Today there is at least 5 types of laser that are used for hair removal. Your skin type and you hair color will help to determine the most effective laser for you. And even if you get it all correct, you still might not be left with permanent hair removal in a short period of time. You see, the answer lies in the hair growth cycle, and more explicitly, what phase of the cycle your problem hair is in…. sounds baffling – it is !

Before we learn about the hair growth cycle, it is imperative to understand just how Laser Hair Removal really works. That is, to appreciate literally how you can accomplish permanent hair removal, acquiring an insight into the laser process is crucial.

The laser process doesnt actually physically remove the unwanted hair. The energy from the laser literally travels through the skin, and is drawn in by the pigment in the hair follicle and shaft. When this energy is drawn into a hair, the follicles are damaged, which then impairs that specific hairs capability to grow. Eventually the hair will fall out, usually within a matter of weeks.

Getting knowledge of how the laser operates is essential. You need to always remember that the laser doesnt just make the hair fall out on the spot. It actually impairs the capacity of a hair to grow, causing it to eventually fall out. Now that we have a brief understanding of how the laser performs, it is time to get an understanding of how the hair growth cycle affects the permanency of laser hair removal.

If the hair is in the wrong stage of the growth cycle, the laser might not provide permanent removal after a first treatment. You see, the hair growth cycle comprises three stages, and the permanent nature of Laser Hair Removal is more predictable when the hair is in one stage specifically – the growth stage.

A hair will go through 3 stages in its lifetime : (1) Active/Anagen (2) Regressive/Catagen (3) Resting/Telogen. Laser hair removal is more effectual in the Anagen stage where the hair contains the most pigment, and is most sensitive to the laser light. If the laser treatment is applied when the hair is in either of the 2 other stages, then the possibility of permanent hair removal is lesser.

Everyones hair grows differently, and factors affecting hair growth include: age, weight, metabolism, hormones, genetics, medications and environmental influences. However, disregardful of how these factors act on individual hair growth, hair itself grows through three differing phases:

1. The ACTIVE or ANAGEN growth phase, consists of approximately 85 % of our body hair at any given moment in time and can last up to several years. During this stage, the hair shaft and follicle has an accumulation of pigment and is most affected by the laser light.

2. The REGRESSIVE or CATAGEN phase is the stage during which the hair stops growing but is not yet shed. This phase often lasts a few weeks comprising about 3 – 4% of our total body hair at any given moment in time. The laser will work in this stage, but if it is late in this part of the cycle, a new hair might already be coming through and the new hair will not be affected by the laser.

3. The RESTING or TELOGEN phase lasts 5 – 6 weeks, at the end of which the hair falls out and the new hair becomes visible. The new hair might not be affected by the laser because it will not have pigment in it yet, remembering that the laser actually relies on the pigment to find the hair. Approximately 10-13% of our body hair is in this phase at any one time.

Getting an appreciation of the hair growth cycle leads to the ultimate question, Is it possible to get permanent hair removal? The answer is Yes, Laser Hair Removal can certainly provide a level of permanence. As you can see, if a hair in the Active/Anagen stage is revealed to the laser, then that hair will most probably be killed permanently. If a hair that is in either of the other 2 stages is revealed to the laser, then that hair will most probably be killed, but the new hair coming through will still carry on growing.

So to get permanent removal of your unwanted hair, you will more than likely need a number of laser sessions. You could be lucky – your first Laser hair removal session will permanently remove all of your unwanted hair, but the expectation is that you will need a number of sessions at set intervals to ensure that you get to the hair when it is in the first stage of growth. And thats all there really is to know, permanent Laser Hair Removal is definitely realizable !br
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The desire for permanent hair removal in both men and women has created a worldwide craze – Laser Hair Removal. People are queuing up at clinics around the world hoping for the miracle cure to rid themselves permanently of hair in undesirable places. But for permanent hair reduction, the bare reality is that it is very rare that just one session of laser treatment will give the desired result. And here’s why:

Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent ?

Some say YES, some say NO. Studies show that the best-known method of achieving permanent hair removal is Laser Hair Removal, and if the procedure is performed correctly (using the right equipment), permanency is definitely possible. That’s because laser hair removal actually kills the hair follicle, which impairs it’s ability to grow. But you need to get the hair at the right stage in the growth cycle to ensure permanent hair removal, which means that you will need to undergo a number of treatments.

You see, hair grows in 3 stages, and Laser treatment in the first growth stage (Anagen stage) is the best for permanent reduction. Laser treatment in the other 2 stages (Categen and Telogen) can be less effective, because in these stages new hairs are being formed which may not be target-able by the Laser. So for permanency you will need to undergo a number of laser treatments over time to kill all the hair follicles in that region.

Which Growth Stage is Best for Permanent Hair Removal ?

Everyone’s hair grows differently, depending on their age, weight, metabolism, hormonal interactions, genetics, medications and environmental influences. Irrespective of this, hair grows in a cycle which has 3 distinct stages, and the ability of the Laser to target and destroy the hair follicle actually depends on the stage of the hair in the growth cycle. That is because the Lasers used in hair removal actually target the pigment in the hair to “zero in” on the hair follicle. In the initial growth stage of hair, there is more pigment in the hair, thus the Laser is more effective.

Following is an overview of the 3 different hair growth cycle stages, and how effective laser treatment is in each of these stages:

The ACTIVE or ANAGEN growth phase (lasts 2-6 years), comprises approximately 85 % of our body hair at any given moment in time. During this ANAGEN phase, the hair shaft and follicle has an abundance of pigment and is most sensitive to the laser light. So in this stage, permanent hair removal is very likely. The Laser will destroy the hair follicle and no new hair will grow.

