Laser & Light in Atlanta
Laser Hair Removal in Atlanta
Long-term freedom from shaving and waxing, with settings chosen for your skin and hair. Also the end of ingrown hairs.
CONSULTATION
Required
TREATMENT LENGTH
15 to 60 minutes, by area
SESSIONS
About 6, spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart
WORKS BEST ON
Dark hair
DEVICE
Cartessa Motus
OFFERED AT
Westside
The Approach
Not permanent hair removal. Long-term hair reduction, which is still a very good deal.
Done well, laser hair removal frees you from shaving and waxing for years, ends ingrown hairs, and leaves your skin smoother than either ever could. We are going to tell you honestly how it works, who it works best for, and what long-term really means.
The laser targets the pigment in your hair, heating and disabling the follicle so it stops producing hair. Because hair grows in cycles and only actively growing follicles respond, it takes a series of about six sessions to catch them all, and occasional maintenance afterward. In exchange, you stop thinking about razors and wax appointments almost entirely.
Candidacy
Are You a Candidate?
Hair color and skin tone are the two variables that decide this, and section by section below we go through both honestly. Beyond those, it is mostly about whether the schedule suits you.
This is not the right time if you are pregnant, recently tanned or sunburned, taking a medication that makes you photosensitive, or have an active infection in the area. Tell us your history and we will guide you.
Laser is likely right if:
- Your hair is dark, which gives the laser the pigment it needs to target
- You can commit to a series of about six sessions spaced four to six weeks apart, plus occasional maintenance
- You are willing to shave rather than wax between and before sessions
- You are prone to ingrown hairs or razor bumps, in which case this may be the most freeing benefit of all
- You can avoid sun and tanning around your appointments
The Honest Picture
Who It Works Best For
Your hair color
It works best on dark hair, which has the most pigment for the laser to target. And it does not work on blond, red, gray, or white hair, which lack the pigment the laser needs, so it cannot target them effectively. We will tell you honestly if your hair color means laser is not the right choice, rather than sell you sessions that cannot work.
Your skin tone
Modern lasers safely treat a much wider range of skin tones than older machines could, which is genuinely good news: laser hair removal used to be risky on darker skin and today’s technology, including longer-wavelength settings, has widened the safe range considerably. The key is choosing the right settings and wavelength for your skin, which is exactly what an expert provider and the right device are for. Dark hair on lighter skin is still the classic ideal, since it gives the laser a clear target, and far more people are good candidates than used to be the case.
The Science
Why It Takes Several Sessions
Your hair grows in three phases, and the laser only really works on one of them. In anagen, the growth phase, hair is actively growing and rich in the pigment the laser targets. About 85 percent of your hair is in this phase at any given moment, and it is the best time to treat.
In catagen, the transition phase, growth has stopped and pigment production is ceasing, which makes it less responsive. That is about 5 percent of your hair. In telogen, the resting phase, hair is resting and shedding with the least pigment of all, and the laser is least effective. That is about 10 percent.
Because only actively growing follicles respond, and only a share of your hair is growing at any moment, we treat in a series of about six sessions spaced four to six weeks apart, to catch different follicles as they cycle into their growth phase. That is why the schedule matters and why patience pays off.
Choosing
Laser, or Shaving and Waxing?
Laser Hair Removal
A series, then done
- Disables the follicle so it stops producing hair.
- About six sessions over several months, then occasional maintenance.
- Ends the cycle that causes ingrown hairs and razor bumps.
- A package cost up front, and most patients find it pays for itself against a lifetime of razors and appointments.
Shaving and Waxing
Forever
- Removes hair at or below the surface. The follicle keeps working.
- Every few days, or every few weeks, indefinitely.
- A common cause of ingrowns, razor bumps, and the marks they leave.
- A smaller ongoing cost that never stops.
One honest exception. If your hair is blond, red, gray, or white, laser cannot target it, and electrolysis is the treatment that works on hair without pigment. We would rather point you there than take your money for a package that cannot deliver.
Longevity
What Long-Term Really Means
Once a follicle is properly treated, it does not grow hair back. But your body can activate new follicles over time, through hormones, age, or other changes, which is why the accurate term is long-term hair reduction rather than permanent removal. In practice, most patients enjoy years of dramatically reduced, finer, lighter hair, with occasional maintenance sessions to stay smooth. That is a genuinely excellent outcome, and we would rather set that honest expectation than overpromise permanence.
Your Treatment
Before and After Your Session
One instruction trips people up more than any other, so it is first: shave, do not wax.
6 weeks before
Do not wax, tweeze, or pluck. This is crucial and counterintuitive, because the laser needs the follicle root that waxing and tweezing remove, so those methods make the treatment fail. Shaving is fine, and encouraged.
2 weeks before
Avoid sun and tanning beds.
