Hair is an outgrowth of the skin, that is present over the entire body except for the palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. That hair consists of a root formed in the dermis, and a hair shaft that projects above the skin, and grows in a cavity called a hair follicle. Proliferation of cells in the bulb of the hair causes the hair to form.

In certain locations on the body, hair growth is controlled by sex hormones. The most vivid example is the growth of hair on the face (such as a beard, or mustache), the chest, and the back. This hair growth is controlled by male hormones known as androgens.

Some women with higher levels of testosterone have hair in the areas generally thought of as masculine, such as the face, chest, and lower abdomen. This is often no more than a normal genetic variation. If it appears along with irregular menses, and weight changes, it may indicate a hormonal imbalance.

However, excessive growth of hair, especially on areas that should have minimal hair growth, can be irritating to look at. For women, this excessive hair growth is often undesirable for any area. For this reason, hair removal is considered as the ultimate solution to the problem.

There are many types of hair removal available in the market today. If you want do-it-yourself hair removal, you may opt for waxes.

With the inception of new technology, innovative devices have been created to intensify the efficiency of removing excessive hair growth. This process is made possible through the use of lasers, and if referred to simply as laser hair removal.

Laser hair removal amplifies, or generates highly specialized light energy. The lasers themselves, can generate immense heat and power when focused at close range, and are valuable tools in surgical and cosmetic procedures.

Generally, the argon laser, carbon dioxide laser, and tunable pulse dye laser are used in dermatological surgery for the process of laser hair removal. Each type of laser emits its own wavelength within the color spectrum.

The laser used for laser hair removal can penetrate approximately 1 mm of skin, even reaching the pigmented layer. This initiates removing the hair from the shaft, and not just the upper portion of the hair.

As the laser beam strikes tissue, it is absorbed by the intracellular and extra-cellular water, which vaporizes, destroying the tissue. The laser used for laser hair removal is a precise surgical instrument that vaporizes and excises tissue with minimal damage. Since it can produce damage to the skin tissue, laser hair removal must be performed by an expert. Careful consideration must be met in order to promote safe and effective removal of excessive hair growth.

So to initiate the safe use of laser hair removal, one must evaluate first, if they are an acceptable candidate for laser hair removal. To facilitate the assessment, one should consider the following factors:

Skin Color

People who have higher melanin on their skin, or who have darker skin color, are not ideal candidates for laser hair removal. This is because dark skin tends to suck up more light and heat than those who have fairer, or lighter skin color.

In essence, people with lighter skin color generate faster effects.

Hair Color

Ideal candidates should have hair colors that are darker than those adjacent to the skin. This is to avoid tissue destruction.

Given all those facts, it is important that you consider the condition of your skin as well as your hair color to ensure safety and efficiency during the laser hair removal process.