Hair
Laser Hair Removal (Cynosure)
- Duration
- 45 mins
- Downtime
- Little to none. Temporary redness or small bumps can occur and usually settle quickly.
From £75
Hair concern
Hair Removal
Waxing and laser hair removal both remove unwanted hair, but they work at different levels and they are not equivalent long-term options. Laser disables the follicle. Waxing removes the hair and leaves the follicle intact to regrow.
Understanding the cause
What's happening in your skin
01
Waxing removes hair. Laser removes the follicle.
Waxing pulls hair from the root but the follicle survives, replenishes its blood supply and produces a new hair within weeks. Laser uses targeted heat to permanently disable hair-producing cells at the follicle level.
When you wax, hair is removed at the root but the follicle survives. It replenishes and produces a new hair within four to six weeks. The cycle continues indefinitely. Laser works at a different level. Cynosure Elite+ delivers targeted light energy absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle, converting to heat that permanently disables the hair-producing cells through selective photothermolysis. Because hair cycles through active and resting phases, a course of sessions is needed to catch each follicle in active growth. Once treated, those follicles do not return to active production.
02
Waxing costs less per session. Over time it costs considerably more.
Regular waxing on legs, underarms and bikini line over three to five years typically costs more in total than a full laser course covering the same areas.
A single waxing appointment is less expensive than a laser session. The comparison changes when viewed across time. Waxing requires a fresh appointment every four to six weeks, indefinitely. A laser course of six to eight sessions typically achieves long-term reduction that removes or substantially reduces the need for ongoing appointments. Most clients find that the cumulative cost of waxing across two to three years already exceeds the cost of a laser course that delivers years of smooth skin. Waxing is a recurring expense. Laser is a fixed course with lasting return.
03
If you are planning laser, waxing cannot run alongside it
Waxing removes the pigment from the hair bulb, leaving the laser with nothing to target. Anyone undertaking a laser course must shave, not wax, throughout.
Laser hair removal targets melanin in the follicle. Waxing physically removes the hair shaft and its pigment from the bulb, so there is nothing for the laser to target in that follicle. The two cannot be used interchangeably during an active laser course. Shaving is the appropriate method for managing regrowth between sessions throughout the course. Waxing remains available for clients who prefer it as a standalone treatment or who are not candidates for laser at a given time.
Recommended treatments
What we use for hair removal
Hair
LYCON Waxing
- Duration
- 30 mins
- Downtime
- None. Temporary redness can happen, especially straight after treatment.
Price on consultation
Clinical perspective
When someone comes in asking about hair removal, I always want to have an honest conversation about what they are actually looking for. Waxing works and we do offer it, but it is a commitment you make every few weeks for as long as you want smooth skin. Laser is a different proposition entirely. You invest in a course, and then for most areas you are largely done. Most of the clients who complete a laser course tell me they wish they had done it years earlier.
Laser disables the follicle Waxing never ends Course cost vs forever cost
In their own words
I had been shaving my legs every other day since I was a teenager. After a full course I barely think about it. The difference is remarkable.
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Common questions
Frequently asked about hair removal
What is the difference between laser hair removal and waxing?
Waxing removes hair at the root but leaves the follicle intact. The follicle survives and produces a new hair within weeks, requiring repeat appointments every four to six weeks indefinitely. Laser targets the follicle with heat, permanently disabling it through selective photothermolysis. A course of laser sessions produces long-term reduction, which waxing cannot achieve regardless of how many times it is repeated.
Is laser hair removal permanent?
Laser produces long-term hair reduction rather than a guaranteed absolute result for every follicle. Most clients who complete a full course experience dramatic reduction requiring minimal or no maintenance for years. Some find occasional top-up sessions useful for any regrowth, particularly in areas influenced by hormonal change such as the face. The outcome is substantially different from waxing, which produces no lasting reduction at all.
How many laser sessions will I need?
A course of around six to eight sessions is typically required for most areas, as laser can only treat follicles in their active growth phase at the time of treatment. Sessions are spaced to allow other follicles to enter the active phase. Your clinician will advise on the appropriate number of sessions and spacing based on the area, your hair type and skin tone at consultation.
Can I wax between laser sessions?
No. Waxing removes the pigment from the hair follicle that the laser needs to target. Throughout a laser course, shaving is the appropriate method for managing regrowth between sessions. Waxing or plucking between sessions reduces the effectiveness of the treatment.
Who is waxing most appropriate for?
Waxing suits clients who want immediate smooth skin without committing to a clinical course, or those who are not suitable for laser at a given time, for example due to recent sun exposure, certain medications or skin condition. It is also appropriate where laser is not the first choice for a particular area or skin type. Your clinician will discuss which option fits your situation at consultation.
Which areas can Cynosure laser treat?
The Cynosure Elite+ is used across most areas of the face and body where unwanted hair is a concern, including legs, underarms, bikini line and facial areas. Its dual-wavelength platform allows treatment across a broad range of skin tones. A consultation confirms suitability for your specific areas and circumstances.
Ready to take the next step?
Book a consultation
Your clinician will assess your skin, review your history and design a treatment plan matched to your specific presentation, not a generic protocol.
Medically reviewed by Dr Shahe Boghossian, Medical Consultant, GMC 5204600 . Last reviewed 21 May 2026.
