My Experience With Laser Hair Removal

how it all began

I have vivid memories as a pre-teen coming out of the pool at a friend’s house and being laughed at because of the long, dark hair on the back of my upper thighs. Growing up, shaving/waxing wasn’t really discussed nor did I know much about it until I became a model working regularly for lingerie and swimwear clients where there was an expectation to maintain my bikini line. It has always been a major insecurity for me and I often opted for swim skirts so I didn’t have to deal with it. Shaving was extremely painful for me, as I am incredibly prone to ingrown hairs and razor burn. It wasn’t until early adulthood I discovered sugar waxing, which worked well for me except for the fact that I needed to get them every 3-4 weeks for maintenance and the cost really added up. And then the pandemic hit and the world shut down… I so heavily relied on my Brazilian waxes and while I wasn’t going anywhere, I had gotten used to the maintenance so I was determined to figure something out. I wrote a blog post on at-home solutions to help get me through that time. I received a message from a sweet reader of the blog named Jess who encouraged me to check out laser hair removal, specifically at Milan Laser, which has over 170 locations nationwide.

I was skeptical, especially since I hadn’t done much research about it but decided to explore. I quickly learned that NOT all laser hair removal options are created equal. My biggest concerns were related to safety, pain, cost, and how long this investment will last. These questions were quickly answered by their team and now two years later and 95% done with my treatments (the pandemic affected my sessions due to things being shut down, opened back up, and then shut down again) I feel prepared to share more about my experience and finally answer some of your most frequently asked questions.

What areas did you get it done?

I did my full Brazilian area (everything front and back) as well as my armpits. Those two areas gave me the most irritation and were the highest maintenance for me so I decided to start there.

Is laser hair removal safe?

I can only speak to my experience and share that Milan Laser uses the safest laser in the industry, and takes special care to prepare you for laser hair removal. All of their treatment providers are Authorized Candela Practitioners who have been extensively trained by Independent Candela Trainers and are supervised by medical doctors. Their comprehensive training touches on everything from laser physics to medical conditions affecting hair growth, so you can rest assured that you’re in good hands. The two people who performed my treatments were also RNs.

Does it really work? How long does it last?

Yes! There are so many ways to temporarily remove hair, but for permanent results, laser hair removal is the safest way to remove unwanted body hair (not to be confused with IPL). One of the main reasons why I chose Milan Laser was because of their lifetime guarantee. New hair growth is possible due to hormones, age, and genetics, but with Milan, results are guaranteed for life! So once my treatments are done, if new hair does grow down the road, I’m able to go back at any time at no additional cost. This was a huge selling point for me.

What is a treatment like?

Before any treatment, it’s important to avoid sun exposure. Your skin needs to be its natural skin tone in order to be safely treated, so no tanning or sunless tanner throughout your treatment.

I shave the day of or the day before. Considering I was getting lasered where the sun doesn’t typically shine, I didn’t have too much of an issue but needed to be most aware of my bikini line.

Was it awkward/embarrassing?

Honestly, no. I was immediately put at ease at every appointment and it is an incredibly professional environment with medical professionals that have quite literally “seen it all.”

Real talk, how bad does it hurt?

I do not consider myself someone with high pain tolerance whatsoever. With that said, I got pretty good at managing the pain (I usually ate a banana and took some ibuprofen an hour beforehand) and I’d say the pain was comparable to waxing. Except unlike with waxing, I was working towards the hair being completely gone (rather than having to go back 3-4 weeks later). When I’m closer to my period, it can definitely be a bit more sensitive. Honestly, the treatments were so quick that it was done before I could really get uncomfortable.

Most would describe the sensation as similar to the feeling of being snapped with a rubber band. Milan’s laser uses a cooling spray to safely cool the skin in the milliseconds prior to, as well as after, each laser pulse, which helps decrease discomfort as well.

How often did you have to go?

I was able to get treated every 5 weeks when I first began. I started my treatments in July 2020 and then New York State shut down “non-essential” businesses so my initial treatments were disrupted. I will say, I noticed a difference after the first session. It really depends on how many sessions you need depending on your hair and areas being treated. I’m now being treated every 10 weeks because I still have a few fine, blonde hairs that I want to get rid of but the dark hairs and ingrowns are completely gone. My goal is to never have to shave. Before I started, I’d have to shave my armpits every day and now I can go about a month before noticing a few stragglers that I’ll touch up. Crazy, right? It really works.

