Does Laser Hair Removal Work For Everyone?

Laser hair removal is a widely offered, established hair removal option that can significantly remove hair from various body parts for long term results.

However, there’s a reason why many pictures you see of hair removal results often feature pictures of light-skinned people with dark hair.

Does Laser Hair Removal Work For Everyone?

Traditionally, laser (and Intense Pulsed Light hair removal) machines were only capable of helping people with light, untanned skin and dark hair. The laser and IPL light picks up the contrast between hair and skin and when the contrast doesn’t exist, the technology has difficulty successfully removing hair.

Newer laser and IPL technologies however have made it more likely that people who weren’t previously ideal candidates for hair removal can be helped. Let’s take a look at several groups of people who traditionally have had difficulty with hair removal success to see how newer technologies may assist with their hair removal goals.

Does Laser Hair Removal For Dark Skin Work?

Laser targets the pigment in hair and this was traditionally problematic for patients with dark skin. One of the other problems with laser hair removal for patients with dark skin is the possibility of discoloration. Older laser technologies had difficulty distinguishing between dark skin and dark hair and could damage skin as a result.

Dr Michelle Henry is a dermatologist with significant hair removal experience and states the following:

For that reason, it’s important that you go to an expert that carries that right laser device. Henry says to look for a YAG laser (the 1064 Nd;YAG laser to be exact); it is a long pulsed laser that bypasses the melanin in your skin and targets just the hair follicle. Using the wrong type of laser can have negative side effects such as burns, scarring, and permanent discoloration

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Traditionally, laser hair removal technology was most successful on people with light skin and dark hair. This is no longer the case but it’s best to meet with clinics personally to see what type(s) of machine(s) they have and to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of each.

Does Laser Hair Removal For Blonde Hair Work?

The thing to remember is that even if you have blonde hair on your head, hair on other body parts are often darker and thus suitable for laser hair removal. Conversely, there are people who have light colored body hair and darker hair on their scalp. It really depends on the hair you want removed.

Can laser hair removal help those with blonde hair?

There are specially developed lasers that have proven effective in removing unwanted hair for fair skinned and blonde haired men and women. The Alexandrite Laser works at a higher intensity than traditional lasers, blasting you with the pigment you need to enjoy permanent hair reduction and removal.

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Does Laser Hair Removal For Light Hair Work?

Traditionally, laser hair removal has also had difficulties treating light hair. Laser targets melanin but light hair has little pigment. As with blonde hair mentioned above, laser technology has improved over the years to the point where those with unwanted hair that is light in color may still have success. To wit:

However, new laser hair removal technologies such as Nd:YAG laser can  now successfully remove light-colored hair. No need to dye your hair anymore.

Nd:YAG laser devices have a longer wavelength that is highly sensitive to all color and melanin.

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Does Laser Hair Removal For Gray Hair Work?

Gray (or grey as it’s spelled in the UK and the Commonwealth) hair has traditionally been untreatable by both laser and IPL technologies. However, there has been some improvement over the years in IPL’s ability to possibly treat unwanted gray hair. While it’s important to check with a specific clinic to ensure they can help, there does seem to be hope for those with gray hair who desire long term hair reduction:

Traditional IPL/Laser machines are only able to use the melanin (the colour) in the hair to absorb the pulsed light, which in turn destroys the follicle. But this method is not suitable for any light hair colours white, grey and red hair as they are missing that melanin.

The EFB Beauté Adéna IPL uses a patented system which does not rely on the melanin in the hair to absorb the light energy. Instead, it targets the blood vessels directly, preventing the growth of blonde, white & red hairs.
The process is different from the standard IPL/Laser hair removal process.

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Having unwanted gray hair doesn’t mean you have no options for longer term removal. Check out electrolysis which isn’t dependent on skin or hair color.

Does Laser Hair Removal On Red Hair Work?

People with red and ginger hair have typically had difficulty achieving long term hair removal with laser. A modern Diode laser product is one option that might work however:

A diode laser is another form of laser hair removal for redheads which can be very effective.  A similar procedure to laser hair removal, the diode laser has been shown to be effective for people with various skin colour and hair colour combinations.

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Does Laser Hair Removal On Coarse Hair Work?

Coarse or thick hair – back hair for example – is often time-consuming to treat. It often takes more sessions to achieve successful hair removal for the long term.

Having said that, people with thick, dark hair have also traditionally been the best candidates for laser hair removal. As mentioned above, the laser looks for the contrast between skin color and hair color. Light skin with dark hair offers the biggest contrast.

Will laser hair removal work on coarse hair and if so, which machine is best? Each machine offers benefits so your best bet is to visit a clinic that has several laser (and maybe IPL) machines to see which one is right for your situation.

Conclusion

• Laser Hair Removal Photos: Check out this page to see laser hair removal clinics’ photo galleries of various men and women’s hair removal results including different skin tones and hair colors.
• Modern laser hair removal machines offer more options for people with darker skin tones and lighter hair than before. Check with your local hair removal centers to enquire about what options exist for your personal situation.
• If laser hair removal is unsuitable for your skin or hair color, you might consider electrolysis which doesn’t depend on these factors for success and is suitable for all hair and skin colors.