clinic and your laser hair removal “didn’t work?”

With over 25 years in the industry, we’d like to consider ourselves Laser Hair Removal experts. Every so often, new clients will tell us their laser didn’t work at another clinic, and there could be a few reasons why:

Firstly, not all lasers are created equal; at Freedom Medi-Spa, we use a medical-grade Alexandrite & Yag laser – the Cynosure Apogee Elite system - which is a very high powered, medical-grade Laser and requires an experienced technician. This machine allows us to target the hair follicle and cauterize it, preventing future growth. 

Most spas and clinics will use an IPL (intense pulsed light) or a DPL (dynamic pulsed light - which is just a very fast IPL) machine. A high powered IPL is fantastic for Photo Facials - which is where an IPL shines.  It is great at treating sun damage, pigmentation, rosacea and diffused redness.  However, it is not the right tool for hair removal. And, as mentioned above, not all IPLs are the same – an inexpensive IPL may emit low energy, another reason why your “laser” didn’t work.

Secondly, timing: If you purchase a discounted package which is used within a couple of months, it’s unlikely your technician was able to treat the hair during its growth cycle, which means the root is still there. We schedule our appointments 4-6 weeks apart for the face and typically 8 weeks apart for the body areas, in order to treat the hair follicles at the right time.

Lastly, some of us have layers and layers of hair growth which require numerous treatments – this is why our Laser Guarantee is the perfect solution. We believe so strongly in our laser, we guarantee it.

We also offer consultations, with a test patch, enabling you to learn the differences and experience our laser for yourself. You will see an incredible difference - even with just one treatment!  

Contact Us Today.