What happens to the hair of the first laser hair removal procedure? How long does it take for the skin to become smooth and the hairs to disappear forever?

Long before the first procedure, patients are concerned with the question: “How many days does it take for hair to fall out after laser hair removal?” The desire to quickly see and feel smooth skin causes impatience. But professionals recommend calmly waiting for the desired result.

Hair after laser hair removal: let's start with theory

The principle of operation of the laser is based on the destruction of hair stem cells by heating the melanin in them. The speed of this process and the choice of intensity of the working radiation of the device is influenced by a number of factors:
Hair type (soft, hard).
Color (light, dark, red).
Growth zone (dependent and independent of hormone levels).
Hair growth stage.

Not all hairs are equally susceptible to laser treatment. To understand why hair is not immediately removed after laser hair removal, you need to understand the principles of its structure and development. Each hair has three stages of its life cycle:
1. Anagen is a period of active cell division and development of the hair follicle.
2. Catagen is the stage of cessation of hair nutrition and the death of its follicle.
3. Telogen – the phase of “sleep” and gradual rejection of the hair shaft.

The laser beam has the maximum effect on hairs in the anagen phase - active growth. During this period, their structure is saturated with melanin along the entire length. When heated by the laser, the hair is destroyed down to the root. After laser hair removal, the hair root loses nutrition and gradually dies, and then the shaft is pushed out by skin cells.

After laser hair removal, hair falls out within 7-10 days

The result of the first procedure is the complete removal of all growing hairs in the treated area. Of the total “volume” of hair, this can be, depending on the zone, from 15 to 30% of hairs. With each subsequent session, there will be less and less hair on the body, and the intervals between sessions will be longer. On hormone-dependent areas of the body (in the armpits, in the bikini area, in men - in the cheeks and chin), there is more hair in the anagen stage, they can make up from 30 to 50% of the total volume, respectively, and the visual effect after the first session can be more tangible.

The process of hair loss is unnoticed and painless. After the first laser hair removal, hair falls out gradually over 7-10 days, leaving behind areas of perfectly smooth skin.

How many days does it take for hair to fall out completely after laser hair removal?

To accurately answer the question: “How long does it take for hair to fall out completely after laser hair removal?”, you need to know all the individual characteristics of the patient. Laser hair removal at Epilike has the following features:
To remove the maximum possible amount of hair, an average of 4-6 procedures are needed.
In total, up to 90% of hair is removed during the course.
From session to session it can take from 3 weeks to 2 months.
A full course of hair removal can take 6-12 months.
After a course of hair removal, you can forget about the problem of unwanted hair for 1-3 years.
If necessary, the procedure is repeated, removing single hairs approximately once every six months to a year.

With LightSheer DUET, the skin remains smooth and soft for a long time!

Laser hair removal: tested on yourself – Epilation

When men, complaining about their hard lot, sigh: “You don’t need to shave every day!”, I want to strangle the mourner. Because my consumption of blades and shaving gel is much greater than that of my “strong” half and I also have to use the barber’s home arsenal every day.

This man may not think about smooth legs, shorten his hair in the groin area only when it starts to bother him, and casually show off his overgrown armpit. But the natural hairiness of a beautiful lady is usually perceived as a flaw. And there’s nothing you can do, you have to fight it.

Consultation with a dermatologist

The laser hair removal procedure involves the destruction of hair follicles. At the same time, there is no destructive effect on the skin. By exposing the hair follicle to a laser, the hair is destroyed, falls out and no longer grows. The laser destroys the dark pigment melanin in the hair.

MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT LASER EPILATION

To completely get rid of hair (from 70 to 95 percent), you need to undergo a course of procedures at intervals of 1.5 to 3 months.

In cosmetology clinics they promise that after several sessions the hair will not grow back for 2-5 years, but is that really true?

