Laser hair removal is built around technology that is simple in theory but can be very powerful in terms of outcomes. The permanent reduction of hair on substantial parts of the body (as opposed to removing single hairs) is a breakthrough procedure for many suffering from unwanted body and facial hair.
The Mechanics
Laser and light-based hair removal is performed by applying an extremely concentrated beam of light with a certain wavelength to the skin. In an ideal world the beam goes harmlessly through the skin without causing burns, and the energy of the laser is absorbed by the roots (or “follicles” as they are properly called), which are then destroyed or disabled.
Because the energy of the laser is absorbed by the dark pigment called melanin, these technologies work most effectively on customers with light skin and dark hairs. However, new technology has now enabled manufacturers to construct laser hair removal machines which can be used safely on customers with darker skin, or customers who have a tan. There is no one single “best” laser machine – the best one for you will depend on the skin type and other physiological factors.
Commercial vs. Home Products
Mostly, these laser machines are designed for commercial use only. There are extremely sound reasons for this – lasers are powerful tools that can cause significant injury to sensitive human skin and organs – the eyes especially. So complying with stringent safety procedures is critical, and appropriate training is necessary in order to carry out laser hair removal successfully and safely.
There are a number of home laser hair removal machines that continue to be marketed but the vast majority of these are simply not sufficiently powerful to give users the desired long-term reduction of hairs that can be successfully attained using commercial lasers for removal of hair.
Commercial Lasers Used Today
The types of laser hair removal machines you are most likely to encounter these days are these: Alexandrite lasers, Diode lasers, Nd:YAG lasers (Neodymium YAG) and finally the IPL or “Intense Pulsed Light” systems. The IPL systems in fact use a wide spectrum of light beams rather than a laser beam.
As a customer, it’s critical that you are knowledgeable about the different types of hair laser removal machines and what their chief uses are. Some machines are mores suited to customers with a certain skin type, so it’s critical to do the homework to help you figure out which type is best for you before deciding on a laser clinic for hair removal.
