Laser hair removal is what you want if you’re looking for the most efficient, long-lasting and cost-effective (long term) hair removal method. Read on for a detailed review of Cynosure Elite Plus hair removal. Please note that I was given a course of laser hair removal treatments on my legs by Sahra at The Natural Beauty Suite in return for this honest review.
A Lifetime of Hair Removal
Let’s talk about hair removal… I’ve been removing hair on various parts of my body since 1993. My auntie is a beauty therapist so as a teenager, I was the official guinea pig for her trainees. I would have my legs, underarms, bikini line, upper lip and eyebrows waxed every so often.
At home, I would either wax, shave my legs or use depilatory cream. I’d routinely wax my underarms, toes and bikini line myself every other week and pluck my eyebrows once a week or so.
First Experience of Laser Hair Removal
Hair removal is one of those things, isn’t it? You hate doing it, yet it feels great when it’s done. It’s the kind of thing you’d love to go away, a bit like housework or laundry. But it keeps coming back, no matter how much effort you put into it.
Fifteen years ago, I decided that enough was enough and I invested a small fortune in underarm laser hair removal. It was worth every penny! I started seeing the difference after the first session. I’d love my little routine a few days after each treatment: I’d scrub my underarms and would see the hair just falling with the sugar scrub. Best thing ever!
The best long-term advantage of having laser hair removal done on my armpits was the fact I’d get less sweaty and more comfortable. When hair equals sweat, it can get really uncomfortable. I didn’t finish the course I’d paid for because I got pregnant with my first baby, but after the few sessions, I still had very little hair left, and whatever was left had become really fine.
Why I Recommend Professional Laser Hair Removal with Cynosure
If you’ve had enough of plucking, shaving, waxing, tweezing or looking for the best way to keep areas of your body hair-free, then laser hair removal is by far the easiest and quickest way to dramatically reduce the amount of unwanted hair on your body or face. Believe me, I have tried absolutely everything that’s available on the market!
It’s effective, cheaper in the long run if you look at the big picture and once it’s done, you can wave bye bye to the ‘side effects’ of hair removal, like prickly legs a couple of days after shaving, the post-shave burn, the stench of depilatory cream, the sticky goo left everywhere after waxing or bumps caused by hair growing under your skin after you’ve waxed.
Want to see some ‘Before’ Photos?
Right, deep breath… let me show you a picture of my legs. Yep, that’s right, I’m about to show you my legs that didn’t see wax, a razor or epilator for over two months (oi, don’t judge me!).
I know, it doesn’t look THAT bad from that distance, with my pretty nail varnish, the beautiful light and my crisp white sheets. Now let me go a bit closer…
Eeek, you see now? If you look very closely, you’ll see a few curly babies on that leg. Yep, I’m that kind of hairy. Real brunette, me!
When my beauty therapist of 15 years Sahra had just invested in Cynosure Elite Plus and completed her training, she offered me hair removal sessions in return for an honest review. I’d been dreaming of smooth legs for years and didn’t hesitate for one second.
As soon as I booked my first appointment, I read a lot about Cynosure. I like to be informed and reassured about any treatments I have on my body.
How does Cynosure Elite Plus Laser Removal works?
The technology behind Cynosure’s laser hair removal treatments is impressive. What it does is it targets and destroys the hair cells responsible for hair growth without damaging the surrounding skin. You then end up with smooth, hair-free skin. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Why not invest in a device I can use at home when I want?
Let’s get this question out of the way straight away. And yes, I did ask myself that question too.
If you want a smooth, hair-free bodying you’re toying with the idea of getting a little laser hair removal machine to use at home, forget it. Yes it will reduce the amount of unwanted hair on your body, but it won’t be anything like professional laser hair removal.
Even the best at-home laser hair removal devices simply cannot compete with professional tools like the Cynosure Elite Plus. OK, let’s take Lumea, the UK’s number one IPL brand in the UK. It’s a nifty little gadget and it will help reduce the amount of hair you have, but it simply won’t compare to professional laser treatment.
Its technology isn’t powerful enough to give you long-term results and you’ll forever be pressing that trigger in the hope hair doesn’t grow back. Save yourself some time and money and go for the real thing!
While similar-sounding to laser treatments, the technology used by little at-home IPL devices isn’t the same at all. The light source used is completely different.
What makes the Cynosure Apogee Laser Hair Removal system different?
Cynosure Elite is one of the best hair removal lasers on the market. Laser is also the best way to get rid of unwanted hair long-term. The darker the hair, the easiest it is for the laser to do its job.
The Cynosure Apogee Elite that Sahra uses contains two laser systems – a 755 nm Alexandrite laser and a high powered 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser – these are the most optimal wavelengths for: Hair removal. “The technologies combine both an alexandrite laser which is great for treating lighter skin types and a Nd:YAG perfect for treating dark skin.
