Find out why you truly need to undergo multiple Laser Hair Removal sessions (II)

by Jim McDonald

The stage of the hair in the growth cycle will ultimately determine if the hair removal will be permanent, or if another treatment will be required. You see, the hair growth cycle encompasses three stages, and the permanency of Laser Hair Removal is more probable when the hair is in one stage particularly - the growth stage.

There are 3 stage to the hair growth cycle:
(1) Active/Anagen
(2) Regressive/Catagen
(3) Resting/Telogen.

Laser hair removal is more effectual in the Anagen stage where the hair contains the most pigment, and is most affected by the laser light. If the laser treatment is applied when the hair is in either of the 2 other phases, then the likeliness of permanent hair removal is less. Although hair is primarily the same thing from person to person, the way an individual's hair grows is so unique, owing to many factors including: weight, metabolism, age, genetics and environmental conditions.

However, in despite of how these factors affect individual hair growth, hair itself grows through three clear-cut phases:

1. The ACTIVE or ANAGEN growth phase, comprises approximately 85 % of our body hair at any given moment in time and can last up to several years. During this stage, the hair shaft and follicle has an accumulation of pigment and is most affected by the laser light.

2. The REGRESSIVE or CATAGEN phase is the period during which the hair ceases to grow but is not yet shed. This phase often lasts several weeks comprising about 3 - 4% of our total body hair at any given moment in time. The laser will work in this stage, but if it is late in this part of the cycle, a new hair might already be coming through and the new hair will not be affected by the laser.

3. The RESTING or TELOGEN phase lasts 5 - 6 weeks, at the end of which the hair falls out and the new hair appears. The new hair may not be affected by the laser because it will not have pigment in it yet, remembering that the laser actually relies on the pigment to find the hair. Approximately 10-13% of our body hair is in this phase at any one time. Understanding the growth cycle of hair leads to the million dollar question, "Is permanent hair removal possible?"

The answer is Yes, Laser Hair Removal can absolutely provide a level of permanence. As you can see, if a hair in the Active/Anagen stage is subjected to the laser, then that hair will most likely be killed permanently. If a hair that is in either of the other 2 stages is exposed to the laser, then that hair will most likely be killed, but the new hair coming through will still continue to grow.

So the tip on Laser Hair Removal is that you will most likely require a few sessions to ensure that your unwanted hair is removed permanently. You could be lucky - your first Laser hair removal session will permanently remove all of your problem hair, but the likelihood is that you will need multiple sessions at set intervals to ensure that you get to the hair when it is in the first stage of growth. And that is all there really is to know, permanent Laser Hair Removal is definitely possible !

About the Author
Information on laser hair removal will show how easy and effective laser hair removal is. For further laser hair removal information visit http://www.permanent-hair-removal-laser.com/