The REGRESSIVE or CATAGEN phase (lasts 1-2 weeks) is the period during which the hair stops actively growing but is not shed. This phase often lasts several weeks comprising about 3 – 4% of our total body hair at any given time. In the early part of this stage, you can expect the same results as in the ANAGEN stage. But later in this stage, a new hair might already be forming, and because it will have no pigment yet, it won’t be destroyed.

The RESTING or TELOGEN phase lasts 5 – 6 weeks, at the end of which the hair falls out and a new hair begins to form. Approximately 10-13% of our body hair is in this phase at any one time. Again, the new hair will not have any pigment and the laser will not be able to target it. This new hair will shortly enter the ANAGEN stage, and if it is exposed to a Laser treatment when it has entered the ANAGEN stage, then permanency can be expected.

In summary, each hair on your body will naturally be at a different part of the growth cycle, and that is why it will be necessary in most cases to undergo a number of Laser hair Removal treatments at varying intervals to completely destroy all hair follicles in the region you are targeting. You might be lucky and destroy more than 85% of the hair follicles in the target region with just one treatment, but the statistics point towards needing at least 2 treatments (possibly 3 or more) to totally destroy all hair follicles in any part of the body.

Getting rid of unwanted hair permanently is now possible with Laser Hair Removal, and permanent results can be achieved in a short period of time. But the effectiveness of Laser Hair Removal is reliant upon numerous factors, embracing (i) the kind of laser being used, (ii) the color of your hair, (iii) the color / kind of your skin and (iv) the phase of the hair in the hair growth cycle.

There are 5 different types of lasers that are currently used to remove hair. Choosing the most effective laser type for your hair will depend on your hair color and your skin type. And even if you get it all correct, you still mightn’t end up with permanent hair removal instantly. You see, the answer is in the hair growth cycle, and more specifically, what phase of the cycle your problem hair is in…. sounds confusing – it is !

Before we come to know the hair growth cycle, it is important to comprehend just how Laser Hair Removal literally works. That is, to appreciate literally how you can accomplish permanent hair removal, acquiring an appreciation of the laser process is critical.

The Laser Hair Removal process does not physically burn off or remove the unwanted hair. The energy from the laser actually travels through the skin, and is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and shaft. When this energy is absorbed into a hair, the follicles are damaged, which then impairs that distinct hairs ableness to grow. Eventually the hair will fall out, typically within a matter of weeks.

Getting an appreciation of how the laser operates is important. You need to always remember that the laser doesn’t just make the hair fall out right away. It actually impairs the capability of a hair to grow, causing it to eventually fall out. Now that we have a brief understanding of how the laser performs, it is time to get an appreciation of how the hair growth cycle impinges upon the permanent nature of laser hair removal.

For permanent hair removal, the hair needs to be in the right stage of the hair growth cycle, and if it is, you might not need further Laser Hair Removal treatment. You see, the hair growth cycle consists of three stages, and the permanent nature of Laser Hair Removal is more likely when the hair is in one stage in particular – the growth stage.

The hair growth cycle comprises three stages : (1) Active/Anagen (2) Regressive/Catagen (3) Resting/Telogen. Laser hair removal is most potent in the Anagen stage where the hair contains the most pigment, and is most affected by the laser light. If the laser treatment is applied when the hair is in either of the 2 other phases, then the expectation of permanent hair removal is lower.

Although hair is primarily the same thing from person to person, the way an individual’s hair grows is so unique, owing to many factors including: weight, metabolism, age, genetics and environmental conditions. However, irrespective of how these factors bear upon individual hair growth, hair itself grows through three distinct stages:

1. The ACTIVE or ANAGEN growth phase, consists of approximately 85 % of our body hair at any given moment in time and can last up to several years. During this stage, the hair shaft and follicle has an affluence of pigment and is most affected by the laser light.

2. The REGRESSIVE or CATAGEN phase is the period during which the hair stops actively growing but is not yet shed. This phase often lasts several weeks comprising about 3 – 4% of our total body hair at any given moment in time. The laser will work in this stage, but if it is late in this part of the cycle, a new hair might already be coming through and the new hair will not be affected by the laser.

3. The RESTING or TELOGEN phase lasts 5 – 6 weeks, at the end of which the hair falls out and the new hair emerges. The new hair mightn’t be affected by the laser because it will not have pigment in it yet, remembering that the laser actually relies on the pigment to find the hair. Approximately 10-13% of our body hair is in this phase at any one time.

Getting an appreciation of the hair growth cycle leads to the ultimate question, “Is it possible to get permanent hair removal?” The answer is Yes, Laser Hair Removal can absolutely provide a level of permanence. As you can see, if a hair in the Active/Anagen stage is subjected to the laser, then that hair will most likely be killed permanently. If a hair that is in either of the other 2 stages is subjected to the laser, then that hair will more than likely be killed, but the new hair coming through will still continue to grow.

So the tip on Laser Hair Removal is that you will most likely require a few sessions to ensure that your unwanted hair is removed permanently. You could be lucky – your first Laser hair removal treatment will permanently remove all of your unrequired hair, but the probability is that you will need numerous sessions at set intervals to ensure that you get to the hair when it is in the first stage of growth. And that’s all there really is to understand, permanent Laser Hair Removal is definitely possible !