Laser hair removal and the hair growth cycle

Laser hair removal sends pulses of light into the skin. Pigment in the hair absorbs that light and turns it into heat, which damages the follicle growing the hair. A damaged follicle produces a finer, lighter hair, and after enough sessions many follicles stop producing hair at all.

Timing matters because a follicle only responds to the laser while it is actively growing a hair. That one fact explains the number of sessions, the gap between them and why results build gradually.

The hair growth cycle

Every hair on the body sits in one of three phases. During anagen the follicle is attached to the hair and actively growing it. In catagen the hair detaches from its blood supply and growth stops. In telogen the follicle rests and the old hair eventually sheds.

• Anagen Active growthLaser targets this phase
• Catagen Transition
• Telogen Resting and shedding

Segment sizes are for illustration. The share of hairs in each phase differs by body area.

The laser damages follicles in anagen because only those follicles have a pigmented hair connected to the root. On any given day, some of the hairs in an area are resting or shedding. Those follicles escape the pulse and start growing again later, so the area is treated again several weeks on to catch them in their growth phase.

Results over a course of treatment

Most clients see fewer hairs after two or three sessions, and the hair that does grow back is finer and lighter. By the end of a six-session course the area needs far less shaving. Some people book an occasional top-up session in later years.

An illustration of the usual trend, not clinical data. Numbers along the bottom are session numbers. Results vary with hair colour, skin type, hormones and the area treated.

Dark, coarse hair responds best because it holds the most pigment. Blond, grey, white and red hair contain little of the pigment the laser targets, so results on those colours are limited. Your consultation is the time to check this before choosing a package.

Comfort during treatment

Each pulse creates a short burst of heat. Our laser has a cooling system that blows -30°C air across the skin before, during and after every pulse, which keeps the area numb and cool. Most clients describe the feeling as mild.

• -30°Ccooling air on the skin during treatment
• 6sessions in every package
• 15 minfor underarms or upper lip
• 2 hrfor a full body session

Laser compared with shaving, waxing and threading

Shaving, waxing and threading remove hair above or at the root, and the follicle keeps producing new hair. Laser treats the follicle itself, which is why the effect lasts.

	Laser	Shaving	Waxing	Threading
Reduces hair growth long term	Yes	No	No	No
Lowers the chance of ingrown hairs	Yes	No	No	No
How often it is repeated	Occasional top-up	Every few days	Every 3 to 6 weeks	Every 2 to 4 weeks

Preparing for your appointment

Shave the area 12 to 24 hours before treatment. Shaving removes the hair above the skin, which could otherwise heat up on the surface, and leaves the root in place for the laser to reach. Waxing, plucking and threading pull the root out, so avoid them once you start a course.

1. 2 weeks beforePause photosensitising medicationAvoid medication that makes skin sensitive to light. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before stopping any prescription.
2. 1 week beforeStop retinol and activesPut retinol, acids and other active skincare on hold.
3. 24 hours or more beforeConsultation and test spotFree, and required for first-time clients.
4. 12 to 24 hours beforeShave the areaShave only. No waxing, plucking or threading.
5. Treatment dayCome with clean skinSkip lotion, deodorant and makeup on the area.

Prices for each area, and the savings on six-session packages, are laid out in laser packages compared by cost per session.