Laser hair removal is a popular non-invasive cosmetic treatment that promises to permanently destroy unwanted hair follicles. But how does it work?

The short answer is that dark pigment (melanin) absorbs laser light and converts it into heat. This selectively heats up the basal stem cells in a hair follicle to inhibit future hair growth.

The Light

Laser hair removal is a popular treatment that can save you hours of shaving, plucking and waxing. It’s also a great way to remove stubborn hair growth and reduce the appearance of ingrown hairs.

The light from a laser’s beam is attracted to the pigment (melanin) in your hair and converts into heat. The thermal energy is absorbed by the dermal papilla, which damages the follicle and prevents it from producing new hair. As a result, regrowth is finer and slower after treatment.

However, not all hair will respond to laser treatment. White, gray or blond hair does not contain enough dark pigment to be treated effectively.

Aside from hair color, the effectiveness of laser hair removal depends on a laser’s spot size and its fluence (energy density). A higher-powered laser with a larger spot size delivers a deeper deposition of energy and can disable more follicles than a lower-powered device.

The Heat

Laser hair removal is an incredibly effective way to eliminate unwanted body hair without having to deal with razor bumps or shaving irritation. It does require some commitment because the procedure takes several sessions before you’ll see significant results, but once it’s over you’ll save time and money that you would otherwise spend on waxing, shaving, or plucking.

The laser’s radiation is absorbed by the melanin in the hair, which means that the hair follicles are damaged and no longer capable of producing new hair growth. The melanin also serves to protect the skin from any damage that could be caused by the laser’s radiation.

Laser treatments can either permanently reduce hair density or completely remove the hairs from the body. However, some hairs will still regrow, which is why it’s important to have multiple treatment sessions. This is especially true if you undergo major hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menopause. The good news is that these hairs will typically be lighter and finer than the original follicles.

The Melanin

If you are looking to eliminate unwanted hair, laser treatments can help. It’s an effective way to reduce the amount of hair that grows, resulting in smoother skin. However, it’s important to talk to a qualified practitioner before undergoing the treatment. It’s also necessary to research the credentials of the doctor or technician performing the procedure.

Only hair that has pigment can be treated by the laser, and darker hair tends to respond better than lighter hair. White, blonde, and red hair don’t respond well because they don’t contain enough pigment to absorb the energy/heat from the laser.

Although the destroyed hair follicles are unable to grow hair, new hair can still emerge from other follicles. This can occur because of hormonal changes or simply because some follicles go into a resting period after the original treatment. However, most people notice less and less hair over time. A touch up session a few times a year should keep the results of the laser hair removal process intact.

The Skin

Many people choose laser hair removal as a safer, less time-consuming alternative to waxing, shaving, plucking and threading. However, there are still some misconceptions about the process that might prevent people from achieving the desired results.

A medical aesthetician will use the laser to treat the area of skin that needs to be hair-free. It may take just a few minutes to treat a small area like the upper lip, while large areas such as the back might take up to an hour.

You will feel a series of stings as the laser treats your skin. Some people compare the sensation to a rubber band snapping against their skin. However, it is important to know that not every zap will hurt and not every spot will be treated. If a hair follicle is not destroyed, it might regrow; however, most people find that when hair does grow back, it is much lighter and less noticeable than before.