Laser Hair Removal - Why Am I Not Getting Results

This is a question I hear all the time from new clients. Many have tried big chain clinics or beauty salons, only to be disappointed with little to no improvement.

Earlier in my career, I worked in several of these large chain clinics located in busy shopping centres. It was there that I quickly realised why so many clients weren’t seeing results — and it’s surprisingly simple: the person performing the treatment often doesn’t fully understand what they’re doing.

In many cases, they aren’t assessing basic factors like hair colour or thickness before starting treatment. These details are crucial for setting the correct laser parameters needed to effectively target and disable the hair follicle so it can’t grow back.

How Laser Hair Removal Works

Most laser hair removal systems use one of two wavelengths, depending on skin tone:

Shorter wavelength – Ideal for lighter skin types, targeting pigment in the hair.
Longer wavelength – Designed for darker skin types, attracted more to blood vessels than pigment. This helps avoid the skin’s pigment, reducing the risk of burns.

Why Hair Colour and Thickness Matter

Two key settings in laser hair removal are:

Energy level – How much heat is delivered to the hair.
Pulse duration – How long the heat is applied.

Think of it this way: in summer, a black car gets hotter faster than a white car. Similarly, darker hair absorbs heat more quickly and often requires less energy than lighter hair.

Now, consider thickness. Cooking a thin French fry takes much less time than a thick potato wedge. In the same way, a coarse hair needs more heating time than a fine hair to achieve the same result. If these adjustments aren’t made, the treatment is unlikely to work effectively.

Signs the Laser is Working

When the settings are correct, you’ll usually see a clinical end point — a slight swelling around the hair follicle and some redness (called perifollicular oedema). This is a normal histamine reaction, showing the body recognises the heat and is responding.

I always ask clients if they’ve taken an antihistamine in the past 24 hours. If they have, this reaction may be suppressed, making it harder to tell if the hair has been treated effectively.

If the wrong settings are used, you might see no results at all — or worse, stimulation of more hair growth. This is why education, training, and qualifications are vital when choosing your practitioner.

At Tiffany Matthewson Dermal Aesthetics, every laser hair removal treatment is customised to your skin type, hair colour, and hair thickness to ensure safe, effective, and long-lasting results. My priority is not only delivering visible results, but also educating you so you feel confident in the process. If you’ve tried laser before without success — or if you’re new and want to make sure it’s done right from the start — I’d be happy to answer any questions and guide you through your options. You can reach us at 02 4928 1838, email reception@tiffanymatthewsondermalaesthetics.com, or book online here.