Full face laser hair removal: what to expect and who it suits

Facial hair is a sensitive subject and a harder technical problem than legs or underarms. Full face laser hair removal costs €55 here and takes about 30 minutes — but before you book, it is worth knowing what actually happens, and when laser will not give a good result on the face.

What does "full face" include?

Full face means the upper lip, chin and jawline, cheeks and sideburn area. If only one spot bothers you, there is no reason to pay for all of it: lip and chin together are €45, side whiskers €20. There is a separate guide to the upper lip.

Why is facial hair harder for a laser?

Laser targets the pigment in the hair. On the face, hair is often vellus — fine, pale, low in pigment — and the less pigment there is, the less energy the hair absorbs. Dark, coarse hairs on the chin respond well; pale down on the cheeks often does not respond at all.

This is not a shortcoming of the device or a sales line. It is the same physics we set out in laser vs IPL: with no pigment, there is nothing to turn the light into heat.

How many sessions does the face need?

The face usually needs more sessions than the body — often eight or more — and the result holds less well, because facial hair growth is driven by hormones. With a hormonal background such as PCOS, expect maintenance sessions after the course ends. We say this in advance, because "six times and it is gone forever" is usually not true on the face.

Is laser safe on the face?

Yes, when it is done properly. Facial skin is thinner and gets more sun, so recently tanned or self-tanned skin is a contraindication — the risk of pigment change is too high. We do not treat over tattoos or permanent make-up in the area, because that pigment absorbs the laser and can burn.

Shave the area clean 24 hours before, avoid plucking and waxing for four weeks, and arrive without make-up. Mild redness afterwards is normal and usually settles within the hour.

When do we say laser is not for you?

If your facial hair is mostly blonde or grey, we will tell you at the consultation that laser will not give you value for money — and point you to electrolysis, which we do not offer. There is a comparison in electrolysis vs laser. The free consultation exists so this comes out before you pay, not after.

You can book from the laser hair removal page, or see every area on the price list.