Laser hair removal or epilation has only been commercially available since the mid 90's. The way in which this process works is called selective photothermolysis. The lasers target the dark cells of the hair while avoiding damaging the skin cells around them.

The way the laser is targeted at hairs is by:

· Rubbing a carbon-based lotion into the skin. It will accumulate in the hair follicle and attract most of the laser's radiation.
· You can also target the laser at hemoglobin which naturally occurs in blood.
· Melanin is the most popular method in the US as it naturally occurs in hair and gives it its colour. The laser will therefore by calibrated to target this.

It is for this reason that people with darker hair make more successful candidates for laser therapy. If you have blond or grey hair you will need to darken it before the procedure to gain its full benefit.