Frequently Asked Questions

Laser hair removal is a medical process that involves using pulsing beams of intense light to remove hair on the legs, arms, face, and other areas where hair is not wanted. Laser hair removal works by damaging hair follicles beneath the skin and inhibiting future hair growth. While the process is highly effective to slow hair growth, it could take multiple laser hair removal sessions to show results.

Lumilase Diode Laser

With the Lumilase diode laser treatment, a laser creates a concentrated form of light that is absorbed by the pigments found in your hair follicles, known as melanin. This kind of laser only pulses for less than a second to vaporize the melanin and disable the hair follicles and impede their ability to re-grow. Because this laser only pulses for a moment, it does not do any damage to the surrounding skin tissues. Additionally, the Lumilase diode laser has a special cooling handpiece with a sapphire tip that preserves your upper layer of skin and allows for deeper laser treatment for a better hair removal result.

Laser hair removal is an effective treatment option for reducing and removing hair from almost any area of your body, with the exception of the eye area.

Some of the many advantages of visiting Sophistique Beauty Specialists for laser hair removal include the following:

• Non-invasive
• Quick treatment performed in-salon
• Performed by certified and experienced laser technicians
• More comfortable procedure than traditional options
• No downtime
• Does little or no damage to surrounding skin

Some of the most common areas of unwanted hair that can be treated using laser hair removal include the following:

• Legs
• Bikini line
• Arms
• Upper lip
• Underarms
• Chin
• Arms
• Back

At Sophistique Beauty Specialists laser hair removal treatment can be done during a short Salon visit. The treatment itself is quick and causes little discomfort. Your laser hair removal technician will use the hair removal laser to gently target the hair follicle, leaving healthy surrounding tissues unharmed.

In order for laser treatment to fully remove hair long-term, multiple treatment sessions may be necessary. The exact amount of treatments needed will vary depending on your:

• Hair density
• Hair color
• Skin color
• Hair texture
• Hair growth cycle

At Sophistique Beauty Specialists, we use the latest hair removal technologies, Level 4 Medical Grade (CE) Diode Laser, a highly effective hair removal treatment that is faster, more reliable, and more comfortable than other standard hair removal methods.

Here at Sophistique Beauty Specialists, we use medical grade Lumilase hair removal system. One of the most powerful and fastest diode laser systems available on the market today.

With the most advanced sapphire cooling tip innovation to numb the treatment area, it gives you so much more comfortable treatment compared to other lasers.

Being one of the fastest laser systems in the industry, it could treat full legs as fast as in 30 minutes! 

Safe, powerful, pain-free and super-fast permanent hair removal suitable for even dark skin tones. Most of the face and body areas including bikini zone could be treated with an average of 6-8 treatments spaced 4 weeks apart. Visible results after 1st treatment!

How does it work? Our medical grade laser machine concentrates a beam of light onto the hair follicle. The light is then absorbed by the hair’s pigment causing controlled damage to the hair follicle, preventing it from re-growing in the future. 

Our high quality laser hair removal machine incorporates crystal freeze refrigeration contact cooling (-10ºC) to protect the surface of the skin, making the treatment a comfortable, pain-free experience for patients. Now large areas can be treated quickly and more comfortably.

Diode lasers deliver high frequency, low fluency pulses and can be safely used on all skin types.

Yes, our medical grade laser machine can remove hair permanently.  The hairs treated with our laser will not grow back.  However, any future hormonal changes may result in future growth of new hairs and more sessions would be required.  Yearly top ups may also be required 1/2 sessions, to keep any stray hairs at bay.

On average, 6-8 sessions placed 4-6 weeks apart are recommended. The laser can only treat hairs that are in the growing phase or visible on the skin surface, as a result multiple treatments are required to treat all hair in the skin. Some people will require more sessions if any future hormonal changes result in new growth.  Yearly top ups may also be required 1/2 sessions, to keep any stray hairs at bay.  

With the high power and skin cooling of our laser’s most people only require 6-8 sessions compared with other IPL of lasers that require 8-12 or in some cases more. 

FREE consultation and patch test required at least 24 hours prior to the treatment. On average, 6-12 treatments required spaced 4-6 weeks apart. 

