How to Do Laser Hair Treatments at Home

Laser hair removal is a popular form of permanent hair removal. The laser machines work by transmitting a diode light that targets dark hair follicles and disables them. At this point, most lasers work best on those with dark hair and light skin (fair, beige, ivory, white). When used on dark skin, the laser can cause blistering, burning and scarring. The FDA has approved the Tria device as the first laser to be used for laser hair treatments at home. With proper use, the laser results in about 70 percent of the hair being permanently removed, according to the makers of the product.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tria laser device

1. Purchase the Tria laser hair removal device to be used at home. You can purchase it directly from the website or at department stores like Nordstrom (see Resources). The price is from $795 to $995, depending on where you purchase it.

2. Use a razor to shave the hair from the area to be treated with the laser device. For the Tria laser device to work as effectively as possible, only use it on skin that has been freshly shaven. Slightly grown hair will prevent the diode light from finding and targeting the hair follicle inside the dermis.

3. Clean and dry your skin before you use the Tria laser at home. Apply some baby powder to the area to be treated to absorb excess moisture from the skin. Laser hair removal systems work more efficiently on skin that is moisture-free.

4. Adjust the heat settings on your Tria laser. There are three settings to choose from: low, medium and high. The highest setting will yield the best hair-removing results. If the highest setting is too painful, start out on low, then gradually go higher as your skin adjusts to the sensation.

5. Press the laser device against your skin, allowing the diode laser to penetrate the hair follicles. Move the device a few millimeters after every light pulse to cover as many hair follicles as possible. Continue doing this until you have sufficiently applied the treatment all over the desired area.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply some numbing cream to the area to be treated to dull some of the pain.
• Do not use the laser on broken or damaged skin. Do not go tanning or in any way expose your skin to the sun following the laser treatment.

Resources

• Purchase the Tria from Nordstrom.
• Tria website