Facial hair can clog your pores, make your skin look dull, or simply make you self-conscious, and luckily it’s easy to remove. There are more traditional solutions like threading and waxing, but the latest technology has made laser hair removal one of the most popular solutions for achieving a smooth, hair-free complexion. 

Laser facial hair removal is a treatment that uses state-of-the-art technology to safely and efficiently get rid of unwanted facial hair. Laser hair removal can be targeted to specific areas to remove hair where you want. 

If you’re considering facial laser hair removal, learn more about the treatment and what it can do for you in this guide from LivSmooth. You can also use the links below to go straight to the section that best answers your question.

What Is Laser Facial Hair Removal?

Laser facial hair removal uses advanced laser technology to remove unwanted hair from the face. Ultimately, people who seek this treatment hope for permanent facial hair removal. 

Laser hair removal is considered a cosmetic treatment and generally isn’t covered by insurance unless it’s deemed medically necessary. Medically necessary conditions may include conditions that cause excessive hair growth.

What Areas on the Face Can Be Treated with a  Laser? 

Some of the most common laser hair removal areas on the face include:

• Chin
• Upper lip
• Neckline 
• Temples
• Cheeks
• Jaw

While unwanted facial hair affects both men and women, there are some areas that are more favored by women than men and vice versa. 

For women, the most common places treated for laser for hair removal are:

• Chin
• Sideburns
• Neck
• Upper lip

Facial laser hair removal for men most often targets:

• Neckline
• Back of his neck
• Full beard area, including under the chin

If you don’t see the area you were considering, you can ask about it during your laser facial hair removal consultation to see if it’s possible.

How Does Laser Facial Hair Removal Work?

Laser hair removal technology targets the hair follicles, more specifically, the melanin, or pigment, in the hair. The pigment in the hair absorbs the laser’s light. This damages the follicle, slowing and often stopping hair from growing completely.

To achieve this, a series of treatments is typically required. For example, chin and lip laser hair removal typically takes about five to six treatments to get rid of hair.

How Effective Is Laser Hair Removal for Your Face?

In the past, due to limitations with some lasers, those who had light skin and dark hair were the best candidates. This had to do with the laser’s ability (or not) to differentiate between the different colors of pigment. That was the reason why darker skin tones may not have been able to achieve the same results from laser hair removal treatments in the past. 

Nowadays, however, laser technology has advanced, allowing people of all skin types to receive laser hair removal for their faces. This includes people with darker skin tones.

That said, those who have peach fuzz hair, white or light blonde hair, light red, or even gray hair are not laser hair removal candidates.

Additionally, while laser hair removal usually requires several treatments—how many depends on the size of the treatment area and your hair type—many people can achieve permanent hair removal once they complete all the recommended sessions. Based on your needs, you’ll be provided with a treatment plan that can help you achieve permanent hair removal. Following the recommended treatment plan will help you reach your goals.

The effectiveness of the treatment sessions typically increases over time due to the changes in the hair follicle. In general, laser treatments work very well to remove unwanted hair from the face. However, in some cases, you may need touch-up treatments if a few stray hairs come back. At LivSmooth, our laser facial hair removal is guaranteed for life, so your touch-ups are covered.

If you’re not happy with your results, you can come back to us as many times as you want until you achieve your desired results—we strive to provide the highest level of care in laser hair removal.

Is Face Laser Hair Removal Safe?

Face laser hair removal is considered safe. However, there are some mild risks, such as:

• Blistering
• Redness
• Irritation 

That said, these side effects are uncommon due to the advancements in laser hair removal technology. Additionally, modern lasers like the one used at LivSmooth typically provide painless treatment. For example, our laser cools the skin throughout the treatment so that you don’t experience the discomfort that’s been associated with face hair removal in the past.

If you have specific concerns you want to know more about, the nurse conducting your hair removal will educate you about laser hair removal.

What to Expect with Facial Laser Hair Removal

Here’s what you can generally expect when undergoing facial laser hair removal:

In the Days/ Weeks Leading Up to Treatment

Preparation for your laser treatment for facial hair removal actually begins several days to weeks before your scheduled appointment. 

In the week or so leading up to your treatment, avoid doing anything that might irritate or alter the skin. This includes staying away from other types of laser treatments, chemical peels, and tanning sessions that might put you at risk of sunburn. Additionally, you should also wear sunscreen when you’ll be exposed to the sun. We cannot treat sunburned skin.

If you typically pluck hairs or wax them to remove them, stay away from these activities for about six weeks or so leading up to your appointment date. Because this laser technology requires the pigment from your hair to work, you’ll need to have some hair in the follicles on the day of the treatment.

That said, in the 24-hour period prior to your treatment, you’ll need to shave the area that’s targeted for treatment. An unshaven target area can cause both the skin and the hair to burn. Shaving the area mitigates this, while still leaving enough of the hair pigment for the laser to find.

On the Day of the Treatment

Shave the treatment area if you haven’t already. It’s ideal if you arrive at the appointment with a clean face. Avoid applying make-up and other substances to your skin.

Once you arrive, we will set you up with goggles for your eyes and a covering for your head. Then we’ll proceed with laser hair removal.

During Treatment

Most treatments don’t require much time. For example, if you’re getting laser hair removal for chin and lip, it typically only takes about 15 minutes. The length of your treatment depends on the type of hair you have and how many areas are being treated on your face. If you’re doing full-face laser hair removal, it’ll take longer than just your sideburns.

As we mentioned, our treatments are pain-free, so you shouldn’t experience discomfort during your treatment.

There’s no “recovery time” after laser for facial hair, but you may feel a little irritation for a few hours afterward.

How Much Does Facial Laser Hair Removal Cost?

As with any highly personalized cosmetic treatment, the costs can vary. We spend time with each client, learning about them, to ensure that the client receives the treatment that’s right for them. 

We analyze each person’s hair and skin type in order to achieve the best results. From this analysis, we determine the right number of treatments that will be suited to the individual. It’s important to understand how these various factors can impact your treatment cost. For example, you’d expect to pay more for full-face laser hair removal than you would to just have your lip and chin done.

We do offer rotating monthly specials. These laser hair removal specials can vary, so it’s important to check back to see if there’s one that’s applicable to your treatment plan. You can ask more about our specials during your consultation too.

Find Out If Facial Laser Hair Removal Is Right for You

Overall, laser treatment for facial hair removal makes it easier than ever to get rid of unwanted facial hair in the long run. Whether you’re looking to address dark hair on your upper lip or remove hair all over your face, the experts at LivSmooth can help you achieve the smooth, hair-free complexion you desire.

Ready to get rid of your facial hair? With a team of experts who have over 30 years of combined experience and the latest technology in laser hair removal, LivSmooth is able to provide you with a high-quality experience and the best possible results. We have done extensive research and training to provide laser hair removal treatments to the face and body that are comfortable and help you achieve the best possible results.

Learn more about LivSmooth to see how we can provide you the highest level of care and schedule your consultation to get started with treatments as soon as possible.