One of the most common questions clients ask is how many laser hair removal sessions they’ll need to see their desired results. It makes perfect sense to wonder! The sooner you can reach your hair-free goals, the better.

Our go-to answer is that you’ll probably need at least 8 sessions of laser hair removal before you see significant hair reduction. However, this is an estimate — some clients will need fewer sessions while others may need more. Each client responds to laser treatments differently, with a lot of factors complicating the matter.

In this post, we’ll explain what’s behind the number of needed laser sessions, what kinds of results you can expect, and how we make it easier to stay flexible with treatments at SEV.

How Laser Hair Reduction Works

Before we jump in, it’s important to understand how laser hair removal works so you can better understand the variability of results. Laser is a type of amplified light that travels on a specific wavelength. It penetrates through the skin without damaging it, making it a safe solution for unwanted hair.

The light of the laser pinpoints the hair follicle based on its color — the melanin in the root of the hair actually absorbs the light! Only hairs in the active stage of growth (i.e., the anagen phase of the hair’s lifecycle) contain enough pigment to absorb the light and create that thermal effect.

You Need at Least 8 Sessions to See Results

Every one of your hair follicles has its own lifecycle with a few stages. At any given time, only a percentage of your follicles are in the same stage. Laser hair removal only works on hair follicles while they’re in their active growth stage, which is why it cannot remove all hair at once.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, a single laser hair removal session can only reduce the regrowth of around 10%-25% of hair follicles. In practice, our nurses find that the rate actually fluctuates a lot more, and that the process isn’t always linear — your level of noticeable hair reduction may even fluctuate throughout your treatment journey.

It will normally take a minimum of 8 sessions for the laser to target the majority of the hair follicles, and even more sessions if there are any complicating factors. There is often some hair regrowth in the years after completing a series of treatments, but annual touch-up sessions are often enough to nip it in the bud.

The best way to figure out exactly how many treatments you’ll need is to have a consultation with a laser hair removal specialist. At SEV, one of our nurses or technicians will always be happy to analyze your skin and other treatment factors, to give you an estimate of how many laser sessions you’ll probably need. The precise results can’t be guaranteed, but undergoing a few sessions will also give you an idea of how your body responds to treatments.

SEV laser hair removal sessions needed based on hair types

Factors That Impact the Number of Sessions

The number of sessions we recommend is an estimate based on our years of experience. However, there are other factors that impact how many treatments you’ll need. In other cases, these factors may lead to sudden regrowth long after you’ve completed your series of sessions.

Prior to your appointment, your laser hair removal technician might be able to give you a more accurate idea of how many treatments you’ll need. Just remember that the precise number is impossible to predict.

Treatment Area

The biggest factor in the number of laser hair removal sessions you’ll need is actually the treatment area. The hair over different body parts has a different lifecycle length — this means a different number of hairs in the active growth stage at any given time, and therefore a different number of required treatment sessions.

The overall efficacy also ties into the risk of regrowth and how sensitive a given body part is to hormonal influences. Most studies show a greater level of hair reduction with fewer treatments in areas like the underarms and legs, while the face and bikini area often require more sessions.

Laser Technology

The type of laser technology used for your treatments can majorly impact how many sessions you’ll need. Results vary between lasers like alexandrite, Nd:YAG, diode, and IPL.

There aren’t set numbers for the number of sessions needed with each device. There is some data about the overall level of hair reduction each device can create within 3 to 6 treatments, which is the number of sessions usually performed in clinical trials.

Alexandrite lasers are considered the most powerful option on the market, delivering up to 84.25% hair reduction in the long term. However, their shorter wavelength means that while they’re safe for those with lighter skin tones, those with darker skin face a higher risk of complications.

Nd:YAG lasers are considered the safest option for clients with darker skin. Their longer wavelength bypasses melanin in the skin, to target the follicle directly. While the effects are poor in those with lighter skin, studies show up to 73.61% hair reduction in the long-term for those with deeper skin tones.

