Why is My Laser Hair Removal Not Working?

By Brian Lett
10 Min Read

Laser hair removal is a safe and effective solution to unwanted hair growth, helping reduce shaving, waxing or plucking sessions and eliminate ingrown hairs from occurring.

Laser light heats and damages pigment in hair follicles, making it impossible for them to produce new hair growth, leading to its gradual demise over a number of weeks.

1. You Have Dark Hair

Laser hair removal works best on darker hair because its light can distinguish between pigment in your hair and skin, targeting only hair without harming any surrounding tissue. A typical course consists of five sessions for permanent reduction; touch-up sessions may be required every year to keep results at their optimal state.

Darker hairs can be more challenging to remove than lighter strands, so if you have dark complexion and dark locks, laser treatments may not seem effective for hair removal. But don’t abandon laser treatment entirely – instead visit a qualified practitioner with extensive experience and registers that display their training, skill, and insurance compliance standards.

If you are having issues with your treatment, it could be down to poor practitioner training. There have been cases of patients being burned by inexperienced practitioners; make sure the person performing your session has extensive knowledge of laser hair removal devices, different temperature settings, and growth rates of hair.

Your skin may become sensitive after laser treatment sessions. Some have described this sensation as feeling similar to rubber band snapping or sunburn-like sting. To reduce discomfort after laser treatments, it’s wise to forego products that can darken complexion such as sunless skin creams; waxing and plucking should also be avoided before your appointment as these activities could impede its effectiveness.

If your laser hair removal treatments aren’t producing results as you expected, scheduling an appointment with a dermatologist to discuss potential solutions. They’ll be able to advise on what could be causing these problems such as hormonal fluctuations or other conditions that lead to unwanted hair growth.

2. You Have Light Hair

Laser hair removal is an efficient, non-invasive way to eliminate your unwanted hair without shaving, waxing or plucking it yourself. Involves using powerful laser beams that target pigmentation in both your hair and skin to kill off follicles responsible for producing new hair growth – although this method will eventually bring new ones.

Given how quickly hair grows, multiple laser hair removal treatments must be conducted in order for this process to be successful. Hair growth cycles involve two stages – anagen and catagen – with anagen being the period during which visible hair appears, which makes this method most efficient in killing off its follicles buried beneath your skin’s surface and exposed to laser light.

Blonde, red, white and grey hair do not contain enough pigment for laser hair removal to work effectively, which means they do not respond as well to treatment. Therefore, to maximize results of laser hair removal it is essential that darker, more pigmented locks be present so as to optimize treatment outcomes.

If your laser hair removal treatment isn’t working as promised, it is crucial that you find a highly trained and experienced practitioner in this procedure. Furthermore, requesting references from previous clients so you can learn about their experiences is advised as well. Also before beginning treatment it would be prudent to speak to the practitioner and ensure they fully understand how best to perform this procedure and avoid any mishaps during your session.

3. You Have Dark Skin

Laser hair removal initially proved successful on those with light skin and dark hair. This is because when laser light hits melanin pigment in your hair, it turns into heat that damages its roots follicles – eventually stopping future hair growth altogether and often becoming permanent for people with darker skin tones.

Laser hair removal does work for people with darker skin tones; in fact, many clinics specialize in it specifically such as Le Parlour NYC Laser Spa. When selecting your practitioner it is essential that they possess adequate experience as there have been lawsuits due to improper training of laser hair removal practitioners; do your research and select someone experienced enough in this treatment method.

Removing hair with laser can be problematic for people with darker skin due to the type of laser being used, since not all have wavelengths that will work effectively across all skin tones. Therefore, it is crucial that you conduct research to identify clinics which use only cutting-edge equipment for successful results.

Be sure to return on time for treatments, since missing too many sessions could cause your hairs to enter telogen phase and cannot be treated, delaying your results and necessitating further treatments in the future. Always shave prior to treatments and use recommended sunscreen.

4. You Have Uneven Skin Tone

Uneven skin tone is a widespread condition caused by sun damage or other external sources, but can also result in temporary changes that last up to six months or permanently change your color. One form of this discoloration known as hyperpigmentation happens when too much melanin, the pigment that gives hair and skin its hue, is produced. This leads to dark spots or blotches on your skin that make you appear older than you really are.

Attaining an even skin tone requires several strategies, such as using high-quality sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and staying out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Furthermore, skin brightening treatments may help lighten dark patches and even out your complexion more evenly. Finally, to further prevent unevenness by eating healthily you should include plenty of fruits and vegetables, along with foods rich in vitamin C, niacin, and zinc into your daily diet.

Laser hair removal works by targeting melanin in your hair follicles with pulses of light that transform into heat, damaging their structure and stopping production of new hair follicles. Since hair grows in stages, multiple treatments may be necessary before all unwanted hair has been eliminated from your body; however, an uneven skin tone could prevent its light from being evenly absorbed by both hair and skin.

To reduce this risk, it is vital that you find a dermatologist experienced with laser hair removal treatment and knowledgeable about different types of lasers and their uses. Furthermore, research the background of your laser hair removal practitioner as well as reading reviews written by previous patients online.

5. You Have Poor Hair Growth Rate

Laser hair removal is a popular semi-permanent option that works by damaging melanin (or pigment) in unwanted follicles, discouraging future growth. While treatment feels similar to receiving multiple stings at once (some describe it as feeling like rubber bands snapping against your skin), results may take time but can be significant over time.

However, like any treatment option, it doesn’t always work–there may be multiple reasons for this to be the case for you.

One of the primary factors preventing laser hair removal from working properly is improper preparation or post-treatment care of the area being targeted. Shaving should take place 1-2 days prior to treatments in order to remove all hairs from follicles and allow energy to absorb into pigment in hair cells more readily. Also avoid waxing or plucking in between sessions as these methods could set back laser hair removal progress further.

Reasons that laser hair removal might not work include not getting treatments from an experienced practitioner. While using older laser equipment may save time and effort for some clinics and spas, it is vital that your practitioner has an in-depth knowledge of how different devices function and the energy output they provide.

Your practitioner should always be registered with a body that oversees training and registration of laser hair removal practitioners, which shows they have received rigorous training to treat different skin tones and hair colors effectively.

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