Laser Hair Removal with Pulse Light Clinic: First Treatment

A few weeks back now, I went for my first session of laser hair removal on my underarms at Pulse Light Clinic.
I have waited a few weeks to do this post, purely so I can see the full effects of my first treatment - which now I can share with you guys!

Pulse Light Clinic is a leading UK specialist centre based near Tottenham Court Road, specialising in laser treatments including laser hair removal, tattoo removal and scar removal.

And let me tell you... LASER HAIR REMOVAL IS A GODSEND!!!

If you are annoyingly hairy like me, you will know the embarrassment of forgetting to shave your underarms all too well. All you have to do is lift up your arm, and BAM, it's there.

Except... I don't have this problem anymore! It is LIFE CHANGING.

Before your first session, you will attend a free consultation at the treatment centre where you will fill out a form and be assessed by a specialist. This will enable the specialists to determine a treatment plan for you (i.e. how many treatments you will need, the strength of laser needed, or if you are unsuitable etc). All of this is based upon your skin pigment and hair colour/thickness. Whilst at the consultation, you will also have a patch test to test for any adverse reactions.

Prior to arriving for your first session, you must make sure you are freshly shaved on the area of treatment. Laser hair removal works best on freshly shaven areas so that it is able to reach the follicles straight away. Wearing fake tan is also a no-go and avoid wearing deodorant on the treatment day if possible (although I know sometimes this can be unavoidable, so if not this is not a problem as it can be wiped off before treatment).

During the treatment, you must wear the protective goggles provided so that the laser beam does not damage your eyes.
I have an extremely low tolerance of pain (embarrassing, soz) so I literally find everything painful, however I actually did find this bearable. If you are like me, then I would recommend chewing a piece of gum whilst the treatment is being done as it really helped me, but you can also use numbing cream beforehand if you wish. (This is coming from someone that could only use an epilady for less than 5 seconds before screaming at it, and eventually got my actual hair caught in it... don't ask.)
The pain itself basically just feels like an elastic band being pinged at the area you are having treated, and where there is more hair then it feels a little more painful. For example, with the underarm, it doesn't hurt around the edges but hurts more in the middle where there is more hair. But once the treatment is over then so is the pain, it doesn't last. Over all I would say each arm took between 2-5 minutes so I was done within 10 minutes. Lunch break treatment perhaps?

Afterwards, you are told to only shave the area if needbe, DO NOT pluck it as the hairs will grow back thick and fast if you do.
I had my first session 4-5 weeks ago now, and I have only had to shave once. ONCE! And that was one week after the treatment. I'm not even close to needing to shave as the hair literally has not grown back. Not even a shadow.
Do you even know how much of a godsend this is to me? It's a bloody miracle!!

I am due to go back for my second session this week, so there will be a follow up post for that in a few weeks, which will include more information and details, and more photos.

Watch this space!