With their Unlimited Package (included with every area), most people need between 7-10 treatments to get 95%+ hair removal. The best part of this package is that no matter how many treatments you need, it’s the same price!

I really like that I never had to worry about buying additional treatments or paying touch-up fees. Unlike other places, once you’ve purchased, it’s covered for the rest of your life.

Do laser treatments work on all hair and skin types?

Milan lasers usually do, but the best way to determine if it will work for you is to go in for a free consultation. If your hair is too light to work, they will let you know. Their #1 priority is customer satisfaction, so they will not sell you laser hair removal if it won’t produce the results you’re looking for. I really have appreciated their transparency in every aspect of my experience.

Blondes: Laser hair removal will work on most people with blonde hair as long as the hair isn’t “peach fuzz”, “bleach blonde” or “platinum” in color.

Reds: It will frequently work on red hair as long as there is some pigment for the laser to capture.

Gray: Gray hair is, well, a gray area! They recommend seeing your hair to determine exactly how much pigment is left for the laser to target. This can be determined during your consultation!

Milan works with all skin tones. Some hair removal methods are limited to light skin tones. But their laser uses Alexandrite and Nd: Yag laser technology and is precise enough to target the hair follicle and eliminate hair at the root without damaging the skin, even the darkest of skin tones can be safely and effectively treated.

Where can you get it done on your body?

They offer Brazilian, bikini, lip, chin, arms, legs, feet, back, and shoulders—essentially everywhere except your scalp and eyebrows. Their laser hair removal is an FDA-cleared treatment for anywhere on the body.

How much does it cost?

It really depends on what areas you’d like to have done. For my armpits and full Brazilian area, it was on par for the cost of me getting waxed for one year every 3-4 weeks. For me, it was an investment but once I calculated what I was already spending it was a no-brainer because the hair will eventually be gone and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Payments can be as low as $29 a month with their affordable payment plans. Milan will work with you to come up with a payment plan that best suits your needs. Milan Laser was kind enough to extend a code Caralyn60 for 60% off of any purchase at any location (excluding a full-body package).

Can you recommend any at-home laser hair removal tools instead?

At-home devices use mostly IPL technology which is not as effective as Milan’s lasers. The ones that do utilize laser technology usually use Diode technology, which is only safe for lighter skin tones. These devices are also much smaller and don’t offer the cooling mist to ease your discomfort.

Compared to Milan’s treatments, at-home devices are more time-consuming, more painful, less safe, and produce inferior results.

How do I know if I’m a good candidate for laser?

You can take Milan Laser’s quiz here to find out if you’d be a good candidate. You can also find a Milan Laser location near you here!

I hope this post was able to give you some clarity on laser hair removal, what to expect and things to look out for when considering treatments. Feel free to leave any follow up questions below and if you have ever considered laser hair removal. As a friendly reminder, Milan Laser was kind enough to extend a code Caralyn60 for 60% off of any purchase (excluding the FULL-BODY package) at any location. I cannot recommend them enough, I have zero regrets on it and glad to be able to share my experience with you. I would definitely consider getting other areas treated in the future and LOVE the fact that I’m always feeling confident now in a swimsuit. Thanks for reading! Xx CMK

EDIT: A NOTE FROM MILAN

A few notes on looking for a laser hair removal provider if you don’t have a Milan near you, I reached out to them with some of your questions and here’s their response:

The first recommendation is to inquire about the type of laser. The laser Milan uses is the Candela Gentle Max laser is the brand and specifically, the Nd: Yag is safer for brown skin tones. If the provider does not know what kind of laser they use, that is a red flag for sure. Additionally, asking about “incident rates” is important — this would mean, do they have data on adverse reactions or (hate to say it) burns that have occurred with their clients. If they don’t have data, that may show that they don’t monitor interactions and that could be an issue.

Lastly, it is important to find a place that is inclusive. At Milan, we believe that every client should feel safe and comfortable from the moment they walk into the clinic. The reasons that people need laser are so personal and varied, if it feels like they only treat one type of person, that may not be the best fit.

Of note, we are growing growing growing and will be opening additional clinics every month:).

I purchased my own package in July 2020 but was beyond excited for the opportunity to be able to partner with Milan Laser to write this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own and based on my own experiences.