Am I A Good Candidate for Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is one of the most popular modern methods of hair removal, but it's not right for everyone.  Here is a checklist of things to consider to make sure that you are a good candidate for laser hair removal.

1. You're aware that results vary from person to person

man writes

Laser hair removal is primarily good for people with dark hair and light skin.  However, studies have shown that, in a small number of cases, even people with what would appear to be the perfect hair and skin type don't respond to laser hair removal treatment.

Despite research in this domain, we still don't know the reason for this.  Furthermore, the scientific studies in this domain aren't exactly conclusive.

​Some studies report that up to 15% of patients don't respond to treatment despite appearing to be a relatively good match for laser hair removal treatment.  

2. You have done your homework in choosing a laser practitioner

woman has her underarms lasered

Laser hair removal is not regulated in some states in the US.  There have also been some (relatively few) bad stories about consumers that have had laser hair removal done by people who weren't qualified.  

It's goes without saying that it's really important that you do your homework before having laser hair removal done.  Here's an article about how to make sure you find a reputable laser hair removal clinic.

3. You have Light Skin and Dark Hair

Naked male and female facing away from camera

Laser hair removal works by targeting a substance called melalin that's present in both dark hair and dark skin.  The best candidates for laser hair removal are therefore those that have light skin and dark hair.

This doesn't mean that laser hair removal will definitely work for you (see point 1), however it does mean that there's a very high chance that laser hair removal will work for you.

​If you have a darker skin tone than Fitzpatrick type IV, then there are still a few options for you.  Both the Alexandrite laser (to a certain extent) and the Nd:YAG (to a fuller extent) have been shown to be both effective and safe for those with darker skin tone.

Here is the Fitzpatrick table for reference:-​

Skin Type

Skin Colour

Hair Color (darkest)

Eye Colour

Description

1

White or very pale

Blonde

Blue, grey, green

Always burns, never tans

2

Pale white with beige tint

Chestnut or dark blond

Blue

Always burns, sometimes tans

3

Beige to light brown (olive)

Dark brown

Dark brown

Sometimes burns, always tans

4

Light to moderate brown

Black

Brown

Rarely Burns, always tans

5

Medium to Dark Brown

Black

Brownish black

Rarely burns, tans more than average

6

Dark brown to black

Black

Black

Never burns

4. You Want Longer Term Hair Removal Results

Laser hair removal is great for people who are fed up of using the shorter term hair removal methods (like waxing and shaving) and who would prefer to have longer term results.

​While laser hair removal doesn't give permanent hair removal, it has been scientifically proven to give permanent hair reduction of varying degrees of effectiveness depending on the study you look at.  

This is great for people who would otherwise have to spent an inordinate amount of time using other hair removal methods every few days or week.

For permanent hair removal, however, you'll need to consider a treatment such as electrolysis.​

5. You Have a Large Treatment Area

Laser hair removal can be feasibly used on large treatment areas since the procedure is fast.  The same can't be said for electrolysis, whereby each hair is to be treated individually, making the process slow and impractical for large body parts.

In fact, some people are often advised to start with laser hair removal as a precursor to electrolysis.  The laser treatment reduces the density of the hair in the treatment which consequently makes treatment with electrolysis more feasible.

Laser hair removal isn't particularly accurate, though.  For instance, laser hair removal for eyebrow shaping wouldn't be a good fit - such treatment would be undertaken through waxing, threading or electrolysis.

6. You can Afford the Treatment

Laser hair removal requires multiple sessions over a period of time that could amount to 12 months or longer.  Obviously, this makes it a relatively expensive treatment that shouldn't be undertaken lightly.  

You have to be willing to "lose" the few thousand dollars that it will cost to go ahead with the full treatment process. And, even if you don't get any results from the treatment (something that is entirely possible), you have to be in a position to be able to write off the expense without putting yourself in a tight spot financially.​

Many laser hair removal centres offer payback schemes that allow you to have the treatment without having to pay much in advance.  This may seem like a good deal, but ultimately it means a financial commitment to pay back more than you would otherwise have to if you had saved the full amount before undergoing treatment.  

Be careful not to get yourself into financial disarray, if choosing this option.

7. You can Handle some Discomfort

The laser hair removal treatment process is not pain free.  However, most clinics will offer you some form of pain reliever to make the treatment as easy and comfortable as possible for you so this isn't a major concern for most people.

Most of These Points can be Cleared up with your Laser Hair Removal Consultant

Don't worry if you aren't sure about some of these points.  This article is mainly to give you some things to think about before rushing into a decision.  

You'll be able to talk with any reputable laser hair removal clinic about each of these points before i) paying any money and ii) having a patch test done.  

Before going ahead with any laser hair removal, I recommend that you read a few of our related articles:-

Paul
 

I'm a computer science graduate, have a passion for self development and created this site as a side project due to the lack of complete, understandable, helpful and truthful information about hair removal available online.

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