When you hear “laser hair removal,” I think many people more or less imagine this magic wand that zaps away all your hair forever in one session.
But the truth is way more interesting – and scientific – and requires a lot more patience than you might expect.
In this blog, we address many concerns about laser hair removal, but today we’ll focus on one key topic: everything you need to know about laser hair removal before and after.
What Really Happens During Laser Hair Removal?
Most people don’t realize that laser hair removal is basically a targeted cellular assassination. The laser isn’t just burning off hair – it’s hunting down hair follicle stem cells that give it life, with precision.
The Science Behind the Zap
Here’s the cool part: lasers work by targeting melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color, or hemoglobin (blood supply), depending on the type of laser used. The laser sends a beam of light that gets absorbed by the dark pigment/hemoglobin in the hair follicle. But it’s not just about burning the hair – the real magic happens deeper in the skin.
The laser’s energy is designed to destroy the stem cells at the bottom of the hair follicle. These stem cells are like the hair factory – they’re responsible for producing new hair I cycles lasting several weeks. When these cells are damaged, they can no longer create new hair growth in that cycle. The patience part comes in remembering that we all have several hair cycles built into our DNA, how many depends on your genetics (how much hair you have before you began laser).
Laser hair removal before and after
When you’re expecting instant, permanent hairlessness, prepare for a reality check. Here’s what actually happens:
- First Treatment: You’ll see some slow hair reduction as the little stubble starts to come out, but not a complete disappearance for a couple of weeks after.
- 2-3 Weeks After: Some hairs will fall out, creating patches of smoother skin, eventually the area should have hardly any hair.
- 6-8 weeks Later: New hair might start to grow back, but it’s slowly becoming more lighter and finer, especially after a few sessions.
Laser hair removal before and after
The Grey Hair Twist
Here’s a fascinating fact most people don’t know: grey or white hairs are basically invisible to laser treatments. Why? These hairs lack melanin (pigment in the follicles), so the laser has nothing to target. It’s like trying to hit an invisible target. As you can see in the photo below, the grey hairs did not respond to the laser treatment, however most of the dark hair has shed out within a couple of weeks.
What No One Tells You about laser hair removal
- Not all hair removal lasers are created equal. Real lasers (vs IPL) are much more powerful, safe and effective.
- You’ll typically need multiple sessions at 8-week intervals (usually an average of 6-12) for optimal results.
- The hair doesn’t disappear overnight – it’s a gradual process.
The Real Expectation
Laser hair removal isn’t a one-and-done miracle. It’s more like training your hair follicles to grow less aggressively. Think of it as negotiating with your body’s hair production system.
The journey isn’t about becoming completely hairless. It’s about significantly reducing the density of the hair, making it much finer and fewer and further between, and giving you more control over your body’s hair growth. Each person’s experience is unique – what works perfectly for one might be slightly different for another. Everyone also needs a different number of sessions as our bodies are unique!
Laser hair removal is part science, part art, and totally addictive when its done properly!
