Hair growing back after laser hair removal: what should you do?

If hair grows back after laser hair removal, two situations first need to be distinguished. Regrowth during the treatment course is normal and expected. Regrowth several months after a complete treatment course can have other causes: a hormonal change, a treatment course stopped too early, or unsuitable settings during a previous treatment. Identifying the cause makes it possible to choose the right course of action.

What is the difference between expected and abnormal regrowth?

Expected regrowth occurs between two sessions: follicles that were resting at the previous session were not reached and resume their growth. They will be treated at the next session: this is the very reason for a treatment course in several sessions. Abnormal regrowth occurs several months after the end of a complete treatment course, on an area that had become clear for the long term. It may point to a hormonal change, a pregnancy or a change in medical treatment. There is also a particular form, paradoxical hair growth: instead of being destroyed, fine hairs are stimulated and become thicker, on the treated area or just next to it. It is seen mainly when treating the cheeks and under the chin, and on the shoulders in men.

Which hormonal causes can lead to regrowth after laser hair removal?

Androgen hormones stimulate the activity of hair follicles. Pregnancy, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a change of hormonal contraception or the menopause can activate follicles that previously produced fine, fair hairs, invisible during the initial treatment course. In the case of pregnancy or menopause, only hormone-dependent areas, mainly the face, are affected: the lower legs or underarms are not. These new, thicker hairs are treated with maintenance sessions. If a hormonal cause is suspected, a medical opinion makes it possible to look for the underlying disorder and, if needed, treat it.

Was the treatment course complete when the hair grew back?

The number of sessions carried out is essential for interpreting regrowth. At the Centre Laser Valbonne, a treatment course typically includes 6 to 8 sessions, about 6 weeks apart at first, then about 8 weeks apart. Four sessions can be enough on an easy area such as the lower legs, when conditions are optimal, but not in most cases. Regrowth after an interrupted treatment course is therefore not a failure of the laser, but the result of partial treatment: you simply need to resume the sessions.

Can the technology used explain regrowth?

Yes. A device poorly suited to the phototype, such as intense pulsed light on olive skin, or overly cautious settings, give insufficient hair reduction. Settings that are too low can also encourage paradoxical hair growth. At the Centre Laser Valbonne, this risk of paradoxical growth is assessed at the first consultation. When conditions do not allow sufficient power to be used, typically with dark down on the cheeks of a person with olive or dark skin (high phototype), we recommend not treating the area with the laser. When treatment is possible, Dr Milène VERA herself sets the parameters of the SUBLIM® laser at the first session, according to your skin and hair. A treatment started elsewhere can be continued after assessment at the preliminary consultation.

What should you actually do if hair grows back after laser treatment?

If hair grows back after the end of the treatment course, book a new consultation with Dr Milène VERA to review the situation: she will look for the cause and suggest what to do.

Frequently asked questions

Can a laser-treated hair really grow back? A properly destroyed follicle does not grow back. However, follicles that were resting at the time of the session were not reached: they will produce new hairs in their next growth phase, and will be treated at the following session.

Are maintenance sessions needed after a complete treatment course? It depends on each person and each area. For areas that respond very well to the laser, such as the bikini line and lower legs, you can be hair-free for many years. However, with hormone-related hair growth, for example on the face in women, regular maintenance is generally needed.

Can a laser treatment course started elsewhere be continued? Yes, of course, even if a different technology was used: we can take over the treatment course. A preliminary consultation assesses the current hair growth and takes the sessions already carried out into account to adapt the treatment.

Does laser hair removal guarantee that no hair will ever grow back? No. Laser hair removal gives long-lasting hair reduction on the treated follicles, but not the absolute, permanent disappearance of all hair. Regrowth linked to hormonal changes or to the activation of new follicles remains possible, and is treated with a few maintenance sessions. Such regrowth is, however, fairly rare. Practised for several decades, laser hair removal has proven itself: in most cases, it brings great satisfaction and frees you from hair removal for many years, even decades.

Free and compulsory preliminary consultation — booking via Doctolib. Book an appointment on Doctolib