How many laser hair removal sessions will I need?

In the case of laser hair removal, the answer is "it depends."

How many laser sessions do I need?

It all depends on your body's unique hair colour or skin colour, as well as your health and age. Some lucky people need just one or two treatments for smooth, hair-free skin. Others might require six to eight treatments over a year.

Most people probably take several treatments to give them the desired results. However, all studies show that it depends on your hair colour, skin type, age and overall health.

Laser Hair Removal - how many sessions do I need?

Laser hair removal is a popular non-invasive cosmetic procedure. It allows people to remove unwanted hair from their faces or bodies without shaving, waxing or plucking.

The procedure works by targeting individual follicles on your skin with a laser beam. This damages or destroys them, preventing further growth in that area. You can use a laser hair removal machine on any body part, including the face and chest (although some people may find this uncomfortable).

The amount of laser hair removal treatments you need depends on several factors.

The FDA and dermatologist agree, saying you will likely need between 3 and 7 treatments before seeing a "significant reduction" in hair growth. This comes down to the amount of melanin in your skin and hair. In addition, how long your laser hair removal lasts depends on several factors, including how many treatments have been carried out and how much time has passed since they took place.

How long will the laser hair removal procedure take?

The duration of a laser hair removal session using an at-home laser device can vary. It depends on several factors. Factor includes the device that you use. Other factors include the treatment area and the user's familiarity and experience with the device. Generally, at-home laser hair removal sessions can take a few minutes to an hour or more.

Most at-home laser devices are designed for smaller treatment areas. They work well on areas such as the face, underarms, bikini lines, or smaller patches on the body. The sessions may take longer for larger areas, such as the legs or back.

Laser hair removal sessions usually take around 30 minutes per area and are spaced three to eight weeks apart, depending on how quickly your body grows its hair.

For this reason, choosing a laser hair removal machine that works for you and has an excellent reputation is important.

Factors that influence hair falling out

The number of laser hair removal treatments you need depends on many factors.

The amount of melanin in your skin and hair.

The number of treatments needed to achieve permanent hair removal depends on the amount of melanin in your skin and hair. The more melanin you have, the more treatments you will likely need before achieving a "significant reduction" in hair growth.

The size of the area you are targetting.

A larger area will have more hairs than a smaller one, which means more laser passes are needed to do the job correctly—and therefore, more treatment sessions may also be required.

How long have you been growing hair in that area?

Laser light can only target actively growing follicles, so if you've been shaving or waxing regularly for years (or even months). Those hairs are already dead or dormant by the time they show up under a microscope after treatment; they aren't eligible for further treatments until new ones start growing at the base of the hair follicle.

It takes longer for hair to fall out for those with darker skin.

The amount of laser hair removal treatments you need mainly depends on the melanin in your skin and hair. As a general rule, people with darker complexions or light hair will need more treatments than those with lighter skin complexions or dark hair.

The specific number of sessions required to eliminate unwanted hair depends on how quickly each person's body can metabolize the laser energy delivered during treatment sessions.

Type of Laser and laser frequency

The laser type can also impact how long it takes to see results. Some lasers remove unwanted strands faster than others; those with a lower wavelength tend to be more effective than those with higher ones (which is why the former are often used for darker skin tones).

Before purchasing your own laser hair removal machine, we advise you to consult a dermatologist and find out which laser frequency will work for your hair.

Consistency of Treatment:

You need to follow the recommended treatment schedule. You must complete the entire series of sessions, which is crucial for optimal results. Gaps or inconsistent treatments may reduce effectiveness.

Your Hair Density

Higher hair density in the treatment area may need more sessions to achieve the desired results.

Hormonal Factors

Hormonal changes, such as those related to pregnancy, menopause, or certain medical conditions, can influence hair growth. Hormonal factors may need extra sessions or maintenance treatments.

The amount of laser treatments needed

Conclusion

As we mentioned before, laser hair removal treatment is probably one of the safest and most used ways to remove unwanted hair from your body or face. It's much safer than waxing and plucking, but the number of treatments you need depends on many factors. So, if you want to know how long the procedure lasts and how many treatments you need, we can help!

This article has been medically reviewed by: Cathy Boldt - Medical Writer

More on this Topic

https://www.bareskin.co.za/blogs/news/how-long-until-hair-falls-out-after-laser-hair-removal

https://www.bareskin.co.za/blogs/news/why-is-my-hair-not-falling-out-after-laser

https://www.bareskin.co.za/blogs/news/how-long-after-laser-hair-removal-does-hair-start-shedding