How Effective Is Laser Hair Removal?

Over the years, lasers have become a safe and popular alternative to waxing, shaving, epilating etc. We know how time-consuming temporary hair removal is. The same process needs to ...

Over the years, lasers have become a safe and popular alternative to waxing, shaving, epilating etc. We know how time-consuming temporary hair removal is. The same process needs to be repeated every 15 days and sometimes even sooner, and yet you don’t get to enjoy smooth skin for even a week. Stubble starts growing in a few days’ time, and temporary hair removal becomes frustrating.

On the other hand, laser hair removal has emerged as a safe alternative for zapping off your unwanted hair permanently. With lasers, you can forget tiny ingrown hair, the cuts and bruises caused by razors, the rashes caused by hot wax strips, and the occasional burning sensation caused by hair removal chemicals. Laser hair removal is truly a revolutionary procedure that requires an initial investment. And we understand that everyone wants to ensure its effectiveness before making that investment.

If you are also skeptical about how effective laser hair removal is in the long-run, worry not. We have got you covered. Here we will clear all your doubts regarding the effectiveness of laser hair reduction. There are a few factors that determine the effectiveness of laser hair removal, and we will discuss them in detail.

Factors that decide the effectiveness of laser hair removal procedures

Once you have decided to get laser hair removal done, consider all the following factors to get the desired results.

1. Hair Growth Cycle

The laser beam targets follicles that are in the anagen phase, the phase in which hair starts growing from the follicles. At a time, only 20% of your hair is in anagen phase and this number can vary from person to person. Hence, people with faster growth cycles will have to take more sessions for effective laser treatment.

2. Hormone levels

Changes in hormone levels can result in varying hair growth cycles. For example, the male hormone testosterone can trigger hair growth in females. So, if you are on hormonal medications, then postpone the laser sessions till your hormones are balanced. However, a natural and minor hormonal imbalance doesn’t have a visible impact on the effectiveness of laser hair removal.

3. Skin tone and hair colour

It is believed that laser hair removal is not as effective for people with darker skin tone. Laser beam targets the pigment in each hair follicle. Earlier, it became problematic for dark skinned people because the laser couldn’t differentiate between the pigment of skin and hair. It lead to burns and charring of the skin. However, one of the best results of the latest development in the technology is that the new laser hair removal techniques can effectively work on brown and dark-skinned people too. The diode lasers are long pulsed and have the ability to penetrate till the hair follicles while bypassing the pigment on the skin. Now irrespective of your skin colour and hair colour, you can get laser hair removal done.

4. Hair removal History

Repeatedly waxing for years uproots the hair completely and it may slow down the hair growth in the long run. One of the observations is that home laser hair removal is more effective for people who have been repeatedly waxing for years. They get visible results in fewer sessions.

5. Following Medical Advices

Frequently asked questions about the effectiveness of laser hair removal.

Q1. Is laser hair removal harmful?

If you are wondering, ‘Is permanent hair removal safe?’, then let us break this to you – ‘Laser hair removal is not at all harmful’. The laser beam is non-ionising and cannot make changes in the DNA of the cell. Also, it is targeted at the hair follicles and you can get rid of unwanted hair in 6-8 sessions.

Q2. Is laser hair removal effective?

Laser hair removal is effective only when it is performed by experienced professionals using FDA-approved laser machines. It results in almost 80-90% reduction of hair growth in the long-run.

Q3. Is laser hair removal effective for PCOS?

PCOS happens due to hormonal imbalances. It leads to a higher rate of hair growth. But laser is also effective for PCOS, just that you would need a greater number of sessions. Also, before starting the treatment you must share your medical history with the doctors and accordingly, they will devise a session plan for you.

Q4. Is at home laser hair removal effective?

Q5. How effective is laser hair removal on the face?

This is one of the common questions about Laser hair removal – ‘Is laser hair removal dangerous for facial skin?’. We understand that the face is a sensitive and delicate part of the body but laser therapy is safe for facial hair too. You can get laser hair removal done on the entire face except the eyebrows. This is because your eyes must be protected from the laser beam and you are given an eye-shield for the same.

Q6. Is laser hair removal safe for sensitive skin?

Consult a dermatologist before booking a session of laser hair removal. It can be easily carried out if your treatment area does not have visible cuts or rashes. Laser hair reduction is safe for sensitive skin as long as you take all the precautions.

Q7. Is laser hair removal effective on dark skin?

There was a time when laser hair removal was effective only for people with fair skin and dark hair. But now the diode lasers can effectively work on dark skin with dark hair too. The laser beam can bypass the skin cells and focus on the melanin of the hair follicles only.