SHR Epilation - Body

Photoepilation is the term for hair removal methods based on light energy rather than pulling the hair out mechanically. In our studio it is delivered by a two-handpiece device — an SHR handpiece for treating large areas quickly, and an IPL handpiece with several light filters for finer, more targeted work. Both work on the same principle: the pigment in the hair root absorbs the light energy, it converts into heat, and this heat gradually stops the follicle from growing further.

SHR (Super Hair Removal) differs from classic laser hair removal with its single powerful flash in that the energy is spread across many gentle, rapid pulses that "glide" across the skin as the handpiece moves. The follicle heats up gradually — the process is noticeably more comfortable and suits a wider range of skin tones.

Please note. In everyday use this service is often called "laser hair removal" — both terms are used interchangeably on the market. "Photoepilation" is the technically more accurate one: a true laser emits a single narrowly focused wavelength, whereas SHR/IPL uses gentler, broader-spectrum light.

• melanin in the hair root absorbs the light and converts it into heat, which damages the follicle's growth centre;
• the treatment reaches only the hairs currently in the growth (anagen) phase, which is why results always build gradually over the course;
• built-in cooling protects the surface of the skin, letting the energy reach the follicle without causing a burn;
• with sessions repeated regularly, more and more follicles are taken out of active growth — hair becomes sparser and finer.

K Beauty House uses devices in two formats (the portable HM-IPL-B8 and the stationary Erose-YA) with two working handpieces and the option to add a third — an E-light (IPL+RF) handpiece for radiofrequency treatments.

• total device output — 4000 W;
• SHR handpiece wavelength range — 690–1200 nm, for treating hair quickly over large areas;
• 7 interchangeable light filters are available for the IPL handpiece, for more precise work tailored to each area.

Three of the seven filters (640, 690 and 750 nm) are used specifically for hair removal — they allow the light to be matched precisely to the colour of the hair.

The method is chosen by women and men alike — men's hair is often darker and coarser, so results tend to show sooner. The most commonly treated areas are: the face (upper lip, chin), underarms, the bikini area, legs and arms in full or in part, the back and chest (a popular choice for men) and other areas as needed.

Why clients choose it:

• a single session takes only a few minutes — around half a minute for the underarms, around five minutes for a lower leg;
• a lower risk of ingrown hairs than with shaving, waxing or tweezing;
• the surface of the skin is not damaged — the cooling system eases the sensation of heat;
• it can be used on almost any area of the body and at any time of year, with extra care in summer;
• once the course is complete, occasional top-up visits are enough to maintain the result.

1. Consultation. The specialist looks at your skin and hair type, asks about your health history and chooses the most suitable combination of handpiece and filter.
2. Preparation. The area to be treated is checked — it should be clean, shaved and free of lotions, oils and deodorants.
3. The session. The handpiece is moved across the skin, delivering pulses of light; you feel a warm, lightly tingling sensation, eased by the cooling system.
4. Finishing up. A soothing product is applied and you are given individual advice on how to care for the area afterwards.

A session lasts as long as the area requires — from a few tens of seconds for a small zone to several tens of minutes for a larger area.

• Shave the chosen area the day before the treatment (including on the face, if that is the area being treated).
• For at least a month beforehand, do not wax, tweeze or epilate — the natural pigment needs to remain in the hair root.
• For at least three weeks beforehand, avoid sunbathing, sunbeds and self-tanning products.
• For a week before your visit, avoid products that irritate the skin and chemical peels on the area to be treated.
• Arrive with clean skin, free of lotions, oils, fragrance or antiperspirant on the area to be treated.

• For the first few hours or days your skin may be slightly pink — a soothing, moisturising product will ease this.
• For 24 hours after the treatment, avoid shaving, waxing, exfoliating, heavy sweating, swimming, saunas and tight-fitting clothing.
• For two weeks, avoid direct sun and sunbeds, and use SPF30+ on the treated area.
• During the course, regrowth may only be shaved or treated with hair removal cream — it must not be plucked or waxed, as that disrupts the follicle treatment cycle.

A full course usually takes 4 to 8–10 treatments (depending on the area and on your hair and skin type), spaced 4–6 weeks apart for body areas and around 2 weeks for the face. A noticeable effect usually shows after the third or fourth session — only some of the follicles can be treated at any one time, so the result builds up gradually. After the course, the effect is maintained with occasional top-up treatments — usually once or twice a year.

A consultation always takes place before your first session. Photoepilation is generally not carried out in the following cases:

• pregnancy or breastfeeding;
• active skin conditions or inflammation in the area to be treated (rashes, psoriasis, fungal infections and the like), as well as fresh wounds;
• cancer, or a large number of recently unchecked moles in the area to be treated;
• marked hormonal imbalance or difficulty healing, such as diabetes or a tendency to keloids;
• a weakened immune system (including after an organ transplant) or light-sensitive conditions such as lupus or porphyria;
• the use of certain medication or ointments that increase the skin's sensitivity to light.

The treatment is not carried out on tattoos or in their immediate vicinity (1–3 cm). For teenagers, the treatment is possible from the age of 14–16 and only in the presence of a parent or guardian; the specialist reserves the right to decline the treatment if hormonal changes would make the result unpredictable.

The sensation is far gentler than waxing or tweezing. Each pulse of light lasts only a fraction of a second and creates a little warmth or tingling; in more sensitive areas such as the upper lip you may sometimes feel a slight pressure. The device's cooling function reduces the discomfort further still.

The first changes are usually noticed after the third or fourth visit. As only some of the follicles are in the active growth phase at any one time, the full result comes once the whole recommended course is complete — on average 4 to 8–10 sessions.

A properly completed course reduces the amount of hair very significantly, and any regrowth becomes finer and sparser. To keep the effect in the long term, an occasional top-up treatment (often once a year or less) is useful.

The advantage of SHR technology is that the energy is spread across many gentler pulses, so the method is kinder to the skin and suits a wider range of skin tones than classic single-flash laser hair removal. Your specialist chooses the specific settings for your skin.

The method works by having the pigment in the hair absorb the light, so the less pigment there is, the harder it is to achieve a marked result. On very light, grey or red hair the effect is usually weaker — your specialist will give you the most accurate prediction at a consultation, taking the available filters into account.

Yes, but avoid sunbathing for two weeks before and after the treatment to prevent unwanted pigmentation, and use a sunscreen of SPF30 or higher on any treated areas exposed to the sun.

The treatment is not carried out directly on a tattoo, as the dark ink interferes with the light reaching the follicle. The surrounding, untattooed skin can be treated, leaving a margin of roughly 1–3 cm from the edge of the tattoo.

Photoepilation is one of the most effective answers to ingrown hairs — once the follicle is disabled, new hairs no longer form in a way that lets them grow back into the skin. With regular treatment of an area such as the bikini line, ingrown hairs gradually become fewer.

Yes, an additional E-light (IPL+RF) handpiece is available for the device, so photoepilation can be combined with radiofrequency treatments for the face or body where needed. Whether the combination suits you is assessed at your consultation.

When the treatment is carried out correctly, serious complications are rare. You may experience short-lived redness or sensitivity in the treated area, which usually eases within a few hours or days. Observing the contraindications and following the care advice before and after the treatment reduces the risk.

The earliest age at which the treatment can be considered at all is 14–16, and you must come to the visit together with a parent or guardian. At a younger age, hormonal changes can make the result less predictable, so the final decision rests with the specialist.

The technology itself is the same, but men's hair is usually darker and coarser, so the visible effect often shows sooner. The most popular areas for men are the back, underarms and neck; for women, the bikini area, underarms and upper lip.