Patent ID: 6916316

Claim:
A hair treatment method comprising: generating a number of pulses of light each having a electromagnetic spectrum including at least one wavelength absorbable by an endogenous chromophore in a person's hair; directing said pulses of light towards a skin surface having hair containing said endogenous chromophore, the hair of said skin surface and the associated hair follicles being free of exogenous chromophores, said pulses having at least one pulse duration, and a total energy all predetermined to at least temporarily retard growth of hair along said skin surface; by virtue of an absorption of the light of said pulses by said endogenous chromophores in the hair of said skin surface, effectuating a removal of projecting hair fibers from said skin surface; and after the removal of projecting hair from said skin surface and prior to a visible reappearance of hairs on said skin surface, again generating pulses of light and directing the pulses towards said skin surface to maintain said skin surface temporarily free of projecting hair fibers.