Unwanted hair is something many people spend years managing through shaving, waxing, threading, or plucking. Laser hair removal offers a different approach: instead of simply removing the visible hair, we use carefully selected laser energy to target the hair follicle and produce long-term hair reduction.
As a physician, I believe the most important thing patients should understand is that laser hair removal is not simply about choosing a laser and treating every person with the same settings. Your skin tone, hair color, hair thickness, treatment area, hormonal influences, and even recent sun exposure can affect how we approach treatment.
At VitalizeMD, we use the SPLENDOR X laser system, which combines two well-established laser wavelengths and allows us to individualize treatments across a broad range of skin types.
Laser hair removal works through a process known as selective photothermolysis. In simple terms, laser energy is attracted to pigment, or melanin, within the hair. That energy is converted into heat and transmitted down the hair shaft to damage the structures responsible for producing new hair.
The objective is to deliver enough energy to affect the follicle while protecting the surrounding skin.
This explains one of the most important principles of laser hair removal: the contrast between the color of the hair and the skin matters.
Dark, coarse hair generally responds particularly well because it contains abundant melanin for the laser to target. Very light blonde, white, gray, and some red hair contain much less target pigment and therefore may respond poorly to conventional laser hair removal.
One of the first questions patients ask is:
“How many treatments will I need?”
For most patients, I recommend planning on approximately 6–8 treatments, although some people may require additional sessions depending on the area being treated, hair density, skin and hair characteristics, and hormonal factors.
There is a biological reason for this.
Hair does not grow continuously. Each follicle moves independently through different phases of the hair-growth cycle. Laser treatment is most effective when a follicle is in its active growth, or anagen, phase, because the hair is well connected to the structures we are trying to target.
At any given appointment, however, only a portion of your follicles are in that phase.
This is why one treatment cannot eliminate all of the hair. We schedule treatments several weeks apart so that we can progressively target additional follicles as they enter their active growth phase.
Over the course of treatment, patients typically notice that hair grows back more slowly, more sparsely, and often finer.
It is also important to set the right expectation: medically, we generally describe the goal as long-term or permanent hair reduction, rather than promising that every single hair will disappear forever. Hormonal changes, aging, medications, and other biological factors can stimulate new hair growth, so occasional maintenance treatments may be beneficial.
Before performing laser hair removal, we evaluate the patient’s skin carefully.
One system physicians commonly use is the Fitzpatrick skin-type classification, which ranges from Type I through Type VI and considers how skin responds to ultraviolet exposure—from very fair skin that burns readily to deeply pigmented skin.
Why does this matter?
The laser is designed to recognize pigment in the hair, but there is also melanin in the skin. If the wrong wavelength or inappropriate settings are used, particularly in darker or recently tanned skin, excessive laser energy may be absorbed by the epidermis rather than the hair follicle.
That can increase the risk of complications such as burns or temporary changes in pigmentation.
This is one reason proper patient assessment and appropriate laser selection are just as important as the laser itself.
Two of the most established wavelengths for laser hair removal are:
Alexandrite — 755 nm
The Alexandrite wavelength has strong absorption by melanin and can be extremely effective for dark hair in patients with lighter skin tones. Traditionally, it has been particularly useful for Fitzpatrick skin types I–III.
Nd — 1064 nm
The Nd wavelength penetrates more deeply and has lower absorption by epidermal melanin. This makes it particularly valuable when treating darker skin tones, including Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI.
Modern technology has made it possible to move beyond a simple choice of “Alexandrite or Nd.”
That brings us to the technology we use at VitalizeMD.
At VitalizeMD, we use the Lumenis SPLENDOR X, an advanced laser platform powered by BLEND X technology.
What makes this system particularly interesting from a physician’s perspective is its ability to utilize the two important hair-removal wavelengths:
Lumenis describes SPLENDOR X as using adjustable dual-wavelength technology, allowing treatment to be tailored according to a patient’s skin tone and hair characteristics.
Rather than approaching every patient with a one-size-fits-all laser, the technology gives the provider greater flexibility in choosing the appropriate wavelength strategy for the individual patient.
This is especially useful because our patients do not fall neatly into one category. There is an enormous spectrum of skin tones, tanning patterns, hair thicknesses, and hair colors.
The SPLENDOR X system also incorporates a square treatment spot, designed to provide more uniform coverage while reducing unnecessary overlap between pulses. Its larger treatment areas and repetition rate can also make treatment of areas such as the back or legs considerably more efficient.
Cooling is another important consideration. SPLENDOR X incorporates a dual cooling system designed to help remove heat from the treatment area and improve patient comfort while protecting the skin.
Most patients tolerate laser hair removal quite well.
You may feel a brief sensation of heat or something similar to a small snap against the skin with each pulse. Cooling technology helps make the procedure more comfortable.
Treatment time depends primarily on the size of the area. A small area such as the upper lip or underarms can be treated relatively quickly, while larger areas such as the legs, chest, or back naturally require more time.
Immediately afterward, some patients develop temporary redness or mild swelling around the follicles. This can resemble a mild sunburn and generally settles relatively quickly.
Preparation is an important part of achieving a safe and effective treatment.
We generally want the hair follicle to remain intact beneath the skin, so waxing, threading, tweezing, and other methods that pull hair out from the root should be avoided before treatment. Shaving is different: it removes the hair above the skin while leaving the follicle available for the laser to target.
Sun exposure and tanning also matter. A significant tan changes the amount of melanin in the skin and can alter how safely laser energy can be delivered.
This is why we ask about recent sun exposure, medications, skin conditions, previous reactions to lasers, and other relevant medical history before treatment.
Laser hair removal can be an excellent option for women and men who want to reduce unwanted hair on areas such as the:
Patients with dark, coarse hair typically respond especially well, because the laser has a strong pigment target.
Patients with very light blonde, gray, white, or certain shades of red hair should have a careful consultation before committing to treatment, since these hairs contain relatively little melanin and may not respond adequately.
Patients with darker skin can absolutely be candidates for laser hair removal, but the wavelength, energy, pulse duration, and other parameters must be chosen appropriately. Modern Nd technology has significantly expanded our ability to treat a wider range of skin tones safely. SPLENDOR X is specifically designed to allow customization across different skin tones and hair characteristics.
The device is important—but the person evaluating you and operating it matters just as much.
Before beginning laser hair removal, we want to understand:
What is your natural skin type?
Have you recently been tanning?
What color and thickness is the hair?
Which area are we treating?
Have you previously had laser treatment?
Are medications or medical conditions relevant?
Could hormonal factors be contributing to excessive hair growth?
Those answers help us select an appropriate treatment plan rather than simply applying a standard setting to every patient.
Laser hair removal has evolved considerably.
The goal today isn’t simply to deliver more laser energy. It is to deliver the right wavelength and energy to the right patient, at the right depth, while protecting the surrounding skin.
Most patients should anticipate a series of approximately 6–8 treatments, followed by maintenance treatments when necessary. Results vary because every person’s skin, hair, hormones, and hair-growth cycles are different.
At VitalizeMD, our approach begins with evaluating the individual patient. With advanced technology such as the Lumenis SPLENDOR X, which incorporates Alexandrite 755 nm and Nd 1064 nm wavelengths through its BLEND X platform, we can customize treatment for a broad spectrum of skin and hair types.
For patients considering laser hair removal, my advice is simple: don’t choose a treatment based on price or the name of a machine alone. Choose a practice where your skin and hair are properly evaluated and where the technology can be appropriately tailored to you.
A thoughtful consultation is the first step toward achieving effective hair reduction while keeping your skin healthy.
