Utah Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

For laser treatments, which hair color is considered the least effective for removal?

1. Black

2. Blonde

3. Red

4. Gray

The correct answer is: Gray

The effectiveness of laser hair removal largely depends on the contrast between the hair color and the skin tone. Laser treatments work by targeting the melanin in the hair follicles; the more melanin present, the better the laser can target and destroy the hair. Gray hair is considered the least effective for removal due to its lack of pigment. As the hair turns gray, the melanin levels decrease significantly, making it difficult for lasers to effectively identify and target the hair follicles. Consequently, individuals with gray hair often experience limited results from laser hair removal treatments. In contrast, darker hair colors such as black or dark brown contain higher melanin levels, providing a more effective target for the laser. Blonde and red hairs also contain lesser amounts of melanin compared to black hair, but they still have enough pigment to be treated more effectively than gray hair. Overall, the lack of pigmentation in gray hair makes it the least responsive to laser hair removal techniques.