1. Herpes, purulent skin rashes

3. Presence of cancerous tumors

4. Tanned, dark skin

5. Infectious processes in the acute stage

6. Pregnancy and lactation

7. Predominantly grey, red or blond hair in the treated area

Relative contraindications

1. Varicose veins

2. Abundance of moles, warts, age spots

3. Presence of injuries, abrasions and cuts on the skin

4. Respiratory viral infections

5. Allergic reactions in the acute stage

6. Hormonal disorders

7. Poor tissue regeneration

8. Menstruation

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of laser hair removal

Laser hair removal is a fairly effective method of hair removal. Its use solves the problem of excess hair in unusual places, especially in women - on the face, neck and chest. During the procedure, patients experience minimal discomfort. Hair above the upper lip can be removed in just 20 minutes, and in the bikini area in 1-1.5 hours. In addition, laser hair removal is carried out regardless of the time of year, only a few weeks before it is not recommended to actively sunbathe in the sun without using protective cosmetics.

The laser beam has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, so allergic reactions after laser hair removal occur extremely rarely. When carrying out the procedure using high-quality equipment, the skin is absolutely not injured, since the laser radiation is completely absorbed by the dark pigment of the hairs and does not affect the surrounding skin.

Compared to bioepilation (hair removal with wax, caramel and resin), a laser device causes less pain to patients. And the result lasts for life if you carry out several high-quality procedures. Mechanical shaving leads to inflammation and ingrown hairs, which does not happen with laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is very similar to photoepilation, but scientists have noticed that the effectiveness of laser radiation is much higher.

If you want to get rid of excess hair, then you need to know the difference between photoepilation and laser hair removal.

Laser hair removal uses monochrome radiation - this is light with a fixed wavelength. The effectiveness of laser treatment on hair is based on the fact that all the energy falls on waves of a certain length. Therefore, using a laser, you can select the wavelength individually, taking into account the individual characteristics of a person: hair color, skin type and condition, and predict the results of its impact. Laser radiation affects only the hair and does not injure the skin, and also does not cause allergic reactions or irritations, which is confirmed by reviews of this procedure.

Most often, an alexandrite laser is used for laser hair removal; its radiation wavelength is 755 nm, since this type of laser is considered the most effective and safe, even when used on light and sensitive skin.

Photoepilation systems use krypton lamps with a wide range of radiation to influence hair. This range also covers ultraviolet and infrared radiation, so during hair removal it is necessary to use light filters to block radiation waves that are dangerous to humans. The radiation range effective for removing unwanted hair is from 600 to 1200 nm. In this case, it is almost impossible to avoid heating the tissues, which can cause microburns on sensitive skin, but this does not prevent the use of this procedure in the bikini area. Therefore, before undergoing the photoepilation procedure, it is necessary to consult a doctor and study reviews about photoepilation.

What is the difference between elos hair removal and laser hair removal?

Elos hair removal is one of the most modern methods of removing unwanted hair, with which you can achieve a complete cessation of hair growth or a significant slowdown in the rate of its growth. To achieve this effect, it is necessary to undergo several elos hair removal procedures. The number of these procedures is determined individually depending on the amount of hair, genetic and hormonal characteristics of the body, as well as skin type.

Elos hair removal, unlike laser hair removal. Therefore, Elos hair removal is used for the most sensitive areas of the skin - the face, bikini area. Reviews of this procedure are based on the action of not only a light pulse, but also a current. During hair removal with Elos, discomfort is minimized - the patient feels only a slight tingling sensation in most cases.

Before carrying out the laser hair removal procedure, you must:

Refrain from sunbathing for some time: do not sunbathe on the beach or in the solarium for approximately 4-6 weeks, and in the summer constantly use safe tanning products.
For 2.5 months before the procedure, it is prohibited to carry out any methods of hair removal (waxing, sugaring, etc.). Only shaving is allowed.
If you are prone to herpes, then start taking antiviral drugs 3-5 days in advance, even if there is no obvious sign of the disease.
Those with dark skin are recommended to treat their skin with whitening creams for 1-1.5 months. According to experts, this improves hair removal results.

