It is important to pick the right laser for both your skin type and your hair color. Diode lasers have long been the best lasers for laser hair removal showing the greatest effectiveness in hair loss per treatment. 

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There are three classes of lasers on the market currently and all have their pros and cons. 

• Alexandrite

  • These lasers are a 755nm wavelength and target the pigment in the hair. These are useful on skin types 1-3 (white, light colored skin). If you tan well, this is likely not a good choice for you as there is a greater chance of burning your skin with these types of lasers. However, one of the benefits of these lasers is the client typically gets a fairly immediate shedding response, where the hair will fall out with in a day or two. These lasers are a little harder on your skin but they can also be used to treat some other conditions as well such as toe fungus and remove some different skin lesions/discolorations as well. ​

• Diode

  • We utilize these lasers. They are an 800nm wavelength laser which targets the pigment in the hair to heat it up and denature the hair follicle to prevent it from being able to produce new hair. They are the fastest of the three types and they are safe on all skin types, however because these lasers also target the pigment in the hair like the alexandrite lasers, skin types 5-6 (dark skin types) we typically refer out for an Nd:Yag laser as they tend to be more effective and less painful. ​

  • The major difference between Diode and alexandrite lasers are Diodes are typically more gentle on the skin having less heat due to the use of ultrasound gel and mechanical cooling and that diode treatments don't typically result in the immediate shedding of the hair.  While Diode lasers do a better job of long term hair removal, some clients who have had alexandrite treatments previously may feel it didn't work as well due to this. Just remember, laser hair removal is about long term results, not temporary hair loss, so go with the best or just get waxed if you want to be temporarily hair free immediately.

• Nd:Yag 

  • These lasers utilize a 1064nm wavelength and target the blood supply to the hair instead of the pigment in the hair itself. These are typically less effective, but the safest option for people with dark skin types. ​These lasers also don't work on white hair unfortunately. 

• Electrolysis

  • While this isn't a laser, it utilizes a fine wire filament that is used to slide down each hair follicle and it heats up to burn the follicle (simply put). The benefit of this type of treatment over laser hair removal is it works on all skin types and all hair colors. The major downside is it is painful, very time consuming, and significantly more expensive. However, this can be used with greater precision when treating areas like the eyebrows where lasers will have some spread beyond the target area which may be undesirable depending on the location of treatment (ie eyebrows). ​

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If you're wondering what skin type you are, check out the Fitspatrick skin type scale to determine which laser type is best for you. 

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Fitzpatrick Scale:

Skin Type                   Typical Features                                               Tanning Ability

     I                  Pale white skin; red or blond hair;                       Always burns, never tans

                         blue/green eyes; freckles

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    II                  Fair skin; red or blond hair;                                Burns easily, tans with difficulty

                       blue, hazel, or green eyes

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    III                 Darker white; any eye or hair color                     Sometimes mild burn, gradually tans

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    IV                Light brown skin                                               Burns only slightly, tans easily

    V.                Brown skin                                                      Rarely burns, easily tans darkly

    VI.               Dark brown or black skin                                   Never burns, always tans darkly very                                                                                             easily