Does Laser Hair Removal Work On Every Skin Type And Hair Colour

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Laser hair removal is one of the newer methods in use to get rid of unwanted hair. Its popularity has been steadily increasing over the past few years. The technology has also been improving a lot. It is far from being the most popular method of hair removal. Methods like shaving, waxing etc. are more mainstream methods. They appear inexpensive and are easily accessible. Laser hair removal requires expensive devices and skilled practitioners to operate.  However, if you are looking at a long term hair removal solution laser is your best option. To understand why we need to understand how it works.

How does it work?

In Laser hair removal light is focussed on hair follicles. The heat destroys the hairs including the roots.  The melanin in the hair absorbs the heat and the hair gets damaged. The hair then falls off. In shaving the hair simply gets cut at the surface of the skin. In waxing or threading the hair gets ripped out. In shaving and waxing the hair grows back. With the laser, the hair may not grow back at all. If it does grow back it appears much thinner and hard to notice. While there are other methods that offer long term hair removal, they tend to be more time consuming and more expensive as well. The laser has been used over the last few decades with a lot of success. It has come a long way.

How has technology changed?

Traditionally there used to be a few problems associated with laser hair removal. It used to work best on people with a light complexion and dark hair. This combination would make sure that the melanin in the hair absorbs the heat and the surrounding skin remains undamaged. When there is not enough contrast between the skin colour and hair colour laser was considered to be unsuitable. Things have changed over the years. Service providers at the forefront have been modernising their devices. An advanced service provider like Therapie Clinic would have devices that can work on light hair, fine hair regardless of the skin colour. There are a few precautions a user is expected to take before enrolling themselves for treatment. These rules and recommendations would normally be given out by an expert. For example, lasers should not be used in an area where the hair is thick and long. Ruby laser systems are considered out-dated and aren’t particularly suited for people with dark skin. Alexandrite laser system is known to be suitable for thinner hair. Diode laser system works better on coarse hair. Nd: Yag laser systems do not use melanin to target the hairs, hence it is suitable for all hair colours and skin types. IPL lasers work better on the type of skin and hair colour that the traditional laser systems fail to address. With such a wide range to choose from, laser hair removal is not an option for a select few. It is an option that is on the threshold of taking over as the most favoured hair removal method.

 

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Written by Lola McQuenzie

Lola is one of our busiest writer. She has worked for Catwalk Yourself since 2007. Lola started working with us after she graduating from Central St Martins


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