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Facts and mythsLaser hair removal myths — what is true?
Laser hair removal has collected plenty of myths over the years. We go through them one by one — no marketing, just facts.
The internet is full of conflicting information
Some myths have been repeated for years, others came from bad experiences with underpowered equipment. Below we answer the 13 most common ones honestly — without bending the facts either way.
Laser removes hair after just one treatment
No.During a single visit, the laser only affects hairs that are currently in their active growth phase. That's why the effect builds up over the whole course, not after one treatment.
More pain means the treatment is working better
No.Intense pain is not a measure of effectiveness. The result depends on the right settings, hair structure, treatment area, and your skin's reaction — not on how much pain you can tolerate. If it feels too intense, tell your specialist.
Justyna has just had her first underarm session and answers the question almost everyone asks: does it hurt and what does it feel like.
What Justyna says — English translation
Does laser hair removal hurt? What did you feel during the session? — I've just had my first laser hair removal session and I can say with full confidence that it isn't a painful treatment. I didn't feel anything uncomfortable at all. Just gentle warmth and tiny pinpricks. The session was done super quickly, so I'm looking forward to the next one and, of course, to the results.
The video is in Polish.
All lasers work the same way
No.The result depends on the device, system power, pulse stability, wavelength, cooling system, chosen settings, and the specialist's experience. Equipment quality and practitioner skill matter enormously.
Laser hair removal is only for women
No.Men choose laser just as often — most commonly for the back, shoulders, chest, stomach, neck, and underarms. For many, it's a matter of comfort, aesthetics, sport, and conscious self-care.
You need to grow your hair out before a treatment
No.Quite the opposite — the area should be shaved before your visit. The laser doesn't work with hair length above the skin, but with the follicle beneath it. Hair that's too long makes the treatment less comfortable.
Laser is harmful to your health
No.The laser acts strictly within the skin and hair follicle, without affecting internal organs. Its job is to heat the hair's structure, not to penetrate deep into the body.
If the hair didn't fall out right away, the treatment failed
No.Treated hair usually falls out of the skin gradually, within 7–21 days. This is a normal stage after treatment, not a sign that it didn't work.
Laser works the same on every hair color
No.Laser works best on hair with enough melanin. Very light, gray, and fine peach-fuzz hair may respond more weakly — we always assess this structure during your consultation.
You can't have laser hair removal in summer
No.At LASERRIX we treat all areas all year round, including in summer. There is one condition: the skin in the treatment area must not be freshly tanned.
For at least 7 days before your visit, avoid intense sunbathing and sunbeds. After the treatment, apply SPF 50 to exposed areas and avoid tanning for 7–14 days.
Laser hair removal causes cancer
No.Hair removal lasers use light, not ionising radiation like X-rays. Their energy turns into heat within the hair and the hair follicle.
A review of more than 25 years of laser and IPL use found no credible cancer risk.[1]
Hair grows back thicker after laser
No.For most people, hair becomes finer and sparser with each treatment.
The rarely reported paradoxical stimulation of hair growth mainly affects the face and neck — outside these areas it was described in about 0.08% of cases.[2] That is why we do not treat women's faces at LASERRIX.
Laser results are temporary — the hair will come back anyway
No.The laser works on hairs that are in the active growth phase at the moment of the pulse. That follicle is destroyed for good and will not produce hair again.
Some hairs are in the resting phase at that time, which is why you need a course: each treatment reaches the next group of follicles. Once the course is complete, you can forget about shaving for years.
Over time, the body may wake up individual dormant follicles. A maintenance session once a year to once every three years is then enough. This is exactly how permanent hair reduction is defined: less hair for the long term, with or without maintenance treatments.[3]
Laser doesn't work if you have a hormonal disorder
No.The laser works on hair follicles in hormonal disorders too, for example in PCOS.[4]
However, an unstable or altered hormonal balance shifts the hair growth phases: new hairs can appear faster, and previously inactive follicles can become active. The course may then be longer and maintenance sessions more frequent.
If you wish, you can also see an endocrinologist or gynaecologist — research shows that combining laser with hormonal treatment gives better results.[4]
Sources
- Ash C. et al. — Lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL) association with cancerous lesions, Lasers in Medical Science 2017
- Snast I. et al. — Paradoxical Hypertrichosis Associated with Laser and Light Therapy for Hair Removal: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis, American Journal of Clinical Dermatology 2021
- U.S. FDA — 510(k) K240816, MeDioStar (definition of “permanent hair reduction”), 2024
- Tan K. et al. — Laser and Light-Based Therapies for Hirsutism Management in Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Systematic Review, JAMA Dermatology 2024
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