What Is The Best Laser Hair Removal Option For Mixed-Race Skin With Black Hair? (photo)

Light skin and dark hair is often the best combination for laser as it targets the color in the hair (for this reason blonde haired patients are often not good candidates). There is not a single best laser to treat hair. Each laser has its pros and cons. Although many lasers are available with brand names, the key is to look at the frequency of laser to determine its effectiveness. Types of LASERS:Diode- Perhaps the best studied and good for many skin types (the type I favor in my practice).IPL- Not as effective as diode in head to head studies and not good for all skin types. May require more treatments.Nd:YAG lasers- A good selection for darker haired patients. May require more treatments than diode and has a smaller spot size typically and may require more treatmentsAlexandrite- Best for lighter skin types however it is almost as effective as diode in efficacy.

The Nd:yag laser is safe for all skin types and will work well to reduce coarse black hairs. Laser hair removal can improve ingrown hairs by reducing the amount of hair, therefore reducing the amount of ingrown hairs. Schedule a consultation with a provider so they can go over your pertinent health history and details of the hair removal process and determine if you are a good candidate for treatment. Laser hair removal requires multiple treatments every 6-8 weeks and results may vary from person to person.

The best laser for you will probably be a Yag laser, which consistently treats darker pigmented skin types safely. Laser hair reduction treatments should also help reduce the problem with ingrown hairs. Make sure you visit a dermatologist or plastic surgeon’s office for a consultation and to ensure you are being treated by a provider with extensive knowledge of the skin and laser hair removal. “Dr. D”

One of the Best and Safest Lasers for Hair Removal in African and Asian Skin is the YAG laser, such as the GentleYAG laser. The IPL, yellow or red spectrum, as with the Palomar Icon IPL, is an effective and safe choice for hair reduction in darker skin types. 

With darker skin types, the best laser for hair reduction is the Nd:YAG 1064. I have used the Cutera CoolGlide Nd:YAG 1064; it consistently treats safely and effectively. The laser hair reduction treatments should help with the ingrown hairs as well.

The Soprano diode laser by Alma lasers is also extremely effective at removing coarse, dark hairs in darker skin types.  I have used this laser safely in all skin types including African American skin.  Good luck!

The best laser for you - meaning most effective and safest,  will probably be a long pulsed nd yag. I would always suggest visiting a medical office with multiple lasers so you can be sure you are getting what is really right for you and not simply a one size fits all situation because they have only one laser available.

Do not consider IPL for laser hair removal

The long-pulsed Nd:YAG (1,064 nm) laser is considered safe and effective for the treatment of unwanted hair in dark-skinned persons. It is considered to be superior to other methods of hair removal. The Nd:YAG laser has been shown to yield a high rate of satisfaction in terms of hair reduction.