Does Laser Hair Removal Work On Light Color Hair?

Laser hair removal is one of the best and most effective ways to remove your body hair. Everyone who wants to be hair-free is learning more about it, and many people are now getting it. If you are looking for a hair removal method that is permanent, there is nothing more effective than laser hair removal (along with IPL). Almost everyone is qualified and able to get laser hair removal, depending on the color of their body hair. If you are tired of hair removal methods that just don’t work, then you need to learn more about laser hair removal. 

People are often skeptical of whether or not laser hair removal will work for them. In most cases, people find great success with laser treatments. However, it’s not for everyone. As we mentioned, your body hair color does matter. Lasers work by finding pigment, and the darker the pigment, and easier it is for the laser to work. Therefore, if you have dark hair, the laser will be more effective for you. 

Most people do have darker hair, especially on their legs and underarms. Hair can appear darker after shaving when it grows back as stubble, which is a good time to receive laser treatment. Besides the color of the hair, lasers are also attracted to coarse and thick hair. For this reason, you are typically supposed to shave the area that is going to be treated 24 hours prior to your appointment. This will allow just enough stubble to grow back so that the laser can target it. 

Laser and Light Hair

For those who have blonde, white, gray, or red hair, you will, unfortunately, have more trouble with seeing results from a laser hair removal treatment. The pigment in those shades of hair is very light, which means the laser will have a harder time recognizing the hair that it is supposed to destroy. In some instances, people with these hair colors might have some success in hair reduction. In most cases, it is unlikely that you will achieve permanent hair loss even with multiple treatments. It can be worth trying to see if it works for you, especially if the laser is on a higher strength setting. 

So, to answer your question, laser hair removal does not work well on body hair that is light in color. However, if you do have darker hair, it can be a lifesaver and make things a lot easier for you. If you have dark-colored body hair and haven’t heard of or tried laser hair removal yet, then it’s time you do. There is a lot to know about what it is and how it works. We will tell you everything you need to know about this treatment for hair removal. 

What Exactly is Laser Hair Removal?

As we briefly mentioned, the laser can be used as a form of hair removal. It works by using light energy and a single wavelength to target the hair follicles in your skin. Hair follicles are responsible for the growth and production of hair all over your body. When the laser zaps them, it causes damage. This damage then stunts the follicle’s ability to re-grow your body hair.

Over time and with multiple treatments, the hair re-growth cycle will slow down more and more. Eventually, the goal is to damage the follicle to the point that it cannot re-grow hair at all. Thus, the end result is being completely hair-free. As time goes on, you may start to re-grow some vellus hair. This is hair that is extremely light and thin; it’s otherwise known as peach fuzz. 

It will be barely noticeable at all, but you can get a couple of touch-up sessions each year to make sure you stay completely hair-free. Lasers are attracted to the pigment that resides in your body hair. Those with dark, thick, and/coarse hair should have great success with laser hair removal treatments. For those with light-colored hair, the good news is your body hair is already so light it is barely noticeable. Of course, we totally get that shaving and waxing are tedious and annoying. 

In a perfect world, everyone could be permanently hair-free, but it’s just not always the case. There are also a few other reasons why laser hair removal might not work for you. If you have a hormonal imbalance or an adrenal disorder, then you will probably struggle with laser hair removal. These conditions cause you to grow excessive body hair despite treatments such as lasers. The constant hormonal fluctuations make it near impossible to stop hair growth. 

Is There Another Type of Permanent Hair Removal?

Yes, there is one other type of permanent hair removal. This is known as IPL or intense pulsed light. IPL and laser hair removal are very similar devices and achieve the same end result. The slight difference between them has to do with how the devices function. We already discussed how laser devices work with a single spectrum wavelength. 

With an IPL device, there is a multi-spectrum wavelength. This means that the light energy is more spread out rather than targeted. This makes IPL a really great option for hair removal, especially on larger areas of your body. With each flash of light, it can destroy multiple hair follicles at a time. This allows the person using the device to quickly go over the skin rather than spending more time on individual spots. 

Both lasers and IPL devices can be used for different cosmetic procedures besides hair removal. If you are someone with light-colored body hair but are still looking to receive the benefits of laser/IPL, you can look into these other procedures. For example, both devices can be used for removing acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, and sunspots. They can also be used to revive collagen production in your skin, specifically on your face. The heat from the devices is used to warm the skin and stimulate the production of collagen underneath your skin. 

In terms of which device is better for hair removal, most people prefer IPL. This is due to the fact that it does cover larger areas of skin in a shorter period of time. It’s faster and oftentimes less painful. Laser devices work more slowly and therefore prolong the number of times you have to be zapped. While they are both effective devices, IPL offers more comfort with a lesser chance of redness and sensitivity after each treatment. 

Can I Do IPL At Home?

Here’s the amazing thing: you can do IPL from the comfort of your own home! KENZZI offers the best and highest-quality IPL Hair Removal Handset. This device is small but mighty and offers you the same effective results that you would see with in-office treatments. The best aspects of this device are that it saves you both time and money. And, of course, it helps you achieve soft, smooth, and hair-free skin! When used properly, this device can offer you at least ten years’ worth of treatments. 

Plus, you get to cut out the time it takes to go to and from your appointments and the time spent in the appointment. Instead, you can simply walk into your own bathroom and be done in 10 minutes or less! You can use the device weekly and should start seeing results after about three to four weeks. There are also five different strength settings you can choose from. If you have never used an IPL device before, we recommend you start on the lowest setting and work your way up in strength if you can tolerate it. 

In Conclusion

In conclusion, laser hair removal does not work on light-colored hair. Unfortunately, the device relies on the pigment in the hair in order to be effective. Those with red, blonde, white, or gray hairs do not have enough pigment to attract the laser. That being said, it doesn’t hurt to try out a few sessions and see if you can at least get a slight reduction in hair growth. Ultimately, though, you need to have darker hair in order to see permanent hair loss. 

The other type of permanent hair removal device is IPL, which achieves the same result as a laser. It uses multiple wavelengths to reach a larger area and range on your skin. This means it works more quickly to cover places like your legs and arms. KENZZI makes an amazing at-home device that saves you time and money. And, it will give you the amazing hair removal results that you are looking for!   

Sources:

How to Tell if Laser Hair Removal Will Work on You | Teen Vogue 

The differences between IPL and laser hair removal | Harpers Bazaar

Article Laser Hair Removal: Benefits, Side Effects, and Cost | Web MD