Has anyone dealt with really thick, coarse hair? I'm Middle Eastern and my body hair is extremely dense and dark. I'm worried that I'll need way more sessions than average, or that the treatments won't even work effectively on my hair type. Has anyone with similar hair characteristics had success with laser treatments?

Actually, thick dark hair is ideal for laser treatment because the laser targets the pigment in the hair. The darker and coarser your hair is, the more pigment it contains, which means it absorbs the laser energy more effectively. Where laser treatment struggles is with very light, fine, or gray hair because there's not enough pigment for the laser to target. You might need a session or two more than someone with lighter hair simply because the hair density means more follicles to treat, but you should actually see better results overall. Make sure the clinic you choose has experience treating clients with your hair and skin type, and that they adjust the laser settings appropriately for your needs.

I'm in a similar boat with very dense, dark hair across my back and chest. I was actually told during my consultation that I was an ideal candidate for laser treatment precisely because of my hair type. It took me about nine sessions instead of the typical six to eight, mainly because there was just so much hair to target. But the results were fantastic. The hair that has grown back is incredibly minimal and much finer than before. The key is finding experienced technicians who know how to work with coarse hair and can adjust the laser intensity appropriately. When I was looking into hair removal for men in Chicago, I specifically asked during consultations about their experience with clients who had hair similar to mine. The place I ended up going to showed me before and after photos of other clients with similar hair characteristics, which gave me confidence that they knew what they were doing. Don't let the density of your hair discourage you - if anything, it makes you a better candidate for successful treatment.