In addition to the mandatory implementation of these points, it is recommended to consult a doctor to find out the causes of excess hair growth (if such is present, of course). And most importantly, the procedure should be carried out only in specialized clinics and offices, and only by experienced specialists. There is no such thing as laser hair removal at home, and if someone offers such a procedure “at home,” we recommend that they bypass this specialist.

Precautions for laser hair removal

since the procedure is painful, it is necessary to take care of anesthesia, which can be used in the form of an anesthetic cream applied an hour before the session;
it is necessary to use special protective glasses during manipulation;
the skin should be clean and dry;
the duration of the session depends on the area that needs to be treated;
When the manipulation is completed, a special anti-inflammatory, softening and moisturizing agent is applied to the treated areas.

How to care for your body after hair removal

After removing unnecessary vegetation, redness of the skin may occur, which can last from several hours to a day. You can relieve painful symptoms with the help of sedatives, for example, Panthenol spray, ice or soothing wipes. Typically, such phenomena occur extremely rarely after using rays, so there is no need for these actions.

- It depends on what for. An epilator is a unique alternative to an electric razor. The principle of operation of any device is as follows: several pairs of metal disks rotate and, in contact, grab the hairs like tweezers, removing them from the roots.

The advantages of such machines are not only that they pull out hundreds of hairs per second, but also their long-lasting effect. The hair regrowth period extends for a month. Although the epilation process takes two to three times longer, which at first glance may seem like a minus, you should take into account the fact that on average you have to shave your legs with a machine 8 times a month, and use an epilator 3 times every 2 months.

The disadvantage of such hair removal is the pain and duration of the procedure, especially in delicate and sensitive areas. Therefore, when choosing an epilator, you should pay attention to the presence of pain-relieving components in it: cooling, massage, skin stretching system.

Cooling occurs using removable water containers, which are pre-frozen and then inserted into the device. Simultaneously with epilation, a cooling process of the skin occurs, which reduces pain. Some epilator models come with a special cooling glove with gel that can be used several times.

The cost of laser hair removal depends on the area being treated. Accordingly, it can vary significantly for different zones.

Average prices for laser hair removal in Moscow range from 1-2 thousand rubles for small areas (upper lip, shoulder, hand) to 3-6 thousand for more voluminous ones (thigh, lower leg, bikini area). And completely getting rid of hair on a man’s back or chest can cost 7-10 thousand rubles.

And have a completely smooth body.

But the reviews of some clients of aesthetic cosmetology centers raise doubts, since about 20% of girls claim that hair growth increases after laser hair removal. Before signing up for the procedure, you need to figure out how long hair does not actually grow after laser hair removal, what the effect depends on, and what mistakes can lead to the lack of the desired effect.

It is believed that treatment with a laser beam is the most effective method of combating excess hair. Before making an appointment, many women are interested in how many sessions will be needed to achieve ideal smoothness and whether hair growth is really delayed after laser hair removal.

Experts assure that the effect and speed of hair growth depend not only on the quality of the equipment used and the experience of the hairdresser himself, but also on the individual characteristics of the body:

genetic predisposition. If one of your closest relatives has thick body hair, the feature can be inherited;
color type Brunettes with dark skin have thicker hair and usually grow a little faster than girls with blond or brown hair;
hormonal background of the client;
the presence of endocrine diseases.

It is necessary to understand that after the first session, the skin will not be completely smooth in any case and the resulting effect will last for a short period. This is due to the fact that the laser beam only affects, but has virtually no effect on dormant follicles, which will also awaken a few days or weeks after treatment.

First procedure

On the Internet on forums you can find reviews that after laser hair removal, hair grows even faster and that laser hair removal does not help. This is due to the fact that the laser beam, in addition to removing growing hairs, activates the work of dormant bulbs, which is why new thin hairs appear on the skin. In subsequent sessions, these hairs are very easily removed.

