How It Works

How a Hair Grows

Hair forms in a pouch-like structure below the skin called a hair follicle. What we see as hair is actually the hair shaft, which is the keratinized, hardened tissue that grows from this follicle.

Humans have more hair follicles per square inch of skin than most higher primates, including chimpanzees and gorillas. Because most of this hair is fine and pale (called vellus hair), it usually is not visible to the naked eye. Consider this: the forehead has more hair follicles than any other part of the body. The thicker, fully pigmented hair most people consider "real hair" is called terminal hair. This hair is found on scalp, eyebrows, legs, backs, underarms.

Everyone's hair grows differently, depending on age, weight, metabolism, hormones, ethnicity, medications, and other factors. But all hair goes through three distinct growth phases:

	1) Active growth phase (called the anagen phase), which lasts up to several years. At any given time, the majority (85%) of our body hair is in this phase. During anagen, the hair has an abundance of melanin.
	2) Regressive phase (catagen phase), which lasts about two weeks, during which the hair stops growing but is not yet shed. About 3 - 4% of our body hair is in this phase at any given time.
	3) Resting phase (telogen phase), which lasts 5 - 6 weeks, at the end of which the hair falls out and a new hair begins to form. Approximately 10-13% of our body hair is in this phase at any one time.

How the Laser Works

A laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light. Different types of lasers produce different colors of light.

The light emitted by the laseris absorbed by the pigment (melanin) located in hair follicles (melanin pigments give hair its color) and hair shaft. The laser pulses for a fraction of a second, just long enough to vaporize the pigment - disabling several hair follicles at a time to eliminate or significantly impede the hair's regrowth - but not long enough to damage the surrounding skin. Most lasers have a special contact-cooling handpiece further protects the epidermis (upper layer of skin).

Traditional hair removal techniques such as shaving, plucking and waxing, provide only temporary relief and may actually stimulate hair growth. Electrolysis, while effective, often requires years of ongoing and frequently painful treatments. All of these methods commonly result in scarring, allergic reactions, and ingrown hairs. Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment inside the hair follicle without damaging delicate pores and structures of the skin. Because hair cycles through "growth" and "dormant" phases, and because during the "dormant" phase the follicle has no pigment, multiple treatments are needed.

Skin Types

There are six basic skin types. Certain lasers work better on certain skin types. Below is a chart to help you figure out which skin type you are:

Skin Type	Skin Color	Sun exposure results in:
I	Northern European	always burn/never tan
II	Northern European	always burn/can lightly tan
III	Mediterranean	can slightly burn/tans easily
IV	Asian/Middle Eastern	never burn/always tan
V	Indian	always tan easily
VI	African	always tan easily

Before starting laser hair removal, it is essential that you meet with a technician to discuss your treatments. They will give you more updated information and be able to access your skin and provide the most accurate information.

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