There are many types of hair: red, brunette, blonde, thick, and thin. When hair starts growing in unwanted places, many patients seek a way to remove it. One question they ask is, “will laser hair reduction work for me?” To understand the answer, we must first take a look at how the technology works.
How Laser Hair Reduction Works
“Laser hair removal uses advanced technology to effectively destroy the hair without harming the surrounding area,” says Amy Bowen, certified medical aesthetician at Sanova Dermatology. The skin may be bumpy, red, and itchy after the treatment but should subside within 2-4 hours. Hair that is not in the active growth phase will remain. “This is why we recommend 5 or more treatments and spacing the appointments 4-6 weeks apart.”
“Hair reduction is most effective when the hair is in its active growth phase called ‘Anagen,'” explains Dr. Miriam Hanson, dermatologist and cosmetic skin care expert in Austin, Texas. “This is when the hair follicle is still attached to the bulb at the base of the follicle.” Since hair grows in different cycles, it’s very important you follow pre-treatment instructions along with maintaining scheduled appointments so that we treat the hair during its active growth phase. Missing or rescheduling appointments can affect your overall results because hairs that were ready to be treated enter into another phase of growth and are no longer affected by the laser.
How Is Each Hair Type Different?
The procedure is safe for all skin types, but the color of the hair can make a difference in the amount of treatments and its effectiveness.
- The energy from the laser is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle. Therefore, darker and coarser hair is most affected by the treatment.
- Lighter fine hair may require more treatments since there is less pigment in each follicle.
- Hair that has no pigment, such as blonde, white and lighter reds are not affected by the laser. Other means for removing hair are recommended in these situations
Contact Us
To design your individualized laser hair reduction plan, please contact us to schedule your consultation today!