Unwanted hair woes are common to men and women. Most people have struggled with different ways to remove or manage unwanted hair. Waxing, epilating, trimming, and shaving are common ways people manage unwanted hair. These methods can be painful and cause skin irritation. Laser depilation has been a game-changer for people struggling with these traditional methods of hair removal.
Laser depilation uses a beam of focused light energy to weaken hair follicles. The melanin pigments of hair follicles absorb the light of the laser and turn it into heat. The heat damages the hair follicles, inhibiting future growth. The principle of the process is based on selective photothermolysis. The laser only targets hair in the anagen phase, and that is why multiple sessions are required for good results.
This blog explores why good laser clinics promise hair reduction and not hair removal.
“Permanent” Hair Removal Is Really “Permanent Hair Reduction”
The hype around laser depilation began with promises of permanent hair removal. This got everyone’s attention, and people queued up in front of parlours. The initial results did not live up to the hype because of unrealistic expectations. Professional laser clinics started quietly replacing “removal” with “reduction”.
Hair follicles behave differently at different times. Some hair follicles are destroyed and stop producing hair after treatment. Some follicles become inactive and are not dead. Inactive hair follicles can suddenly become active again after a few years. Dead hair follicles do not produce hair. This is the difference between dormant and dead hair follicles. Weakened hair follicles produce hair that is noticeably finer than the original hair.
Clients expect dolphin-smooth skin for eternity after one package. Laser depilation takes multiple sessions to target all the hair follicles in each treatment area. A single session will not suffice. After the treatment, the results have to be maintained with touch-up sessions.
Your Hormones Are the Real CEO of Your Hair Growth
When your body goes through some changes, such as PCOS or menopause, have you noticed “bonus chin hairs?” If hair pops up randomly on certain areas of your body, thank your errant hormones! Hormones can restart hair growth like an unwanted software update.
Pregnancy throws your hormones out of whack. New hair may appear in unexpected
unexpected areas. Dormant hair follicles become active and start producing hair. PCOS (or now known as PMOS) is a complex hormonal and metabolic disorder that can cause unwanted hair growth. Hormones can become imbalanced during menopause, resulting in unwanted hair growth. Even stress hormones interfere with hair growth cycles. When the hormones are imbalanced in the body, hair growth can be unpredictable and uncontrolled. Unwanted hair can be reduced with laser depilation, but as long as the hormone imbalance is not managed, hair can regrow. Hormonal areas like the face are notoriously stubborn for sprouting “bonus hairs.”
Hair Grows in Cycles Because Nature Enjoys Complicating Things
Hair grows in three phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen phases. Anagen is the active growth phase where cells in the hair root divide rapidly. This phase typically lasts 3 to 7 years, depending on genetics. Catagen is a short transitional period that signals the end of active growth. It lasts for about 10 days. Telogen is the resting phase. The hair rests in the follicle while a new hair begins to form underneath it. It lasts for around 3 months.
Laser depilation targets hair only in the anagen, or active growth, phase. In a session, only a percentage of the hair will be in the anagen phase. That is why it takes multiple sessions to target all the hair in an area. Different parts of the body have different hair growth patterns. Facial hair usually requires more sessions than legs.
Skin Tone and Hair Colour Change Everything
Laser depilation targets the melanin pigment in the hair follicle. Dark hair on lighter skin makes it easier for the laser to target melanin in the hair. The results are better when the contrast is stark. When it comes to blonde, grey, red, and white hair, the results may not be as good with traditional lasers. Imagine a confused GPS trying to find faint signals. This is how lasers work with different skin tones and hair colours.
There are specialised lasers for darker skin tones. Darker skin has to be handled carefully. Using an improper laser can cause burns and pigmentation issues on darker skin. Darker skin has more melanin, and the melanin in the skin competes with the melanin in the hair. Professional laser parlours use different lasers for different skin tones.
The Internet Promised a Pain-Free Experience. The Internet Lied
Laser depilation is not completely devoid of pain. The pain experience differs for people. Some people compare the pain to snapping rubber bands on the skin. Pain tolerance varies from person to person. Pain sensation is different in different parts of the body. For example, the upper is very sensitive to pain.
Lasers create heat in the process of treatment. New-age lasers have cooling systems that reduce discomfort. Numbing creams can be used to manage the pain, but they have their limitations. In the initial stages of treatment, thicker hair hurts more. With multiple sessions, the discomfort reduces, and the hair becomes finer.
Sunburned skin cannot be treated. Some people who have survived tattoos panic during lip laser appointments.
Laser DepilationIs Not a One-and-Done Appointment
The best results cannot be achieved with a single session. To understand the necessity for multiple sessions, one has to understand the science behind the technology. The laser targets hair in the anagen phase, and it is very unlikely that all the hair in a particular area will be in the anagen phase. Only multiple sessions can target all the hair in a particular area.
The sessions are scheduled in tandem with the hair growth cycle. Spacing of the appointments is important to achieve results. Skipping sessions can affect the outcome. Some areas respond faster than others. Maintenance sessions are required to prolong the results. Laser depilation sessions are more expensive than the traditional methods of hair removal, but it is an investment that is worth it.
Shaving Before Laser Is Mandatory (For Real!)
Laser depilation targets the melanin pigment in the hair follicle. Shaving before the treatment facilitates better access to the hair follicles. Removing surface hair prevents the laser from burning exposed hair. It also maximises the effectiveness of the treatment.
Waxing is not recommended because it may affect the hair root that has to be targeted by the laser. Plucking can also interfere with the treatment in the same way. Shaving is the best method to remove surface hair before treatment. Deodorants and lotions have to be avoided before treatment.
Realistic Expectations
Laser depilation works well, but the word “permanent” creates unrealistic expectations. Hair growth is influenced by many factors such as hormones, stress, medication, and genetics. Your follicles do not sign a lifelong peace treaty. Laser depilation can dramatically reduce hair growth. It saves time and minimises skin irritation. It also makes grooming much easier.
Visit Colibri Laser and Beauty for laser depilation and explore our other premier services as well.