With more than 400 clinics in 38 states, Milan Laser is the country’s largest provider of laser hair removal. We also offer something nobody else in the industry does: our exclusive Unlimited Package™. You pay one price for a body area, and you’re covered for life. No hidden costs or touch-up fees. Choosing Milan for your hair-free needs will help you say goodbye to unwanted hair for good.
Laser hair removal works for every skin tone, but the technology used matters significantly. The Fitzpatrick Scale guides how Milan customizes treatment for each Client, from the lightest to the deepest skin tones, safely and effectively.
How Skin Tone Affects Laser Hair Removal
The Fitzpatrick Scale is a clinically recognized framework that classifies skin tone across six categories based on how the skin responds to sun exposure. Fitzpatrick Skin Type I describes very fair skin that always burns and never tans.
Fitzpatrick Skin Type VI describes deeply pigmented skin that never burns. Types II through V cover the full range of light, medium, olive, and brown skin tones in between.
In plain terms, the scale gives Providers a consistent, objective way to assess a Client's skin and select the appropriate laser settings. At Milan, every treatment begins with a Fitzpatrick Scale assessment as a guide. It's the foundation of a safe, customized treatment plan.
The key variable in laser hair removal is the contrast between skin tone and hair color. Laser hair removal works by targeting melanin, the natural pigment found in hair follicles.
When there is strong contrast between the hair follicle and the surrounding skin, the laser can target the follicle precisely. When skin tone and hair color are similar, or when surface melanin is elevated, the equation becomes more complex, which is where technology and Provider expertise come in.
The idea that laser hair removal doesn't work on dark skin is a myth rooted in early laser technology. Modern dual-wavelength systems have changed that entirely, and Milan's Candela GentleMax Pro is built to treat every Fitzpatrick Skin Type safely and effectively.
Laser Hair Removal For Fitzpatrick I-III
Clients with Fitzpatrick Skin Types I and II, very fair to fair that burns easily, and Fitzpatrick Skin Types III, medium white to olive skin that tans easily, represent strong laser hair removal candidates when paired with dark hair gives laser a clear, precise target, and the reduced melanin in the surface skin means there is minimal competition between skin and follicle for the laser energy.
Milan’s Candela GentleMax Pro treats Fitzpatrick Types I through III using the Alexandrite 755nm laser, the appropriate wavelength for lighter skin tones. Settings are customized to each Client’s skin tone and hair at every session.
One consideration worth knowing: hypopigmentation is a rare adverse effect that can occur with improper settings on lighter skin tones. At Milan, this risk is minimized by proper Fitzpatrick Scale assessment and calibrated settings at every appointment. For Clients with Fitzpatrick Types I and II, arriving at treatment at natural baseline skin tone and following sun protection guidance between sessions are the most important steps for a safe, effective treatment plan.
Laser Hair Removal For Fitzpatrick IV-VI
Fitzpatrick Skin Type IV, moderate brown skin that tans easily, and Fitzpatrick Skin Types V and VI, deep brown to very deeply pigmented skin, can all be treated safely and effectively with laser hair removal when the right technology is used on the Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser.
As skin tone deepens, the Provider’s assessment becomes increasingly important in ensuring the right settings are used to minimize any risk of pigmentation changes. The reason the Nd:YAG is the clinically appropriate wavelength for these skin tones comes down to how the wavelength interacts with melanin.
The Nd:YAG’s longer wavelength is less readily absorbed by the melanin in the surface layers of the skin, meaning it can reach the hair follicle more effectively in Clients with higher levels of skin pigmentation, without the surface skin absorbing energy intended for the follicle.
The Alexandrite laser and IPL are not appropriate for Fitzpatrick Skin Types V and VI. The Alexandrite’s shorter wavelength is more readily absorbed by surface melanin, increasing the risk of burns and pigmentation changes in clients with deeper skin tones.
