Why Brazilian Laser Hair Removal Isn't Working

Brazilian laser hair removal can fail for three main reasons: wrong laser settings for your skin type, hair too light for the laser to detect, or hair in the wrong growth phase. The fix is usually to adjust the settings, wait for darker hair, or wait until the hair is in the anagen phase. Patchy regrowth is usually because the laser missed spots, the hair is too light, or the hair is in the wrong phase. The fix is to re-treat the missed areas, wait for darker hair, or wait until the hair is in the right phase. If hair grows back after Brazilian laser, it's usually because the laser missed spots, the hair is too light, or the hair is in the wrong phase. The fix is to re-treat the missed areas, wait for darker hair, or wait until the hair is in the right phase. Proper skin prep is crucial: stop waxing/plucking 4 weeks before, exfoliate and moisturize, avoid sun exposure, and clean the area. If you have very dark skin, very light hair, a history of scarring, or are on photosensitizing meds, see a professional to ensure the settings are safe and effective.

Why your Brazilian laser isn't working: the 3 most common causes

Most people who feel their Brazilian laser "isn't working" are actually running into one of three common problems. Here's what to look for and how to fix it.

1. The laser settings are wrong for your skin type

The laser's energy level might be set too low for your skin tone or the pulse duration is too short. This means the hair follicle isn't getting enough heat to destroy the growth center. If you have darker skin or have recently tanned, the laser can be too weak to work. The fix: ask your tech to adjust the settings to match your skin tone. They should be using the Fitzpatrick scale to match the laser to your exact skin tone. If you're doing it at home, you may need to switch to a device with more precise energy settings.

2. The hair is too light for the laser to see

Blonde, red, gray or very fine hair lacks enough dark pigment for the laser to "see" and absorb the energy. The laser then misses the hair and the growth center isn't destroyed. The fix: if your hair is too light, you may need to switch to electrolysis or wait until the hair is darker. You can also try to wax or shave the area first to see if the hair is just too fine for the laser to pick up on. If the hair is too light, the laser won't work no matter how many times you try. In that case, you need to wait until the hair is darker or switch to electrolysis.

3. The hair is in the wrong growth phase

The laser only works on hair that is in the anagen (growing) phase. If the hair is in the catagen (resting) or telogen (shedding) phase, the laser won't work. The fix: you may need to wait a few weeks and then go back for another session. The hair will enter the growth phase and the laser can then target it. You can also try to time your sessions to be 4-6 weeks apart to catch more of the hairs in the right phase. If you are doing it at home, you may need to go over the area a few times to get all the hairs in the right phase. The key is to be patient and not rush the process.

Bottom line: if the laser isn't working, it's usually one of these three issues. The fix is usually to adjust the settings, wait for the hair to get darker, or wait for the hair to be in the right growth phase. If the tech isn't willing to adjust the settings or you aren't sure what the problem is, you should stop the sessions until you can get a consult with a professional who can help you figure out what's going wrong.

How to fix patchy or patchy regrowth after Brazilian laser

After Brazilian laser, you might see patchy or uneven regrowth. This is usually because the laser didn't treat every hair equally. Here's how to fix it.

Step 1: Identify why the regrowth is patchy

First, you need to figure out if the patchy regrowth is because the laser missed spots, the hair was too light, or the hair was in the wrong growth phase. The fix depends on which of these is the cause.

Step 2: If the laser missed spots

If the tech missed spots, you can usually just go back and have them re-treat the missed areas. This is the easiest fix. You just need to point out the spots that are still growing hair and have them re-treat those areas. This is the most common cause of patchy regrowth. The tech should be able to just go back over the area and hit the spots they missed. You can also ask them to use a higher setting to make sure they get the missed spots. If you are doing it at home, you can just go back over the area a few times to make sure you hit every spot. The key is to make sure you overlap your passes a little bit so you don't miss any spots.

Step 3: If the hair is too light or in the wrong phase

If the hair is too light or in the resting phase, you may need to wait a few weeks until the hair is in the right phase or has darkened enough. You can also try to wax or shave the area first to see if the hair is just too fine for the laser to pick up on. If the hair is too light, you may need to wait until it darkens or switch to electrolysis. If the hair is in the resting phase, you can just wait a few weeks and then go back for another session. The hair will enter the growth phase and the laser can then target it. You can also try to time your sessions to be 4-6 weeks apart to catch more of the hairs in the right phase.

Step 4: If the hair is too light or in the wrong phase

If the hair is too light or in the wrong phase, you may need to wait until the hair darkens or enters the right growth phase. You can also try to wax or shave the area first to see if the hair is just too fine for the laser to pick up on. If the hair is too light, the laser won't work no matter how many times you try. In that case, you need to wait until the hair darkens or switch to electrolysis. If the hair is in the wrong phase, you can just wait a few weeks and then go back for another session. The hair will enter the growth phase and the laser can then target it. You can also try to time your sessions to be 4-6 weeks apart to catch more of the hairs in the right phase.

