Why Does Hair Length Matter for Laser Hair Removal?

If you are using a laser service, you must have been confused about what the ideal hair length is for laser hair removal. Or when should you prepare to shave before the laser session? Many patients are curious to know whether they should grow out their hair before laser treatment or not. Let’s get answers to these.

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: What Will Happen If I Use laser On Lengthy Hairs?
• Part 2: How Can I Get Ideal Hair Length For Laser Hair Removal Naturally?
• Part 3: How Can I Get The Ideal Hair Length For Hair Removal?
• Part 4: Misconceptions About Hair Length For Laser Hair Removal
• Part 5: Conclusion
• Part 6: FAQs
  

What Will Happen If I Use laser On Lengthy Hairs? 

Laser works to target the hair follicles with light energy to minimize hair growth. However, a number of factors, most importantly the length of the hair, can affect laser efficacy.

The Reaction Of Long Hairs To Laser

The light energy that is emitted from the laser devices does not harm the skin, which is why you do not see any damage to the epidermis or dermis layers of the skin. The tingling sensations you feel while using a laser are due to damage to the hair follicle. However, hair lengths that are present above the skin surface are very efficient at converting light energy into heat and then dissipating it into the air. When laser light energy targets long hairs, the long hair shafts absorb the energy and use it to curl and burn themselves instead of converting it to heat energy to destroy follicles. Thus, this affects the efficacy of laser hair-removing devices.

Instead, burning hairs can lead to skin irritation, redness, discomfort or even blistering in some cases. 

Patchy Results 

Some areas receive optimal energy to target follicles, while at other places, long hairs may block the follicle damage, as the mechanism mentioned above can lead to patchy results. Such inconsistent results may need further sessions to achieve the desired outcomes.

It is important for a professional or an individual laser practitioner to observe the hair length before the laser treatment and to shave or trim the areas with excessive hair growth. This will help you to ensure the safety and efficacy of the treatment procedure.  

How Can I Get Ideal Hair Length For Laser Hair Removal Naturally? 

The efficacy and result of the laser hair removal technique are dependent on the length of the hair. To know exactly when to target a hair follicle in its natural growth to get expected outcomes, it is important to understand the hair growth cycle.

Growth Phase or Anagen Phase of hair

It is known as the active phase of hair, and it lasts for two to three weeks for body hairs. 

During this phase, the hair shaft is connected to the papilla inside the follicle. This little growing hair matrix or shaft is concentrated with melanin pigment, making it the ideal phase with hair at the ideal length for laser treatments. When laser therapy is done during this phase, melanin pigment strongly converts and transfers this energy to the papilla, thus leading to the destruction of follicle cells. 

Catagen and Telogen Phases 

During these phases, the hair stops growing and the hair follicle begins to shrink and become inactive. As a result, there is detachment of the hair shaft from the follicle. Laser is not recommended during these phases because the hair shaft is not attached to the follicle, there is less melanin and the follicle is in the resting phase. Long hairs will only curl and burn with laser during these phases. 

How Can I Get The Ideal Hair Length For Hair Removal? 

The ideal hair length should be as close as possible to the skin surface but not above the skin. To get this optimal hair length before laser treatments, you can 

Shave 

You can use an electrical trimmer, a shaving blade, or scissors to maintain this manageable hair length for laser hair removal. 

Freshly shaved skin is ideal for the treatment but it may increase the sensitivity of the skin in some people. Therefore, it is recommended to shave 12 to 48 hours before the appointment. 

Waxing, Plucking or Tweezing 

Always avoid procedures like waxing, plucking, tweezing or any other hair-removing technique that involves removing the hair from the roots. When the root of the hair is already uprooted, laser is not effective. 

However, If you are addicted to waxing, then you can wax at least one week before having the laser treatment appointments. This will ensure the regrowth of hair in its anagen phase. 

Misconceptions About Hair Length For Laser Hair Removal 

People have a lot of misconceptions about hair length and hair removal laser treatments. Some believe that only long hair will give them better results. They feel more heat and a tingling sensation with long hairs to satisfy themselves with the treatment but this is not the case. 

Some people believe that shaving always stimulates hair growth and makes the hair grow thicker. But it is important to know that shaving is a superficial process that does not alter the anatomy of follicles or does not cause any follicular trauma like waxing, threading or tweezing. Therefore, it is a myth that shaving leads to thicker hair growth. However, it is important to get specific hair length for laser treatments to get the results and shaving is a safe choice. 

Conclusion

Long hairs can significantly decrease the effectiveness of the laser hair-removing devices, as they may curl the hair above the skin rather than targeting the hair follicle directly. Therefore, it is important to get manageable hair length for laser hair removal to achieve optimal results and target the follicle cells. Shaving serves as a good option to shorten the long hairs before getting laser treatment.

FAQs

When should I shave before laser appointments? 

You can adjust your time depending on your shaving reaction time. To get ideal results, it is recommended to shave the treatment area 12 to 48 hours before the laser treatment session to reduce the red bumps that form immediately after the shaving. 

During which phase of the hair growth cycle is laser hair removal most effective? 

The anagen phase is the ideal stage for laser hair removal because it ensures that the hair is at the right length and has enough melanin pigment to effectively target the hair follicle. However, multiple sessions are still necessary to achieve the expected outcomes.

What is the recommended hair length for laser hair removal?

If the hairs in the treatment area are long, it is recommended to trim or shave them to a manageable length. Most commonly to a quarter of an inch or shorter. (1-2mm)