Laser hair removal has often been considered ineffective for individuals with blonde, red, or grey hair. The reality is that with the right laser, many men and women with blonde hair can get removal of unwanted hair and will have a very successful experience.
The success of laser treatments depends on the laser that is used. At Blue Water Spa, powerful lasers that direct energy to the root of the hair can actually be very effective on blonde hair. Whether or not a laser will be effective depends on both the color and density of the hair. Every laser has a specific target termed as a ‘chromophore.’ The chromophore for laser hair removal is pigment. Despite appearing blonde at the surface, some hair roots carry enough pigment to serve as a viable target for the laser. It is important to remember that no single laser will be effective for both light skin and dark skin. This is why every laser treatment room at Blue Water Spa is equipped with two different lasers, both of which have variable settings. The lasers used for dark skin have a long pulse that will target the root of the hair, while passing the surface pigment of the skin. The lasers that work on lighter hair and lighter skin have a shorter and more powerful pulse, as there is less pigment in the root of the hair, so the shorter pulse with more energy is required for hair removal in individuals with lighter skin. One way to detect the presence of pigment in hair is by plucking a few hairs from the targeted area and placing them on white paper — any detected pigment signifies the potential success of laser hair removal. The laser providers at Blue Water Spa can help with this process during a complimentary consultation.
At Blue Water Spa, numerous clients and staff members with natural blonde hair reported successful and permanent removal of hair using lasers designed specifically for lighter hair. These powerful lasers, characterized by high peak energy and brief pulse width, are optimal for removing lightly pigmented hair.
Even with body treatments, like laser hair removal of legs, feet, forearms or back, individuals might still notice some fine, soft blonde hair in the vicinity. Some people are perfectly happy with this result. For others, completely hair-free and smooth skin, individuals may need to shave the superfine, vellus hair once a month or so. Areas like the bikini area, whether traditional bikini, Brazilian Bikini, or Brazilian Bikini for men, sometimes referred to as a “mankini” almost always have a dark root, so treatment of those areas, even in people with blonde hair is often very successful. One hair turns grey, there is no pigment in the root of the hair, and therefore treatments will not be effective.
Selecting the Right Laser for Blonde Hair
For the removal of lighter hair, the selection of a specific laser type is of paramount importance. Light sources, like IPL, Intense Pulsed Light, and BBL, Broad Band Light,are not lasers at all. They are light sources that use scattered light for a variety of skin enhancement and hair removal. But these devices, marketed for everything, can do a lot of things, but they don’t do anything consistently very well. Because these devices are light sources and not lasers, they hit different targets sporadically and ineffectively. IPL and BBL lack a specific target or chromophore, which means they are not effective for blonde hair, or really any hair. These devices can also be potentially damaging to dark skin. Basic laser physics and the laser pulse concept explains why a longer pulse laser is safer and more effective for people with dark skin, and why a shorter pulsed, high energy laser is best when a person has lighter hair. Understanding that IPL and BBL are not lasers at all can further help consumers to understand why these modalities can be ineffective and unsafe. There is a significant difference in how lasers with shorter and longer pulses emit their energy. The former are designed to direct their energy swiftly and safely towards the hair root with less pigment, effectively damaging or destroying the hair follicle while leaving the surrounding skin intact. This is why finding a laser center with multiple lasers is essential for both safety and efficacy.
Recently, there has been a lot of promotion of “home lasers”. These devices are not lasers at all. The appeal is that people who feel embarrassed about unwanted hair can treat themselves in their own home. These devices are ineffective. Professional laser technicians in a medical environment are accustomed to seeing hair on all areas of the face and body in all genders. There is no need to be embarrassed about unwanted hair when seeking treatment for laser treatment at Blue Water Spa. With hundreds of laser hair removal services performed each week, the laser hair removal technicians are highly trained. They are also kind, discreet and will make each guest feel comfortable and confident. All consultations start with a client fully clothed, using diagrams so that the guest and the laser hair removal technician can discuss the exact desire and identify the area where laser hair removal will be performed.
The need for shaving prior to laser hair removal is because any pigment can absorb laser energy. So, the root of the hair, vs the hair itself needs to be the target for both safety and efficacy. However, if a man or woman seeking laser hair removal would like a consultation with their hair intact, we at Blue Water Spa, are certainly happy to help guide a patient through that process.
To determine if blonde hair will respond to laser hair removal, tweeze a few hairs, and examine them on white paper for any visible pigments.
Unpigmented hair such as white or grey hair will not respond to laser hair removal. For desired laser hair removal, considering the process sooner than later before the unwanted hair turns grey or white is advised.
For laser hair removal services, contact a board-certified plastic surgeon serving areas of Wake Forest, Durham, Brier Creek, Chapel Hill, and North Raleigh.
was last modified: February 20th, 2024 by admin
