Hair Density Reduction VS. Removing It Completely

Laser hair removal is a bit of a misnomer. While a laser is used, the hair is not so much removed as it is reduced. A better description would be to say laser hair reduction. That being said, laser hair removal/reduction works so well that it seems like the hair is gone forever. If it was 100 percent effective to remove hair by laser, you would not need yearly sessions, but you do, so it more reduces your hair than anything.

To answer the question if you can reduce the density of hair rather than removing it all, the answer is yes. When you go for laser hair removal, the technician is not sweeping over your body removing all the hair by laser. Instead, they are targeting individual hair and individual follicles, while zapping them with a laser and destroying the follicles so the hair falls out. This means that they can remove specific hairs rather than removing all the hair completely.

The best thing you can do is talk with the laser hair technician and tell them where you want hair removed. For example, maybe you have a beard that you like but you do not like having to shave on your neck or higher on your cheeks. In this case, you can talk to the technician to remove the hair in that area. Likewise, if you have chest hair but it is high density, then you can ask the technician to simply reduce the density of hair on your chest. The laser hair removal technician will be able to do this by targeting hairs in a pattern, maybe every four hairs, so that the hair density is lowered significantly.

One great thing about only having the hair density reduced rather than removed is that you save money and time. Typically, it takes about five to 12 sessions, spaced about three to nine weeks apart. Each session costs you an average of about $400. So, you will be paying between $2,000 and $4,800 to have hair removed and it will take about six months or more to remove the hair. Now, if you are just reducing the density of the hair, then you will probably cut that time and money in half. Instead of taking eight months it will only take four months. Instead of costing you $3,000 it will only cost you $1,500.

When people think of laser hair removal, then think that it means removing all the hair off the body for good. This is no the case. Laser hair removal simply targets specific hairs on the body and removes them one by one. They are not gone forever, and hair will grow back, but it is an extremely effective method of reducing the hair on your body. Instead of shaving ever week, you are going in for yearly appointments to have hair removed from your body. The same holds true for laser hair density reduction. It won’t work forever, and you will have to go for yearly treatments, but it is very good reducing density if that is a problem for you.

Read more answers to your questions at our laser hair removal FAQ page.