Face Treatments

• Upper lip/ chin/ sides/ cheeks £57 per treatment or £314 for 6 
• Lip & chin £47 per treatment or £259 for 6
• Full face £97 per treatment or £634 for 6  
• Neck £57 per treatments or £314 for 6  

Upper Body Treatments

• Underarms £57 per treatment or £314 for 6  
• Stomach £97 per treatment or £534 for 6   
• Half arms £89 per treatment or £489 for 6  
• Full arms £109 per treatment or £599 for 6

Lower Body Treatments

• Bikini line £57 per treatment or £314 for 6
• Full bikini  £97 treatment or £534 for 6 
• Half legs £97 per treatment or £534 for 6 
• Full legs £137 per treatment or £754 for 6
• Buttocks £119 per treatment or £654 for 6 
• Full body £300 per treatment or £1800 for 6

• Please ensure the area to be treated is free from ALL topical solutions.
• Shaving is required 2-12 hours prior – any sooner can result in heightened sensitivity during the process.
• Whilst tanned skin could be safely treated, you should avoid exposure to the sun and sunbeds as much as possible for two weeks. Exposure to sunlight can cause your skin to become more sensitive to the light energy used in the removal process. If you do need to be outside, use high factor sunscreen
• SPF30/50+ that blocks UVA and UVB rays and cover up your skin. The more natural your skin tone is, the better results will be achieved.
• Cease use of tanning creams and ensure you thoroughly exfoliate at least one week before the treatment.
• Avoid bleaching, plucking, waxing, epilation and any other forms of hair removal for 4 weeks prior to the treatment.
• Do not use essential oils 48 hours prior to the treatment.
• Depilatory creams should be avoided 1 week before treatment commences.
• If you tend to get cold sores, then cold sore medication (if working around mouth area) can be taken five days before and five days after treatment.
• Should you be on antibiotics it is recommended to leave a two-week gap between taking them and starting the treatment.

• Soothing lotions such as Aloe Vera can be used should if any redness or swelling occur.
• It is recommended to avoid perfumes, antiperspirants and deodorants for 24-48 hours after a treatment.
• Hot baths, saunas, jacuzzi, massage or athletic activities are best to avoid for 2-3 days after treatment.
• You should also avoid sun exposure/sun beds for about two weeks. This gives your treated skin a chance to heal while also reducing your risk of having hyperpigmentation or other problems occur. Remember that even if your skin does not look tanned, it is still being exposed to UV rays. Due to increased skin
• sensitivity, we suggest to wear a high factor sunscreen SPF30/50+ that blocks UVA and UVB rays.
• Antihistamines are perfect for alleviating any itches that rarely arise.
• Avoid skincare containing AHA, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Retinoic Acid (Retina A) for 7 days after the treatment.

• Pregnancy
• Epilepsy
• Recently tanned skin or sun exposure in the last four weeks
• Birthmarks, moles or beauty spots in the treatment area
• Certain oral and topical medication that can cause thinning of the skin or photosensitivity
• History of keloid scarring
• Open wounds
• Light sensitivity as a result of illness Herpes Simplex
• Pace-makers and metal grafts
• Skin cancer Or cancer in general
• Any active infections Immunosuppressive illnesses or immunosuppressive medicinal products
• Clotting disorders / use of blood thinners
• Diabetes
• Phlebitis
• Keloid and extended scars
• Skin diseases

Electrolysis can treat any colour hair on any skin tone. There is no ‘ideal’ candidate – any person who has unwanted hair can have their hair removed, 100% permanently, with electrolysis.

You can have electrolysis in any non-mucosal area on any area of the body.

Different factors like how much hair is in the area, medical history and medication, hormonal issues, genetics and previous hair removal method will all determine how long the process will take for you. It may take a total of 10 hours – it may take 100+. Depending on how often you have treatment, this could take 8 months – 18 months+, it is therefore impossible to say and the only question I am unable to answer with any accuracy.

Naturally, the more often you can attend for full clearance of unwanted hair – the quicker you will see results.

No. The only way to remove any length of unwanted hair between treatments is to trim or lightly shave. Better still; schedule your appointments so that trimming is not needed so hair can be targeted in its Anagen (active growing) stage.

Electrolysis treatment requires you to ‘grow out’ you unwanted hair. Typically for a few days, but depending on speed of hair growth, hair needs to be visible – 3 - 4mm in length is ideal for optimum treatment. Hair need not be much longer – if it is, please trim the area prior to your appointment.

Certain medical conditions deem electrolysis unsafe to proceed. See the list below for a quick guide to those conditions which unfortunately, definitively rule out electrolysis. Other conditions may be restrictive which aren’t listed and it may be that a GP note is sought prior to any treatment being offered.

• Accutane (active use needs to have stopped for 12 months)
• Active Cancer (all forms)
• Active Herpes Virus / Cold Sores
• Blood Thinning Medication
• Blood Disorders
• Cochlear Implants (for advanced electrolysis treatments)
• Dermatographia
• Haemophilia
• Keloid Scarring
• Pacemaker
• Pregnancy 
• Recent Scar Tissue (in the treatment area)
• Retinoids (prescription strength)
• Rosacea (active) (in the treatment area)
• Skin Diseases / Disorders
• Sunburn (in the treatment area)

If you feel you have a condition or medical history which may be definitively contra-indicative to treatment, or restrictive in any way – please get in touch prior to booking your consultation.

