July 8, 2026

Why Men Often Need More Laser Hair Removal Sessions: The Science Behind Testosterone and Hair Growth

Learn why men often need more laser hair removal sessions and how testosterone influences long-term hair reduction.

Introduction

One of the most common questions we hear from male clients is:

"Why does my friend need six -eight laser hair removal sessions while I'm already scheduled for my twelfth?"

It's a fair question.

The answer usually has very little to do with the laser itself and much more to do with male biology.

Compared with women, men typically have higher levels of testosterone and other androgens that encourage thick, coarse body hair to develop and, in some cases, continue developing throughout adulthood.

These hormones can make areas such as the back, chest, shoulders and neck especially resilient, which is one reason men often require additional laser hair removal sessions to achieve their desired reduction.

The good news?

Thick, dark hair is also an excellent target for advanced laser technology when treatments are performed with the appropriate settings and realistic expectations.

The Science Behind Permanent Hair Reduction

Laser hair removal works through a principle known as selective photothermolysis - a process in which a specific wavelength of light selectively targets melanin inside the hair while minimizing heat transfer to surrounding tissue.

Once absorbed, that light energy converts into heat, damaging the structures responsible for producing future hair growth.

This principle has guided laser hair removal for decades and remains the foundation of modern treatment protocols.

At Beam Laser Spa in NYC, where we have specialized in laser hair removal since 2007, we customize each treatment using the Candela GentleMax Pro Plus. Depending on your skin tone, hair characteristics, and treatment area, we select the most appropriate wavelength (Alexandrite or YAG) to maximize effectiveness while prioritizing safety.

Why Testosterone and DHT Matter

Here's where men's hair biology becomes unique.

Hair follicles aren't simply passive structures- they respond continuously to hormones.

Testosterone can be converted within the skin into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase.

On body areas such as the back, chest, shoulders, and beard, DHT encourages fine hairs to become thicker, darker, and more deeply rooted terminal hairs.

In other words, while the laser is permanently disabling treated follicles, your hormones may still be encouraging other susceptible follicles to mature over time.

That doesn't mean laser hair removal isn't working.

It means your biology is dynamic.

This is one reason some men require more treatments than women- and why maintenance sessions may be appropriate for certain body areas.

Hair Growth Happens in Cycles

Laser hair removal can only treat hairs that are actively growing.

Each follicle cycles independently through four stages:

Anagen (Growing Phase)

The hair remains attached to its blood supply and contains abundant melanin.

This is the stage during which laser hair removal is most effective.

Catagen (Transition Phase)

The follicle begins shrinking and disconnecting from its nourishing structures.

Telogen (Resting Phase)

The follicle rests while the old hair remains in place.

Because the hair is no longer attached to its blood supply, laser energy cannot effectively disable the follicle during this stage.

Exogen (Shedding Phase)

The old hair naturally sheds before the next cycle begins.

Since only a percentage of hairs are in the anagen phase at any given time, multiple treatments spaced several weeks apart are necessary to progressively target new groups of actively growing follicles.

Why Thick Male Hair Is Actually a Good Laser Target

Many men are surprised to learn that coarse hair can actually respond very well to laser treatment.

Thick terminal hairs contain more melanin than fine hairs, allowing them to absorb laser energy efficiently.

While these follicles often require multiple treatments because of hormonal influences and growth cycles, they are generally excellent targets for permanent hair reduction.

Our Candela GentleMax Pro Plus laser also incorporates a Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD), which delivers a precisely timed burst of cryogen immediately before each laser pulse.

This cooling helps improve comfort while protecting the skin's surface during treatment.

Patience Is Part of the Process In Laser Hair Removal

One of the biggest misconceptions about laser hair removal is that every session should produce identical results or that every person will get the same amount of reduction within the same number of sessions.

In reality, each appointment targets a different population of actively growing hairs and the response is quite variable from person to person.

For many men, noticeable improvement begins within the first few treatments, but achieving significant long-term reduction often requires patience and consistency.

Rather than chasing every individual hair, laser hair removal gradually reduces the overall population of active follicles over time.

Why Experience Still Matters

Advanced technology is only one part of successful laser hair removal.

Choosing the appropriate wavelength, adjusting fluence, pulse duration, spot size, cooling parameters, and treatment intervals all require judgment.

At Beam Laser Spa, every treatment is customized according to your skin tone, hair density, hair thickness, treatment area, history, and treatment goals.

No two clients (even in the same family)- and no two hair patterns- are exactly alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do men usually need more laser hair removal sessions than women?

Men typically have higher androgen levels, including testosterone and DHT, which encourage thicker, deeper body hair.

These hormones can also stimulate additional follicles over time, making some treatment areas more resistant and increasing the number of sessions needed.

Beam Laser Spa's Laser Hair Removal For Men Guide

Does testosterone make laser hair removal less effective?

No.

Laser hair removal permanently damages treated follicles.

However, testosterone may continue influencing untreated or previously dormant follicles, which is one reason some men benefit from additional sessions or periodic maintenance.