How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment, or melanin, in the hair follicle. The laser energy is absorbed by the hair and converts to heat, safely reducing the follicle’s ability to produce new hair.

Just as darker colors absorb more heat from sunlight, the melanin in the hair absorbs the laser energy, allowing the follicle to be treated effectively while the surrounding skin remains unharmed[10].

This procedure is commonly known as laser hair removal, but the hair itself isn’t actually being removed. Rather, the laser technology reduces the number of hair follicles and their ability to produce hair by 75% to 90%.

Following a series of treatments, the remaining hair grows finer in thickness because of the reduction in follicle size. Hairs will appear lighter in color and grow back very slowly, decreasing the amount of maintenance for the patient post-treatment.

Patients will never achieve 100% hair reduction, and WIFH will never guarantee 100% hair reduction. Patients who hear of such promises from other practitioners should not believe these claims[11].