Final answer:
Laser hair removal is the process of using lasers or intense pulsed light to reduce hair growth, which is more precise and offers a longer-term solution compared to traditional hair removal methods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general term for hair-reduction methods using lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL) is laser hair removal. These techniques fall under the category of photoepilation, which deploys specific wavelengths of light to target melanin in the hair, ultimately destroying the follicles and reducing hair growth. The laser hair removal process is quite precise due to the ability to focus the energy on the hair follicles, minimizing damage to surrounding skin tissues.
Unlike traditional depilation methods like shaving or using chemical depilatories that break down hair's protein structure, laser hair removal requires multiple treatments for effectiveness and is considered to be a more long-term solution for hair reduction. With continual advancements in technology, including chirped pulse amplification pioneered by Nobel laureates Strickland and Mourou, laser procedures have become more efficient and widely accessible for medical purposes beyond hair removal, such as vision correction and tissue repair.