Diode lasers are a middle-of-the-road option that isn’t optimized for any skin tone but will work on a broad spectrum of people. Diode lasers are popular with salons because they’re cheaper to buy. Studies show up to 69.2% hair reduction in the long term.

IPL is the technology used in most home-based hair removal devices. It stands for Intense Pulsed Light, and it’s technically not a laser at all. Unlike lasers, IPL isn’t targeted since it features light traveling at multiple wavelengths, with worse skin penetration. Studies show that IPL devices normally lead to just 27% to 52.7% hair reduction in the long term and that real lasers consistently outperform them.

For your safety, it’s important to choose the best laser for your skin tone. While you may need extra sessions, using the wrong laser for your skin can result in skin damage.

Across all SEV locations, we use the Candela GentleMax Pro or Cynosure Elite iQ. Both devices are dual-wavelength platforms with both Nd:YAG and Alexandrite lasers, developed by leading US-based medical aesthetic device manufacturers.

Skin Tone

Your skin tone plays a part in the kind of hair reduction results you can expect. It influences the type of laser and the specific settings that your provider chooses. Those with a combination of light skin and dark hair will usually see the fastest laser hair reduction results, while those with deeper skin may need more treatment sessions.

Hair Color

Laser light is absorbed by the pigment in the root of the hair, which is how it’s able to target hair growth from the source. The more pigment in the hair follicle, the greater the thermal reaction will be and the more hairs will be impacted with each laser hair removal session. This means that very dark hair will respond to laser easily, while light brown hair may need more sessions.

Skin Sensitivity and Pain Tolerance

Skin sensitivity and pain tolerance play a role in the settings your provider chooses during your treatment. The actual setting selection is a little complex. Beyond just energy level, your provider also selects an appropriate pulse length, spot size, and fluence (i.e., the level of energy output in relation to the spot size).

To keep it simple, higher settings generally correlate with better hair reduction but a higher impact on the skin. If your skin is very sensitive or we notice that you’re sensitive to pain, we’ll select gentler settings. This may correspond with slightly slower hair reduction. We think it’s worth it for the sake of ensuring your safety.

Sex and Gender

Male and female sex hormones both control how your body produces hair. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the specific androgen (male sex hormone) that stimulates the growth of dark and coarse face and body hair. Men generally have more DHT in their hair follicles, which results in denser, coarser hair. This is why men often need more laser sessions to see significant hair reduction, particularly for the face and neck.

Hormonal Conditions

Health conditions that impact your hair growth cycle may increase your risk of regrowth after laser hair removal, although they generally don’t impact short-term results. This is particularly true with conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which is the most common underlying cause of hirsutism or excessive hair growth.

Hormonal Fluctuations

The normal hormonal changes you go through in life may also impact long-term hair reduction results. Women often report experiencing renewed hair growth after pregnancy, for example. It’s generally best to undergo laser hair removal once you’re past puberty, and at a time when your body is not going through big hormonal shifts.

Medications

Certain medications may trigger hair growth, and potentially lead to you needing more laser treatment sessions. This is particularly true with androgens or similar hormonal medications, as well as hair growth treatments like finasteride and minoxidil. On the other hand, medications with hormone-regulating, anti-androgenic effects may improve your treatment results.

Consistency

Consistency is key for optimal laser results. You’ll see your results fastest and with the fewest sessions if you come in for treatments every 4 to 6 weeks, especially when you’re first starting. This will allow enough time for more hair follicles to reach the active stage of growth, while also preventing missed hair cycles. Any more or less time between treatments would lead to less hair clearance, and you may end up needing more treatment sessions.

SEV laser hair removal sessions needed men-women needed

What Kind of Results Can You Expect in the Long Term?

It’s not just about the number of sessions you’ll need, but also what kind of results you can expect from laser hair removal in the long term. While it’s officially approved by the FDA as a permanent hair reduction method, most studies show that some regrowth is common in the years after initial treatments.

We’re only talking about partial regrowth, though. Even without touch-ups, studies show that most people who go through a series of treatments still see significant smoothness even years after their final treatment. Even so, we always recommend that our clients come back as needed for touch-ups to maintain their maximum level of hair reduction.

