How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Last?

How long do laser hair removal results last? It’s a fair question — while laser hair removal is meant to deliver lasting results, what that means can be different from person to person.

What’s undeniable is that laser hair removal is a long-term solution for unwanted hair. It damages the hair follicle to stop hair growth in its tracks.

However, dormant follicles can always wake up years after treatment, and different life stages or hormonal fluctuations can also lead to some regrowth.

So the real question is: how long will your laser hair removal results last? By explaining what factors impact treatment longevity, this guide will empower you to see your best, most long-lasting laser hair removal results.

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

The most common clinical term for laser hair removal is permanent hair reduction, but the reality is a little more complex. Laser treatments work based on a process called selective photothermolysis. The laser is attracted to pigment in the hair follicle, and once absorbed, it turns into a localized blast of heat.

For the hair follicles to be targeted by the laser, the hair needs to be in the active growth phase of its lifecycle. At any given time, only a percentage of hairs will be in the growth phase, so getting consistent laser sessions every 4 weeks allows the treatment to target as many actively growing hairs as possible within the shortest period. This time frame can be extended when the hair starts to grow back slower or thinner. The best return time will be recommended to you by your provider.

Most published papers only look at laser hair removal results after 3-6 sessions, which typically results in anywhere from 30% hair reduction for the face to up to 85% hair reduction for more responsive areas like the underarms.

Most clients will see significant hair reduction after 8-12 sessions. A minority of people will need more treatments, especially if they can only tolerate gentler settings or are targeting more resistant treatment areas such as the face or full bikini area.

The key to lasting results is getting treated with a laser that’s strong and targeted enough to create damage, and getting enough sessions to target every hair follicle when it’s in the growth phase.

How Long Do Laser Hair Removal Results Last?

Laser hair removal results can last for years, typically with minimal regrowth in the decades following treatment.

Out of dozens of studies on laser hair removal efficacy, only a tiny fraction have examined long-term outcomes. Those studies usually observe a small increase in hair growth after the first full hair cycle (around one year after the last session).

In a review analyzing results across various treatment areas and laser devices, the average hair reduction declined by about 1% to 2% between the 6-month and 12-month follow-ups.

When a little hair does grow back after laser hair removal, it’s usually finer and lighter than it was before treatment.

There is a ton of variation from person to person, though. A 2020 study looked at patient satisfaction 11.5 years after their initial treatment series. Of the 173 participants interviewed for follow-up, 87.9% said that their results sustained, and they were still happy! However, this still leaves around 20 participants who likely experienced more significant regrowth. This can be based on many factors such as medications, supplements, hormones, or genetics.

Because most people only see a small percentage of regrowth in the years after treatments, occasional touch-ups are often enough to nip that hair in the bud and ensure greater long-term satisfaction.

Key Factors Impacting How Long Laser Hair Removal Lasts

How long your laser hair removal results last depends on a lot of different factors. Most people will only see a small percentage of regrowth in the years after undergoing treatments, but some may experience more. These are the main factors involved in your long-term outcomes:

Treatment Area

Some areas experience hair reduction a lot faster and for a lot longer than others, based on the length of the hair’s lifecycle in that area. The underarms tend to respond fastest to treatments and maintain laser results for a long while.

Meanwhile, hormone-sensitive areas like the face and neck often require more treatment sessions. These areas (especially the face) are significantly more likely to experience regrowth in the years after treatment.

There’s less research on how long laser results last in intimate areas like the bikini line or Brazilian. We generally find that the bikini line and upper part of the pubic mound show excellent long-term hair reduction, but there can be a little more regrowth closer to the genitals.

Hormones

Hormones control hair growth, so it also stands to reason that they can impact how long laser hair removal results last. While it hasn’t been studied, it’s reasonable to believe that women’s laser hair removal results will last longer than men’s, as they usually have fewer cycling androgens triggering hair production.

Those dealing with hormonal conditions, especially PCOS, may have a greater chance of needing regular touch-ups to maintain their laser hair removal results. Life circumstances that impact hormones, like pregnancy and childbirth, can often also trigger dormant hair follicles and lead to sudden regrowth.

Type of Laser and Settings

When your provider chooses your laser settings, their goal is to ensure you achieve the fastest results with the lowest risk of adverse effects. If the settings are too low, you won’t get much hair reduction, but if they’re too high, you risk damaging your skin.

The right settings for each individual depend on factors like the skin tone, sensitivity, hair color, density, and more. 

Alexandrite wavelengths typically deliver the greatest level of hair reduction in the long term, but they’re not suitable for clients with deeper skin tones. Nd:YAG wavelengths, which bypass melanin in the skin, may require more sessions, but they deliver the best balance of safety and effectiveness for clients with deeper skin tones, and still deliver lasting results.

IPL hair removal devices aren’t real lasers, so they often only partially damage the hair follicle — as a result, their effects last the least amount of time. Studies show significant regrowth in the months and years after the IPL treatments are completed.

How to Get Laser Hair Removal to Last Forever

If you’re seeking long-lasting, complete smoothness with minimal regrowth, we have a few tips:

• Choose a provider that offers treatments with both Alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser — that way, they can tailor treatment to your skin tone and use the strongest settings your skin can tolerate. All SEV locations use dual-wavelength laser systems that feature both lasers.

• Make sure your provider also offers skin cooling during the treatment (we use a Zimmer device at SEV). This helps keep the skin calm during treatment and allows for more optimal treatment settings.

• Get enough sessions to achieve your highest level of hair reduction.

• Come back for follow-up sessions when you notice a little bit of hair starting to grow back. For most of our clients, one touch-up session per year is ideal!

18-Month Membership Laser Hair Removal at SEV

The real secret to getting your laser hair removal to last forever is with the occasional maintenance. It doesn’t take much. While you should get your initial treatments every 4 weeks, you can slow it down to annual maintenance once you achieve your optimal results.

We know our clients want lasting results, which is why we developed the 18-Month Membership. This plan includes 18 months of consistent laser treatments, allowing you to receive as many sessions as you need to achieve optimal results in the short term. That’s followed by a lifetime of annual touch-ups so you can maintain and enjoy a lifetime of smoothness.

If you’re only starting your laser journey, you can book with us at SEV using code HELLOSMOOTH, and your first session will be free!