What happens if hair doesn’t fall out after laser hair removal? | Skin Perfection (2024)

After a laser hair removal session, it’s common to see hair shedding from the treated areas. This process can take up to two weeks post-treatment. However, what happens if the hair doesn’t fall out after laser hair removal?

How does laser work?

First, it’s crucial to understand that laser hair removal isn’t an instant process. The laser works by targeting the pigment in hair follicles, damaging them to prevent future growth. This damage causes the hairs to shed over a period of time, but it doesn’t instantly remove them. Please do not expect to see instant hair removal like you would get with waxing, as its a totally different concept.

What happens if the hair doesn’t fall out after laser hair removal?

If the hair doesn’t seem to be shedding, there could be a few reasons for this.

  • It might be that not enough time has passed post-treatment for the hair to shed.
  • Or it could mean that the laser wasn’t able to effectively target the hair follicles because it wasn’t in the right growth phase yet, so the laser couldn’t treat it. But don’t worry if you attend regular treatments this hair will be captured during your next session.

If you notice hair not shedding a couple of weeks after your treatment, it’s important not to forcefully remove it by waxing or plucking. This could disrupt the natural hair growth cycle, which could affect the success of future treatments.

The best course of action is to consult with your laser hair removal expert. They can assess your progress and adjust your treatment plan if necessary. Visiting a reputable clinic, such as a leading laser hair removal clinic in London, ensures you’re in the hands of experienced professionals who can provide personalised advice and treatment.

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What happens if hair doesn’t fall out after laser hair removal? | Skin Perfection (2024)

FAQs

What happens if hair doesn’t fall out after laser hair removal? | Skin Perfection? ›

If you notice hair not shedding a couple of weeks after your treatment, it's important not to forcefully remove it by waxing or plucking. This could disrupt the natural hair growth cycle, which could affect the success of future treatments. The best course of action is to consult with your laser hair removal expert.

Why is my hair not shedding after laser? ›

Why Doesn't Hair Fall Out After a Laser Removal Procedure? It's possible that the hair hasn't had sufficient time to shed after treatment. Alternatively, the laser may not have effectively targeted the hair follicles if they weren't in the right growth phase at the time of treatment.

Why is my hair not going away with laser? ›

The growth cycle is the reason why it could take between 6 and 8 sessions before the hair follicles have been destroyed. Each treatment area has its own unique growth cycle, and hair growth in the upper lip can be four weeks, and the cycle for the legs can take between 8 and 10 weeks.

Why didn't my laser hair removal last? ›

If you saw a less than stellar result on your last treatments it could have been due to not being in the hair growth stage in the cycle during time of procedure. Hormonal imbalance while undergoing laser treatments can stimulate increased hair regrowth.

Is it normal for laser hair removal not to work? ›

It's extremely rare that laser doesn't work. Although it's known that while for some patients minimal amount of sessions are sufficient for others double the amount may be needed. This can even be the case with your own body, where one area will respond a lot quicker while other prove to be more stubborn.

Why am I still hairy after laser? ›

No one actually knows why this happens with laser patients, but after treatment, the laser can do the opposite of what you're expecting and actually stimulate hair growth. And, if that wasn't enough, the hair can actually come back thicker and darker!

How to encourage hair to fall out after laser? ›

Exfoliate gently: Two to three days after your treatment, start gentle exfoliation to help remove dead skin cells and expedite hair shedding. Use a soft washcloth or an exfoliating scrub designed for sensitive skin.

How can I tell if laser hair removal is working? ›

You'll first see hair falling out of treated areas within a day or two. Soon after that, you'll notice smoother skin.

Can I pull loose hairs out after laser? ›

Pulling out loose hair after a laser hair removal session is not recommended. It disrupts the hair growth cycle; when hairs are loose it means the hair is in its cycle of removal. If it's removed before it dies on its own, it could stimulate hair to grow again.

Why did my hair grow so fast after laser? ›

The laser is most effective on hairs in the anagen phase, meaning hairs in other stages will not be as affected and will continue to grow. This can give the impression that your hair is growing back quickly post-treatment. Hormonal changes – Hormonal changes can also affect hair growth.

What is the success rate of laser hair removal? ›

You can expect a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after the first treatment. To remove the hair, most patients need 2 to 6 laser treatments. After finishing the treatments, most patients do not see any hair on the treated skin for several months or even years.

What happens if I stop laser hair removal after 3 sessions? ›

If you stop laser hair removal too early, you'll likely be left with something around the percentage that is there now. Once the particular follicle is dead it won't regrow, but new ones can be triggered by hormonal changes.

Why won't my hair shave off after laser? ›

If you feel like your hair isn't shedding at all, this could be due to a few factors. In some cases, the hair may be too light, the treatment intensity too low, or the hair might be in the wrong growth stage. Our laser hair removal experts can assess your progress and make necessary adjustments to your treatment.

Why isn't my laser hair falling out? ›

Hair does fall out after one laser treatment for many people, but it doesn't happen immediately. Each treatment session hits just 15% of the hair in the treated area. This isn't a knock-on laser hair removal or IPL treatment; it's just how the different phases of hair regrowth work.

Why am I not seeing any results from laser hair removal? ›

First, the number of sessions completed is a factor. If you have only attended a few sessions, one of the most likely reasons to why you have yet to see a desired response to laser hair removal is that you need more treatment sessions.

Why is my laser hair growth not working? ›

You might have a hormonal imbalance:

One of the top reasons why Laser hair removal doesn't work boils down to hormones. Yes, believe it or not hormonal conditions can lead to ineffective hair removal. Our hormones encourage hair growth with the most common one being testosterone.

How long does it take for hair to shed after laser hair removal? ›

5-19 Days Post-1st Treatment

The destroyed hair follicles eventually give-way and the hair begins to shed and fall. Clients can expect to see hair-thinning and patchiness; some areas may even appear completely hair-free.

Why is my hair not falling out after IPL? ›

After IPL hair removal

Any hair that does not fall out was either too fine, too light, too deeply rooted or possibly wasn't treated. After the hair falls out you should have a hair free period for approximately 3 to 6 weeks.

Will hair still shed if I shave after laser? ›

The hairs that fall out are the ones that were damaged by the laser and will no longer come back. Before you shave, consider exfoliating the skin to get all of the damaged hair out. This step isn't necessarily a requirement, but it will make your shave more effective by doing so.

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