IPL, intense pulsed light, is not a laser at all. It uses broad-spectrum light rather than a focused single wavelength, making it less precise and significantly less safe for darker skin tones. These are not equivalent technologies, and IPL should not be considered a substitute for Nd:YAG laser treatment on dark skin.
The Technology Used at Milan Laser
Milan’s Candela GentleMax Pro includes both the Alexandrite and Nd:YAG in a single device, which means every Milan location is equipped to treat every Fitzpatrick Skin Type without compromise.
At Milan, this risk of adverse reactions is minimized by using the Fitzpatrick Scale as a guide. However, sun exposure management is important for all Clients throughout a laser hair removal treatment plan. Arriving at treatment at natural baseline skin tone and following sun protection guidance between sessions are the most important steps for a safe, effective treatment plan.
Pigment changes are largely preventable with the right device and proper settings. Consistent sunscreen use between sessions is the most important aftercare step for managing pigmentation risk. Tanned skin contains elevated melanin that increases the risk of adverse reactions. The Client’s skin must be at its natural baseline tone before any session proceeds. Adverse reactions are uncommon when proper protocol is followed and consistent sunscreen use is maintained between sessions.
The Myth That Laser Doesn’t Work on Darker Skin
The belief that laser hair removal isn't safe or effective for dark skin has a real origin. Early laser technology was largely built around the Alexandrite wavelength, which is not appropriate for deeper skin tones. Providers using single-wavelength systems genuinely couldn't treat darker-skinned Clients safely, and the advice to avoid laser treatments reflected that limitation.
That limitation no longer applies to providers using modern dual-wavelength technology. The clinical evidence supporting Nd:YAG as a safe and effective option for darker skin tones is well-established in dermatology literature.
For Clients with darker skin tones who have been told laser treatments won't work for them, the right response is not to accept that as universal truth; it's to find a provider using Nd:YAG technology with physician-directed protocol and properly trained Providers.
At Milan, every location uses the Candela GentleMax Pro with Nd:YAG capability, and every treatment is performed by a licensed Provider under physician oversight following Milan's exclusive medical protocol.
Read Next: How Skin Type Affects Laser Hair Removal
The Fitzpatrick Scale is a clinically recognized framework that classifies skin tone across six categories based on how the skin responds to sun exposure.”
Why Milan Laser Is The Best Option
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely. Laser hair removal is safe and effective for Black women when performed with the Nd:YAG laser with proper settings. The Nd:YAG is FDA-cleared for use across all Fitzpatrick Skin Types including the deepest skin tones, and it is the clinically appropriate wavelength for darker skin. Milan uses the Candela GentleMax Pro, which includes Nd:YAG, at every location nationwide, and every treatment is customized to each Client's specific skin tone using the Fitzpatrick Scale as a guide.
The Fitzpatrick Scale is a clinically recognized framework that classifies skin tone across six categories from very fair skin that always burns to deeply pigmented skin that never burns. In the context of laser hair removal, it matters because it gives Providers a consistent, objective way to assess a Client's skin tone and select the appropriate laser wavelength and settings for safe, effective treatment. Using the Fitzpatrick Scale as a guide is the foundation of a safe, customized treatment plan at Milan.
Yes. Olive skin tones typically fall within Fitzpatrick Skin Types III and IV, a range that responds well to laser hair removal. The key considerations are maintaining natural baseline skin tone between sessions and ensuring settings are correct to the Client's specific skin tone at every appointment. At Milan, every treatment begins with a Fitzpatrick Scale assessment that guides wavelength selection and settings for each individual Client.
All Fitzpatrick Skin Types I through VI can be treated with laser hair removal at Milan. The primary limitation is not skin tone, it's hair color. White, gray, and very light hair lack the melanin the laser needs to target the follicle effectively, and cannot be reliably treated with current laser technology. Temporary contraindications, including tanned or sunburned skin and active skin conditions in the treatment area, apply to all skin tones equally and are assessed at every session.
