As a person of colour – I didn’t know if there would be a laser hair removal service that would be safe and effective on my dark skin tone. That’s until I heard about Dermace Laser Clinic. They are 1 of just 4 clinics in Canada to carry the most advanced 3D laser technology – the Soprano Titanium machine by Alma laser. In just 6 months I’ve noticed a life-changing reduction in my unwanted body hair!
The new Soprano Titanium and its predecessor, the Soprano Ice Platinum, are popular and reliable laser devices, far superior to other laser hair removal technology on the market (IPL, single and dual wavelength lasers) because it combines the 3 most effective laser wavelengths into a single applicator. The different wavelengths work together to safely destroy the hair follicle, regardless of texture or density, on any skin tone.
The Soprano Titanium comes with two applicators, one standard size (2cm2), and a second wider handpiece (4cm2), for faster treatment of larger body parts such as the back, chest, or upper legs. The machine also features a skin-cooling applicator tip for maximum comfort.
If I follow a consistent treatment schedule and stay patient, the technicians at Dermace advise me that I can expect to see around a 90% permanent reduction of unwanted body hair after about 1 year of treatments, given my genetics. Your treatment plan may vary depening on your skin colour and hair type.
Throughout my life, I have tried probably every temporary method of hair removal: depilatory creams, the no!no! Hair Remover, smooth away pads, tweezing, threading, DIY microwave wax, wax strips, sugaring, razor blades, electric shavers, and epilators.
It was agonizing. I was exhausted from having to keep up with my body hair.
So through a Reddit forum, I found out about Dermace Laser Clinic and the technology they use was being touted for working on dark skin complexions like mine.
I booked my first full-body laser hair removal treatment at Dermace Laser Clinic in April.
They informed me I have to shave every area of my body prior to the laser treatments. I usually avoid shaving because my body hair is so persistent that the thick, course stubble would grow back within hours of a clean shave.
So heading into my first laser hair removal appointment, I expected the laser to literally “zap” or burn off the stubble growing back all over my body.
It didn’t. The changes to my body hair were more subtle.
But my technician that day told me to be patient and stick with the treatment plan.
A week went by, the stubble grew out and I noticed a slight reduction in my overall body hair.
This was my experience for my first four treatments, I was still experiencing the discomfort of hair regrowth shortly after a clean shave because my body hair is so persistent. But overall, the hair was decreasing and slowly becoming more manageable. My skin was also responding positively to the laser. I did not suffer from any burns, scarring, or hyperpigmentation.
The slowest results were around my Brazilian area. I was so eager to have the hair gone that I almost made an appointment with my wax salon, a surefire step to derail all my current progress – no matter how subtle.
PRO TIP: You cannot wax or tweeze in between laser appointments because the hair needs to be in the follicle for the laser to target it.
If I decided to get the wax, I would have to postpone my next laser appointment.
So I stayed patient.
Now I’ve completed 5 full body treatments and I’ve noticed at least 60% unwanted body hair reduction in all areas. I mostly have small patches and stray hairs growing back. No more large clusters of hair.
I’m thrilled with the results so far!
My body hair is no longer something I agonize over because the Soprano technology has transformed the extremely thick density of my natural body hair to something that’s manageable – something I’m not embarrassed by.
I’m not out of the woods yet, but for my skin tone (I’m a 4 on the Fitzpatrick scale) and hair type (dark black and thick), I noticed the biggest reduction in unwanted body hair after session 5.
My plan is to undergo 3 more full-body appointments to bring me to a total of 8 full-body treatments.
PRO TIP: My technician recommended I book half-body appointments (to cover 4 areas) in between these last upcoming full-body sessions. I can use the shorter session to get treatment on hormonal areas which commonly produce more body hair, including the underarms, upper lip, and bikini/Brazilian area.
Results vary for everyone based on hair color, texture, skin type, and hormones. The Soprano Titanium and Platinum machines by Alma lasers are most effective on dark hair – but this doesn’t mean you’re not a good candidate if you have lighter hair. The Soprano machines are only ineffective on blonde, red, and grey hair due to the lack of pigmentation in the follicle.
Let’s talk about pain
Compared to traditional hair removal methods – wax, epilator, and threading – yes, laser hair removal with the Alma Soprano machines is painless and efficient.
The process simply involves applying ultrasound gel to the skin and gliding the laser over the treatment areas.
The laser penetration can feel like a rubber band slapping the skin, but the sensation does not linger.
Beware of fake Soprano Titanium machines
Some clinics may offer the knockoff Soprano Titanium. If you are a client, it is important to verify with your technician that the Soprano Titanium being used during your treatment is manufactured by Alma lasers. There are no benefits to getting the knockoff Soprano Titanium. If you’re unsure whether you got the real device, check for Alma labels or try calling the customer service number provided.
The Soprano Titanium by Alma lasers is the safest, most efficient hair removal treatment available on the market today.
Unlike the knockoffs from competitors, Alma is dedicated to servicing medical-grade laser hair removal equipment that delivers results our clients can trust.
Is laser hair removal safe for dark skin?
Yes, The Soprano machines are safe for dark skin tones.
While dark skin is more sensitive to the heat used in laser treatment, Soprano Titanium's “super hair removal” (SHR) method has been clinically proven to be safe and effective for dark skin types. Rather than exposing the hair follicle to a single high-energy pulse which can cause trauma to skin with a high melanin count, SHR gradually heats the skin until the required heat energy is delivered to the hair follicle. This makes SHR the safest laser hair removal option, including for dark-skinned patients.
Why did I consider laser hair removal at Dermace?
ULTIMATE PROS:
The Soprano machine works on my dark skin and hair type
The laser effectively treats ingrows hairs
No more time and money spent on waxes, no more razor bumps
Painless
Long-lasting results
Clean and beautiful clinic
Friendly and knowledgeable staff members
Final thoughts
If I could, the only thing I would do differently would be to start my laser hair removal journey years earlier so I could’ve enjoyed smooth, hair-free skin sooner!
Here’s something to keep in mind: I have 2 tattoos that I got before I started laser treatments, so those areas cannot be treated for laser hair removal – it would compromise the integrity of the ink. The technician tapes off the perimeter of the tattoos at the start of the appointment.
PRO TIPS:
Postpone getting tattoos until after completion of laser treatments
Don’t just shave the day before your appointment. Also, shave 3 weeks after every laser session to see where hair stops growing back
Exfoliate your skin twice a week
Wear SPF 30+ and avoid prolonged sun exposure 2 weeks before and after each appointment
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