Permanent removal of white hair: All you need to know

Permanent hair removal allows you to get rid of unwanted hair.
However, when it comes to white hair, the options become more limited.
Why is this?
Techniques such as laser and pulsed light are often ineffective on pigment-free hair.
So what are the alternatives for those who want permanent hair removal on white hair?
What precautions should be taken?
All our expert answers!  

How does laser hair removal work and what are its effects on hair?

Laser hair removal works by selectively targeting hair follicles with a concentrated beam of light.
The process begins with the emission of a laser beam that passes through the skin to reach the hair follicles below.
The laser emits light at a specific wavelength, usually chosen to be absorbed by melanin, the pigment found in hair.
When melanin absorbs this light, it converts the light energy into heat.
This heat damages the hair follicles, inhibiting their ability to produce new hair. Laser hair removal of the arms or armpits is therefore an ideal solution for long-term hair removal. The hair growth cycle also plays a key role in the effectiveness of the treatment.
Hairs go through different growth phases, and the laser is most effective during the anagen phase, when the hair is active and growing.
However, as not all hairs are in the anagen phase at the same time, several sessions are required to treat the entire targeted area.
The effects of laser hair removal include :

• gradual reduction in hair density;
• thinning and lightening of remaining hair ;
• slight redness, similar to a mild sunburn;
• temporary swelling of the skin.

How effective is laser hair removal, depending on hair color?

Before booking your session, it’s important to know that the effectiveness of laser hair removal varies considerably depending on the color of the hair, mainly due to the amount of melanin it contains.
Melanin is the pigment responsible for hair and skin coloration.
Darker hairs, which contain higher levels of melanin, are better able to absorb the energy emitted by the laser.
It is precisely this efficient absorption of energy that enables the laser to heat and damage hair follicles more effectively, ultimately inhibiting hair regrowth.
People with dark hair on fair skin are generally ideal candidates for laser hair removal.
The high contrast between skin and hair color enables the laser to target hair follicles without risk of damage to the surrounding skin, making laser hair removal on darker skin very effective.
For darker skin, however, extra precautions are necessary, as the melanin present in the skin can also absorb laser energy, increasing the risk of burns or discoloration.  

Laser hair removal for white hair: specific challenges

Light-colored hair, such as blond, red or gray hair, contains much less melanin.
As a result, they absorb less laser energy, making the treatment less effective.
In some cases, laser hair removal can even be virtually ineffective on these hair types, as the laser is unable to generate enough heat to damage the hair follicles.
Another challenge is that white hairs often appear with age.
And with age, the skin can become more sensitive, increasing the risk of irritation or complications.
To really improve the effectiveness of laser hair removal treatment on lighter hairs, don’t hesitate to ask about specific technologies, such as Nd:YAG lasers.  

What are the hair removal alternatives for white hair?

This inability to absorb laser energy makes the removal of white hair much more difficult, if not ineffective, with traditional laser methods.
For this reason, people with white hair often have to turn to alternative hair removal methods, such as :

• electrolysiswhich consists of inserting a fine needle into each hair follicle to send an electric current, is a method capable of treating all types of hair, including white hair (it does not rely on the presence of melanin);
• Intense pulsed light (IPL) hair removal, less effective than electrolysis for white hair, but some advanced forms of IPL using a conductive gel to improve light transmission to the hair follicles offer very interesting results;
• depilatory creams, which use chemicals to dissolve hair on the skin’s surface and are very easy to use, as well as being a good temporary option for white hair (although beware of skin irritation);
• Waxing, to remove hair at the root, an effective method for all hair types, including white hair;
• Threading, a traditional technique that uses a cotton thread to remove hair at the root, ideal for small areas such as the face and can be used on all hair types;
• shaving, the simplest and quickest method of removing hair, although the results are very temporary as the hair quickly grows back;
• bleaching creams, which do not remove hair, but can make white hair less visible by bleaching it to blend with the skin.

  Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with our lazer doctors to discuss your laser hair removal project and benefit from personalized advice to avoid paradoxical regrowth between two sessions or any other undesirable side effects!