White hair after laser session

[Lcleo]

Hey there
I had my first laser session last week for removing my facial hair.
I'm noticing a lot of my hair is growing back white and long (I'm 24 w/ dark brown hair, that's not the usual color).
Is that normal? Will it go away later?

[Cindy]

Nope, they will need electrolysis.

Sorry

[Missy D]

Sorry hun, going to have to disagree with you there as the exact same thing happened to me! It's actually not a problem at all.  It's something to do with hair follicles entering a new growth phase and pushing out a weak baby hair that hasn't yet taken on it's proper pigment.

It will turn into a coloured terminal hair and then lasered off at the next session.  I've seen this happen in real life, and it was so strange the first time. I suppose it's just part of the normal growth pattern, except that if you've got a normal beard growth that's not had any removal work, you won't see it happening.

If the clear or white hairs have the same texture as your normal hairs then it should all be fine. One way to find out is to press against one with your nail to stop light shining through it. This should show you if it's going to take on pigment. If the hair changes colour then it's all fine - just part of the growth cycle.  Once they get lasered, they don't grow back!!

[KayXo]

I have to disagree with you, Missy. Some hairs have lost their pigmentation and as such, cannot be treated effectively by laser. And once lasered, dark hairs CAN grow back, months to years later after the last session. This happens to several women. Laser comes with no guarantee as opposed to electrolysis which is permanent.

[ChasingAlice]

I was told that the laser at the place where I go will do all hair colors. My cheeks use to get peach fuzz, but not anymore. Plus mine came in red/Auburn.

[Lcleo]

Different answers :/ I gotta wait to ask my doctor but my next appointment is in a long time. Getting worried


Thanks for the replies

[Eva Marie]

I did a year of laser and was feeling pretty good about the results - it seemed to have gotten rid of the majority of my facial hair.

About a year later the white ones sprouted, and some of the black ones came back. For me laser was a useful way to clear the hair when I was first transitioning but it wasn't permanent. The laser place had told me that laser would not touch the light colored hairs so I knew it was time to move to plan B.

I'm doing electrolysis now. My electrologist and I have discussed this very thing (the white hairs) - she speculates that having laser done causes the hair to come back white. She said that she has no proof of that but that shes seen it happen over and over again.

[KayXo]

Perhaps laser destroys pigmentation. This is the risk with laser, hairs coming back years later.