When laser hair removal doesn’t work? | Skin Perfection (2024)

What can you do when laser hair doesn’t work? Well that’s definitely not something you want to ever hear after you’ve invested your precious time and money into the process. So before you start your journey let’s see what are the main factors that can have a direct impact on the success of your treatment. Some of these you may have control over. But there will be others simply out of your control such as underlaying medial conditions, hormonal imbalances. Although it doesn’t mean if you suffer from hormonal conditions that the treatment won’t work at all. But it’s important to get a good understanding of the theory behind the treatment so you know which factors you can influence.

How does laser hair removal work?

Laser hair removal provides safe, effective and long lasting results, leaving your skin smooth and hair free. 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 an other one prove to be more stubborn. This doesn’t mean the treatment doesn’t work, it means some areas need more treatment than others.

In most cases an investigation by your practitioner will discover the main reasons why your results may be hindered. And this will allow you to adjust your treatment plan accordingly.

When laser hair removal doesn’t work properly

1. The laser you’re treated with may not be the safest and most effective option for your skin type. This prevents your practitioner using higher levels and advanced settings that would be crucial for your final results.

Solution – Choose the right laser specific to your skin type. This will improve your changes of getting the best results while massively reducing the chance of you getting skin damage, which in some cases can be permanent.

2. Your treatments aren’t regular enough. As a result you hair cycles will overlap and the treatment won’t be as effective as it should be.

Solution – For the laser to destroy the root, the follicle has to be at a specific stage of its growth. So not too early and not too late. However not all your follicles are growing at the same speed. So during each session we’ll be targeting new hair cycles. Which is why you should attend your treatments regularly, in every 4-6 weeks. Remember if you treat too early or miss the cycle the treatment won’t be as effective. This information should be clearly explained during your initial consultation, so expectations are set right at the start.

3. Your hair may have blonde, red or grey pigment. This means the laser beam won’t reach the hair follicles.

Solution – Always attend an initial consultation that allows your practitioner to assess the colour and texture of your skin. Although our lasers work for all skin types, but will be less effective for patients with blonde, grey or red hair. As there is little or no pigment in the hair follicle for the laser to target.

4. You may be suffering from underlaying medical conditions. In some cases underlaying medical conditions, such as hormonal imbalance, PCOS may slow down the results of the treatment. As a result you may need more treatments compared to patients without these conditions.

Solution – As well as setting realistic expectations during your consultations you’ll be advised that you may need more treatments compared to patients without these conditions. To further investigate how you can balance your hormones we recommend you to consult you GP who will be able to provide treatment options for these specifically

To learn more about laser hair removal and how it would be beneficial for you, why not book a free consultation with my Expert team, who will take care of you every step of the way.

How to book an appointment?

As the first step of your hair removal journey at Skin Perfection London, we request that you attend a no obligations consultation and skin test.Firstly, this gives you the opportunity to learn more about the process. How does laser hair removal work? Why is it effective? How many treatments you need? What’s the best laser for your skin type? How to prepare your skin for the treatment? And what to be aware of before undergoing laser hair removal. Finally to confirm suitability we’ll carry out a quick patch test.

We are looking forward to welcoming you at SP. Our highly trained and skilled aesthetic practitioners have many years of experience, so you can be confident you’re in the best hands. And, you can be sure, you’ll always have a stress-free relaxing experience.

Contact our team today to book an appointment.

When laser hair removal doesn’t work? | Skin Perfection (2024)

FAQs

When laser hair removal doesn’t work? | Skin Perfection? ›

Your treatments aren't regular enough. As a result you hair cycles will overlap and the treatment won't be as effective as it should be. Solution – For the laser to destroy the root, the follicle has to be at a specific stage of its growth. So not too early and not too late.

What happens if laser hair removal doesn't work? ›

You may be suffering from underlaying medical conditions. In some cases underlaying medical conditions, such as hormonal imbalance, PCOS may slow down the results of the treatment. As a result you may need more treatments compared to patients without these conditions.

Why is my laser hair removal machine not working? ›

You're Not Using IPL As Intended

If you're not seeing the results you want or your IPL device is not flashing, check your user manual to make sure you're using the device properly. Note that for safety purposes, most IPL devices will not flash or pulse unless they're placed flush against the skin.