Is Laser Hair Removal Worth It?

Maybe we’re biased, but to us, it seems obvious that laser hair removal is 100% worth it. Even if your hair follicles are particularly stubborn, a year to a year and a half of monthly treatments are worth a lifetime of smoothness. 

When it comes to expenses, laser hair removal is a one-time investment that will reduce your hair removal costs for the rest of your life! When you consider that a single laser session is about on par with a professional waxing treatment, it’s a no-brainer — especially at SEV where we’re committed to the most transparent and accessible prices in the industry.

Is One Laser Session Enough?

No. A single laser session will only target the hair follicles that are in the active growth stage. This is a small percentage of all hair follicles in a treatment. You’ll need to undergo a series of at least 6 laser hair removal sessions to see significant results.

The precise number of treatments you’ll need for almost complete hair reduction depends on the treatment area and your physiology. Hormonal fluctuations can trigger some regrowth, so you may also need touch-ups over the years to maintain your results.

Save on Your Laser Hair Removal Sessions at SEV

At SEV, we keep our baseline prices budget-friendly while offering additional savings with our 8-Session Package or our Unlimited Plan.

There’s a lot of uncertainty when it comes to the ideal number of laser hair removal sessions. Research on laser hair removal shows anywhere from 50% to 85% hair reduction with a handful of sessions. There’s a lot of variation in the participants, types of lasers, and treatment areas in the studies, so you can’t predict what that means for you as an individual.

After more than a decade of treating a diverse range of clients all over the United States, we concluded that 8 sessions are the ideal minimum number of treatments. It is the perfect number for noticeable (although not necessarily complete) hair reduction on most body parts. For some clients, it’ll be enough to achieve your targeted hair removal results. Our 8-Session Package never expires and is available for all treatment areas.

On the other hand, if you’d like to avoid the guessing games and guarantee a lifetime of smoothness, our Unlimited Plan goes above and beyond. It includes 18 months of laser hair removal treatments (one per month), to ensure maximum hair reduction, and a lifetime of annual touch-ups to account for potential regrowth.

To find out the cost for your desired plan and treatment area, check out our laser hair removal prices.

Advanced Laser Treatments at SEV

Accessible prices and tailored packages are just a part of what makes SEV Laser a household name. With over 40 locations (and counting!) and a focus on laser hair removal, we consistently deliver high-caliber treatments and exceptional results.

Advanced Laser Machines

At SEV, our go-to laser platform is the Candela GentleMax Pro. This powerful device is the industry gold standard. It includes both a 755 nm Alexandrite laser, which is optimal for lighter skin tones, and a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, which is optimal for deeper skin tones.

Some of our locations also use the Cynosure Elite iQ. Like Candela, Cynosure is an industry leader, and the Elite iQ offers the same dual-wavelength laser capabilities. Both devices boast powerful energy output and diverse treatment settings, to ensure all of our clients achieve better results while reducing their risk of adverse events.

Certified Nurses & Technicians

To achieve your optimal laser hair removal results, you need to work with a provider with robust experience and specialization. Our registered nurses and laser technicians have the training to ensure tailored treatments and high-level hair reduction for each client.

Our laser experts at SEV undergo rigorous training, with continuous education and specialization, above and beyond the basic standards. More importantly, we handpick our team members for their positive attitude and passion for aesthetics, so you’ll always feel comfortable and cared for during your appointments at SEV.

Book Your Laser Hair Removal at SEV

We believe everyone deserves to have a hair-free life, which is why we’re committed to keeping our prices affordable for everyone. Whether it takes you just 3 sessions or 18 to see your desired results, a lifetime of smoothness is worth the effort.

We can’t give you a precise estimate right away, but what we can promise you is that the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll be able to kiss shaving and waxing goodbye. Don’t wait to do this one little thing that’ll help you feel comfortable and confident in your skin: Go ahead and book your laser hair removal appointment at SEV!