Wondering “how long does laser hair removal take?” Well, this is the concern of almost every individual planning to get unwanted hair removed using laser technology. And there is a lot of confusion among those who have gone through multiple online sources. The reason here is that answer to this question isn’t straightforward, due to various factors that affect treatment times and the number of sessions you might need.
According to experts, you cannot expect to achieve results in just one session of laser hair removal treatment. One will require a course of treatment sessions to start seeing the results. There are three stages of hair growth:
And laser hair removal treatment works only when the hair is in the anagen phase of growth. Since only around 30% of your hair are in this phase at any one time, you will need to visit for multiple sessions of laser hair removal to obtain positive results. So we can say that each session will remove around 25 to 30% of the hairs in a single session. Apart from this, there are many other factors that make an impact on ‘How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Take?’
About Laser Hair Removal Sessions
A normal laser hair removal session may last anywhere between 15-60 minutes. The amount of time required will depend upon various factors and the size of the area you are going to treat. For example, a session for hair removal on your back or legs will require around 60 minutes while areas like your upper lip or underarms may need much less time.
Furthermore, it is mandatory to visit for multiple sessions as we already mentioned that not all hairs are targeted in a single session. When you want to see the true long-lasting effects of laser hair removal, it is suggested to come for multiple sessions, each of them will be 6- weeks apart to let your resting hairs enter the active growth stage.
Factors That Affect Laser Hair Removal Results
Skin Tone – Not many people may know this fact, but the tone of your skin will make a huge impact on the time it takes for each laser hair removal session. The lighter your skin tone, the better the results will be. This is also the reason that a friend of yours, having a dark skin tone, may have been quoted a high price for treating the same area using laser technology while you (having fair skin) will be paying less. But it doesn’t mean that it is not safe for dark skin. The only thing here is that people with a dark complexion may need to take more treatments to achieve the desired results. Today, we have the most advanced laser technology available to allow everyone to experience the benefits of smoother skin with laser hair removal.
Hair Color – Another very important factor that affects the time required for the number of sessions and time during each session of laser hair removal treatment is the color of your hair. The darker hair is easily treated using the technology as it is easier for laser devices to target each hair follicle. One important thing to keep in mind is that the type of laser device your dermatologist is using makes a difference in the effectiveness as well. Not all the devices are same, so it’s important to understand the strength of each device.
Hormones – We know that hormones play a very important role in everything related to the human body. Whether it is weight management, skin brightness, or even hair growth, everything is affected due to hormones. So it also makes an impact on your laser hair removal treatment. People with higher hormone levels are likely to experience faster hair growth, which means they will need to undergo more laser hair removal treatments than people with low hormone levels. Before your laser hair removal treatment is initiated, your medical professional will ask you about your medical history to determine your hormone level which could impact your results.
Growth Cycles Of Your Hair – No matter how advanced technology we have for laser hair removal, it is a fact that even the best devices cannot remove every follicle at one time. The reason here is that hair growth has multiple stages (Anagen , Catagen, Telogen) and the laser hair removal treatment is not effective in all the stages. According to experts, the treatment is most effective when the hair is actively growing, but the hairs on your body don’t actively grow at the same time. American Academy of Dermatology Association also recommends a waiting period of four-to-six weeks between each session and that the majority of clients will need at least two treatments. But there are chances that a majority of your hair will be treated in each session.
History Hair Removal Products Used Before – There are many hair removal products and topical creams available on the market that can help temporarily reduce hair, but they aren’t permanent hair removal solutions. But the use of these products can make your hair thin, which makes it difficult for laser devices to detect them. It is also common when you have done waxing before. This is why it is highly suggested to not do waxing before visiting for a laser hair removal session. At the same time, waxing also damages hair follicles.
Final Words
Laser hair removal is one of the best ways to get rid of unwanted body hair without even bearing the pain or discomfort like traditional methods such as waxing, shaving, tweezing, or threading. This is one of the most revolutionary technology to help you get the smooth, hairless look you want. But since every human body is different, the time required for laser hair removal treatment can be different for every individual. This is why it is suggested to consult with a professional in the field to have a good idea about the time required as well as get your other queries resolved before you start with the treatment.