How do hairs grow back after the first laser hair removal? After the first session, the hair on your legs and bikini area will grow almost the same as after sugaring. New hairs will emerge gradually, and the treated area will be covered with hairs again in about a month. The difference between these procedures is that after laser treatment, the hair will be thinner and lighter, and its growth rate will slow down significantly. After each session, the number of hairs will decrease by approximately 25%.

Series of treatments

If you complete the full course, the skin in the treated area will remain smooth for at least 4 years. If a woman initially had thin and sparse hairs, the effect can last up to 6-7 years. But experts warn that in order to achieve the desired result, you must complete the entire course, the duration and frequency of which is selected individually. If you interrupt it or go through the first few procedures, the result will be short-term, and after a few months the hairs will begin to grow again.

Important! To get rid of unwanted hairs in the bikini area, at least 7 sessions are usually required. For thighs and legs, 5-6 procedures are sufficient.

What does the result depend on?

Since laser hair removal is a radical way to combat unwanted hair, it will be possible to achieve smooth skin for several years in any case. Regardless of the type and thickness of the hair, the laser beam will in any case affect the follicle and destroy it under the influence of high temperature. Approximately 30% of the hair is immediately burned during treatment, and the hair follicles are also either partially damaged or destroyed.

Why is there no effect from laser hair removal? This often happens because women do not complete the course or ignore supporting procedures. Total methods for destroying hairs on the skin have not yet been developed, and even such a modern technique requires periodic correction.

For the effect to be permanent, you need to visit a cosmetologist at least once a year and undergo preventive procedures. How long should hair not grow after laser hair removal? Ideally, hair growth should stop completely for 4-6 years, but you need to understand that everything depends on the individual characteristics of the body.

In the practice of cosmetologists, there are also women who have not been helped by laser hair removal. The lack of effect after light radiation is due to the specifics of the organism. Doctors assure that such an individual feature is extremely rare, in less than 1% of clients, and is an exception to the rule.

Why hairs grow faster after laser

The light beam not only burns the hairs located on the surface of the skin, but also activates the work of dormant follicles and accelerates their growth. This explains why hair grows more after laser hair removal. Heat exposure leads to the awakening of almost all dormant hair follicles, which can cause double the rate of hair growth. There is no need to be afraid of such a reaction, since new vegetation will be easily removed during subsequent treatments.

Possible complications and side effects

Despite the fact that laser has proven itself to be excellent and still remains one of the most optimal procedures, the technique has certain contraindications that must be taken into account before signing up for a session. If the session is carried out ignoring contraindications or is performed by an inexperienced specialist, the risk of complications will be quite high. In addition, side effects may occur if the specialist did not take into account the type of skin and hair and turned on the wrong device mode, or the skin was treated with an insufficient amount of coolant.

The most common complications after a poorly performed procedure are:

In rare cases, after laser treatment, an increase in mole size may be observed. More often this happens in the absence of a full consultation and if the specialist did not cover it with special pads before treatment.

Nowadays, there are more and more different technologies. This also applies to the beauty industry. In particular, the issue of hair removal is relevant for many women around the world. Laser hair removal is gaining popularity as a means of helping to get rid of unwanted body hair for a long time.

Preparation

In order for the procedure to be successful, you must follow some rules:

Avoid exposure to direct sunlight on the skin at least two weeks before the start of the procedure. This applies to both visiting the beach and the solarium. You should also avoid wearing sunscreen.
A few weeks before laser hair removal, it is not recommended to perform other types of hair removal (except shaving). When using different devices for the procedure, it may be necessary to grow hair to a length of 3–5 mm.
3-5 days before the procedure, you should limit the contact of alcohol-containing products on the area of skin where laser hair removal will be performed.
Do not take tetracycline antibiotics or fluoroquinolones.

Do I need to shave my hair before laser hair removal or should I let it grow out? Approximately 4–8 hours in advance, the area to be treated should be thoroughly shaved. This is necessary so that the hairs are in the active growth stage. Do not apply creams, deodorants, etc. to the treated areas.

Operating principle

During the hair removal procedure, the hair follicles are exposed to laser. The beam travels 1–4 mm and is absorbed by melanin (human pigment) found in the body. Light energy turns into heat, the follicle and hair cells heat up, which leads to the destruction of the bulb.

