Lastly, because the electrode must be inserted subcutaneously into each follicle, there is the risk of infection. In the past year or so, lasers have gained attention as potential hair removal tools. The procedure typically begins with shaving the area requiring hair removal. A laser aligning sheet is placed on the treatment area to ensure accuracy. A beam of light, at a single wavelength, is then aimed at the treatment area.
Laser light is converted into heat when it is absorbed by melanin.
Once the temperature reaches a high enough level in a hair follicle during its active phase, the targeted hair structures are critically damaged, hindering hair regrowth. Because lasers emit light at a single wavelength, they are ineffective treatment tools in treating lighter colored hair because the necessary contrast between skin color, hair color and absorption ratios does not exist. Similarly, because the laser mandates this contrast, lasers are not effective for people with darker skin tones. Because different types of hair are embedded at different depths in the skin, the single wavelength at which lasers operate does not offer the flexibility needed to reach the more deeply embedded follicle, such as those along the bikini line or underam. Additionally, the small spot size of lasers makes treatment of large areas time consuming.