Final answer:
Laser hair removal reduces hair growth by using intense light to damage hair follicles, in contrast to ultraviolet light used for sterilization or chemical depilatories that weaken hair structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
To reduce hair growth, laser hair removal uses intense light to destroy the growth cells of the hair bulb. While low-intensity ultraviolet light is used to sterilize implements and is an example of nonionizing radiation, it's the high-intensity light of a laser that targets hair follicles. The process of laser hair removal involves concentrated light energy being absorbed by the pigment in the hair, which is then converted into heat, damaging the hair follicles and inhibiting future hair growth.
Other methods of hair removal, like chemical depilatories, utilize different chemical reactions to break down the hair structure, leading to hair removal without destroying the growth cells. These depilatories often contain ingredients like thioglycolates, which break the disulfide bonds in keratin, leading to a weakening of the hair structure so it can be easily wiped away.