Laser hair reduction is most effective for clients with which hair characteristics?

• A. Fine, Light Hair
• B. Coarse, Dark Hair
• C. Gray Hair
• D. Red Hair

Answer: (B)

Laser hair reduction works by delivering light that is absorbed by melanin in the hair follicle. That pigment absorbs the energy and converts it to heat, damaging the follicle so it grows back more slowly. The more pigment in the hair, the more energy gets absorbed, making the treatment more effective. Coarse, dark hair has a lot of melanin and a robust follicle, so it absorbs the laser energy well and responds strongly, giving better results with fewer sessions. Fine, light-colored hair has little pigment, so it doesn’t absorb enough energy to disable the follicle. Gray hair has little to no pigment, making it largely untargetable by standard lasers. Red hair also poses challenges for many lasers because of its different pigment composition, which often results in poorer absorption. So the best match is coarse, dark hair.