Laser Hair Removal is a very high-tech method of removing unwanted hair and can be extremely effective in providing permanent hair removal. But the performance of Laser Hair Removal relies on numerous factors, inclusive of (i) the kind of laser being used, (ii) the color of your hair, (iii) the color / type of your skin and (iv) the stage of the hair in the hair growth cycle.



Today there is at least 5 types of laser that are used for hair removal. Choosing the most effective laser type for your hair will depend on your hair color and your skin type. And even if you get it all correct, you still mightn't be left with permanent hair removal in a short period of time. You see, the answer lies in the hair growth cycle, and more explicitly, what phase of the cycle your unwanted hair is in.... sounds tricky - it is !

Before we become acquainted with the hair growth cycle, it is critical to appreciate just how Laser Hair Removal really works. That is, to appreciate specifically how you can accomplish permanent hair removal, acquiring an appreciation of the laser process is imperative.

Laser Hair Removal does not instantly remove the hair, nor does it burn it off right away. The energy from the laser literally passes through the skin, and is soaked up by the pigment in the hair follicle and shaft. When this energy is absorbed into a hair, the follicles are damaged, which then impairs that specific hairs ability to grow. Eventually the hair will fall out, usually within a matter of weeks.

Getting an understanding of how the laser works is essential. You need to always remember that the laser doesn't just make the hair fall out immediately. It actually impairs the ability of a hair to grow, causing it to eventually fall out. Now that we have a brief understanding of how the laser operates, it is time to get an insight into how the hair growth cycle relates to the permanence of laser hair removal.

For permanent hair removal, the hair needs to be in the right stage of the hair growth cycle, and if it is, you might not need further Laser Hair Removal treatment.

You see, the hair growth cycle comprises three stages, and the permanence of Laser Hair Removal is more foreseeable when the hair is in one stage specifically - the growth stage.

The growth cycle of hair includes 3 distinct stages : (1) Active/Anagen (2) Regressive/Catagen (3) Resting/Telogen.

Laser hair removal is more potent in the Anagen stage where the hair contains the most pigment, and is most affected by the laser light. If the laser treatment is applied when the hair is in either of the 2 other stages, then the likelihood of permanent hair removal is lesser.

Everyone's hair grows differently, and factors affecting hair growth include: age, weight, metabolism, hormones, genetics, medications and environmental influences. However, irrespective of how these factors influence individual hair growth, hair itself grows through three distinct stages:

1. The ACTIVE or ANAGEN growth phase, consists of approximately 85 % of our body hair at any given point in time and can last up to several years. During this stage, the hair shaft and follicle has an opulence of pigment and is most affected by the laser light.

2. The REGRESSIVE or CATAGEN phase is the period during which the hair stops actively growing but is not yet shed. This phase often lasts several weeks comprising about 3 - 4% of our total body hair at any given moment in time. The laser will work in this stage, but if it is late in this part of the cycle, a new hair might already be coming through and the new hair will not be affected by the laser.

3. The RESTING or TELOGEN phase lasts 5 - 6 weeks, at the end of which the hair falls out and the new hair becomes visible. The new hair may not be affected by the laser because it will not have pigment in it yet, remembering that the laser literally relies on the pigment to find the hair. Approximately 10-13% of our body hair is in this phase at any one time.

So now we understand the growth cycle of hair, it needs to be asked, "Is permanent hair removal actually possible?" The answer is Yes, Laser Hair Removal can certainly provide a level of permanency. As you can see, if a hair in the Active/Anagen stage is subjected to the laser, then that hair will most likely be killed permanently. If a hair that is in either of the other 2 stages is subjected to the laser, then that hair will most likely be killed, but the new hair coming through will still grow.

So the tip on Laser Hair Removal is that you will most likely require a few sessions to ensure that your unwanted hair is removed permanently. You could be lucky - your first Laser hair removal treatment will permanently remove all of your problem hair, but the possibility is that you will need numerous sessions at set intervals to ensure that you get to the hair when it is in the first stage of growth. And that's all there really is to know, permanent Laser Hair Removal is definitely achievable !