Consultations have increased now that the cold wind is blowing —

Beard laser hair removal: Is it okay to start now?

Let me give you the conclusion first.

Beard laser hair removal is much more advantageous

to start at a time like now than in summer.

I'll explain why in this article.

Actually, they may seem similar

but the key is different

Beard laser hair removal targets the melanin in the hair follicle with a laser

and deactivates the hair root itself.

It isn't about cutting it off like shaving or waxing,

but about reducing the structure that grows hair at the follicle level.

Unlike ordinary hair removal devices, GentleMax Pro Plus

can use two wavelengths in one device,

so it is advantageous for areas like the beard where the hair is coarse

and the roots are deep.

Why is it advantageous to start around this time?

Key point of this article

Beard laser hair removal should be started

when UV exposure is low.

With GentleMax Pro Plus

if you set it to match the hair type using two wavelengths

you can proceed without skin troubles.

Beard laser hair removal should be started when UV exposure is low.

The better time is when UV exposure is low.

With the two wavelengths of GentleMax Pro Plus

if you set it to match the hair type

you can proceed without skin troubles.

This is something many people misunderstand,

laser hair removal uses the "difference" between skin melanin and hair melanin

to selectively target only the hair.

But if your skin is tanned in summer, that difference decreases,

and the risk of burns or hyperpigmentation increases.

There was a man in his early 30s

who visited last month.

He had undergone three sessions elsewhere in summer, developed trouble

and came to us after stopping,

with his skin tone having gotten much darker.

For someone like this, going with Alexandrite (755nm) alone

would be risky, so we switched the wavelength to 1064nm

to penetrate deeper

while avoiding the epidermal melanin.

From the second treatment onward, it went smoothly without trouble,

and now he is on his 4th session.

To be honest,

the beard area is one of the facial areas where hair follicles are embedded as deep as 2–4 mm

quite deeply.

So with only one wavelength that stays at the epidermis,

it often doesn't reach the root.

Using two wavelengths in combination according to hair type, skin tone, and depth

is the part I consider most important in the clinic.

Dr. Wi Young-jin's key summary

Beard laser hair removal is not something you should start "anytime"

it should start when the skin is not tanned.

And rather than trying to solve everything with one wavelength,

switching wavelengths to match hair type and skin tone

is the shortcut to avoiding burns and pigmentation.

This is how I classify patients in the clinic

Many patients coming from the Hongdae area

are office workers in their late 20s to 30s,

and because they feel the morning shaving time is wasted

they most often choose the full removal type.

But this isn't always a good thing.

Once a follicle has been deactivated, it's hard for it to come back,

so if you later want to grow a beard

it isn't easy to reverse.

So at the first consultation, I always ask first whether you really want to remove everything.

I make sure to ask.

The three questions I get most often in the clinic

Q1. How long does one treatment last?

A. There is no hair removal that ends with just one session.

Beard follicles cycle through the anagen, catagen, and telogen phases,

so only hairs in the growth phase respond to the laser.

That's why you usually need about 6–10 sessions at 4–6 week intervals

to see a noticeable reduction in density.

Q2. How should I plan the cost and number of sessions?

A. It depends on the area,

but if you include the philtrum + chin + under-chin area

many people start with a 6-session package.

The exact price depends on the consultation when we assess skin tone and hair type

and determine the wavelength settings,

so I'll leave out specific prices here.

Q3. What can show up after the procedure?

A. The most common is folliculitis.

Right after the laser, the area around the follicles may turn red

and small pimple-like bumps can appear,

but they usually settle within 2–3 days.

In rare cases, pigmentation can occur,

so for 1–2 weeks after treatment, apply sunscreen carefully

and avoid hot saunas.

I hope today's article was helpful.

This was Dr. Wi Young-jin.

Read together

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