De-fuzzing for good! Permanent Laser Hair Removal for both dark and olive skin types

Ever wished you could skip the morning shower shave or night-before epilation? If you’re heading to the beach this summer (or are simply fed up of reaching for the razor every time you go gymming or swimming) laser hair removal could be the answer.

I headed off to The Private Clinic in Harley Street to see what it’s all about. While many laser hair removal techniques only work on those with light skin and dark hair, The Private Clinic offers permanent laser hair removal for both dark and olive skin types, too. They can remove hair from almost anywhere, from underarms to noses and bikini lines to chins. I opted for lower leg, bikini line and underarms – the areas most visible when you hit the beach.

The treatment works by using light energy to heat up and destroy the hair follicles in the skin, which prevents the hair from growing back. The Private Clinic recommends up to six sessions (with annual top-ups) for best results, but they do say you’ll see results from your first treatment.

After an initial consultation, in which we talked about my skin type and trialled the laser on my skin (which wasn’t as bad as I was expecting), it was time for my first session.

The great thing about this treatment is that you can keep shaving (but no waxing or epilating as this will pull the whole hair out) between sessions, as long as you leave a few millimetres of growth for the treatment day.

After donning some protective glasses, I lay back and tensed for the pain. I’ve heard lots of people say that laser hair removal is painful, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn’t half as bad as I was expecting it to be. You can feel the heat of the laser, and you do get a faint whiff of singed hair, but I’d say it’s less distressing than getting a wax or epilating – and the results are long lasting! It felt like the treatment was over in no time and after having some aloe vera gel applied to soothe my skin, I headed straight back to work.

There was no pain or irritation after the treatment and barely any redness at all. I was advised to keep shaving and to exfoliate the areas in order to encourage the hair to fall out and to book my next treatment after four to six weeks.

A week later and there is already a noticeable reduction in hair in the areas that have been treated – I’m thrilled!

Prices vary depending on the area being treated and the number of sessions required. Visit www.theprivateclinic.co.uk for more information.

Ellie Moss, staff writer/sub-editor