Laser hair removal for men: everything worth knowing before the treatment

How does laser hair removal work?

During the treatment the laser emits light of a specific wavelength, which is absorbed by melanin, the pigment of the hair shaft. The light is converted to heat and damages the hair follicle, so that over time it produces ever thinner, sparser hair.

However, hairs do not all grow at the same time. Each lives in its own cycle, made up of growth, transition and resting phases. The hair follicle is sensitive to the laser only in the growth phase, and on any given day usually only around 20–30% of the hair is in this phase. That is why a single treatment is not enough: at later sessions, new hairs keep entering the treatable phase.

Why doesn’t the hair disappear immediately?

Many people expect the skin to be smooth straight after the treatment. In reality the hair doesn’t vanish at once: the treated hair stays in the skin for a while, then begins to shed over days, sometimes weeks. According to the Mayo Clinic, treated hair “generally falls out within days to weeks”.

This process looks as if the hair is growing back, yet the damaged hair follicle is in fact pushing the hair out. That is why you shouldn’t pull it out or wax it: the hair has to stay in the follicle until it falls out by itself. In experience, a reduction in hair growth can be felt after the very first treatment; according to the Cleveland Clinic it is around 10–25%. The hair that grows back becomes thinner and lighter as the series progresses.

How many sessions are needed, and at what intervals?

With us, a full course of treatment is usually 6–12 sessions. International sources mention 6–8, or at least 6 sessions, but in men the hair is thicker, denser and more stubborn, so more sessions are often needed.

• Face and beard: usually every 4–6 weeks, because facial hair renews faster.
• Body (chest, stomach, shoulder, back): usually every 6–10 weeks, and towards the end of the series even less often.
• The intervals gradually lengthen as the series progresses, because the surviving hair follicles return to the growth phase more slowly.

After the course of treatment the hair becomes permanently sparser and thinner; this is called permanent hair reduction, not permanent removal. In the long term, 1 maintenance treatment a year is enough for most clients, and the specialist determines this individually.

The Nubway Hairless Vario diode laser and skin integrity

At the Beautyflow for Men salon we work with the Nubway Hairless Vario diode laser. The diode laser reaches the hair follicle with a targeted light pulse, and multi-wavelength systems can treat hair follicles at different depths as well as different skin types. Our device works at three wavelengths (808, 940 and 1064 nm). In a clinical study with a multi-wavelength diode laser, good efficacy was also seen on skin types III–V, without side effects.

With us, alongside effectiveness, the integrity of our client’s skin matters most. That is why, before the treatment, we assess your skin type and the characteristics of your hair, tailor the settings individually, and work with cooling to protect the skin.

What should you watch out for before the treatment?

• For at least 4 weeks before the treatment, don’t wax, epilate or pluck, because for the laser the hair follicle must be in the skin.
• For 4 weeks avoid sunbathing, the solarium and self-tanning products; on tanned skin the risk of skin discolouration and burns is higher. Use SPF 30+ sunscreen.
• Shave the area 1–2 days before the treatment, so that the laser’s energy reaches the hair follicle, not the hair above the skin’s surface.
• On the day of the treatment, arrive with clean skin free of cream, oil and deodorant.
• Tell the specialist what medication you take, whether you have any skin conditions, and whether you have had herpes or a tendency to scarring.

What should you watch out for after the treatment?

• After the treatment, mild redness, a feeling of warmth and slight swelling may appear; this usually lasts 1–3 days. A cold compress helps.
• For 1 week after the treatment avoid sunbathing and using the solarium, and protect the treated area with at least SPF 30 sunscreen.
• For 48 hours avoid the sauna, steam bath, swimming pool, intense exercise and tight clothing.
• For a few days don’t use scented products, deodorant or body scrub; moisturise the skin and drink plenty of water.
• During the series don’t wax or epilate. Shaving is allowed once the skin has calmed down.
• If you notice severe swelling, blisters, persistent pain or a sign of infection, or you see a lasting change in pigmentation, contact the specialist or your doctor.

Who is it not recommended for, and when is a medical consultation needed?

Laser hair removal is a safe treatment, but it is not recommended for everyone. In the following cases a medical consultation is needed before the treatment, or the treatment cannot be carried out:

• Treatment is not recommended while taking photosensitising medication, and a medical consultation is required. These may include certain antibiotics, plant-based photosensitisers (for example St John’s wort), and medication used to treat acne; the Cleveland Clinic specifically mentions acne medication among the possible contraindications. If you take any of these, or are not sure, ask your doctor.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Active skin disease, a wound, infection or herpes in the area to be treated. Herpes can flare up as a result of the treatment.
• Cancer, a history of skin cancer, chemotherapy.
• A tendency to keloid, that is, raised, overgrowing scarring.
• A recent tan.
• The eye area: the eyelid and eyebrow cannot be treated because of the risk of eye injury.

The laser acts on the pigment in the hair, so it is less effective, or not effective at all, on blond, grey and red hair. We will tell you exactly what to expect at the consultation.

Can the scrotum and intimate area be treated?

Yes, the skin of the scrotum can also be treated with a laser, but it requires extra care. The skin here is thinner, more sensitive and more wrinkled, so the treatment must be carried out by an experienced professional.

• The international literature mentions long-pulse lasers targeting melanin (diode, alexandrite, Nd:YAG) for treating the genital area, and stresses that the treatment must be carried out under appropriate professional supervision.
• The area must be shaved beforehand. During the treatment the skin is held taut, cooling helps, and if needed a numbing cream can also be used, which takes 30–60 min to take effect.
• At least 6 weeks must pass between treatments so that the hair cycle can run its course.
• Temporary redness and swelling may occur. If you have ever had genital herpes, be sure to tell us, as the treatment can trigger a recurrence.
• Mucous membranes cannot be treated.

At the consultation before the treatment we answer all your questions and discuss what to expect.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Mayo Clinic: Laser hair removal
• Cleveland Clinic: Laser hair removal
• American Academy of Dermatology: Laser hair removal FAQs
• StatPearls (NCBI): Laser Hair Removal
• Laser hair removal for genital gender affirming surgery (PMC)
• Combined triple-wavelength (755, 810, 1064 nm) laser for hair removal (JDD)

This guide is for information only and does not replace a medical examination, diagnosis or treatment. For health questions, or if you take medication or have an illness, consult a doctor.

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