Posted on January 28, 2016 by Client Services Laser treatment for hair removal is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to deal with unwanted hair. But it’s not a quick fix. To reach optimal benefits, laser hair removal requires 5 to 10 sessions — each ten weeks apart. This is because of your body’s natural hair growth cycle and the role it plays in laser hair removal.
Here’s how it works.
The Hair Growth Cycle
To understand how laser hair removal works, you first need to understand how your hair grows. Deep in your skin are thin cavities that contain follicles from which your hair grows. Each hair follicle goes through three different stages of growth that can last from a few days to a few years, depending on the hair and where it’s located.
- The Growth Phase — During the anagen phase, hair is actively growing. It can remain in this stage for a few months to a year, and at any given time, 15 to 20 percent of hair is growing. This is the hair that laser hair removal targets.
- The Transition Phase — The catagen phase is when hair stops growing. The follicle shrinks in size and separates from its source of nutrients, the dermal papilla, eventually falling out. This stage can last from a few days to a week.
- The Resting Phase — During the telogen phase, hair follicles reattach to the papilla and start new growth. Once hair is above the skin and visible, it returns to the anagen phase and the process starts all over again.
How Laser Hair Removal Works
During laser hair removal, a certified technician uses an amplified beam of light that travels through the skin. The light transforms to heat and is absorbed into a hair follicle that is in its growth phase. This process is called photothermoysis. When the hair follicle absorbs the heat from the laser, it disables the follicle, stopping its ability to grow new hair. The hair soon falls out and will not regrow.
In the growth stage of the hair growth cycle, pigment in the follicles is at its highest, and attracts the laser’s energy and heat. These hair follicles are able to absorb the majority of the laser’s energy, disabling hair growth. Because hair in other phases doesn’t have as much pigment, they are not impacted. At any given time, less than one-third of all hair is in the growth phase, making it necessary to have multiple laser hair removal treatments done at different periods in time.
Scheduled Treatment Sessions
Because not all hair is impacted by one laser hair removal treatment, it’s important to keep a regular schedule for sessions. Depending on the area treated, most people require 5 to 10 laser hair removal treatments to reach the desired, hair-free results. Since these sessions are scheduled ten weeks apart, new hair follicles will be impacted each time, leading to smoother skin after each treatment.
If you’re ready to see if laser hair removal is right for you, contact Body Details True Laser Hair and Tattoo Removal. With a professional and team of certified medical specialists, several locations throughout South Florida, a free lifetime guarantee, and convenient night and weekend hours, we give you an experience like no other. Our expects answer all your questions about laser hair removal and what to expect during our complimentary consultations. Schedule your free consultation online, visit one of our laser centers near you or call 866-708-8645 today.
