Why men choose beard hair removal
For men, the most common areas are the upper lip (moustache) and the beard. Most want less time shaving every morning, less stinging and razor burn afterwards, and less of the blue-grey shadow that shows by the end of the day.
In Hanoi's heat, sweat on freshly shaved skin can sting too. As the beard thins, you shave less often and your skin takes less of a beating.
Why beard hair takes more sessions
Beard hair grows densely and is strongly influenced by male hormones. Hormone-driven hair takes longer, so the beard usually needs more sessions than areas such as the underarms.
Hair grows in cycles, and each session only reaches the hairs that are in their growth phase at the time. Over the sessions the hair becomes finer and sparser and grows back more slowly. It is not a dramatic change after one visit.
Nobody can tell you up front exactly how many sessions it will take. CHAMING's packages run on time, so extra visits inside the term cost nothing more. It is not a promise that hair never returns — keeping it reduced may need an occasional top-up.
How it feels, and how long a session takes
Most men describe it as a hot rubber-band snap. Because beard hair is thick and dense, it takes up more of the laser's heat, so it tends to feel stronger than other areas. The upper lip, where the skin is thin and close to the bone, is the sharpest.
As the hair thins, it usually feels milder. The upper lip alone takes a few minutes. If you are worried about the sensation, tell your technician before you start.
How to shave during the course
You do not have to stop shaving every morning during a beard course — but some tools are fine and some are not.
- Electric shaver: fine. Hair that grows between sessions can be shaved with an electric shaver every day.
- Razor (any blade that touches the skin directly): avoid it. It irritates the treated skin.
- Tweezers and wax: avoid them. Pulling hair out by the root removes the target the laser needs. If one hair bothers you, trim it with the electric shaver instead of plucking it.
- Hair-removal cream: avoid it. It irritates the skin.
- On the day of a session: no need to shave at home. Your technician shaves the area right before the session, so the laser's energy goes into the root rather than the hair above the skin.
Sun, and the days around a session
Tanned skin holds more melanin and absorbs more of the laser's heat, so it burns more easily. Your face cannot be covered by clothing, so daily sunscreen is essential during the course. If you spend long weekends outdoors — golf, for example — wear a hat as well.
If you have tanned recently, tell us before you come. We would rather move the appointment than treat skin that is not ready.
On the day, come with clean skin and nothing on the area — no moisturiser, oil, perfume or aftershave. Mild redness and warmth for a few hours, sometimes a day or two, is normal. Keep the area cool and skip hot showers, saunas, pools and the gym for about 48 hours.
Upper lip or full face: choosing a package
For the upper lip alone we suggest the upper-lip package; to include the beard, the full-face package. The full-face package covers the beard.
Packages run on time, with one-year, three-year and lifetime terms for each area. Inside the term there is no cap on sessions and no enforced gap between visits. If your posting in Hanoi has an end date, match the package term to your plans so nothing goes to waste.
If you would like to try one session before choosing a package, the upper lip or face can be done as a single session. Prices are in the per-area price list.
Fitting it in after work
CHAMING is open 09:00 to 20:00 every day, weekends included. The upper lip alone takes a few minutes, so you can come by after work. We are about 10 minutes from Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the Old Quarter by car.
Evening slots fill up first, so if you come after work, booking a day ahead helps.
An English-speaking member of the team is on every shift.