| Laser Type | Common Names | Candidates |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby | RubyStar, E2000 | Skin Types 1-3
Known as the original laser system. It still effectively treats light to olive toned skin, but is definitely not recommended for Types 4-6. |
| Alexandrite | GentleLase, Apogee, EpiTouch | Skin Types 1-6 This laser is extremely quick and is one of the most widely used lasers on the market today. It is safe for all skin tones; however, because of the speed of its pulse, it works best on Types 1-3. It can also be uncomfortable for moderately dark/black toned patients because the skin absorbs the light at such a high rate of speed. |
| IPL (AKA “Pulsed Light” or “Ultimate Light” | EpiLight, PhotoDerm, Aculight, Quantum, Vasculite | Skin Types 1-6 IPL is known as a ‘painless” laser hair removal treatment, but does require additional sittings to be effective on moderately dark/black skin. A plus for the IPL is that the laser is also used for Photofacial treatments, so skin imperfections are often treated by default. |
| Diode | Light Sheer, MedioStar, LaserLite, Epistar, Apex 800, F1 Diode, SLP1000 | Skin Types 1-6 The diode laser can require up to 10+ treatments for best results with dark skin. |
| Nd:Yag | CoolGlide, Medlite IV, Varia, Athos, Lyra, Image | Skin Types 1-6 This is considered by many experts to be the perfect laser for dark skin because it requires fewer treatments than a diode laser. If you’re a Type 5-6, we recommend attending a consultation with a clinic that utilizes the Yag laser hair removal system. |