If you’ve considered laser hair removal, you may wonder what the laser is actually doing beneath the surface of your skin—and why several treatments are needed to reduce unwanted hair.
At North Columbus Eye Center & Medical Aesthetics, we use Alma Harmony with SHR (Super Hair Removal) technology and an In-Motion technique.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Target the Hair Follicle?
Hair contains a natural pigment called melanin.
During laser hair removal, light energy is absorbed by pigment in the hair and converted into heat. That heat affects structures within the hair follicle responsible for producing new hair.
The goal is not simply to remove the hair you can see above the skin. Instead, treatment targets the follicle beneath the surface to progressively reduce future hair growth.
Over a series of treatments, patients may notice less regrowth, reduced hair density, and hair that returns finer or less noticeable.
How Is Alma SHR Different?
Traditional laser hair-removal technologies may use individual pulses of higher energy to treat specific areas.
Alma’s SHR technology takes a different approach.
Instead of relying on a single high-energy pulse, SHR repeatedly delivers lower-energy pulses while gradually building heat within the treatment area.
The applicator moves continuously across the skin using Alma’s In-Motion technique, helping distribute energy throughout the treatment area.
Rather than treating one isolated spot and then moving to the next, the area is treated through repeated sweeping passes.
Why Can Alma Harmony Treat a Wide Range of Skin Tones?
Skin tone is an important consideration in laser hair removal because melanin is present in both the hair and the skin.
With certain laser technologies, higher levels of melanin in the skin can absorb more energy, increasing the risk of overheating or unwanted skin changes.
Alma’s SHR approach uses repeated lower-energy delivery and gradual heating rather than relying on a single high-energy pulse.
One of the advantages of Alma Harmony SHR technology is its ability to treat a wide range of skin tones, including darker skin tones. Each treatment is customized based on the individual skin tone, hair characteristics, and treatment area to provide a safe and effective approach to hair reduction.
Why Are Multiple Treatments Necessary?
Laser hair removal works with your body’s natural hair-growth cycle.
Individual hair follicles move through different stages, and they are not all actively growing at the same time. Laser hair removal is most effective when hair is in its active growth phase.
This means a single treatment cannot effectively target every follicle in an area.
Spacing treatments apart allows additional hairs to enter the appropriate growth phase so they can be targeted during subsequent sessions.
This is why laser hair removal is performed as a series rather than a one-time treatment.
The number of treatments needed varies depending on the treatment area, hair density, hair characteristics, hormones, and individual response.
What Does Alma SHR Hair Removal Feel Like?
The way SHR delivers energy also affects the treatment experience.
During treatment, the applicator moves continuously across the skin as energy gradually builds heat within the treatment area.
Most patients experience a warming sensation rather than the sharper snapping sensation commonly associated with some traditional laser hair-removal systems.
Cooling technology incorporated into the applicator also helps protect the surface of the skin and improve comfort during treatment.
Individual experiences can vary depending on the area being treated, hair density, skin characteristics, and personal sensitivity.
A Personalized Approach to Hair Reduction
Laser hair removal is not the same for every person.
Skin tone, hair color, hair thickness, density, treatment area, and natural growth patterns can all influence how treatment is performed and how many sessions may be appropriate.
At North Columbus Eye Center & Medical Aesthetics, we use Alma Harmony SHR technology to provide progressive hair reduction for a wide range of skin tones. Your consultation allows us to evaluate your individual skin and hair characteristics and develop a treatment plan based on your needs.
Understanding how the technology works can make the process much less mysterious: the laser targets the hair follicle, SHR gradually delivers the energy, and a series of treatments works with the natural hair-growth cycle to progressively reduce unwanted hair.
