According to Mayoclinic.com, laser hair removal is a procedure that uses an intense beam of light to remove unwanted hair. This occurs when the laser beam penetrates the skin to the individual hair follicle. The heat given off by the laser damages the hair follicle, inhibiting growth. Permanent hair removal isn't guaranteed; it can take several sessions along with periodic maintenance to remain hair-free.
When to Start
You hair grows in cycles and not all hair follicles are at the same stage of growth according to LocateADoc.com. There are three cycles of hair growth, reports Q Esthetics Laser Clinic in Toronto, Canada. The first phase is the growth phase, or anagen phase. In the anagen phase, your hair cells divide rapidly. Because of high levels of protein and melanin present during this stage, hair follicles are the most receptive to the laser beam at this time.
According to Q Esthetics Laser Clinic, "About 85% of hair follicles on our body are in the anagen phase, which may last for about 2-6 years." Therefore, the success of laser hair removal will depend on the amount of hair in the anagen phase; this is why multiple sessions are recommended. The other phases, transition (catagen) and resting (telogen) only account for 15 percent of your hair's activity.
Directly After the Procedure
After a laser hair removal session, the treated area may be puffy and irritated; this will subside within a few days. According to the Laser Hair Removal Guidebook, your hair will appear to re-grow starting anywhere from three to ten days after receiving the treatment. This shouldn't worry you; these are dead hairs that are shedding from your skin and are not new growth.
Two Months After Treatment
Your dead hair will continue to shed for approximately two months after the treatment. At this point, you will be hair-free for a few weeks until another group of hair follicles moves into the anagen phase and begins growing. Once this happens, you should sign up for your next laser hair removal treatment.
Member Comments
tingrey March 24
You want to do your research on laser hair removal honolulu before you go into it, just like you would any other procedure performed on your body. Not taking the proper precautions could you leave you feeling very unhappy and unsatisfied with your results. Granted your practitioner will do everything they can to inform you about laser hair removal. After treatment you want to know how to take care of the treated area and for how long.