Since laser hair removal is most effective when the cells are in an active state, laser removal targets the growing hairs. Lasers emit pulses of high-intensity light at a single colour, which wraps around and selectively targets colour pigments contained in the follicles. In the case of laser hair removal, melanin is targeted. Melanin is the primary pigment in skin, hair and eyes. It is involved in several biological processes of the body, including regulating cell growth and pigmentation. This laser light causes photoexcitation reactions of melanin-containing cells which results in thermal injuries to the follicle itself.

When laser light is absorbed by melanin, it creates heat. Hair removal laser technology is designed to create heat in the follicle, which damages the cells at the base of the hair. This ultimately results in damage to or complete destruction of these cells, inhibiting their ability to grow new pigment-containing hairs.

When laser light strikes skin with high concentrations of melanin, it heats up quickly and produces enough energy to cause thermal damage. This laser light causes photoexcitation reactions of melanin-containing cells, which results in thermal injuries to the follicle itself. These laser treatments focus on multiple areas that each require a series of several laser sessions.