Alexandrite laser system for hair removal and method therefor

A method of hair removal, comprising:

• performing a treatment session comprising:
• generating an effective laser light output pulse having a wavelength of 710-810 nm, and comprising a series of discrete laser light subpulses having a fractional duty cycle over an effective pulse duration of greater than 10 msec;
• and
• irradiating a skin patch with the effective laser light output pulse to selectively heat hair follicles which contain hair shafts in a stepwise manner to cause the termination of hair growth in these follicles;
• waiting a dwell period of at least several weeks, the dwell period having sufficient duration to permit at least some hair follicles of the skin patch that initially did not contain hair shafts to produce hair shafts;
• and
• repeating the treatment session to selectively heat additional hair follicles which contain hair shafts in a stepwise manner to cause the termination of hair growth in these follicles.