Permanent Hair Removal: Your Guide to 2023

laser hair removal

Laser hair removal is a popular method of permanent hair removal. In the past, the effects of lasers were limited to people with pale skin and dark hair. As it evolved, its abilities expanded to other skin and hair types and other parts of the body. Despite its evolution, it needs to hold on to the hairs during its anagen to function. This is why multiple treatments are required, not all hair is in growth mode in one session.

Laser hair removal may only require four to six sessions, but it may take eight to twelve sessions to fully capture and deplete any given area of hair that is in its growth phase. Typically, meetings are spaced between one-month and six-week appointments, making many commitments that last almost a year.

How long does laser hair removal last?

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that involves a machine that delivers a concentrated beam of light into the pigmented hair. The light generates heat, destroying the hair follicle from within without significantly damaging surrounding tissue. If the hair follicles are completely destroyed, this process may result in permanent hair loss. This is not guaranteed, and even the initial "full" hair removal will require multiple sessions. Maintenance therapy may be needed even after your core treatments have ended.

How painful is laser hair removal?

The pain level of laser hair removal depends on the client's tolerance. Many people liken laser light to the feeling of tiny rubber bands snapping against the skin. The underlying pain doesn't seem to deter people from getting treatment because it's such a popular approach, and often, many of those treated stick with their choice.

Pain levels can fluctuate depending on where the hair removal treatment is being done, such as the underarms or bikini line. Your pain tolerance and skin structure also come into play. Some treatment centers may offer local anesthetics, strong numbing creams, or cooling devices attached to their equipment.

Can you wax between laser treatments?

When a person first begins laser hair removal, they will see repeated growth of hair that was not in anagen at the time of treatment. But since the hair removal treatment targets the pigment at the root of the hair to destroy the follicle, it needs those roots! If you switch to semi-permanent hair removal options such as waxing, sugaring, threading, or tweezing in between permanent hair removal treatments, you're wasting valuable root resources. Shaving is the best option for waxing after laser hair removal.

How fast does hair grow back?

In order for a laser to be effective, it needs to destroy the hair follicles. When the follicle is simply damaged, the hair will grow back. Also, lasers cannot target hair that is in its resting or shedding phase, which will eventually regrow within a few months.

Does laser hair removal work on dark skin?

The first laser hair removal treatments introduced decades ago did not take into account melanin and darker skin tones. That being said, laser treatments used to be safer for people with fair skin and darker hair follicles. In recent years, however, there have been many advances in laser hair removal for darker skin tones, and the treatment has become a popular hair removal method for people of all skin tones.