What Is Home Laser Hair Removal? | Read Reviews | Buy Home Laser Systems

Laser hair removal is a generic term used to describe hair removal using laser and light based technology. The technology has been available in commercial salons since the late 1990’s and is now accepted by most dermatologists as an effective way of reducing unwanted hair. More recently the technology has been developed using pulsed diode lasers so that laser hair removal is now available for safe use in the home.

Laser light removes unwanted hair through a process called ‘selective photothermolysis’ or (SPTL). The photons of laser light absorb dark matter Melanin in the hair follicle damaging it and thus stopping hair growth. The laser destroys hairs which are in their active growth phase.

There are two types of melanin which occur naturally in the skin these give our various hair colours. Eumelanin gives hair brown or black colour and pheomelanin gives blonde or red colour. Laser hair removal works best for people with light skin and dark hair. They are not suitable for dark skin or light or blonde hair. There is however a product called Meladine™ which is now available and aids lasers in treating white, grey and blonde hair. 

Excessive or unsightly body hair can be upsetting for both men and women and difficult or inconvenient to remove. There are many methods to remove unwanted hair, none are permanent but laser hair removal is the most effective treatment available. Laser hair removal is a rapid, yet gentle way of removing unwanted hair, and is medically proven to give you permanent hair reduction.

Hair Growth Cycle

Understanding the basics of hair removal will give you the confidence you need to achieve optimal hair removal results.

On average, it takes approximately 33 weeks for your face and body hair to go through an entire hair growth cycle. (Depending on the individual, some areas grow faster or slower.) Hair growth is a continuous cycle that occurs in three phases:  

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. Anagen Phase: The "active" growth phase
. Catagen Phase: The "transitional" phase of arrested growth
. Telogen Phase: The "resting" phase of hair growth cycle 

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Just as each individual is unique, so is the pattern of hair growth between each person, and each area of the body. Not all hairs will be in the same growth cycle at the same time. Some hairs may be in the "active" growth phase while other hairs are in the "resting" phase.

Throughout the "active" growth phase, the hair follicle contains an abundance of melanin, the pigment that gives your hair color. Laser hair removal is most effective during this phase of the hair growth cycle.  As a result, repeat treatments are necessary because not all hairs will be in the "active" growth phase at the same time.

How Do Lasers Work?

Lasers deliver an intense beam of light which are made up of a single wavelength or colour. Skin is essentially transparent to light in the wavelength range of 600 - 1100nm (nano meters), while melanin containing structures will absorb laser energy of this wavelength. It is therefore possible to target the hair follicle which has a concentration of melanin without affecting the surrounding area.

The light energy absorbed by the melanin pigment results in the rapid heating up of the hair follicle. This heat destroys the cells (papilla) responsible for hair growth. If adequate heating is achieved, then the follicle is permanently disabled resulting in a permanent reduction in hair growth. 

Laser treatment is only effective when the hair is in the active growth phase. Hairs or hair follicles in the Degradation or Resting phase need to progress to the active phase before treatment will be beneficial. Therefore, multiple treatments are required for long term, permanent hair reduction.

Also, in a single treatment, not all of the hair follicles in the active phase will be destroyed. Some follicles are destroyed, others may be miniaturised into vellus hairs (light, fine hairs), and some enter prolonged dormancy.

The initial treatment should be repeated to take care of active hair follicles that were not effectively treated in the first session as new hair growth is observed, this will typically be some 2 to 4 weeks later depending on where the treatment area is.

Further treatments should be planned at regular intervals to clear hairs that are coming out of the resting phase and into the active growth phase. Given the number of hair follicles in the resting phase at any given time, this new hair re-growth can be significant.

Any follicles without a target hair within will simply grow again and can be treated next time round.

Suitable Skin and Hair Types

Melanin in the epidermis absorbs the energy and limits the depth of penetration of the laser light into the skin. Using a light wavelength of 808nm enables treatment of relatively dark skin as well as fair-skinned types. However, laser hair treatment is not suitable for Afro Caribbean or black skin complexions.

Laser treatment is also ineffective in removal of white or grey hair, this is because they have no pigment. However, if treated with Meladine people with blonde, grey, white and red hair can be suitable candidates for laser hair removal.