The Laser Genie

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The Laser Genie
1700 Westwood Blvd, 2nd Floor
Westwood, CA 90024
323.655.8220
Email: info@thelasergenie.com

LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser is a focused beam of high level light, or energy. Laser light beams are ultraviolet, visible, or infrared. A power rating, usually in watts, determines the strength of the laser and what it’s used for. Laser for the purposes of hair removal are a light form that will NEVER CAUSE CANCER.

How does laser hair removal work?
A focused energy force is applied to the surface of the skin. This energy, or laser, travels through the skin until it strikes the hair shafts or the bulb (root) of the hair. The bulb is usually where the highest concentration of melanin is located, and where the hair bulb and hair shaft are instantly vaporized as the laser becomes heat energy. This process destroys the hair follicle, the hair bulb and also the shaft of the hair.

This process of “laser hair removal” can be done with many different kinds of lasers and light energy; Alexandrite, Diode, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), nd: YAG or Electrolysis. They just work in different ways, have their different benefits and drawbacks, but generally speaking they all work the same way to rid of excess, unwanted hair.

Ethics in Providing Laser Services
Any establishment that offers laser hair removal will all claim their laser to be the best, but how do you really know? The web does not offer a complete discussion of the different kinds of lasers for the public use. Therefore, finding the right laser and laser providers for you can be a daunting task. In this report you will find a full discussion of all different types of laser hair removal methods, how they work and which is right for you. Be empowered when making the decision about laser hair removal.

Note About All Lasers
Regardless of what each laser is known for, laser makers have installed software into the machine that allows the settings to be changed to treat different skin types. Some lasers are absolute no-no’s for certain skin types, like Alexandrite should never be used on darker skin tones (Skin Types 3-6). Most ethical laser places should tell you this, however do not expect them to advise you on another laser that might be better for you (one that they don’t have). Please note, that with any laser or light or electrolysis methods of hair removal, that in time, hair follicles can regenerate themselves, and grow hair again. As the body is in a constant state of repair and healing, hair follicles that have been burnt, disabled, from growing hair, will start generating hair again slowly through time. You most likely will not have hair growth like you once did, but you will see some hair come back. This is true regardless of what kind of laser therapy you undergo. Any laser clinic, spa or physician practicing ethical standards must disclose this to you. If they deny that this is true, they are misleading you.

Now understandably you may be thinking, “Why should I be getting laser if it costs more than shaving and waxing, and it will still grow back anyways?” Just think how many times a week you shave, it adds up. How many times a year you wax, it adds up, and it’s painful. How many times do you get ingrown hairs, it adds up, it’s very painful and will leave semi-permanent marks on your skin. Laser hair removal, in comparison is the most superior method of hair removal. Laser hair removal does cost more, but for the amount of time you spend getting lasered, for example, one hour a month for entire legs or one hour a month for entire back, you will not have to worry about any hair until about 5 weeks later. Those hairs that come back will be few and far between, and you will most likely not shave those areas more than once a month. About several sessions, usually anywhere from 5-10 treatments, you will most likely be getting lasered once every couple months. That basically means you are spending one hour every 3-4 months to remove hair. That beats shaving, waxing, creams, threading and far beats electrolysis.

Hair Phases and What it Means for Laser Results
It is important to understand that visible results are not immediate because hair grows in cycles, anagen active phase Anagen is the active growth phase of hair follicles. The cells in the root of the hair are dividing rapidly, adding to the hair shaft.

During this phase the hair grows about 1 cm every 28 days. Hair on the body is different than hair on the scalp, which stays in this active phase of growth for 2-6 years. The amount of time the hair follicle stays in the anagen phase is genetically determined. At the end of the anagen phase the follicles to go into the catagen phase.

The catagen phase is a short transition stage where a new hair is being formed. Although laser hair removal does vaporize hairs in this phase, it does not effectively target hair future hair growth of this hair because the hair bulb is not intact with the blood supply, therefore no profound effect is done on the hair follicle to disable hair growth.

The telogen phase is the final phase where the hair follicle is resting and is shedding. At any given time, 10%-15% of all hairs are in the telogen phase. This phase lasts for about 100 days for hairs on the scalp and much longer for hairs on the eyebrow, eyelash, arm and leg. Pulling out a hair in this phase will reveal a solid, hard, dry, white material at the root.

During any single treatment, some hair follicles will be dormant with no visible hair growth and some will be in a growth cycle, where the hair is visible on the surface of the skin. To benefit from laser treatment, the hair must be in the growth cycle (visible prior to shaving) during treatment.

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