Does your hair color effect the effectiveness of Laser Hair Removal?

Answers

Replied on 11/10/2009

By: Aspen Medical Aesthetics and Laser Clinic | Dr Chris Knuth
Mequon, WI

Yes, lighter hair color makes laser hair removal less effect. The reason is that the laser uses the colored pigment (melanin) as the target to absorb the light energy. This "stuns" the hair follicle so it will no longer grow hair. The best candidates for laser hair removal are those with light skin and dark hair. This allows for a good amount of energy to be used safely, ensuring the best results. Patients with lighter hair and/or darker skin can be treated but the power must be turned down. This results in less effective (but safe) treatments, more treatments may be required. The color at the root of the hair follicle is what is important. Gray, white, or very blond hair is not effectively treated by laser hair removal and electrolysis is probably the best option for these hair colors.

Replied on 11/9/2009

By: Esta Kronberg, M.D. | Board Certified Dermatologist
Houston, TX

This is true. The Laser for Hair Removal can only treat hair with pigment.
If you are blond, red head or have silver or white hair the laser will not
work.
The laser light is attracted to colored hair.

Replied on 11/9/2009

By: LazaDerm Skincare Centre | Dr. Lornell E. Hansen, II M.D.
Sioux Falls, SD

Hair color has a significant effect on laser hair removal (LHR). Red,
blond and gray do not respond well to LHR. There are a few companies
that will tell you that their laser will remove these color of hair
but do not do it very well. When you look at the studies very closely
the improvement is minimal at best when compared to other lasers.
The reason that lasers do not work well on these colors is because the
target for the laser is melanin. Melanin is a brown/black pigment
that is in the hair. The darker the hair is the more melanin there is
in it. Gray, red and blonde hairs do not have melanin in them to
absorb the laser energy. The lighter the hair the more difficult it is
to get rid of with lasers.

Replied on 11/9/2009

By: Renew Medi Spa | Dr. Lisa Hatzos, MD
Windham, NH

This is true because the laser uses the pigment of the hair as the target to track the energy down to the follicle. For lighter hair you may need to consider electrolysis.

Replied on 11/9/2009

By: Forever Young MedSpa | Ft. Lauderdale Miami Laser Hair Removal, Botox, Breast Augmentation at South Florida's Finest Medical Spa
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Yes that is correct, laser hair removal can become less effective in lighter hair; however, it also depends on the machine and the skin color as well. If you have extremely light blonde hair or grey hair it does not work. I would recommend visiting an office that provides such procedures and see which machine they have and see if it will work for your type of hair. Have a wonderful day!

Replied on 11/9/2009

By: Celibre Medical Corporation | Laser Dermatology & Injections
Orange, CA

Yes, laser hair removal is more difficult with lighter colored hair including red and light brown. Blond and gray hair is not worth treating because it does not have enough color for good results.

The reason hair needs color for effective laser hair removal is that it must be able to absorb light and dark colors absorb light more easily than light colors. We make the analogy that if you walk outside on a sunny day with a black sweater you get warm because the dark color absorbs the light. If you walk outside on a sunny day with a white
sweater, you are not quite as warm because the white color reflects the light instead of absorbing it. It is the same for laser hair removal, dark colored hair absorbs the light energy of the laser, which makes it easier to remove.