Is laser hair removal worth it? The 5-year cost against waxing and shaving
The short answer
Laser hair removal is worth it for most women with dark hair who would otherwise keep shaving or waxing the same area for years. Over five years it usually costs less than regular waxing, it takes far less of your time, and it means fewer ingrown hairs and less razor irritation. It is a poor buy if the hair is blonde, red, grey or white, if you need smooth skin for an event in the next couple of months, or if you expect every hair to be gone with no upkeep: laser greatly reduces hair, and most people book an occasional top-up. At Femme a course of six sessions is $250 for underarms and $1,495 for the full body, plus tax.
- $250for six underarm sessions at Femme, plus tax. Six at the median price in our survey of 80 Canadian clinics come to $525.
- 30–84%average long-term hair reduction across five randomised trials of the three main hair-removal lasers. Legs did best and the face least.
- $2,960for eight full-body sessions at the median Canadian price, which is where the “$3,000” figure comes from. Six full-body sessions at Femme are $1,495.
Is laser hair removal worth it? Five things decide it
Whether laser pays off has less to do with the machine than with you: your hair, your habits and what you spend now. These are the five questions worth answering before you book anything.
1. The colour of the hair. Laser energy is absorbed by melanin, the pigment in the hair shaft. Coarse, dark hair takes it up best and responds fastest. Blonde, red, grey and white hair holds little or no melanin, so it responds poorly or not at all, whatever the device. Skin tone is a question of safety rather than of results: deeper skin needs longer wavelengths and conservative settings, which our guide to laser hair removal on dark skin explains.
2. How many years you would keep removing it. A laser course is front-loaded. You pay for six to eight sessions over roughly six to twelve months, and the saving arrives afterwards, in the shaving and waxing you no longer do. The longer you would otherwise carry on, the better the numbers look.
3. What you spend today. A woman waxing a Brazilian every five weeks spends many times more in a year than one shaving her underarms, so the same course can be a bargain for one and a modest saving for the other. The calculator below runs your own figures.
4. What hair removal does to your skin. If shaving leaves you with razor bumps, ingrown hairs or strawberry legs, the case for laser is stronger than the money suggests. In a four-week trial, daily underarm shaving produced more visible irritation than weekly shaving, and a separate study measured more redness and dryness thirty minutes after shaving, plucking or waxing. With laser there is progressively less hair growing back through the skin. Our guide to stopping ingrown hairs covers the other options.
5. Whether hormones drive the growth. Hair prompted by hormones responds to laser but keeps being prompted. Mayo Clinic notes that laser can reduce the hair that is already there while new hair may continue to grow, so ongoing treatment may be needed. That does not make it a poor choice. In a trial of 80 women with hirsutism, the excess growth most often caused by PCOS, three sessions reduced hair scores and also improved depression and quality-of-life scores. Plan for upkeep rather than a finish line; our guides to laser hair removal for PCOS and chin hair in women go further.
How the spending builds up over five years
Waxing costs the same every few weeks for as long as you keep going. Laser costs more in the first year, then very little.
- Waxing every few weeks
- Laser course, then occasional top-ups
Illustration, not to scale. Where the two lines cross depends on what you pay for waxing and how often you go; the calculator below works it out for you.
Waxing vs laser hair removal: your five-year cost
Most price comparisons set one wax against one laser session, which makes laser look expensive. The fair comparison is laser vs waxing or shaving over the whole time you would keep removing the hair. Choose the area, tell the calculator what you do now, and it sets five years of that against a laser course at our published prices.
Laser or keep going? Five-year cost calculator
Laser figures use Femme’s price list. What you type is used on this page only and is not sent anywhere.
1. Which area?
2. What colour is the hair there?
3. What do you do now?
How often do you wax?
4. Laser course
5. Top-up sessions after the course
6. Where would you be treated?
A guide, not a quote. The laser course is counted in year one and top-ups at the single-session price in years two to five. Waxing stops when the course starts, because you shave between laser sessions. For shaving, a full year of it is counted while the course runs and none after; add a little if you expect to touch up now and then.
If the area you wax is a Brazilian, our Brazilian laser cost guide has a calculator set up for that area alone. How often people actually need a top-up, and why many need one a year or less and some none at all, is explained in how long laser hair removal lasts.
How long the results last, according to the research
Whether laser is worth it depends on how much of the hair stays gone, and here the published evidence is more measured than most advertising. It is worth knowing before you pay.
A 2022 systematic review accepted only randomised trials that followed patients for at least one full growth cycle of the treated hair. It found just five, with 223 patients between them. Average long-term reduction ranged from 35% to 84% with alexandrite lasers, 30% to 74% with Nd:YAG lasers and 33% to 69% with diode lasers. Leg hair, which grows on a cycle of about a year, showed the greatest lasting reduction in all three; facial hair, on a cycle of about six months, showed the least. The authors describe the evidence on long-term results as limited.
