A New You for the New Year

Does Laser Hair Removal Work On All Hair Types?

17 February 2016

Adam Newman

Laser hair removal is gaining widespread popularity as a permanent alternative to waxing or shaving, but its individual effectiveness may depend on your unique skin tone and hair qualities. Because the lasers used target melanin in your hair follicles, it can be difficult to target hairs that lack pigment, particularly if they are also very fine. That does not, however, mean that you are out of options. If you are interested in laser hair removal but aren't sure it will work with your body hair, read on to learn how you may still be eligible for the procedure. 

Black, Brown, and Red Hair

If you have dark, heavily pigmented hair and a light skin tone, you are likely an ideal candidate for laser hair removal. During the hair removal process, concentrated light is fired into individual hair follicles, where it heats up the hair in the follicle and permanently damages it. Light and the subsequent heat it creates are better absorbed by dark pigments, similar to how black asphalt heats up in the sun, which is why it is preferred for removal. Red hair is often borderline, depending on the shade, but it is usually easier to work with than blonde or gray hair. 

Blonde and Gray Hair

Blonde and gray hairs lack the pigments that trap light and heat, meaning it can be very difficult to eradicate them using standard laser wavelengths. This is especially true if your hair is also sleek and fine. Thankfully, technological improvements mean that many cosmetic clinics can now use high-intensity lasers to target fair hair safely and effectively. You may still want to run a patch test, where only a small section of hair is removed, to ensure that your results will be worth the effort. 

Coarse Hair 

Coarse hair is perfect for laser hair removal for the same reasons dark hair is. The thicker the hair, the more energy it can hold and the faster it can be heated and destroyed. You can usually find this type of hair on your legs, underarms and pubic area, but everyone is different. Laser hair removal can also be used to remove back hair and some facial hair, though great precautions must be made whenever using a laser around your eyes. 

Fine Hair 

Fine, downy hair, the type you may find on your face or the backs of your hands, is usually not a good target for laser hair removal. This may be frustrating if you have naturally fine leg hair, for example, but most hair of this type is already so inconspicuous that it rarely needs to be removed anyways. Even if you have nothing but fine, blonde hair, there is no need to give up on the idea of a permanent shaving solution. With recent advancements in technology opening up new possibilities all the time, don't hesitate to consult with your cosmetic procedure specialist to get a more personalized assessment of the hair you want removed and what can be done about it. 

For laser hair removal, contact a local company such as Power MD.

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