Laser hair removal is permanent, but not totally permanent. A single treatment can permanently remove as much as 80% of the body’s hair. But if you fall in the unlucky 20% who have more hairs than laser technology can handle, you need touch-ups. And then more touch-ups after that. The number varies from person to person and is dependent on the area being treated, the strength (or energy) of the laser used and how dark your hair is.
Read on to learn more about Is Laser Hair Removal Forever
Is Laser Hair Removal Forever
In short, no. Laser hair removal works by heating the hair follicles to stop new hairs from growing. This puts the hair follicles in a state of dormancy for a long period of time — much longer than with shaving and waxing. When the hairs do grow back, they’ll be lighter, finer, and fewer in number.
Although the procedure is often touted as a form of “permanent” hair removal, laser treatment only reduces the number of unwanted hairs in a given area. It doesn’t get rid of unwanted hairs completely.
According to the Mayo Clinic, this hair removal option tends to work best in people with light skin tones and darker hair. Also, for best results, the American Association of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that a board-certified dermatologist ought to perform the procedure.
How laser hair removal works
Laser therapy uses high-heat laser beams as a mild form of radiation. During the process, these laser beams heat up and damage your hair follicles.
Your hair follicles are located just below the skin. They’re responsible for producing new strands of hair. If the follicles are destroyed, then hair production is temporarily disabled.
By contrast, tweezing, shaving, and waxing all remove hair above the surface. These methods don’t target hair-producing follicles.
The AAD deems the following areas as appropriate for laser hair removal:
- chest
- back
- shoulders
- neck
- bikini line
- face (except for the eye area)
This form of hair removal works best with darker hair colors on light skin tones. This is because the lasers target hair melanin (color). Even if some hairs aren’t removed, the lightening of their color can reduce the appearance of hair on the skin.
Some of your hairs may also shed within a few days of your first treatment session.
Overall, laser hair removal is a relatively quick process. Smaller areas, such as the upper lip, can take just minutes. Larger areas of hair removal, like the back or chest, may take an hour or longer.
If your dermatologist applies a topical pain-relieving gel (anesthetic) first, you may expect to be at the office up to another full hour.
Despite the high success rate of laser hair removal, hair follicles eventually heal. This results in new hair production. To ensure the best results possible, you will need to undergo multiple treatment sessions.
Why follow-up sessions are needed
Follow-up treatments are necessary to get the most out of laser hair removal. The exact number of maintenance laser treatments varies by individual. According to the Mayo Clinic, most people need between four and six laser therapy sessions.
You also need to space these out by six weeks each — this means that the full treatment cycle can take up to nine months.
After each session, you’ll likely notice fewer hairs. Any hair that remains or regenerates will also be lighter in both texture and color. The AAD estimates that the number of hairs will reduce by 10 to 25 percent after your initial session. The rate of reduction thereafter will improve, but will also vary.
Additionally, for the best results, you’ll likely need occasional maintenance sessions. These help ensure that the hair follicles don’t regenerate. Depending on your individual needs, you may need a maintenance session once or twice a year after your full initial round of laser treatment.
The timeline for each session is the same as your initial laser hair removal treatment. Overall, the timing depends on the area of treatment. If you’re touching up just a few small areas during your maintenance sessions, then your appointment may be shorter.
How many sessions of laser hair removal laser treatment are needed?
Body hair grows at different speeds than each other. In addition each hair follicle is in a separate cycle from other hair follicles. The hair growth cycle consists of three stages: anagen telogen and catagen which are different in each follicle. The best time to use extra laser hair removal on a hair follicle is when the hair is in its anagen stage which is the most connection between the hair and the follicle.
Therefore laser hair removal should be done in several sessions so that once all the hair in its anagen phase is in contact with the bikini hair laser to remove all the follicles in these areas.
Normally in the genital area and genitals the hair cycle lasts every 30-45 days and for this reason it is recommended to visit the centers that are reputable and consult with your doctor to determine the time between sessions according to the type of skin you have.
What skin type is best for laser bikini hair removal?
We have several skin types in terms of color and skin type is the number one best type and type of skin for laser hair removal.
The whiter the skin color and the darker the hair color the better the results of laser bikini hair removal.
If we have dark skin is it possible not to get an answer from the laser?
In answer to this question it should be said that it is true that the best answer is for light skin with dark hair color but if you go to a reputable clinic with an experienced operator using methods such as increasing range and reducing energy and double shot and other methods are open. You can also use bikini hair laser without worrying about any particular complication and enjoy the results like having soft skin.
What areas can be treated with laser hair removal?
FACE
One of the most frequently treated areas with a laser for hair removal is the face. This is an area of the body where many people, especially women, don’t want hair to grow, particularly if it is dark hair. A laser can safely remove hair from the upper lip, chin, neck, and sideburns. Since the laser only penetrates the upper layer of skin to the hair follicle, it’s completely safe to remove hair from the sensitive areas of the face.
LEGS
The skin on the legs is much tougher than the skin on the face, so the legs are a very popular area of the body to get laser treatments to remove unwanted hair. Most women have already put their legs through shaving and waxing, so laser treatment is no big deal. However, it is a big deal that you won’t have to deal with razors or wax anymore! Laser treatment makes these expenses a thing of the past.
UNDERARMS
Another area of the body that is often exposed to laser treatments to remove unwanted hair is the underarms. Women in particular have spent years shaving or waxing under their arms, only to have to deal repeatedly with razor burn or ingrown hair. Fortunately, it is extremely safe to use a laser on the skin under the arms, and in fact, it’s an area that literally takes only about a minute to complete, for both underarms.
BACK
Increasingly, men are seeking out hair removal or thinning options for their back hair. Laser treatment is perfect for this use because if someone doesn’t want to remove all their back hair, they either have to pluck out the hairs they want removed, or they can undergo laser sessions to thin it out. Waxing and shaving don’t allow for thinning at all. However, if you want to remove all back hair, this is possible with a laser as well.
CHEST
As with the back, men are trying to remove or thin their chest hair more often these days. Laser treatment is able to target specific hair follicles so that only the hair that the patient wants to be removed is targeted. This results in a thinning effect that is permanent. People who want to remove all their chest hair can definitely undergo laser treatments as well, so they can stop shaving and waxing this sensitive area of the body.