Because dark or tanned skin contains a significant amount melanin, this skin can actually absorb a greater portion of the laser energy making less available to penetrate the hair follicle. Skin absorption must be kept at a minimum for laser hair removal to be effective. An important factor in inhibiting the skin's absorption of laser energy is keeping the skin cool during the laser hair removal process by applying a cold compress to the affected area. This will allow the laser to bypass the colder skin so it can reach the melanin within the hair follicle.

Another way of keeping the skin cool is to use the latest 'multi pulsing' laser technology. As the name implies, laser energy is pulsed or interrupted, rather than streamed. Because of this pulsing, less heat is delivered at once which helps to cool and at the same time, protect the skin. Other laser removal devices include: Alexandrite, a long pulse laser; Diode, which generally is used on darker skin; Q-Switched Nd:YAG, which delivers two wavelengths that work on both deep and near-surface follicles; and Ruby, that as the name implies, consists of red laser beams capable of targeting melanin.

Coming soon: We shall take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of laser hair removal