Is laser hair removal safe for brown skin?

When it comes to hair removal, there are so many options: threading, waxing, hair removal creams, and…laser hair removal which has consistently presented challenges for those of us with brown skin.

Historically, laser hair removal technology was not designed with darker skin tones in mind, leading to a higher risk of adverse effects such as burns (this happened to me in my bikini area), hyperpigmentation, and hypopigmentation. This is because earlier lasers were unable to differentiate effectively between the melanin in the skin and the melanin in the hair, causing the skin to absorb too much laser energy and suffer damage.

But nowadays, we have great laser hair removal options for brown skin! Here is everything you need to know before you book your appointment:

• There are 3 main types of lasers that work well for brown skin: diode, lumenis (my fav), and Nd: YAG. Your provider will decide which is right for you :)

• Make sure you do not wax before your appointment! You need the root of the hair to be present and waxing removes the root.

• Make sure you are not tan - otherwise, you are at risk for a burn and/or pigmentation.

• Use a razor to shave the areas being lasered beforehand.

• Come to your appointment with clean, dry skin!

• Know that laser hair removal is not truly permanent. The hairs will likely be much thinner and lighter, maybe even completely absent, but this can change depending on hormonal fluctuations and other factors.

Have you ever tried laser hair removal? What has your experience been like? Leave your comments/questions below :)