Bottom line: if the regrowth is patchy, it's usually because the laser missed spots, the hair is too light, or the hair is in the wrong growth phase. The fix is usually to just go back and re-treat the missed spots, wait for the hair to darken, or wait until the hair is in the right growth phase. If you aren't sure what the problem is, you should stop the sessions until you can get a consult with a professional who can help you figure out what's going wrong.

What to do if hair grows back after Brazilian laser

After Brazilian laser, you might see some hair growing back. This is usually because the hair was too light, the laser missed some spots, or the hair was in the wrong growth phase. Here's what to do.

Step 1: Figure out why the hair is growing back

First, you need to figure out if the hair is growing back because the laser missed spots, the hair was too light, or the hair was in the wrong growth phase. The fix depends on which of these is the cause.

Step 2: If the laser missed spots

If the tech missed spots, you can just go back and have them re-treat those areas. This is the easiest fix. You just need to point out the spots that are still growing hair and have them re-treat those areas. This is the most common cause of regrowth after Brazilian laser. The tech should be able to just go back over the area and hit the spots they missed. You can also ask them to use a higher setting to make sure they get the missed spots. If you are doing it at home, you can just go back over the area a few times to make sure you hit every spot. The key is to make sure you overlap your passes a little bit so you don't miss any spots.

Step 3: If the hair is too light or in the wrong phase

If the hair is too light or in the wrong phase, you may need to wait a few weeks until the hair darkens or enters the right phase. You can also try to wax or shave the area first to see if the hair is just too fine for the laser to pick up on. If the hair is too light, the laser won't work no matter how many times you try. In that case, you need to wait until the hair darkens or switch to electrolysis. If the hair is in the wrong phase, you can just wait a few weeks and then go back for another session. The hair will enter the growth phase and the laser can then target it. You can also try to time your sessions to be 4-6 weeks apart to catch more of the hairs in the right phase.

Bottom line: if hair is growing back after Brazilian laser, it's usually because the laser missed spots, the hair is too light, or the hair is in the wrong growth phase. The fix is usually to just go back and re-treat the missed spots, wait for the hair to darken, or wait until the hair is in the right growth phase. If you aren't sure what the problem is, you should stop the sessions until you can get a consult with a professional who can help you figure out what's going wrong.

How to prep skin so the laser actually works

Prepping your skin properly is the key to making sure your Brazilian laser actually works. Here's how to do it right.

Step 1: Stop waxing or plucking

Stop waxing, plucking, or bleaching the hair for at least 4 weeks before your session. These methods pull the hair out by the root, which is what the laser needs to target. If you remove the hair from the root, the laser has nothing to target. Shaving is fine as it leaves the root intact.

Step 2: Exfoliate and moisturize

Use a gentle scrub to remove dead skin cells and open up the hair follicles. This helps the laser better target the hair. Moisturize the area daily for at least a week before your session. This helps the laser penetrate the skin more effectively.

Step 3: Avoid sun exposure

Avoid sun exposure for at least 2 weeks before your session. Tanned skin can make the laser less effective and increase the risk of side effects. If you have to be in the sun, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.

Step 4: Clean the area

Wash the area with a gentle cleanser to remove any oils, lotions, or deodorant. These can create a barrier that prevents the laser from reaching the hair. Make sure the area is completely dry before your session.

Bottom line: The key is to make sure the laser can see the hair and the skin is in the best condition to receive the treatment. If you follow these steps, your Brazilian laser should work as expected.

When to see a professional for Brazilian laser hair removal

If you're not sure if you should see a professional for Brazilian laser hair removal, here are the signs to look for.

Sign 1: You have very dark skin or very light hair

If you have very dark skin or very light hair, you may need to see a professional to make sure the settings are right. The laser can be dangerous if the settings are wrong for your skin tone or hair color. A professional can make sure the settings are right for your skin and hair type.

Sign 2: You have a history of keloid scarring or hyperpigmentation

If you have a history of keloid scarring or hyperpigmentation, you should see a professional. They can adjust the settings to avoid causing these issues. They can also make sure the treatment is safe for your skin type.

Sign 3: You are on medications that make you photosensitive

If you are on medications that make you photosensitive, you should see a professional. They can make sure the treatment is safe for you and adjust the settings to avoid side effects.

Sign 4: You have a lot of hair to treat

If you have a lot of hair to treat, you may need to see a professional to make sure the settings are right for the amount of hair you have. They can also make sure the treatment is spread out enough to avoid over-treating any one area.

Bottom line: If you have any of these signs, you should see a professional to make sure the settings are right for your skin and hair type. They can also make sure the treatment is safe for you and adjust the settings to avoid side effects.