Do hair follicles disappear after laser hair removal?

Author: Vanessa Hoppe  |  Last update: Sunday, August 3, 2025

Lasers can kill hair only during the anagen stage. However, only about 15 percent of the hair will be present in this phase at the time of one laser session. That means that only 15 percent of hair follicles will be destroyed, and those hairs will fall off five to 14 days following treatment.

Do hair follicles disappear after laser?

Laser hair removal destroys the hair follicle, therefore the hair in the follicle falls out and typically does not come back. The hair follicle has to be in an active growth phase in order for the hair to respond. Even if the hair follicle is treated, if it not in an active growth phase the hair will grow back.

Does laser hair removal get rid of follicles?

Laser hair removal destroys the hair follicle, therefore the hair in the follicle falls out and typically does not come back. The hair follicle has to be in an active growth phase in order for the hair to respond. Even if the hair follicle is treated, if it not in an active growth phase the hair will grow back.

How long does it take for hair follicles to fall out after laser?

Answer: Hair Removal Loss after Treatments Normally the follicles that are killed during a treatment can take 10-12 days to fall out. You should normally be waiting 4-6 between treatments and sometimes 6-8 weeks depending on the area treated. There is no reason you should be going every 2.5 weeks, that is too soon.

What do dead hair follicles look like after laser?

When the laser targets the hair follicle, it damages the root of the hair. This damage signals to the body that the hair is no longer needed and will eventually be shed. In most cases, this occurs 1 to 3 weeks after your LHR treatment, and it sometimes looks like blackheads or stubble.

Is Immediate Hair Shedding Good or Bad after Laser Hair Removal? | FAQ

How do I know if hair follicles are dead?

So dead hair follicles can look like a smooth, bald patch of skin or like a scar. A trichologist may be able to get a better view of your follicles by using a microscope or other trichological tools.

Can you squeeze out hair follicles after laser?

The skin is usually sensitive after laser hair removal, and squeezing can cause further irritation and redness. Instead of squeezing, it's best to allow the hair follicles to shed naturally over time. This can take up to 10-14 days.

Can you pull out loose hairs after laser?

Pulling out loose hair after a laser hair removal session is not recommended. It disrupts the hair growth cycle; when hairs are loose it means the hair is in its cycle of removal. If it's removed before it dies on its own, it could stimulate hair to grow again.

Will I regret laser hair removal?

While laser hair removal significantly reduces hair growth, it doesn't always eliminate it completely, and some may still require occasional touch-ups. Skin reactions can also play a role in feelings of regret, although this is rare when the procedure is done correctly.

How to tell if laser hair removal is working?

You may start to see weeks of hair reduction after a single treatment. Some people suffer from skin irritation, bumps, and ingrown hairs when hair starts to grow back after shaving or waxing. If these issues decrease significantly between laser sessions, it means there is less hair regrowth to cause problems.

Is there a way to permanently remove hair follicles?

Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal method which uses a special machine to stop hair growth with chemical or heat energy; then, the hair follicles are removed with tiny electric tweezers.

Why is my hair growing back 2 days after laser?

This is a sign that the laser successfully treated the follicle, and it's clearing out the dead hair shaft. This shedding process, also called “peppering,” can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. In some cases, it may feel like the hair is growing back because it's breaking through the skin.

How to speed up shedding after laser hair removal?

The best way to help speed up shedding after your laser hair removal treatment is by gentle exfoliation once or twice a week once you start to see signs of your hair starting to shed.

Does laser hair removal get rid of hair follicles?

Heat from a laser removes hair and destroys hair follicles. It's not permanent, but the results last longer than plucking, tweezing or waxing. Most people need multiple treatments. Only an experienced healthcare provider should perform this procedure.

Does stubble go away after laser hair removal?

Up to a few weeks after treatment, your skin will develop stubble or blackheads as a part of the shedding process that happens from hairs that were partially grown at the time of the procedure. Exfoliation during this period aids the shedding and diminishes the blackhead or stubble appearance.

Can I shave between laser sessions?

It's perfectly acceptable to shave between laser hair removal sessions.

What are the negatives of laser hair removal?

Rarely, laser hair removal can cause blistering, crusting, scarring or other changes in skin texture. Other rare side effects include graying of treated hair or excessive hair growth around treated areas, particularly on darker skin.

Why do I look hairier after laser hair removal?

Hair Shedding – After a laser hair removal treatment, it's common for the treated hair to shed. This shedding process can take 10-14 days post treatment. And during this time, it may appear as though the hair is growing back thicker and darker. However, this is simply the hair follicle shedding the treated hair.

Is it awkward getting a Brazilian laser?

Thinking about laser hair removal on such an intimate area can definitely feel awkward at first. Many people worry about exposing this area or feel self-conscious about their bodies. But here's the truth – you're not alone, and this is entirely normal.

How to remove dead hair follicles after laser?

Gentle exfoliation: About a week after your session, you can gently exfoliate the treated areas to help loose hairs exit the follicle.

What is the smell during laser hair removal?

A laser removes hair by vaporizing it. This causes small plumes of smoke that have a sulfur-like smell. How long your treatment lasts depends on the size of the area being treated.

Can I tweeze between laser hair removal?

You cannot pluck, wax, tweeze, or thread the hair in your treated area. Doing any of these would mean removing the roots of the hair. These roots are important because the laser targets them in the process. The treatment will try to deactivate these hair follicles by cutting their blood supply and weakening them.

Is it bad to pull out hairs with my fingers after a laser hair removal session?

It may be tempting to pick or scratch at any little surface hair remnants that eject after a laser hair removal treatment, but this can cause unnecessary skin irritation. Let the skin recover naturally.

What happens if you shave too close to laser hair removal?

Shaving too closely right before your appointment can increase the sensitivity of your skin, making the treatment more uncomfortable. It can also increase the risk of skin irritation or redness.

What happens if you get hard during laser hair removal?

While some men do get an erection, it has nothing to do with sexual arousal. It is simply a physiological response, as the heat of the laser increases blood flow to the area.

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