Different Results For Different Folks

While laser hair removal is generally effective, not everyone will experience the same results. That’s because not all hair is created equal. In fact, there are two types of melanin in hair. The first is eumelanin, which produces black or brown hair. The other, pheomelanin, produces blonde or red colored hair. Because the laser light can be readily absorbed by the darker eumelanin, laser hair removal is much more effective for patients with dark course hair than for blondes or redheads. Further, since melanin is also the color pigment in the skin cells that can best absorb the laser energy, the ideal patient for laser hair removal is a person with dark hair and pale skin.

Since not everyone has this combination, however, companies have adapted the technology accordingly and have created different types of lasers that are designed to be most effective for different skin colors. For instance, Alexandrite long pulse and diode types are best suited for light-skinned patients, and Nd:YAG long pulse lasers are better for dark-skinned patients. While you don’t need to know the names and technologies yourself, just understand that these distinctions help patients achieve the best results.

It is also important to point out that human hair goes through several stages in its life cycle, from active to dormant. The laser treatment will be effective only when that hair follicle is in its active stage and the hair is growing and not at all in the dormant stage. Consequently, follow-up hair removal sessions are necessary every 6 to 10 weeks to target those follicles that were dormant on the previous visit but are now active. This process will be repeated until all active follicles are targeted, which will usually take around 6 to 8 sessions in all.

What It Costs

If laser hair removal sounds like a good option for you, you can find treatment available at certain spas and laser clinics, among other places. Keep in mind that most states require a medical doctor to oversee this treatment process.

Here are some basic price ranges you can expect to pay for this option:

• Upper lip, chin, underarms (both) - $50 to $150
• Regular bikini (definitions vary) - $100 to $200
• Full face, butt - $150 to $300
• Brazilian bikini - $350 to $500
• Arms - $350 to $500
• Chest (definitions vary), abdomen (definitions vary) - $350 to $600
• Back - $600 to $900
• Face and neck - $600 to $900
• Half legs (both) - $650 to $850