Why Didn’t My Hair Fall Out After Laser Hair Removal? - NuWays MD (2024)

Many people expect to see their hair fall out instantly following alaser hair removalsession. But this is an untruth: unwanted hair will not fall out automatically the following morning after the laser hair removal treatment.

Why isn’t hair falling out following the laser removal process? In one treatment, the laser may only treat about 15% of the hair removed by itself, later on, approximately five days after the procedure. This process depends on the individual and their age and skin type hormones, as well as the natural processes for hair growth.

Understanding the Hair Growth Cycle

Before you can figure out the reason hair doesn’t fall out following laser hair removal, it’s essential to look at three major cycles of hair growth hair follicles experience:

Anagen: is also known as the growth cycle, and it’s the best phase that the laser treatment can be effective. Anagen is the stage when hair appears on the skin’s surface, which lets the laser stay in place and transfer heat down the hair strand and to the hair follicle.

Catagen: The catagen phase in the cycle of hair, happens the one that occurs before the hair is shed naturally and not due to the laser. In this stage, laser hair removal will not be as successful as hair is already dead and pushed out of the hair follicle.

Telogen: is the stage in which hair is not growing or developing beneath the skin. Also known as the resting phase, Telogen is not suitable for laser hair removal as there isn’t any hair showing on the skin’s surface.

Why Didn’t My Hair Fall Out After Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is a procedure that permits patients to temporarily put off the necessity to shave, wax or pluck unwanted hairs. The procedure makes use of strong light from the laser device to focus on the pigmentation in dark hair and lets the skin absorb the heat to kill hair follicles. However, it’s not permanent, and a new hair follicle will eventually grow.

After one session of laser treatment, your hair’s bulb is expected to break out over a seven to 30-day time span. At this point, bumps and redness could occur as your body pulls dead hair out of your hair follicle. Ingrown hairs could get stuck beneath the skin. People may believe that it’s hair growth, but it’s your body pushing hair upwards to the surface and pulling the hair away from your skin to remove it.

Some patients may be concerned because not all hairs within the treatment region were shed following the treatment. It is crucial to remember that every hair follicle may not necessarily have the same growth cycle as the hairs surrounding it. Lasers can kill hair only during the anagen stage. However, only about 15 percent of the hair will be present in this phase at the time of one laser session. That means that only 15 percent of hair follicles will be destroyed, and those hairs will fall off five to 14 days following treatment.

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. A cosmetic surgeon would spread the time within your treatment schedule by six weeks to keep up the growth of hair.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Laser Hair Removal

If you’re concerned about your hair not dropping out, do not be worried. The rate of loss and regrowth is mainly dependent on the person; skin types, hormones, hair type, skin color, and treatment areas are just a few of the many circ*mstances that impact the process. While you wait, you should know the do’s and don’ts to be aware of:

Do not remove hair after the Laser Treatment

The most important thing to remember is to remain patient. Do not tweeze, wax, pick up, pluck, thread, or squeeze hair from your skin because this can eliminate the hair follicles targeted with the laser and cause skin irritation. It’s better to keep them in place until they are gone; when you go through the laser hair removal procedure, the dark and thick hairs will become thinner and easier to get rid of.

Exfoliate Frequently.

While you shouldn’t be able to pull hair out forcefully, you’re free to cut or scrub the hair in order to speed up the shed process. Rub the treatment area with a circular motion with a loofah or gentle washcloth for removing dead hair.

Don’t Miss the Next Treatment.

While unwanted hair may appear to be gone, however, they could have entered their telogen stage and hidden under the skin. Be sure to follow your treatment program and return to the clinic at the scheduled time. In the long run, waiting too long between hair cycles can result in you missing the growth of your hair.

Do Hydrate Your Skin.

Keep your skin soft, healthy, and relaxed after a laser hair treatment. You can expect your skin to be irritated and sunburnt, so apply a cooling gel of aloe vera to avoid skin irritation. A few ice cubes or ice packs in your bag can help manage swelling, redness, and other undesirable reactions.

Say Goodbye to Unwanted Body Hair With NuWays MD

As a Boca Raton leading center for laser hair removal, NuWays MD is committed to helping patients get rid of unwanted body hair safely and efficiently. For more details regarding our hair removal procedure, make an appointment with us.

Why Didn’t My Hair Fall Out After Laser Hair Removal? - NuWays MD (2024)

FAQs

Why Didn’t My Hair Fall Out After Laser Hair Removal? - NuWays MD? ›

Lasers can kill hair only during the anagen stage. However, only about 15 percent of the hair will be present in this phase at the time of one laser session. That means that only 15 percent of hair follicles will be destroyed, and those hairs will fall off five to 14 days following treatment.

Why isn't my hair shedding 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 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.

Why is my hair not going away with 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 do I still have hair right after laser? ›

And yes, you may still notice some hair a couple of days after your session, but this is often part of the natural shedding process or due to hairs that were in a different growth phase during treatment. Remember, quality laser hair removal is an investment in your confidence and well-being.

How to encourage shedding after laser hair removal? ›

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.

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 an other one prove to be more stubborn.

How to tell if laser hair removal 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 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.

Is it okay to pull hair 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.

Can laser hair removal be ineffective? ›

Laser hair removal is less effective for hair colors that don't absorb light well: gray, red, blond and white. However, laser treatment options for light-colored hair continue to be developed.

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.

Why do I still have stubble after laser hair removal? ›

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.

Why is my laser hair not falling out? ›

Laser and IPL treatments can be partially effective during other stages, like the catagen (transition) or telogen (resting) phase. If hair doesn't fall out after laser hair removal, those follicles may have survived that round of treatment. It could also mean the laser hair removal is working just as it should.

Why hasn't my laser hair removal worked? ›

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.

Why am I hairy after laser hair removal? ›

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.

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.

How to tell if laser hair removal is working? ›

Laser treatment begins working immediately after the first appointment. You'll first see hair falling out of treated areas within a day or two. Soon after that, you'll notice smoother skin. Once your treatment plan is complete, the results will last typically longer than waxing and can last for years.

Will hair still shed if I shave after laser? ›

After your session, your hair may start to shed. This is normal and indicates your treatment is working. These hairs are the ones that have been damaged by the laser. Before you shave it could be a good idea to exfoliate your skin so all the damaged hairs are removed.

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