1. Does it really hurt?
Let's start with what matters most: pain. And straight away — it depends on the technology.
2. Can I come during my period?
Yes. Absolutely. There's no physiological contraindication to laser hair removal during menstruation. The laser targets melanin in the hair follicle — this has nothing to do with your hormonal cycle.
- Your skin may be slightly more sensitive (see above)
- If you're having bikini deep — this is a matter of personal comfort, not a medical one
- Using tampons or a menstrual cup? No problem. Everything is handled discreetly
We see this every day at the salon. No one will be surprised, embarrassed or uncomfortable. It's our job.
3. Bikini deep — what exactly does it mean, and who does it?
Who does it? A cosmetologist trained and certified in laser hair removal. In a good salon, this is someone who performs this treatment a dozen times a day or more. For them, it's routine — like a dentist looking into a mouth.
You lie on the treatment bed and get single-use underwear or a towel. The cosmetologist works efficiently and professionally, with no unnecessary comments. Most clients say the anxiety "before" was far worse than the treatment itself.
4. Does it actually pay off financially?
Full-body laser hair removal (legs, bikini, underarms, arms, abdomen, face) is an investment, not an expense. It's worth comparing it with the alternatives over the years.
- Shaving — razors and foam over 10 years add up to several thousand PLN. Result: 1–2 days
- Waxing every month — several thousand PLN a year. Result: 3–4 weeks
- Laser hair removal — a one-off investment, results last for years
Laser hair removal can pay for itself within a few years. And above all — you stop thinking about shaving. On holiday, at the pool, in the morning before work — you simply don't have to.
5. Can fair and red hair be removed with a laser?
Here we have to be honest: it depends. The diode laser targets melanin — the pigment in the hair. The darker the hair and the fairer the skin, the better the contrast and the effectiveness.
- Dark hair on fair skin — ideal candidates, high effectiveness
- Dark hair on dark skin — Soprano ICE handles this well, but more sessions are needed
- Light brown hair — lower effectiveness, but results are often achievable with more sessions
- Red hair — difficult; pheomelanin absorbs diode laser light poorly, results are unpredictable
- Blonde, white or grey hair — the laser doesn't work; no melanin means no target for the laser
6. What if I'm planning a pregnancy?
7. How often should I shave between sessions?
Shave normally, with a razor. Between laser sessions, hair grows back — more slowly and finer with each session. Shaving with a razor is fine and doesn't affect the treatment's results.
8. Can the laser be used over a tattoo?
In practice, we work around the tattoo, leaving a margin of a few centimetres. If you have a small tattoo on your calf, we can still treat the calf while avoiding that spot. If you have extensive tattoos, the inked area is excluded from the treatment.
9. How many sessions do I really need?
The honest answer: usually anywhere from a few to over a dozen sessions, depending on several factors.
- Body area — legs and underarms need fewer sessions than the face (hormones!)
- Hair colour — the darker it is, the faster you'll see results
- Skin phototype — fair skin with dark hair gives good contrast
- Hormonal background — PCOS, thyroid disorders and hormonal medication can slow down results
After completing the series, many people don't need another visit for months or even years. Others, especially in hormone-sensitive areas (face, bikini), benefit from maintenance sessions.
10. Permanent results — for how many years?
Regulators (including the FDA) use the term "permanent hair reduction" — not "removal". What does this mean in practice? After a full series of treatments, most hair often doesn't grow back. What does return tends to be thin, fair and sparse. For many people, results last for years.
Bonus: why technology matters
Not all lasers are equal. SHR (Super Hair Removal) technology with an 810 nm diode — the gold standard in laser hair removal — works differently from older systems.
- Gradual heating instead of a single pulse — less discomfort, lower risk of irritation
- Contact cooling — a sapphire tip cools the skin during the treatment
- Safe for a wide range of skin phototypes — from porcelain-fair to dark skin tones
- Speed — a large handpiece allows efficient coverage of large areas of the body
Newer devices combine several wavelengths in a single handpiece, reaching hair follicles at different depths. This is similar to a "universal" laser, effective across a wide range of hair types and skin tones.