Hair needs to be long enough for treatment. If there’s no hair there, or it’s just not long enough to grab easily with tweezers – the treatment can’t go ahead.

I am VTCT level 4 qualified in Aesthetics. I am Local Authority (Allerdale) licensed (regulated by the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982) by Environmental Health and insured to meet all of your Health & Safety requirements. I implement strict disinfection procedures. A single use sterile disposable probe is used for each client and is disposed of in a sharps container after each use.

Electrolysis is the only medically approved form of permanent hair removal, as supported by the BMA (British Medical Association), FDA (U.S Food and Drug Administration) and AAA.

Every person has their own personal description as the sensation is totally objective. You may feel nothing and be able to sleep through treatment; you may feel warmth or an itch. Some people describe it as a tiny pinch or a tiny zap with each insertion.

It is important to note that every skin and body is different and some people naturally have much more of a sensitive skin. Hormones have a big part to play in skin sensitivity too – a hormone imbalance or high stress levels amongst other things can create differences in skin sensitivity at any point for any person.

Each skin reacts differently however erythema (a reddening of the skin caused by dilation and congestion of superficial capillaries) and oedema (localised swelling) are considered ‘normal’ for up to 48 hours post epilation. You may display tiny pin dot crusting which may take a little longer to heal. There is a risk of small, temporary bruising, which can occur when small blood vessels leak their contents into the soft tissue beneath the skin or if you have taken aspirin or other blood thinning medication or supplements. An infrequent side effect of electrolysis is the appearance of a tiny white-ish pustule a day or so after treatment.

Some people have no or little visible signs of having any treatment immediately after epilation.

Written and verbal aftercare is always given and you are asked, at consultation, to sign to say you have received this.

For quicker healing, it is advised to avoid the following for 24 – 48 hours:
Touching the area – however clean your hands are – they are full of germs and bacteria and you increase the risk of infection
If you experience pin dot crusting – do not pick, rub or scratch.
Do not use: Hot baths or showers, saunas and steam rooms, Swimming (Chlorinated or Open-Water) Intense Exercise (excessive sweating can trigger a build-up of bacteria and increase risk of infection) Make-Up (in the treated area)
Perfumed products including soaps when washing (deodorant if treating underarms)
Do not tweeze, wax, thread, sugar or use an home epilator on the area (only trimming & light shaving)

Anyone who wants to remove excess hair permanently is a perfect candidate for electrolysis. It is a very desirable solution for unwanted hair for those suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Hirsutism, Hypertrichosis and those going through gender transition.

Though there are no age restrictions for anyone wishing to have electrolysis, parental, child and GP written consent will be necessary for under 18’s.

Absolutely - Sophistique is a LGBTQIA+ safe space, inclusive and will not tolerate any form of hate behaviour.

Details of how your blemish will be treated will be done at consultation – as it’s a different approach for each type of blemish. Aftercare is very much so the same to that listed for electrolysis – but you will be given personalised written and verbal guidance at your appointment. Blemish removal is very much an instantaneous treatment that may take up to 28 days for your skin to fully heal. Repetition of treatment is largely unnecessary unless further unwanted blemishes develop. A treatment plan will always be discussed with you prior to any treatment going ahead.

* A GP letter is required before any treatment is offered for a mole: xanthalasma : sebaceous hyperplasia 

I value your time and schedule greatly. I have a strict Booking Policy in place which you agree to prior to any booking being made. Cancellations will be subject to the terms within my Booking Policy.

Strictly by appointment only, we operate on a 1-1 basis so we are unable to accept walk-ins without a pre-booked appointment.

To book an appointment:

• Click book now in the right-hand corner of our website.
• Select the treatment you would like
• Pay your 50% booking fee this will secure your booking

You are now booked in - we look forward to seeing you at your appointment.

If you have any questions please phone 01973 49021 or email us at hello@s-beauty-s.co.uk and we will get back to you as soon as we can. 

No cancellations or changes allowed within 2 days of the appointment.

Sophistique understands that sometimes schedules change and therefore requests at least 48 hours notice when cancelling or rescheduling your appointment. A booking fee is required to hold your appointment. Appointments cancelled within 48 hours or for which clients are a “No- Show” for will incur a charge of 50% of the service amount. If you cancel on the day or simply do not show you will be charged for the full appointment as you have not given us any opportunity to fill the appointment. If you change your mind to a less appointment you will still be charged for what you booked.

Please note that if you are over 15 minutes late for your appointment we may have to reschedule your service if it cannot be completed in the time frame. If we do not hear from you 15 or more minutes into your scheduled appointment time it is considered a “No-Show” and your card will be charged for 50% of the service.

If you have any questions regarding our policies please give us a call at 016973 49021.