Laser Hair Removal Home Kits
See also laser hair removal.
Laser hair removal home kits are kits that permanently remove unwanted hair after a number of treatments. The item pictured to the right is the Rio Scanning Laser Faster Hair Remover. It is designed for use at home and is the top of the range model offering the fastest hair removal.
It works by directing a laser beam directly to the root of the hair with sufficient energy to destroy it.
How does it work?
The wavelength of the light is effectively transparent in lighter skinned people. However, the hair contains more melanin and so absorbs the energy produced by the laser. The heat from the laser destroys the cells responsible for hair growth. If sufficient energy is absorbed, the hair follicle is destroyed. Whilst this laser is appropriate for use on the majority of skin colours, unfortunately it is not suitable for use on Afro-Caribbean or very dark skin as this skin contains a lot of melanin, which would absorb the energy from the laser. However, dark skinned people can use electrolysis.
Hair growth occurs in three phases:
- The active growth phase - this is when the hair is actively growing. It is also known as the "anagen phase".
- The degradation phase - this is when the hair stops growing but stays attached. The technical name for this period is the "catagen phase".
- The resting phase - this occurs after the hair has been shed and a new hair begins to form. This is also known as the "telogen phase".
It is important to realise that laser hair removal will only work whilst the hair is actively growing, i.e., during the anagen phase. Therefore a number of treatments over several months are required in order to achieve an appreciable reduction in the amount of hair growth, in order to "catch" each hair during its anagen phase. Even during the anagen phase, the hair follicle may not be completely destroyed. It may be damaged sufficiently that only a fine, weak hair can be produced, but a second treatment between two and four weeks later will usually destroy the follicle in this case.
In any event, you should plan to carry out a number of treatments over several months to achieve the best possible reduction or elimination of hair.
Are there any alternative home kits?
There is another Rio hair remover which is cheaper, but not as fast as the device mentioned above. As previously mentioned, electrolysis can be used on dark skin types.