Why is my hair growing back 2 days after laser? | Skin Perfection (2024)

FAQs

Why is my hair growing back 2 days after laser? | Skin Perfection? ›

The laser targets and destroys hair follicles, but it doesn't immediately remove the hair itself. Over the course of a week or so, these hairs will naturally fall out. It might look like your hair is growing back, but it's actually the body expelling the hairs that were in the treated follicles.

While some hairs may be in the anagen phase, others may be in the resting or transition phases. 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.

Even though the hair may eventually return, if the laser did its job on the targeted hair follicles, it usually will appear lighter or thinner upon any regrowth. This is completely normal, and the appearance of your unwanted hair is a solvable problem that follow-up treatments down the road can easily remedy.

Genetics largely dictate the speed of hair growth. For example, if your family has fast-growing body hair, you're likely to as well. Hormones, particularly testosterone in men, encourage thicker and coarser hair growth. Environmental factors like nutrition and overall health can also influence hair growth.

This damage signals to the body that the hair is no longer needed and will eventually be shed. In most cases, this occurs 1 to 3 weeks after your LHR treatment, and it sometimes looks like blackheads or stubble.

If you shave too quickly you may irritate the skin even more, so waiting at least three or four days after your treatment is usually ideal. A few days following your laser hair removal treatment, you may notice your hair shedding. This is completely normal and is a sign the treatment worked.

Reasons for Stubble After Laser Hair Removal

With hairs at different stages at any given time, a single laser session can only target hairs in the active growth phase. This discrepancy means that hairs not in the active phase during treatment will continue to grow, leading to the perception of stubble.

This means that some hairs may not be affected by the laser during the initial treatment, and may continue to grow as normal. Additionally, new hair follicles may become active after the initial treatment, leading to the appearance of new hair growth.

You will likely see the results immediately after treatment. The results vary from patient to patient. The color and thickness of your hair, area treated, type of laser used, and color of your skin all affect the results. You can expect a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after the first treatment.

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.

What does rapid hair growth mean? ›

"Faster growing hair on the scalp can be a sign of something good, such as pregnancy, which usually causes a surge in estrogen," explains Shari Lipner, MD, an associate professor of clinical dermatology at the Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Due to this difference in hair growth cycles, waxing hair when it's too short will make some of the hairs grow back within a couple of days (and in an uneven, prickly wax job), and others not for a week or two. This can turn into a never-ending cycle of mixed growth patterns, ingrown hairs, and breakouts.

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.

Tips to Encourage Faster Shedding

Moisturising the Skin: Proper hydration of the skin can ease the shedding of hair. Opt for hypoallergenic and fragrance-free moisturisers that soothe without causing irritation. Avoiding Sun Exposure: The treated areas are particularly sensitive to UV rays post-laser.

The truth is that you can't really determine if your hair follicles are just resting or dead. Dormant hair follicles are resting, and they are temporarily not growing new hairs.

However, even after your three to four sessions, you may see some limited hair growth. This is because laser hair removal permanently reduces hair and you may occasionally see some hair come through. It should be noted that this hair is often much thinner than your original hair and patchy.

Afterwards. The affected area may be red with a raised rash for a few hours to a few days. Regularly holding an ice pack to the skin may help (try a pack of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel). Your skin will be more sensitive to the sun after laser hair removal.

While laser hair removal has proven to be a highly effective and popular method for reducing unwanted hair, it may not work equally well for everyone. Factors such as hair color, skin type, hormonal imbalances, and individual characteristics can influence the outcome of the treatment.

The number one factor that may trigger new hair growth is hormones. It could be hormones due to pregnancy, menopause or a hormonal condition. We must make clients aware that this is a possibility after their treatment, as no hair removal can be classed as 'permanent'. IPL is semi-permanent and does need maintenance.