Patent ID: 7291141

Claim:
A hair removal method comprising: applying one or more first pulses of radiant energy to a skin surface having protruding hair fibers; within a first predetermined time after the applying of the pulses to said skin surface and within the same hair removal session applying of said pulses to said skin surface, removing the protruding hair fibers from said skin surface by a first process different from the application of radiant energy, said first pulses being characterized by pulse parameters including radiation wavelength such that energy of said first pulses is absorbed by the hair fibers and thereby changes one or more physical characteristics of the hair fibers to enhance or facilitate temporary removal of protruding hair fibers along said skin surface by said first process, substantially all of the removed hair fibers eventually reappearing on said skin surface; subsequently, after the hair portions beneath said skin surface have grown and reappeared as protruding fibers along said skin surface, applying one or more second pulses of radiant energy to said skin surface; and within a second predetermined time after the applying of said second pulses of radiant energy to said skin surface and within the same hair removal session as the applying of said second pulses to said skin surface, removing the protruding fibers from said skin surface by a second process different from the application of radiant energy, said second pulses being characterized by pulse parameters including radiation wavelength such that energy of said second pulses is absorbed by the hair fibers and thereby changes one or more physical characteristics of the hair fibers to enhance or facilitate removal of protruding hair fibers along said skin surface by said second process, substantially all of the removed hair fibers eventually reappearing on said skin surface.