Epilation Method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of epilating hairs, in particular of light color, e.g. light brown, red, blond, white, or non-pigmented, the method comprising the steps consisting in: i) mechanically removing the hairs to be treated so as to cause blood masses to form in the follicular sacs of the removed hairs; and ii) exposing the blood in contact with the follicular papillae of the removed hairs to at least one light flash so as to raise the temperature of the blood masses formed in this way.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A method of epilating hairs of light color or non-pigmented, comprising:
 i) mechanically removing in an area of the skin the hairs to be treated so as to cause blood masses to form in follicular sacs of the removed hairs;   ii) pressing an optical guide against the skin in the area and outputting from the optical guide at least one light flash of energy density in the range 10 J/cm 2  so as to raise temperature of blood in contact with follicular papillae of the removed hairs.   
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , in which the hairs are removed mechanically by ones of tweezers, wax or an electric epilator. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 16 , in which step ii) is implemented after a waiting stage following step i) having a duration lying in the range 1 min to 10 min. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the duration is in the range 3 min to 8 min. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the duration is in the range 3 min to 6 min. 
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 16 , in which the light flash has a duration lying in the range 5 ms to 100 ms. 
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the duration is in the range 10 ms to 90 ms. 
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the duration is in the range 20 ms to 80 ms. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 16 , including a single light flash in step ii). 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 16  including a plurality of light flashes in step ii). 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  25  in which the light flashes are separated by time intervals lying in the range 1 ms to 20 ms. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26 , the duration of the plurality of light flashes ranging from 5 ms to 300 ms. 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 16 , in which the light flash presents an intensity peak in the range 450 nm to 650 nm. 
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 16 , in which the energy density per unit area of the light flash lies in the range 5 J/cm 2  to 30 J/cm 2 . 
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 16 , in which a layer of gel is applied to the skin prior to step ii). 
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 30 , the gel being at a temperature less than or equal to 10° C. 
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 16 , in which steps i) and ii) are repeated during a new session after at least 3 weeks. 
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 16 , the hairs being non-pigmented. 
   
   
       34 . A method of epilation of pigmented skin of phototype IV, V or VI, comprising:
 exposing skin that has been subjected to mechanical removal of hairs so as to cause blood masses to form in the follilcular sacs of the removed hairs, to at least one light flash so as to raise the temperature of the blood masses as formed in this way.   
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 34 , a refrigerated gel being applied to the skin prior to the exposure to the light flash. 
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 35 , the temperature of the refrigerated gel ranging from 2 to 5° C.