Why is my hair not going away with laser? ›

You didn't time your treatments correctly:

This will affect your results. If the laser is pass to quickly over the skin the energy from the laser will not be absorbed correctly. As a result you will notice some patches were missed of hair are growing back a lot faster than others.

What does it mean if your hair doesn t fall out after laser? ›

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.

Why does laser not work on some people? ›

The laser targets the melanin (pigment) in the hair follicles, so when the hair is too light or too closely matched to the skin tone, the laser may struggle to distinguish between the two. As a result, people with light-coloured or blonde hair often experience less effective results.

Why am I still hairy after laser hair removal? ›

Patients may notice more hair 1 – 3 weeks after laser hair removal sessions as follicles in the growing cycle begin to shed. During this process, exfoliating the skin, once swelling and redness have dissipated, can help hairs shed faster, leaving skin feeling smoother.

How do you fix a laser that wont work? ›

When Your Laser Tube is Lighting Up But Nothing is Happening:
  1. 1) Check Material Compatibility. Not all materials are laser compatible. ...
  2. 2) Check Material Settings. It's possible your material settings are too low in the software. ...
  3. 3) Check Mirror Alignment. ...
  4. 4) Check Tube Life. ...
  5. 5) Check Beam Combiner.

How do you know if your laser is not working? ›

When do you know if laser hair removal is not working? If you have had 5-6 sessions and you haven't seen any reduction in growth then that's something to consider.

Why is my laser hair removal not permanent? ›

This is because the laser may damage the hair follicle even when it fails to destroy it. If a hair follicle is damaged but not destroyed, the hair will eventually regrow. It can be difficult to destroy every single hair follicle, so most people will see some hair regrowth.

Why is my hair still growing after 4 laser sessions? ›

However, even though laser treatments damage hair follicles, they're not destroyed completely. Over time, the treated follicles may recover from the initial damage and grow hair again. It's a tall order to eliminate every hair follicle in a given area. Therefore, you may notice a tiny amount of hair regrowth.

How can I maximize my laser hair removal results? ›

Shaving and exfoliating can increase follicular activity, making the following laser treatment more effective. Another tip suggested by experts is to pay attention to hair growth during laser hair removal treatment. Some localized areas may grow more quickly than others. This is a detail to share with your provider.

How many laser sessions until hair stops growing? ›

After the course is complete, the treated area will feel smooth with a permanent reduction in hair growth. Typically we recommend a minimum of 6 laser treatments for women and 8 for men. So you can expect to complete your course after 6-9 months.

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

Why am I not seeing results from laser hair removal? Lack of results from laser hair removal can be due to several factors, including hormonal imbalances, the color and thickness of your hair, or the type of laser used.

Why didn't I feel anything during laser hair removal? ›

Treatment cannot be completely painless

If you have dark, strong hair, the pricking will be stronger, and if your hair is weak, so will be the pricking. If you don't feel anything during the treatment, it means your hair is too light or the laser is not working well, so there will be no effects.

Why do I have stubble after laser hair removal? ›

Up to a few weeks after treatment, your skin will develop stubble or blackheads as a part of the shedding process that happens from hairs that were partially grown at the time of the procedure. Exfoliation during this period aids the shedding and diminishes the blackhead or stubble appearance.

Why is my laser not working? ›

Don't panic! If your laser engraver won't turn on or does not emit light, there are a few potential causes. It could be that the high voltage line is loose or there's poor motor wire contact. If the machine is still not turning on, it may be due to a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker.

Why do I still have to shave after laser hair removal? ›

Hair grows in different stages, and the best way to eliminate it is to get it treated when it's actively growing. This just means you'll have to continue shaving in between your laser hair removal treatments until it has finally stopped growing back.

What happens if I stop laser hair removal after 4 sessions? ›

If treatment is stopped before all of the hair follicles have been destroyed, some may continue to grow. It is important to complete the recommended treatment plan to achieve the best results. Sometimes, the patient sees hairs are thicker and darker after the treatment when they have original light and fair hair.

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