Why are laser hair removal results different for everyone?

The answer is melanin. Melanin is a natural pigment that gives color to the skin, hair, and body hair, and it determines how dark or light a hair is. This is exactly what affects how well the laser can “see” the hair.

There are two main types of melanin:

• Eumelanin. A dark pigment (brown/black). The more eumelanin a hair contains, the darker it is — and the better the laser can “see” it.
  

• Pheomelanin. A lighter pigment (yellowish/reddish). It is more common in red hair, light blond hair, and fine “peach fuzz” hairs.
  

The principle of laser hair removal is simple: the laser energy is absorbed by melanin, and the heat is then delivered to the hair follicle to weaken hair growth. Eumelanin absorbs laser energy very well, which is why darker, more pigmented hairs usually respond best.

If the hair is very light or red, a consultation can help assess whether laser is a reasonable option, what results can realistically be expected, and whether a combined approach might be more effective in certain areas (for example, electrolysis).