However, you need to know that with laser hair removal, as with photoepilation, only the follicles that are in the active stage are affected, and it is they that are destroyed. According to statistics, there are approximately 30% of such “active” bulbs, the rest are inactive, so the laser will not have any effect on them.

Depending on the laser power, the structure of the hair follicle and the rate of hair growth, the required number of procedures is selected. On average, it will take 7-8 sessions to get rid of unwanted hair.

After the first procedure, pain may occur. This primarily depends on the sensitivity of the body, i.e. on the person’s pain threshold, as well as on the area of laser hair removal. For example, the bikini area is more sensitive than the legs. In the salon, you can additionally numb the area for hair removal to avoid discomfort.

Please note that only dark, coarse hair can be removed using laser hair removal. The laser is ineffective on light, vellus and gray hairs, because they contain a small dose of melanin.

Efficiency

Of course, laser hair removal is more effective than conventional hair removal with a razor or other methods of hair removal (sugaring, wax, creams). It not only eliminates ingrown hairs, but also eliminates unwanted hair for a long time. Does hair grow after laser hair removal? Of course, laser hair removal is not able to permanently get rid of unwanted hair. Although the destroyed follicles no longer grow, new hairs still appear after a while. Already from the first procedures, hair begins to grow less frequently and longer, which is a significant advantage.

Also, during laser treatment, some follicles may be in an inactive phase, so they will not be “treated.” Therefore, it will not be possible to remove all unwanted hair in one session; it will take time, approximately 8–24 months, this is the period of hair change. Typically, after 4 sessions, after 4 years less than 40% of the hair grows.

Also, the effectiveness of the procedure performed using a laser depends on other reasons, for example, the presence of endocrine or hormonal imbalances in the body. There are cases where hair suddenly began to grow again after pregnancy and childbirth due to a surge in hormones. Hair removal using a laser on tanned skin is possible, but only after at least 14 days.

Also, the result of hair removal is influenced by how accurately the cosmetologist’s recommendations on the frequency of procedures, preparation for them and post-epilation care are followed.

It should be noted that ingrown hairs, which often occur after waxing, do not occur with laser hair removal. This procedure is even recommended as a method to eliminate this manifestation.

Skin care after laser hair removal

After the procedure, you need to take care of the skin, apply various soothing creams of light texture. After laser hair removal, do not wet the treated areas for 24 hours, and do not rub with a washcloth for about 2 days.

Within 3 days after the procedure, you cannot:

Massage the epilated area.
Treat the skin with alcohol-containing tonics and lotions.
Visit a sauna, bathhouse, or swimming pool with chlorinated water.
Take a hot bath.

How long can you sunbathe after laser hair removal? The optimal period for which you need to abstain from tanning is 2 weeks. Regardless of the time of year, it is recommended to protect the treated area from the sun using creams with an SPF factor of at least 20–30.

After laser hair removal, do not try to pull out the remaining hair roots; remember that it will take 7–20 days for the hair follicle to completely die; after a week they will fall off on their own.

After the procedure, you must refrain from solarium or sunbathing for at least 10–14 days.

Side effects

If the rules for hair removal are not followed, various side effects may occur:

Burns. Due to poor quality equipment or incompetence of a specialist.
Folliculitis. Visiting a bathhouse or sauna before the procedure, tendency to sweat.
Allergic reactions.
Pigmentation.

Most often, after laser hair removal, the treated areas may turn slightly red; this visual defect will go away on its own over time.

Contraindications

Skin and inflammatory diseases.
Allergies.
Burns and abrasions on the skin.
Varicose veins.
Moles in the area of the procedure.
Diseases of the immune system.
Oncopathology.
Diabetes mellitus.

Laser hair removal is an affordable method of combating unwanted hair. In order for the procedure to be as effective as possible, you should carefully follow the cosmetologist’s recommendations for skin care before, during and after the procedure, and if there are contraindications, consult a doctor.