With the two wavelengths mentioned above, the Apogee Elite laser can be used to treat patients with all types of skin. “The addition of the YAG laser allows us to treat patients of darker skin types for excessive hair growth, especially of the face, arm pits and bikini lines. Patients with pseudofolliculitis (razor bumps) on the beard, face or neck now have this option to consider.”
“When used for hair removal, the Apogee Elite laser affects only hair follicles which are currently active or growing (anagen), thus subsequent treatments may be required to eliminate the previously exhausted (catagen) or resting (telogen) follicles as they resume production. Hair removal treatments are relatively painless and leave no textural skin changes or the scarring commonly seen with needle electrolysis.”
All information in inverted commas above is taken from the Cynosure website. To read more, you can click here.
What areas can be treated with Cynosure Elite Plus Laser?
You can have Cynosure Elite Plus hair removal treatments on your face, underarms, arms, legs, back, bikini, chest, etc. Other treatments you can have with Cynosure Elite Plus Laser include skin tightening, skin rejuvenation, scar reduction and vascular treatments.
After Sahra finished doing my legs, I went with underarms again and also got Sahra to do my bikini line. One of friends has been having treatment on her spider veins and you can literally see them disappearing as Sahra goes over them with the laser. She’s also had laser facials to tighten her skin with Sahra and the results are astounding!
I was a tad wary about having my upper lip done. I really didn’t like the idea of shaving it! What if it didn’t work and I had to shave every day, like a man? I still went for it and I’ve not looked back. After treatment, I didn’t even get the kind of redness you end up with for half an hour when you get your upper lip waxed.
What do you need to do before your Cynosure Elite Plus Laser treatments?
As it is a powerful hair removal method, you’ll have to have a patch test done at least a week before your first treatment, to check how your skin copes with the laser.
You have to make sure that the area that will get Cynosure Elite Plus hair removal treatment isn’t exposed to the sun (no sun beds either) for a couple of weeks before treatment and about 14 days after treatment.
Any area pre or post treatment which is exposed to daylight should really be protected by SPF50 suncream. It’s also recommended not to use fake tan until at least 7 days after treatment.
Timeline of my first Cynosure Elite Plus Laser session with Sahra at the Natural Beauty Suite
– Blinds closed
– Glasses on
– Sahra divided my legs into sections by drawing with a white pen to make sure all areas were covered
– Cold hair was blowing onto my skin as the laser was working its magic
– There was a one-inch spacer that touched my skin to ensure Sahra was keeping a safe distance between the laser and my leg.
– No pain at all in some areas, just a prickly sensation in others. The best thing I could compare the feeling to would be to using an epilator.
– I actually typed the above on my phone as Sahra was doing the back of my legs!
– I could smell the faint aroma of burnt hair and my skin was a bit red for a couple of hours. There was no redness whatsoever or residual pain afterwards.
Here is a little video of my first laser hair removal session with Sahra:
Advantages of professional laser hair removal:
- It’s incredibly quick (less than half an hour for my half legs!).
- The treatment lasts really long.
- There is no need to wax or worry about hair removal once you’ve completed your course of treatments. I probably shave my legs four or fives times a year max now, just to remove blond duvet.
Disadvantages:
The price of laser treatment, but it’s cheaper in the long run. I see it as an investment, really. Find out Sahra’s prices here.
Is Cynosure Elite Plus Laser hair removal painful?
Treatments are virtually painless but of course, people’s idea of what is painful or not varies. The sensations the laser treatment compare to are tingling in some areas and the feeling you’ve been snapped with a rubber band in others (near bones, especially near the feet).
The Apogee laser also has a Smart Cool system to reduce discomfort during treatment. As the laser works, the cooling system blows very cold air onto your skin.
Can Anyone Get Laser treatments?
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you shouldn’t have laser treatment. Neither should you if you take medication that cause photo-sensitivity.
Is Cynosure Elite Plus Laser worth the money?
Yes, 100%! It’s an investment, but just think of the time, money and pain involved in hair removal. I don’t have to worry about any of that anymore. Sure, I still get a hair or two on my legs and a little ‘duvet’ but I shave that once or twice in the shower in the colder months, and maybe once every three or four weeks in summer. That’s it!
For me, laser hair removal is a no-brainer and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.
I’ve been epilating for decades. (Fellow brunette here). Laser hair removal is not something I’d ever thought of doing before reading this. Thanks for all the info. Your articles are SO thorough and answer all the questions I would have asked!
Going for laser hair removal is life-changing! I used to get lots of ingrown hairs when I was waxing, and when I was shaving, my legs were prickly 12 hours later! So much better now.