A smaller study shows why judging too early misleads. In it, 13 people had their underarms treated four times with an 800 nm diode laser. Six months after the last session, hair was down 66% with the best-performing handpiece; at one year the same arm was down 58%, and the other arms had slipped back further. Some hair returns over the following year, which is what top-ups are for.
The major medical sources describe the same pattern. The American Academy of Dermatology says most patients remain hair free for months or even years, that regrowth is likely to be less noticeable, and that maintenance treatments may be needed to keep an area clear. Mayo Clinic says results last several months for many people and sometimes years, and that regrowth is often finer and lighter. On the FEMME 4D, most of our clients who complete six to eight sessions see 80 to 90 percent lasting reduction. Fine or pale hair, and hair influenced by hormones, generally needs more sessions and more top-ups. Most people notice a clear difference after two or three sessions, and our guide to how many sessions you need explains what changes the number.
What a laser course costs at Femme
Each area has one price, the same at all twelve clinics. A package of six never costs more than five single sessions, and since most people need six to eight sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart, the package is the sensible place to start.
| Area | One session | Six sessions | Ontario, with 13% HST | Vancouver, with 5% GST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Underarms | $50 | $250 | $282.50 | $262.50 |
| Face | $75 | $375 | $423.75 | $393.75 |
| Brazilian | $80 | $400 | $452.00 | $420.00 |
| Half legs | $70 | $350 | $395.50 | $367.50 |
| Full legs | $95 | $475 | $536.75 | $498.75 |
| Full body, head to toe | $299 | $1,495 | $1,689.35 | $1,569.75 |
An eight-session course is the package plus two single sessions. Every area, including the bikini line, arms, stomach and back, is on our laser hair removal pricing page.
For context, our 2026 survey of 80 Canadian clinics found a median single-session price of $88 for underarms and $370 for full body, and 61% of the clinics on Google’s first page published no laser price at all. Eight full-body sessions at the median price come to $2,960, close to the “$3,000” people search for, although that figure only applies to full body. The whole study is in our laser hair removal cost guide, and our area guides cover the cost of underarms, the bikini line, full legs and full body in detail.
Laser vs waxing vs shaving
| Laser | Waxing | Shaving | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Mostly in the first year, then an occasional top-up | The same amount every few weeks, for as long as you continue | A little each month, indefinitely |
| Smooth for | Longer after each session; months or years between top-ups once the course ends | Until the hair grows back, usually a few weeks | Until stubble returns, often within a day or two |
| Ingrown hairs and irritation | Fewer as the hair thins, because less of it has to grow back through the skin | Common, since every hair regrows through the skin | Common, especially with frequent shaving of sensitive areas |
| Hair colour | Dark hair; blonde, red, grey and white respond poorly or not at all | Any colour | Any colour |
| Your time | Six to eight appointments in the first year, then the odd one | An appointment every few weeks | A few minutes, several times a week |
| How it feels | A quick snap, like a rubber band, easing as the hair thins | A sharp pull as each strip comes away | Nothing, unless the razor nicks or drags |
| Before you go | Shave a day or two before; no waxing or plucking for four weeks | Hair has to grow long enough to grip | Nothing |
One practical point catches people out. During a laser course you shave rather than wax, because waxing, plucking and threading pull out the root the laser needs to find. Switching to laser therefore means giving up waxing from the first session.
The downsides of laser hair removal
Laser is not right for everyone, and it helps to know the limits before you buy a package.
- It takes months. Six to eight sessions, four to eight weeks apart, is a commitment of six to twelve months before you see the full result.
- It reduces hair rather than ending it. Expect some fine regrowth over time and an occasional top-up session.
- It cannot see light hair. Blonde, red, grey and white hair respond poorly or not at all.
- The cost comes first. You pay for the course before the savings arrive, which is why a package and a realistic session count matter.
- The sun becomes a factor. Treated skin needs protecting, and a tan changes what settings are safe, so a summer of tanning and a laser course do not mix. Starting in autumn or winter avoids the clash.
- Side effects are possible. Redness, swelling and discomfort are the common ones, and the AAD says they usually last one to three days. Changes in skin colour are less common and usually temporary: a review of the published studies found pigment changes in up to 19% of cases with shorter-wavelength lasers, mainly in darker skin, against 2 to 3% with the longer Nd:YAG wavelength, and very few lasting effects. Mayo Clinic also lists, as rare, hair growing thicker around the treated skin.
Each of these, and what to do about it, is covered in our guide to laser hair removal side effects.
What it feels like
Most people describe each pulse as a quick snap against the skin, like a rubber band; the AAD also describes warm pinpricks. There is no standard pain score, because it depends on the area and on you. Thin skin and coarse hair together, as on the bikini line and Brazilian, register most, and the upper lip is felt sharply because the skin sits over bone, though it takes well under a minute. It becomes noticeably easier from the third or fourth session as hair density drops. Area by area, it is all in does laser hair removal hurt.
