Answers to Your Most Common Questions

Laser hair removal uses light absorbed by pigment in the hair to heat and damage the follicle, reducing its ability to produce new hair. At Beam, we use Candela GentleMax Pro Plus technology and select settings for your skin tone, hair characteristics, and treatment area. The goal is long-term hair reduction. A series is needed because hairs grow in different cycles, and results vary. Your complimentary consultation and test patch help us assess whether the hair you want to treat is a suitable target.

You may feel a brief hot snap with each pulse. Sensitivity varies by area, hair density, and the individual; laser hair removal is not completely painless. Candela’s Dynamic Cooling Device sprays cooling cryogen to help protect the skin and reduce discomfort. At Beam, we allow time for careful coverage, pauses, and adjustments to your comfort. Tell your specialist how the treatment feels so we can respond appropriately.

Many Beam clients need approximately 6–12 sessions per area, but that is an estimate rather than a guarantee. Hair thickness and color, the treatment area, hormones, medications, and individual response all affect your plan. Some areas need more sessions or ongoing maintenance. We assess your progress throughout the series. A six-session package is a purchasing option, not a promise that six visits will finish treatment.

Hair follicles are not all in the same growth phase at once. Laser treatment is most effective when suitable hairs are in active growth, so one appointment cannot target every follicle equally. Spacing sessions allows us to treat additional hairs as they become suitable targets. We plan the interval around the area, your regrowth, and your response rather than treating every body part on the same schedule.

Appointment length depends on the area and whether you are treating several areas together. Smaller areas may be scheduled for around 15–30 minutes, while larger areas can take up to an hour or longer for combined services. Check the relevant treatment page for the scheduled duration. At Beam, appointment time includes careful coverage and attention to your comfort. We will confirm the time needed when you book.

Temporary redness, warmth, and small raised bumps around follicles can occur after treatment. Reactions vary and may last longer on sensitive skin. Redness is not required for a treatment to work, and severe pain, blistering, or worsening irritation should not be dismissed as normal. Possible risks include burns, changes in skin color, scarring, and increased hair growth in some treated areas. Our consultation, test patch, protective eyewear, and individualized settings help us assess and manage risk. Contact Beam promptly about unexpected or persistent symptoms.

Laser hair removal can be appropriate when the hair and skin are carefully assessed and suitable settings and eye protection are used. It is not risk-free. Tell us about every prescription, topical product, supplement, recent procedure, and change in your health before treatment. Do not stop prescribed medication on your own. Beam postpones treatment during pregnancy or nursing, on actively irritated or infected skin, and when tanning, medications, or other factors make treatment unsuitable. Your specialist will review your individual situation before proceeding.

Beam offers laser hair removal for suitable hair on the face and body, including underarms, legs, arms, back, chest, neck, and other defined areas. Exact coverage is listed on each treatment page; we can discuss hair reduction or thinning goals at your consultation. Bikini Line, Brazilian, and Buttocks treatments are for clients with female anatomy only. Half legs—upper or lower—always include knees, feet, and toes; upper legs do not include bikini or Brazilian coverage.

Pricing depends on the treatment area. Beam offers single sessions and a 6-Pack: six sessions for the price of five. See our treatment pages for current prices and exact coverage. Maintenance pricing starts at the seventh session for areas that have completed six sessions at Beam. At your complimentary consultation, we discuss suitability, likely treatment needs, and pricing before you decide to proceed.

Waxing removes hair from the root temporarily; laser targets suitable pigmented follicles for long-term hair reduction. Laser requires a series and may need maintenance, while waxing needs to be repeated as hair regrows. Neither method feels the same for everyone. You can generally shave between laser sessions once your skin has settled, but waxing, plucking, and epilating remove the hair the laser needs to target. Ask Beam when to stop those methods before beginning treatment.

Laser works best on darker, coarser hair with enough pigment to absorb the light. White and gray hair are poor targets, and very light blonde, red, or fine hair may respond poorly or be unsuitable. A newer machine does not remove that limitation. At Beam, we are especially cautious about fine facial hair because treatment can sometimes increase hair growth. We will tell you when laser is unlikely to be worthwhile and when another approach, such as electrolysis, may be more appropriate.

Yes. Hormonal changes can influence hair growth, including on the face and back. Laser can reduce suitable existing hair but does not treat an underlying hormonal condition or prevent every new hair from developing. Clients with PCOS or ongoing hormonal changes may need additional sessions or maintenance. Sudden or unusual hair growth deserves discussion with a healthcare professional. Tell Beam about relevant health changes so we can set realistic expectations and reassess your plan.

The most accurate expectation is long-term or permanent hair reduction, not a guarantee that every hair will be gone forever. Treated hair may become less dense, and additional growth or residual hairs can require maintenance. Hormones, age, and treatment area affect the result. Your specialist will explain what is realistic for your particular hair and monitor your progress.

At Beam, many body areas are scheduled around eight weeks apart. Facial areas and individual treatment plans may require a different interval. We use your regrowth and treatment history to guide the schedule. Coming in more frequently is not automatically better. Ask your specialist before changing your interval, including when planning around an event or travel.

Follow Beam’s instructions for shaving your treatment area, and arrive with clean skin free of products on the area being treated. Avoid tanning and tell us about recent sun exposure, self-tanner, medications, skincare actives, supplements, and other procedures. Do not wax, pluck, or epilate between sessions. If your skin is irritated, you have a new medication, or you are unsure whether a product is suitable, contact us before your appointment rather than guessing.

Follow Beam’s aftercare instructions: avoid heat—including hot showers, saunas, and strenuous exercise—for 48 hours. After underarm treatment, avoid deodorant for 24 hours. Keep skincare gentle and pause irritating actives as instructed. Protect exposed treated areas with clothing and SPF 50 sunscreen containing zinc oxide. Avoid tanning. Contact Beam if your skin has not settled or you have a question about resuming your routine.

Suitable darker skin tones can be treated with an appropriate laser and carefully selected settings. Beam’s Candela GentleMax Pro Plus includes a 1064 nm Nd:YAG wavelength, commonly used for darker skin tones, alongside 755 nm Alexandrite for suitable lighter skin tones. Skin tone alone does not determine suitability. We also consider your hair, recent tanning, medications, skin condition, and test-patch response. No device makes treatment risk-free.

We discuss the areas you want to treat, your hair and skin, medical and treatment history, products and medications, and your goals. We explain coverage, pricing, preparation, and realistic expectations, and perform a test patch when appropriate. The consultation gives you time to ask questions and gives us time to assess your response before starting a treatment series. New laser clients begin with a consultation.

Yes—once your skin has settled, shaving is generally the preferred method between sessions because it leaves the follicle available for the laser to target. Follow Beam’s instructions on when to shave before your next appointment. Avoid waxing, plucking, and epilating during your series. Do not shave over irritated or broken skin; ask us if you are unsure whether it is ready.