Laser Hair Removal

What is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser uses part of the light spectrum, an energy form that can convert pigment (melanin) in the hair to heat energy. This travels down the length of the hair to its root in the dermis (the deeper level of the skin), where it can damage or destroy the structure. The light wavelengths are measured in nanometers (nm) and range from approximately 600 to 1200 nm in strength.

There are two main types of light-based hair treatment – Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Laser.

What is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)?

IPL uses a broad spectrum of light wavelengths at around 600 nm to target highly pigmented hairs and create destructive heat. The light is applied to the skin in pulsed waves. It cannot generate sufficient heat in lighter-coloured hairs, so it is ineffective for white, grey, blonde, red, light brown, or medium-brown growth. If the skin tone is darker than the hair growth, the energy is capable of causing damage to the skin because of the deeper pigmentation. The best candidate for IPL is a light skin tone with dark, coarser hair. In the right circumstances, such as the bikini or underarm area, IPL can successfully achieve hair loss of 75% or more.

Laser uses a much narrower part of the light spectrum in a concentrated beam, which penetrates further into the skin and causes less surface damage. The higher the strength and the narrower the beam, the deeper the beam can travel.

There are several different types of laser:

Ruby (694 nm) - Red light is applied using synthetic ruby crystals, making it more effective than IPL for lighter skin with darker hairs.

Alexandrite (755nm) - Deeper penetration and strength (fluence), so less skin damage and a better option for slightly darker skin tones.

Diode (810 nm) - Even deeper penetration, more suitable for mid to dark tones.

Nd:YAG (1064 nm) - The depth and penetration make this laser type the safest option for the darkest skin tones.