To get rid of unwanted hair permanently, Laser Hair Removal (although very high-tech) is one of the most popular choices. But the performance of Laser Hair Removal is dependent upon numerous points, including (i) the kind of laser being used, (ii) the color of your hair, (iii) the color / kind of your skin and (iv) the phase of the hair in the hair growth cycle.
There are 5 different types of lasers that are currently used to remove hair. The best laser type for you will depend on the combination of you hair color and skin type. And even if you get it right, you still might not be left with permanent hair removal in the short term. You see, the answer is in the hair growth cycle, and more specifically, what phase of the cycle your unrequired hair is in.... sounds complex - it is !
Before we learn about the hair growth cycle, it is critical to comprehend just how Laser Hair Removal literally works. That is, to comprehend exactly how you can accomplish permanent hair removal, acquiring an understanding of the laser process is crucial.
The laser process doesn't actually physically remove the unwanted hair. The energy from the laser actually travels through the skin, and is drawn in by the pigment in the hair follicle and shaft. When this energy is drawn into a hair, the follicles are damaged, which then impairs that distinct hairs ableness to grow. Eventually the hair will fall out, typically within a matter of weeks.
Getting an understanding of how the laser works is essential. You need to always remember that the laser does not just make the hair fall out on the spot. It actually impairs the capacity of a hair to grow, causing it to eventually fall out. Now that we have a brief understanding of how the laser performs, it is time to get an appreciation of how the hair growth cycle relates to the permanency of laser hair removal.
The stage of the hair in the growth cycle will ultimately determine if the hair removal will be permanent, or if another treatment will be required. You see, the hair growth cycle encompasses three stages, and the permanent nature of Laser Hair Removal is more probable when the hair is in one stage particularly - the growth stage.
A hair will go through 3 stages in its lifetime : (1) Active/Anagen (2) Regressive/Catagen (3) Resting/Telogen. Laser hair removal is more potent in the Anagen stage where the hair contains the most pigment, and is most sensitive to the laser light. If the laser treatment is applied when the hair is in either of the 2 other phases, then the likeliness of permanent hair removal is less.
Everyone's hair grows differently, and factors affecting hair growth include: age, weight, metabolism, hormones, genetics, medications and environmental influences. However, regardless of how these factors affect individual hair growth, hair itself grows through three differing phases:
1. The ACTIVE or ANAGEN growth phase, comprises approximately 85 % of our body hair at any given moment in time and can last up to several years. During this stage, the hair shaft and follicle has an opulence of pigment and is most affected by the laser light.
2. The REGRESSIVE or CATAGEN phase is the stage during which the hair stops actively growing but is not yet shed. This phase often lasts several weeks comprising about 3 - 4% of our total body hair at any given moment in time. The laser will work in this stage, but if it is late in this part of the cycle, a new hair might already be coming through and the new hair will not be affected by the laser.
3. The RESTING or TELOGEN phase lasts 5 - 6 weeks, at the end of which the hair falls out and the new hair appears. The new hair might not be affected by the laser because it will not have pigment in it yet, remembering that the laser actually relies on the pigment to find the hair. Approximately 10-13% of our body hair is in this phase at any one time.
Now that we have a brief understanding of the hair growth cycle, it must be asked, "Is Laser hair removal a permanent process?" The answer is Yes, Laser Hair Removal can absolutely provide a level of permanency. As you can see, if a hair in the Active/Anagen stage is subjected to the laser, then that hair will most likely be killed permanently. If a hair that is in either of the other 2 stages is subjected to the laser, then that hair will more than likely be killed, but the new hair coming through will still continue to grow.
So to get permanent removal of your unwanted hair, you will more than likely need a number of laser sessions. You could be lucky - your first Laser hair removal session will permanently remove all of your unrequired hair, but the likeliness is that you will need numerous sessions at set intervals to ensure that you get to the hair when it is in the first stage of growth. And that's all there really is to understand, permanent Laser Hair Removal is definitely achievable ! |
