How it Works

To understand how laser hair removal works, it’s helpful to understand how your hair grows. Below is an overview and how a laser is uniquely able to permanently reduce unwanted hair.

How Your Hair Grows

Hair grows from deep within hair follicles, which are embedded in the skin. Hair does not grow continuously, but in a three-phase cycle.

Anagen Phase: This phase is where the hair actively grows which typically lasts for several months and is the best phase for laser hair removal.

Catagen Phase: During this brief phase, the hair bulb regresses and begins to shrink.

Telogen Phase: The final phase is a resting phase which lasts a few months. During this phase, the hair is released from the follicle and once complete, the hair will restart at the Anagen or growth phase. 

While the rate at which hair grows differs by individual, the length of the hair growth cycle generally depends on the type of hair. For example, the active growth phase of the hair on your head may last several years, while hair on the body has an active growth phase that may last only a few months.
 

How Laser Hair Removal Works

During laser hair removal, a laser device emits light energy that travels through the skin and is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and hair shaft. Pigments are the substances that give skin and hair its color. This energy damages the hair follicle, which impairs its ability to grow. 

Hair follicles that are in the anagen, or active growth phase, have more pigment and absorb more energy, and typically respond best to treatments. For this reason, it takes multiple treatments to achieve the best results – it’s important to “catch” your hair in this active growth phase when you are receiving treatments.
 

Laser Hair Removal Procedure

During the procedure, your laser technician will guide the device over the treatment area. The hair follicles that absorb the energy from the laser will be damaged. Hairs that were present in the follicles at the time of treatment will fall out over the next couple of weeks and future hair growth will be impaired. 

Since not all hairs are actively growing at the same time, a single procedure will not treat all of the hair follicles in the area. As the follicles in the transitional and resting periods return to the active growth phase, you may notice some hair regrowth but not as thick as it was before the treatment. This regrowth will become thinner and lighter with each subsequent treatment until there is little to no hair at all.
 

What To Expect On The Day Of Treatment

We suggest shaving prior to your consultation and minimizing sun exposure if you would like to get started the same day as your consultation. 

We have four different machines, each effective at laser hair removal for different skin types, hair density, and treatment area. At the time of your consultation, our laser technicians will determine which machine will be best to start your services. Oftentimes, our laser technicians will switch machines as you process through your laser hair removal package to achieve the best results possible.

Before your laser technician begins lasering, they may do a test spot so you can get a sense for what to expect during treatment. It may feel slightly like a rubberband snapping against the skin as the energy is being delivered into your skin and hair follicles. The discomfort is over almost immediately, and treatments take just a few minutes depending on the size of the area.

After the treatment, a cooling gel may be applied to your skin. Bandages and ointments are not necessary after laser hair removal due to the nature of the treatments being so minimally invasive. For a few days after your treatment, you may feel like you have a mild sunburn but can resume all your normal day to day activities immediately following treatment.

Pre-Treatment Instructions for Laser Hair Removal:

• Shave the area being treated prior to your appointment.
• Discontinue all waxing, plucking, and tweezing on the areas receiving treatment 6 weeks before and during your sessions.
• Discontinue excessive UV exposure, tanning and tanning beds and tanning creams on the areas receiving treatment, 4 weeks prior to your appointment.
   

Post-Treatment Instructions For Laser Hair Removal

• Immediately after the treatment, there may be redness around the treatment site, which may last up to a couple days but usually subsides within the first few hours. It is normal for the treated area to feel like a mild sunburn for the first few days.
• Avoid sun exposure on the treated area and use a sunscreen SPF 45 or greater at all times throughout the course of treatment.
• Anywhere from 7-30 days after treatment, shedding of the hair may occur and this may appear as new hair growth. This is not all new hair growth, but mostly dead hair pushing its way out of the follicle.