What is the science behind removing hair with a laser?

When lasers are used to remove hair, they destroy the root of a hair’s follicle. During the treatment process, flashes of laser light are absorbed by the melanin in a hair’s follicle. This type of energy heats and destroys the follicle, stunting the cells that regrow the hair. Because hair grows in phases, laser hair removal must be employed during a hair’s active stage of growth.