Guides · Myths & Facts · 5 min read
Laser hair removal: 7 myths your group chat still believes
By the Perfect 5 Clinic team · Updated July 2026
Every week, someone sits in our consultation rooms and repeats a myth they heard from a cousin, a group chat, or a 2014 blog post. Fair enough — lasers sound dramatic. But bad information keeps people waxing painfully for decades, so let’s settle the seven we hear most.
“Laser causes cancer.”
The lasers used for hair removal are non-ionising light — they physically cannot alter DNA the way UV or X-rays can. The energy converts to heat in the hair follicle, a few millimetres deep, and stops there.
“Hair grows back thicker after laser.”
Laser does not thicken hair. Treated follicles tend to produce finer, sparser hair with each session, and the “thicker” story usually comes from shaving stubble, which feels blunt. Rarely, fine hair can increase around a treated area — paradoxical hypertrichosis — which is uncommon and is one reason settings and follow-up reviews matter.
“It doesn’t work on Indian or darker skin.”
Older equipment struggled, which is where this myth was born. What matters now is that the settings are matched to melanin-rich skin after an assessment — and most of our 50,000+ patients have exactly that skin.
“It’s unbearably painful.”
Most people describe it as a warm snap against the skin and find it easier than waxing, though sensitive areas feel sharper. The skin is usually cooled during the session, which takes the edge off.
“One session and hair is gone forever.”
Hair grows in cycles, and the laser only kills follicles in the active phase. That’s why a proper course is 6–8 sessions spaced a month apart. Anyone promising one-session permanence is selling, not treating.
“It’s not safe for the face or bikini area.”
Both are among the most-treated areas, with settings adjusted for sensitivity. Correct parameters and an experienced hand are what make it safe — location isn’t the risk, the operator is.
“Pregnant women can just take a lighter setting.”
No reputable clinic lasers during pregnancy — not because harm is proven, but because it isn’t studied. We’ll happily pause your package and resume later. That’s the honest answer.
Have a myth we didn’t cover? Bring it to any consultation — we genuinely enjoy these conversations more than the sales ones.
Quick answers
Does laser hair removal cause cancer?
No. Hair-removal lasers use non-ionising light that converts to heat a few millimetres into the skin — it cannot alter DNA the way UV radiation or X-rays can. Decades of use show no cancer link.
Does shaving between laser sessions ruin results?
No — shaving is actually the recommended method between sessions. What you must avoid is waxing or plucking, which removes the root the laser needs to target.
Can I get laser hair removal while pregnant?
Reputable clinics pause treatment during pregnancy — not because harm is proven, but because it hasn't been studied. Packages can simply be put on hold and resumed later.
This guide is general information, not medical advice; individual results and suitability vary. For advice about your own skin or hair, book a consultation at any Perfect 5 Clinic.