Mikhailova Ilona

Duration of laser hair removal

Feedback from women about the procedure is generally positive, but there are also dissatisfied clients who note its short-lived effect. Of course, you need to be realistic and not expect hair loss forever, although some manage to achieve such a result. Hoping for a certain result, you should take into account several factors influencing it.
Don’t forget that “you can’t go against nature.” It is quite difficult to get rid of what was inherent in a person in the womb. Therefore, laser hair removal does not guarantee permanent removal of body hair.
There are two concepts in cosmetology:

Temporary hair removal.
Long-term hair removal.

The first means that vegetation is temporarily absent, usually for one to three months.

The second means that the amount of hair on the body decreases over a period of one to two years.

If the desired result of laser hair removal is the destruction of the hair follicle and stopping hair growth for a long time, then this procedure must be repeated once every three to five years.

If you take into account the cost of laser hair removal, it becomes clear that getting rid of hair for a long time is not a cheap pleasure. This fact does not stop some women and they are ready to do anything for the sake of their own attractiveness. If you belong to the category of thrifty people, then most likely you will prefer a cheaper option, but inferior in efficiency by only one “step”. In this case, we mean the method of manual depilation using sticky paste.

Women are accustomed to performing this procedure at home on their own, and preference is given to the most comfortable products to use, such as Epilage paste. , you can easily in one of the online stores, but the original product can only be found on the official website.

Laser exposure

To understand how long laser hair removal lasts, you need to understand what happens to the hair follicle during laser radiation.
During operation of the device, a flash occurs. The hair instantly absorbs its light. The hair follicle dies due to the thermal effect converted from the laser beam. In addition, the destruction of the follicle is influenced by the “shock” wave that appears when energy is supplied.

Stages of growth

The stage of hair growth also has a significant influence. This has been proven by numerous studies. Destruction of the follicle is only possible if there is a pigmented hair shaft that is connected to the hair follicle. Hairs can be at different stages of growth, which is why they have different reactions to laser radiation.
Let's look at the stages of hair growth:

Anagen - duration, as a rule, is from one to two to five to seven years, it depends on the anatomical location. In this phase there is up to eighty-five percent vegetation. Hair actively grows and gains pigmentation. If exposed to laser during this period, a person can get the maximum desired result.
Catagen is the aging and degradation of the follicle that occurs over several weeks. The follicle is separated from the vessels that feed it, and preparations for death occur. Therefore, with laser hair removal, hair will fall out in the same way as during natural development. The follicle is not destroyed, so it will grow back over time.
Telogen is the resting stage in which about fifteen percent of the hair is located. At this stage, laser hair removal has no effect.

What determines the result of laser hair removal?

The effectiveness of the method may depend on:

hair growth phases. Laser hair removal is effective for at least one to two months, after which hair that was in the catagen and telogen phases begins to grow.
number of procedures. Do not forget that one session of laser hair removal is not enough. The required number of procedures is determined by the cosmetologist at the first consultation. It usually takes five to seven treatments to reduce the amount of unwanted body hair. After the first procedure, as a rule, there is no hair growth for several months. And five to seven sessions help remove hair for a long time.
type of device used. The type of laser plays an important role in body hair removal, for example, diode laser is used to remove light hair, and alexandrite and ruby laser are used for fine and coarse hair.
physiological characteristics. All types of laser are good at removing hair follicles in dark-haired people with fair skin. People of this type achieve the most maximum results from laser hair removal. It is most difficult for red and fair-haired clients to get the desired result from this procedure due to the small amount of melanin in the hair follicle. In this case, it is necessary to increase the number of procedures.
human hormonal background. In this matter, human hormones are also important. For example, if a person has increased hair growth due to male sex hormones, then it is necessary to treat the root cause. If a person’s hormonal background is in order, the result of laser radiation will be standard. But don’t be upset, as science is conducting research to solve this problem. The following solution is being considered: a dye is artificially introduced into the hair follicle.