How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Last?

If you are thinking about getting laser hair removal one of the first questions on your mind is probably…

“how long does laser hair removal last?”

It is a fair question to ask before spending hundreds or thousands of pounds of your hard-earned money on laser hair removal.

It is also one of the most popular questions we are asked in our London clinics and call centre every day.

Unfortunately, the answer you don’t want to hear is….

….. “it depends!”

Sadly, that is the only answer any laser clinic can give you. This is because your results will depend on:

• your skin type and tone
• your hair
• your response to treatment
• hormone levels

All of these combine to determine how effective your results will be.

If your friend is ecstatic or disappointed with their long-term results, it doesn’t mean you will have the same good or bad results.

Is there anything you can do to guarantee you the best, longer, lasting results possible?

Yes, there are a few things you can do to give yourself the best chances for long-lasting success and not waste your money. You should try and do the following:

• Firstly, you will need more than one session (usually 6-8).
• Set realistic expectations. No clinic can remove 100% of hair – forever.
• Use top-of-the-range medical-grade lasers.
• Find an experienced practitioner you trust and feel comfortable with and give feedback every session.
• Be consistent and committed to your appointments.

How many times do you need laser hair removal?

Most people require 6-8 sessions spread around 6 weeks apart. A couple of laser sessions will destroy some of your hair permanently, but the rest of your hair will remain unaffected by the laser. This is because the laser can only kill hair actively in the growth phase of the hair cycle.

How much hair do you lose after your first laser session?

When you attend a hair removal session, say your underarms. Only around 15% of your underarm hairs will be in the growth phase. This means only 15% of the total underarm hairs can be destroyed at that session.

The laser or practitioner cannot tell which of the hairs are in the growth phase. That is why the laser will go over the whole area.

Why is my hair growing back after laser?

At your next laser session, six weeks later, the laser will destroy another 15% of your hair (hair in the growth phase).

This is how and why multiple sessions are needed.

It is also why you will experience hair growth in between sessions. Fewer and fewer hairs will grow back as you have more sessions. After 6-8 sessions, all the hair should have been destroyed.

Using the underarm example, by session 6 or 8, all your underarm hair would have been in the growth phase at some point during your previous sessions, so that it would have been destroyed.

As you can see, one or two laser sessions will destroy some hair but leave many.

It would be a waste of money if you were expecting total hair loss.

Does hair grow back thicker after laser hair removal?

Some people only want a slight reduction in hair loss. They are happy to continue shaving. They will only have 3-4 laser sessions to get their hair under control.

Slightly less hair grows back, and the hair that does usually is not as thick and is much finer than before. This makes managing the hair much easier.

The bikini laser hair removal area is where this option is usually chosen.

Is it worth getting?

People that get the best long term laser hair removal results have lighter skin and darker hair. This is because lasers are most effective when there is contrast.

The contrast between the light skin and dark pigment help the laser light beam find the root of the hair follicle and destroy it.

The laser recognises melanin found near the base of the hair follicle.

That is also why people with grey hair, very light blonde hair and red hair are not suitable candidates for laser hair removal due to the lower levels of melanin found in lighter hair. Laser also finds it difficult to recognise red pigment in the case of red hair.

How long does laser hair removal last for dark skin?

Until recently, people undergoing laser hair removal with darker skin posed problems for laser technology and hair removal. Todays lasers are more advanced then the earlier models.

They use a much deeper wavelength called Nd:YAG which gets around any issues previously experienced. The same results can now be experienced regardless of skin tones.

How can I speed up the shedding after laser hair removal?

During the course of your laser hair treatment you will find that it usually takes about 5-14 days for hairs to shed. Exfoliating, tweezing and plucking can be done but are not necessary as the hair will fall out naturally.

After the shedding period a re-growth phase of around four weeks happens. This is the reason treatments are set approximately six weeks apart to allow for shedding and regrowth.

After 6 to 8 sessions further sessions are often unnecessary for a few months for most. However, this depends on how successful the procedure has been in removing hairs over the months.

Is laser hair removal permanent?

Lasers can remove up to 90% of hair permanently. Because of the way skin and hair types affect the results as mentioned earlier it is hard to accurately predict how long hair removal will last. We have used two case studies below to highlight how laser hair removal London treatments can work.

CASE STUDY 1

Lucy is 30 years old and is from Japan. She has dark black hair and a light skin tone. She makes an ideal candidate for laser hair removal. She has purchased 6 sessions of a full body laser hair removal package.

She is using a clinic with the latest medical grade lasers, has an experienced practitioner and has not missed or cancelled any sessions. After 4 sessions spaced 6 weeks apart she is virtually hair free and is delighted with the results.

Fast forward four years and Lucy is still hair free but needs a top up session once a year or every two years to keep on top of her results.

CASE STUDY 2

Anna is 25 years old she is from Cyprus. She has thick curly black hair and a darker tanned Mediterranean skin tone.

She has purchased 8 sessions for full legs and bikini. Like Lucy she is using a clinic with the latest medical grade lasers,  has an experienced practitioner and is consistent with her appointments over the course of a year.

As she gets to the end of her 8^th session, she is still experiencing hair growth albeit very reduced. She decides to purchase a top-up package of 3 to remove the remaining hairs. In total she has now had 11 sessions and is finally happy with her results.

Fast forward a few years and Anna is having a top up session once a year to keep any hairs that are growing at bay.

Takeaways

As you can see, laser works differently for different people.

Laser can reduce hair growth by up to 90% which for most people this has a really big impact on their lives.

Compare this with the the non stop cycle of shaving and waxing and most people are happy to invest in laser as a long term solution to their hair removal needs.

It certainly saves money and time in the long run.

 

Next steps

If you live in London and are looking for a laser hair removal clinic using the latest Candela lasers, has experienced practitioners and has been performing laser hair removal across its 9 London clinics since 2008, then get in touch with us for a free consultation.

We would love to hear from you.