How Does Laser Hair Removal Work? A Simple Guide
If you’ve never had laser hair removal before, you may be wondering what actually happens during a treatment.
Unlike shaving or waxing, laser hair removal doesn’t simply remove the hair that you can see on the surface of the skin. Instead, laser treatment targets the hair follicle beneath the skin, using controlled light energy to reduce its ability to produce hair. It might sound complicated, but the basic idea is actually quite simple.
Here’s how it works.
How does laser hair removal work?
Laser hair removal uses concentrated light energy to target the pigment, known as melanin, found in the hair.
When the laser is delivered to the skin, the light is absorbed by the pigment in the hair. This light energy is converted into heat, which travels down towards the hair follicle. The heat targets the follicle and damages the structures responsible for producing the hair.
Over time, this can result in hair growing back finer, lighter and less noticeably. So rather than simply cutting or pulling the hair away, laser hair removal works by targeting the follicle itself.
Why does the laser target the hair?
The key to laser hair removal is melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives your hair its colour.
The laser energy is attracted to this pigment, allowing the hair follicle to be targeted while the surrounding skin is carefully protected. This is why laser hair removal is very different from shaving. Shaving simply cuts the hair at the surface.
Laser treatment goes further by targeting the follicle underneath the skin.
What happens to the hair follicle?
When the laser energy reaches the hair follicle, it is converted into heat. This heat damages the follicle’s ability to produce a strong, healthy hair. As treatment progresses, the hair that does grow back can become:
- Finer
- Lighter
- Slower growing
- Less dense
- Less noticeable
The result is less unwanted hair and less hair to maintain.
Why doesn’t laser hair removal damage the skin?
This is where the technology and treatment settings really matter. The aim isn’t to heat the entire surface of the skin. The laser is carefully selected and adjusted so that the energy is absorbed by the intended target – the pigment in the hair follicle.
Laser 99 uses the Candela GentleMax Pro, a medical-grade laser system designed to treat a wide range of skin types and hair.
The system combines Alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser wavelengths, giving the treatment flexibility to be adapted according to the individual.
This is particularly important because everyone’s skin and hair are different.
Why is the laser adjusted for different areas?
Hair isn’t the same everywhere on your body. The hair on your legs can be completely different from the hair on your face, underarms or bikini area.
Hair thickness, density, colour and skin type can all vary between areas. That’s why laser treatment needs to be tailored accordingly. At Laser 99, treatment settings can be adjusted depending on the skin, hair, treatment area and individual response.
The aim is to use the appropriate treatment settings for the area being treated rather than approaching every part of the body in exactly the same way.
What does the cooling system do?
The GentleMax Pro also has a built-in cooling system called Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD).It delivers a short burst of cooling to the skin around the time of the laser pulse. This helps protect the surface of the skin while the laser energy targets the hair follicle. It’s one of the features that makes the GentleMax Pro particularly well suited to professional laser hair removal.
Why does hair grow back differently after laser?
Once a follicle has been successfully affected by laser treatment, it may no longer produce hair in the same way. The hair can become finer and less pigmented, and growth can become less noticeable.
This is one of the key differences between laser hair removal and temporary hair removal methods.
- Shaving removes the hair.
- Waxing removes the hair.
- Laser targets the follicle responsible for producing the hair.
That’s the fundamental difference
Laser 99
At Laser 99 in Peterborough, the process is centred around professional laser technology and personalised treatment.
The Candela GentleMax Pro provides the technology, while treatment settings can be tailored according to the individual. The skin and hair are assessed, the appropriate approach is selected and the laser is used to target the hair follicles within the treatment area.
The GentleMax Pro’s cooling system works alongside the laser to help protect and cool the skin.
The result? A treatment designed to gradually reduce unwanted hair while keeping the surrounding skin protected.
Laser Hair Removal in Peterborough
If you’re looking for laser hair removal in Peterborough, Laser 99 uses the medical-grade Candela GentleMax Pro to provide tailored laser hair removal treatments across a wide range of areas and skin types.
Based at Native Space, Bourges View Park in Peterborough, Laser 99 specialises in personalised laser hair removal, including treatments for the face, body, bikini and full body.
The clinic also has experience with more complex hair-growth concerns, including hormonal hair growth, PCOS-related hair growth and stubborn ingrown hairs. Every treatment is approached individually, because your skin and hair aren’t the same as anyone else’s.
Ready to find out how laser hair removal could work for you?
Understanding how laser hair removal works is a great place to start, but every person’s skin and hair is different. A consultation and patch test at Laser 99 in Peterborough gives you the opportunity to discuss your treatment area, understand the process and find out how a personalised treatment plan could work for you.
Ready to get started? Book your consultation and patch test with Laser 99 today.
