Laser treatment has historically proven difficult for removing blonde and white hairs due to melanin’s ability to absorb heat generated from laser light, creating resistance.
However, modern technology can accommodate this need – electrolysis. It does not rely on pigmentation and provides a long-term method for hair removal.
How it works
Contrary to shaveing, waxing or threading which only remove hair on the surface, laser white hair removal permanently reduces unwanted hair by targeting its source – the root. A laser emits pulses of light energy which converts to heat energy that damages hair follicles so they cannot produce new hair growth follicles – this requires six or eight treatments for effective reduction of unwanted hair.
As part of your treatment, it is normal for your skin to feel hot and slightly swollen as the hair follicles absorb light energy. To help ease discomfort during and after this step, apply a cold compress on the area being treated; additionally avoid exposure to natural or artificial sunlight afterward.
Laser hair removal depends on the amount of pigment found in your hair; with more pigment comes easier targeting and destruction of follicles by laser light energy. White, blonde or grey hair doesn’t contain enough pigment for this method of treatment, making treatment challenging.
To maximize the benefits of your laser treatment, it is recommended that you shave the area prior to each session. Shaving will allow the laser light energy to absorb more efficiently into the hair shafts, helping prevent future hair growth and inhibiting future outbreaks of unwanted hair growth.
Before receiving a laser treatment, it is essential that you provide your physician with a full medical history and medication list. Certain conditions, like pregnancy or herpes simplex virus infection can impede its results, so be sure to inform your laser technician if you have tattoos or any other factors which could impede its effectiveness.
Some individuals with light hair might choose to dye it black prior to going in for laser treatments in order to increase the chances of its successful removal by laser, however this approach does not work as the dye does not penetrate into the follicle and electrolysis is the superior way of permanently eliminating unwanted hair regardless of color.
Preparation
Laser hair removal requires a great contrast between skin and hair colors for it to work effectively; that is why it usually works best on people with light skin and dark hair; dark pigment absorbs laser light and heat better, thus destroying it and preventing future regrowth; however lighter shades such as blonde or white hair absorb it instead and don’t achieve comparable results.
Before beginning treatment, make sure the area to be treated is cleanly shaved. Avoid waxing or plucking as this could disrupt follicles. In addition, avoid direct sun exposure such as natural tanning as this could make treatment less effective as well as cause burns.
Consultation with a medical professional will enable them to determine if you are suitable for laser white hair removal, including an examination and discussion about what results can be expected. They may suggest other forms of hair removal as an option as well.
Your skin type and pain threshold will both play a factor. While for some clients the sensation decreases with repeated treatments, others can feel it quite strongly at first. To help ease any discomfort felt during laser sessions, your practitioner will apply cooling gel directly onto your skin surface to provide temporary comfort.
As laser treatments can damage your eyesight, you may be required to wear protective glasses or goggles during treatment. In addition, topical numbing cream will be given ahead of time that will reduce the level of pain you feel.
Modern laser machines used for hair removal all depend on pigment for proper functioning, meaning they cannot be used to safely remove white, blond or grey hair. Melanin determines the color of hair follicles; white hair contains no melanin pigment and therefore absorbs into its surroundings skin more readily, potentially leading to unwanted side effects such as burning and discolouration. Electrolysis provides permanent hair removal that is safe for all shades of hair and skin types.
Results
Laser hair removal offers a permanent solution to unwanted body hair. It replaces painful depilation, waxing and shaving routines with painless laser technology that alleviates problems like folliculitis and discoloration caused by hair growth as well as reduces the need for tweezing and threading. Furthermore, its quick and painless procedures require no downtime during treatments at regular four to six week intervals with annual touch up sessions in between treatments; though most insurance policies don’t cover laser treatment; your flexible spending account might provide funding options if applicable.
Your esthetician will apply a cool gel to numb the area for maximum comfort, before passing over it with their laser device and initiating treatment. The laser works by targeting darker melanin pigments in hair follicles to generate heat, damaging them enough that they produce less hair growth over time. Although white and gray hair can also be targeted with this laser technology, dramatic results may take more time on lighter skin types with lighter hair colors.
Laser devices often struggle with targeting blonde and light colored hair due to a lack of pigment, meaning laser sessions require dyeing it a darker shade for effective damage targeting. Due to advances in laser device technology, however, dyeing your locks darker no longer becomes necessary prior to laser sessions for clients with lighter hair colors.
Whoever is seeking to remove their unwanted grey hair can visit a cosmetic dermatology clinic to understand more about the process of hair removal. At their consultation appointment, a trained provider can explain how and what to expect during the procedure and can suggest an ideal laser device that matches with their individual hair color and skin tone. In some instances, medical spas may even offer packages designed to save money while getting you results – this may be an efficient way to get what you want without breaking the bank!
Side effects
If you have stubborn white hair that won’t go away through shaving, electrolysis, or waxing treatments alone, laser hair removal could be your solution. But beware: laser treatment cannot distinguish between darker material within a follicle and skin color – making this treatment ineffective in treating white hairs.
Before administering the laser beam, your physician will apply a cooling gel to numb your skin in preparation. When applied, laser heat destroys hair follicles to stop hair development from taking place; though you may feel some warm sensation or discomfort for several minutes following laser therapy treatment; but this discomfort should subside quickly.
Before and after laser hair removal treatments, it’s essential to limit sun exposure, refrain from tanning beds, and refrain from other methods like waxing, tweezing and plucking as their pigments could interfere with laser’s ability to differentiate between hair pigmentation and skin pigmentation.
As part of your laser treatment, protective goggles will be worn during each session to safeguard your eyes from laser beams that will be directed by a specialist at the treatment site and activated by them. Depending on the size and scope of the area being treated, treatment could last anywhere between one minute for small regions and up to an hour for larger ones.
After laser hair removal sessions, skin may become sensitive and red. You might experience burning sensations, rashes, perifollicular redness and swelling as well as hyperpigmentation; most side effects will clear within an hour; using ice can speed healing time.
Some individuals may experience paradoxical hair growth after being treated by laser beam. This rare event happens because laser beams disturb or disrupt melanin production in their skin and thus lead to paradoxical hair growth, more frequently with those having darker skin types but it could potentially occur with any skin color type.
Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I and II tend to be ideal candidates for laser hair removal; however, you could still achieve good results even with blonde or gray hair. People with Fitzpatrick skin phototype V or VI might face greater risk and should consult a dermatologist prior to undertaking such procedures.
