Currently, there are three popular types of hair removal lasers made by various manufacturers: Alexandrite, Diode, and Nd:YAG. Intense Pulse Light systems (IPLs) are also used for hair removal. Different devices can be used on different skin types* for best results:

  • TYPE I: Highly sensitive, always burns, never tans. e.g. red hair with freckles or Albino.
  • TYPE II: Very sun-sensitive, burns easily, tans minimally. e.g. fair-skinned, fair-haired Caucasians.
  • TYPE III: Sun-sensitive skin, sometimes burns, slowly tans to light brown. e.g. darker Caucasians, European mix.
  • TYPE IV: Minimally sun-sensitive, burns minimally, always tans to moderate brown. e.g. Mediterranean, European, Asian, Hispanic, American Indian.
  • TYPE V: Sun-insensitive skin, rarely burns, tans well. e.g. Hispanics, Afro-American, Middle Eastern.
  • TYPE VI: Sun-insensitive, never burns, deeply pigmented. e.g. Afro-American, African, Middle Eastern.

Nd:YAG lasers were specifically created to cater to dark-skinned patients. Nd:YAG lasers are best for all skin types, especially IV and darker and will not affect the surrounding tissue. Nd:YAG are the only type of laser that should be used on skin types V and darker; using any other types of lasers on this type of skin can result in burns if they are used at settings that disable the hair permanently.

Intense Pulse Light (IPL) machines are not lasers. These machines use a highly concentrated beam of traditional incoherent light, often in conjunction with a cream or gel, to burn the hair shaft. These systems lack the laser’s ability to produce a selective bandwidth of light that will only affect the hair shaft (selective photothermolysis). IPLs produce a wide bandwidth of light that can heat up all of the surrounding tissue, making it less effective in disabling hair and putting the patient at a higher risk for burns, especially on darker skin.  IPL devices are generally cheaper than laser devices. Generally, true hair removal lasers (alexandrite, diode, and ND:Yag types) tend to achieve better and faster results than IPLs.

*Using the Fitzpatrick Skin Chart classification system for skin typing, based on a person’s response to sun exposure in terms of the degree of burning and tanning the individual experienced.