Laser hair removal relies on selective photothermolysis – using light energy to target pigment (melanin) inside the hair follicle without damaging the surrounding skin. Because melanin is present in both hair and skin, treatment settings must be tailored to each client’s specific skin tone and hair profile.
The Fitzpatrick Scale Assessment: Practitioners classify skin from Type I (very fair, always burns) to Type VI (deeply pigmented, dark brown/black). This dictates the safe wavelength and energy limit. Personalized pre and post care helps ensure laser hair removal is safe and effective for different skin tones and hair profiles.

Laser Wavelength Selection:

Alexandrite (755 nm)

High absorption in melanin; ideal for fair skin with dark hair (Fitzpatrick I–III).

Diode (808–810 nm)

Versatile middle-ground wavelength suitable for a broad range of fair to olive skin tones (Fitzpatrick I–IV).

Nd

YAG (1064 nm): Bypasses epidermal melanin and penetrates deeper, making it the gold standard for dark or deeply pigmented skin (Fitzpatrick V–VI).

Pulse Duration (Timing)

Darker skin tones require longer pulse durations (milliseconds) to allow heat to dissipate from the skin surface while still disabling the follicle.

Fluence (Energy Level) & Cooling

Energy levels are adjusted alongside integrated contact cooling (ice/cryo) to keep the skin safe while effectively heating the hair root.