You must be over the moon after buying an at-home laser hair removal device as you think that you will be finally hair-free. But you might also be anxious to know how often you need to do at-home laser hair removal sessions and how long will it take to show permanent hair growth reduction. And if at-home hair removal takes as long as salon laser hair removal does.
Moreover, if you have questions like if using a laser on your skin every day will help you get rid of undesired hair quickly, you are in the right place. Because this is exactly what we are going to explain in this article.
Although at-home laser hair removal devices are safe to use, they must not be used every day. Each semi-permanent hair removal device has certain instructions according to which it used to be used. So, let us see when should you do your hair-removal treatment and why it should not be done more often than required.
Phases of Hair Growth
Before getting into the details of at what time period and how many laser hair removal sessions you need to do, let us know the phases of hair growth. Because there are specific phases at which laser works the best.
Anagen
The first phase of hair growth is the anagen, the period of active hair growth. Here, hair cells are dividing at a rapid rate continuously. Thus, hair grows out of the hair follicles. Up to 90% of hair is at this stage at any time.
The time period of anagen differs for different types of hair. For example, the anagen phase of our scalp hair is longer compared to facial hair. It lasts for 2-3 weeks in case of facial and body hair.
Catagen
Then comes a short transition period where hair shifts from anagen, the actively growing phase to telogen, the resting phase. This is the catagen phase. Here, the blood supply to the hair is inhibited. As a result, hair grows slowly.
About 3-5% of hair is in the catagen phase at any unit in time.
Telogen
3rd is the resting phase of hair growth, also called telogen. Here, the hair reaches its maximum length and stops elongating further. It is a long phase and about 10% of hair is at this stage at one unit in time.
Exogen
The last phase is exogen, the shedding phase. In this phase, hair is Shed out of its follicle. And the growth of new hair in the follicle begins.
At Which Phase Should You Do Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal works best in the first or the rapidly growing phase, the anagen. Because in this phase, the blood supply to the follicles is increased and the laser works by destroying blood flow to the hair.
Anagen phase last for 15-20 days. So, laser hair removal is recommended once every 15 days. But, it is not a one-time thing. As not 100% of hair is in this stage of growth during your session. So, you have to wait for about 6-12 sessions to see hair growth reduction.
How Often Can You Do Your At-Home Laser Hair Removal
As stated earlier, one session every 2 weeks for 3-6 months is ideal to have your unwanted hair fall out forever. Doing more sessions than this will only waste a great number of pulses of the device. And doing fewer sessions than this would take a longer time to treat hair because you would miss the anagen phase.
And once you are done with all of your laser hair removal sessions, you only need 1 session per month as hair growth becomes slow. After 6-12 more sessions, you will completely become hairless for 1 year.
Because your device would still have pulses, you can restart your laser hair removal again when the hair starts to grow back.
How is Ulike Sapphire AIR+ IPL Device Better Than At-Home Laser Hair Removal
Although laser hair removal works effectively, it is not for people who can not stay persistent for 6 months or more. Moreover, it is painful and at-home laser devices have limited pulses. In such cases, IPL hair removal can be used. It uses a similar technology to laser but works faster.
One of the leading IPL devices in the market is Ulike Sapphire AIR+ dark green handset. Let us see what makes it outsmart at-home laser hair removal devices.
Faster Results
The best thing about Ulike sapphire IPL is that you do not need to wait as long as you need to do with at-home laser devices. In contrast to the 12 weeks needed to see results with laser, only 4 weeks are required for significant hair reduction with Ulike AIR+ IPL device.
No Zapping
Although at-home laser is FDA-approved and entirely safe to be used and has few side effects, you can feel skin burning, stinging, and zapping during your laser hair removal session. While in the case of Ulike Sapphire IPL hair removal, you feel a cooling sensation instead. Thus, it is better for people with sensitive skin as it is easy on the skin.
Easy to Use
At-home laser hair removal devices have a small round window, are relatively heavy, and come with a chargeable battery. However, the Ulike Sapphire IPL hair removal device had a big rectangular window, a lightweight device, and a long cord.
So, you can do a full-body session in a few minutes without your hands being tired. Additionally, you do not worry about an uncharged battery.
Long-Life
Laser devices have a limited number of pulses like it is 90,000 in the case of Tria. So, they only last for a few years. While Ulike Sapphire IPL comes with unlimited flashes and they last for a whole lifetime.
With no need to change the bulb or buy the device again and again, it could be your best investment.
Hair Removal with Ulike Sapphire AIR+ Dark Green Handset
While Laser and IPL both work on the same technology for destroying hair follicles, there is little difference in their usage timeline. Let us see how often you need to use Ulike Sapphire and what results you get during that time.
Sessions for the First 2 Weeks
You need to do your IPL hair removal on alternate days with 3 sessions every week for the first 2 weeks. During two weeks, more than half of your hair is in anagen.
During this period, you can notice a 45.5% reduction in hair quantity, an 87.41% reduction in hair density, and an 83.05% reduction in hair length. Moreover, your regrowth will slow down exponentially.
Sessions for the Next 2 Weeks
As about 50% of hair follicles are already destroyed in the first 2 weeks, 2 sessions every week for the next 2 weeks are recommended. During this time hair from the telogen and exogen phases also move to anagen.
There is a 54.55 reduction in hair quantity, a 90.37% reduction in hair density, and a 78.62% further reduction in hair length. So, you will be almost hairless by the end of 1 month with continuous Ulike hair removal sessions.
Sessions Afterwards
Not all hair is destroyed within one month because of diversity in hair growth, its phases, and anagen phase length. You would need to do touch-ups every month. One session once a month is enough for a few months unless you see no further hair regrowth.
How Long the Results Last
Once you are done with your IPL hair removal sessions and achieve complete Hairlessness, you can stay hair-free for 6 or more months.
When you start noticing hair after 6 months, you always have your Ulike device in your vicinity.
Patience is the Key
Laser hair removal is not a one-time procedure. You need to be patient and consistent with the treatment. It can take as little as 3 months and as much as 1 year for you to go completely hair-free. But with time, the time duration between the sessions becomes longer and longer.
If you leave your procedure without competition, hair growth will stop at that level. Additionally, other changes like hormones can trigger the production of new hair follicles and hair starts to regrow.
So, if you decide to go for laser hair removal, patience is the key to getting the desired results.
Conclusion
In this article, we have talked about how often you need to do at-home laser hair removal. Laser hair removal devices work best when used during the active period of hair growth by damaging the blood vessels supplying hair follicles.
It takes 6-12 months for the laser to destroy all hair follicles. This process is a little different in the case of IPL laser hair removal. It works quickly and effectively by destroying hair follicles within 1-3 months.
Devices like Ulike Sapphire IPL Handset are one of the fastest devices to remove unwanted hair semi-permanently. So, you need to do 2-3 sessions for the First month and then 1-2 sessions every month unless you are satisfied with the results.