1 week before
No retinoids or exfoliants on the area. Hydrate well.
12 hours before
Shave the area, so the follicle is present below the surface but the hair above it is not.
First 24 to 48 hours
Mild redness like a light sunburn. Cool compress for any discomfort, loose clothing to avoid friction, and no strenuous exercise.
First 7 days
SPF 30 or higher, and avoid direct sun.
Days to weeks after
Treated hairs shed. That is normal, and it is the hair falling out rather than growing.
Hair grows in cycles, and any single session only affects the follicles that happen to be active that day. That is why this runs as a series rather than as an appointment, and why the spacing between sessions is part of the treatment rather than scheduling convenience. The rules above are not a one-time checklist either. They reset before every session, right down to the shave.
Your Experience
Your Treatment Experience
Consultation
We assess your skin tone and hair color, confirm laser is right for you, choose the settings and wavelength for your skin, and map your areas and package.
Treatment
Fifteen to sixty minutes depending on the area. Protective eyewear, then the cooled handpiece in a sweeping motion. A warm snapping sensation, eased by the cooling tip. Most patients find it far more comfortable than waxing.
After
Mild redness like a light sunburn for a day or so. Treated hairs shed over the following days. Strict SPF.
Results and schedule
Visible reduction after the first few sessions, building over the series of about six, then occasional maintenance.
The Practice
Why Patients Choose Artisan
Settings chosen for your skin, by an expert
On a laser that targets pigment, the provider’s skill and the right settings are what keep your skin safe and your results even. This is not a plug-in-and-go treatment and we do not treat it as one.
Honest about who it suits
We will tell you if your hair color means laser will not work, rather than sell you a package that cannot deliver.
The end of ingrown hairs
For patients who battle razor bumps and ingrowns, this is often the most freeing benefit of all.
Atlanta’s all-female team
Founded by Dr. Diane Z. Alexander, MD, FACS, with aesthetics led by Lauren Bays. 25+ years.
FAQ
Laser Hair Removal FAQs
Does it work on my skin tone?
Modern lasers safely treat a much wider range of skin tones than older machines could, so many more people are good candidates than used to be the case. The key is choosing the right settings and wavelength for your skin, which is exactly what your provider does at your consultation. It works best when there is contrast between darker hair and lighter skin, and today’s technology has widened the safe range considerably.
Does it work on blond, red, or gray hair?
Unfortunately no. The laser targets the pigment in the hair, and blond, red, gray, and white hair lack enough of it for the laser to work. We will tell you honestly if your hair color means laser is not the right choice, rather than sell you a package that cannot deliver.
Is it really permanent?
The accurate term is long-term hair reduction. Once a follicle is properly treated it does not regrow, and your body can activate new follicles over time, so most patients enjoy years of dramatically reduced, finer hair with occasional maintenance sessions. It is an excellent, lasting result, just not literally permanent, and we would rather be straight with you about that.
Do I shave or wax before my appointment?
Shave, do not wax. Shave the area about 12 hours before, and do not wax, tweeze, or pluck for at least six weeks beforehand, because the laser needs the follicle root that waxing removes. This one trips people up, so it is worth repeating: shaving good, waxing bad.
What areas can you treat?
Nearly anywhere: underarms, bikini and Brazilian, legs, back, chest, arms, and the face including upper lip and chin. From small precise areas to large ones. We tailor the plan and pricing to what you want treated.
How much does it cost?
It is priced by area and sold in packages, since it takes about six sessions, and packages cost less than individual sessions. Larger areas cost more than small ones. We give you clear pricing at your consultation, and financing is available. Against a lifetime of razors and waxing, most patients find it pays for itself.
Does it hurt?
Much less than waxing. Most people describe a quick warm snap like a rubber band, which fades within minutes, and the cooled tip soothes the skin throughout. Denser areas like the bikini line feel a bit more intense than fine-haired ones, and each session tends to feel easier as the hair thins.
Will it help my ingrown hairs?
Yes, and beautifully. By disabling the follicle, laser hair removal stops the cycle of hairs curling back into the skin, so it is one of the best solutions for ingrown hairs and razor bumps. For many patients that relief is the biggest benefit of all.
How many sessions will I need?
About six, spaced four to six weeks apart, then occasional maintenance. The reason is the hair growth cycle: the laser only works on actively growing follicles, and only a portion of your hair is growing at any time, so we treat in a series to catch them all as they cycle.
Is there downtime?
Minimal. Expect mild redness like a light sunburn for a day or so. Treated hairs shed over the following days, which is normal. Just avoid sun and heavy exercise for a day or two and wear SPF.
Long-term smooth skin, no more ingrowns, and an honest plan built around your skin and hair.
Come in and we will tell you honestly whether laser is right for your hair and skin, map your areas, and give you real pricing.