Laser Hair Removal Equipment

You’re considering hair removal and are naturally curious about the laser hair removal equipment that will be used during the procedure. Maybe you’re like a lot of people, whose experience with lasers is limited to remote controls, DVDs, laser pointers and children’s toys… In the Disney classic, Toy Story, Woody tells the other toys, “that’s not a laser; it’s a little light bulb that blinks!” Well, the lasers you’ll find in your laser hair removal clinic are definitely not toys.

Basically, a laser is a device that creates a narrow beam of light which seeks out a mass of hair follicles (rather than an individual follicle) beneath the surface of the skin and which destroys the root. If properly put into practice, the laser beam will target only the hair follicle and not the surrounding skin. The laser destroys hairs only in the active growth phase, and while it varies from individual to individual, up to 85% of your hair is in the growth phase at any given time.

There are several methods of laser hair treatment and for each method there is one or more laser type that will work best.

For individuals with fine or light hair, the Ruby Laser, which also happens to be the oldest type of laser, works the best. It cannot be used on patients with dark, or even tanned, skin. Also, because it covers a much smaller area than the other, newer, lasers, it has become less popular in recent years.
For patients with light to olive complected skin, the Alexandrite laser is the laser of choice. It also happens to have a customizable range, and is the fastest of all of the laser types; as such, it has become very popular.
For individuals with darker skin, the Diode Laser works best. It covers larger areas at a time, and has a fast repetition, so large areas are covered quicker.
For most individuals with coarser hair and darker skin tones, even those with tanned skin, the long pulse ND Yag laser is the safest and best option. It’s large coverage area and fast repetition allows for the removal of hair quickly, even on larger areas.

Obviously, you will have little control over which laser equipment will be used for your hair removal. Many people focus mainly on laser hair removal costs during their consultation with a potential service provider. But being aware of the types of lasers that are available will give you an advantage in determining the right type of treatment for your individual hair removal needs.