Why doesn’t laser hair removal work? 5 unclear reasons

The laser hair removal course is almost completed, but the result is different from what you wanted? Don’t be quick to blame the studio or the artist. The effect of the procedures may not be present for many reasons. We talked about the most common ones with Kira Dolgova, co-founder of the international network of Laser Love clinics and co-founder of the premium beauty co-working space “Aykravo”.

Kira Dolgova

Wrong preparation for laser hair removal

Preparation for laser epilation is a simple but important process. As a result, failure to follow the recommendations will reduce the effectiveness of the procedure and increase the risk of burns. Therefore, remember two important rules:

— Napping and electrolysis are contraindicated for 3-4 weeks before laser epilation. When we remove the hairs from the roots before the procedure, the device stops seeing them and cannot get rid of them. This reduces the effectiveness of the procedure.

— Remove hair using a shaver 1-2 days before your laser epilation visit. This will help make the procedure more effective.

Taking hormonal drugs or medications

Some medications and supplements awaken dormant follicles. These include hormonal drugs, B vitamins and other microelements. In such a case, the effect of laser epilation may be less obvious than expected. If you are taking medications to treat hormone imbalances, consult your doctor and discuss the possibility of laser hair removal on a case-by-case basis.

Interruption of a procedure or non-compliance with the schedule

Session intervals are determined individually by the specialist according to the patient’s phototype and hair structure. For example, an interval of 3-4 weeks should be maintained between the first and second procedures, and the interval should be increased by 1-2 weeks at each subsequent visit within the course. On average, a full course requires 7-10 visits to the salon, but everything is individual.

The number of procedures and the interval between them are important in each case. If you ignore the “schedule” calculated by a specialist, your hair will begin to grow and harden faster, and the visibility of laser epilation will decrease several times. When we stop staying the course and skip visits, the body begins to restore normal hair growth by stimulating dormant hair follicles. That’s why it is very important to follow the program determined by your master.

Incorrect laser settings according to skin phototype

Laser hair removal devices are often customized according to the customer’s needs. When preparing for the procedure, you need to take into account the amount of melanin in the hair itself and the amount of melanin in the epidermis (this is the phototype). The power and frequency of the laser device program should be adjusted according to the skin phototype and should always be selected individually. This depends on the treatment area, the density of hair growth, the number of epilation sessions performed and the pain threshold. Thanks to these parameters, the specialist can set the necessary power, duration and frequency of flashes to most accurately affect the follicles and at the same time protect the epidermis.

hormonal background

Hormones are biologically active substances that regulate physiological processes in the body, including directly affecting hair growth and hair loss. The maximum activity of the human hormonal system is recorded in the reproductive age – on average from 18 to 35 years. Therefore, hair growth is maximum during this period, which means more laser hair removal sessions may be needed.

Our hormonal levels also change during pregnancy, breastfeeding, stress, hormone imbalance and adolescence. These factors can also trigger body hair growth and affect the visibility of the result.