When laser hair removal is not worth it
Sometimes the honest answer is no, or not yet. Laser is unlikely to be worth paying for if:
- The hair in the area is blonde, red, grey or white.
- You need smooth skin for one occasion in the next couple of months. Shave for that, and start a course afterwards if you want one.
- You cannot keep the area out of the sun, or away from tanning beds, for the months the course runs.
- The hair is sparse and fine and you rarely remove it anyway, so there is little to save.
- You expect zero hair for life with no upkeep, particularly for hair driven by hormones.
Questions about whether laser hair removal is worth it
Is laser hair removal worth it?
For most women with dark hair who would otherwise keep shaving or waxing the same area for years, yes. It costs more in the first year and much less afterwards, saves time and usually means fewer ingrown hairs. It is rarely worth it for blonde, red, grey or white hair, or if you need results within a couple of months. Expect a large reduction and an occasional top-up rather than no hair at all.
Is laser hair removal cheaper than waxing in the long run?
Usually, if you wax regularly. A laser course is paid for in the first year, while waxing costs the same every few weeks for as long as you continue. If you pay $35 for an underarm wax every four weeks, that is $455 a year, against $250 plus tax for six underarm laser sessions at Femme.
Is laser better than waxing?
For dark hair, laser lasts far longer, means fewer ingrown hairs, and ends the appointment every few weeks. Waxing is the better choice for blonde, red, grey or white hair, which laser cannot target well, or when you need smooth skin straight away. During a laser course you shave instead of waxing, because waxing removes the root the laser needs.
Is laser hair removal $3000?
Only for full body at typical prices. In our 2026 survey of 80 Canadian clinics, eight full-body sessions at the median price came to $2,960. A single area costs far less. At Femme six underarm sessions are $250 and six full-body sessions are $1,495, plus 13% HST in Ontario or 5% GST in Vancouver.
What’s the downside of laser hair removal?
It takes six to eight sessions over six to twelve months, costs more up front, works poorly on light hair, and reduces hair rather than ending it, so most people book an occasional top-up. Redness and swelling usually settle within one to three days. Changes in skin colour are less common and usually temporary, and you need to avoid tanning during the course.
How painful is laser hair removal on a scale of 1 to 10?
There is no standard score, because it varies by area and by person. Most people describe each pulse as a quick snap like a rubber band, or as warm pinpricks. The bikini line and upper lip are felt most, and it becomes noticeably easier from the third or fourth session as hair density drops. Numbing cream is not usually necessary.
What do people wish they had known before laser hair removal?
Mostly four things. Results build over several sessions rather than after one. Treated hair sheds over the following weeks and can look like regrowth when it is not. You have to shave, not wax or pluck, between sessions. And the sun matters, because a tan changes what settings are safe. Knowing the price of the whole course before you start avoids the rest of the surprises.
What happens if I shave a few hours before laser?
Short hair is exactly what the laser needs, so the timing matters less than the state of your skin. We ask you to shave a day or two before so any razor redness has settled; one study measured more redness and dryness thirty minutes after shaving. If the skin is nicked or irritated, tell your technician, who will decide whether to treat. Never wax or pluck instead.
Why get laser hair removal instead of shaving?
The main reasons are fewer ingrown hairs and razor bumps, far less time spent on hair removal, and lower long-term cost than regular waxing. For excess facial or body hair it can matter beyond convenience: in a trial of 80 women with hirsutism, three sessions improved quality-of-life and depression scores as well as hair growth.
Find out whether it is worth it for your hair. A consultation is built into your first appointment: your technician looks at your hair and skin, patch tests the area and gives you an honest estimate of how many sessions you need, or tells you laser is the wrong choice for your hair. Femme treats women only.
Book an appointmentPrefer to talk first? Call 647-229-7397. How the treatment works, area by area, is on our laser hair removal page.
Sources
- Krasniqi A, McClurg DP, Gillespie KJ, Rajpara S. Efficacy of lasers and light sources in long-term hair reduction: a systematic review. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2022;24(1–5):1–8.
- Youssef NJ, Rizk AG, Ibrahimi OA, Tannous ZS. Long-term comparison of a large spot vacuum assisted handpiece vs the small spot size traditional handpiece of the 800 nm diode laser. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2017;16(9):893–898.
- Hosseini MS, Ehsani AH, Fakour Y, et al. Effect of laser-assisted hair removal on the quality of life and depression in hirsute females: a single-arm clinical trial. Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences, 2022;13:e46.
- Lim SP, Lanigan SW. A review of the adverse effects of laser hair removal. Lasers in Medical Science, 2006;21(3):121–125.
- Marti VP, Lee RS, Moore AE, et al. Effect of shaving on axillary stratum corneum. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2003;25(4):193–198.
- Evans RL, Bates S, Marriott RE, Arnold DS. The impact of different hair-removal behaviours on the biophysical and biochemical characteristics of female axillary skin. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020;42(5):436–443.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Laser hair removal: FAQs.
- Mayo Clinic. Laser hair removal.
