I will try to share my thoughts below:
1. IPL uses light pulsated at a very high wavelength and high spectral ranges, which destroy the hair. We are looking at a lower wavelength of light (IPL-lite), which would target only the chromophore in the hair. This will also de-risk the case of skin burns etc.
2. Heating is one way of doing it, but I'm not yet sure how effective this would be, in terms of quality, pre-heating (time and energy) etc. We want to build a solution that only uses one source of energy (potentially), in this case light.
3. Ideally, the v0.01 we are working on will have a fabric attached to the inside of the helmet which will measure your head coordinates. The mechanical components will then adjust the height of the diodes (which are evenly spaced on the inside of the helmet) and then start the IPL-lite process.
4. We are consulting a prof specializing in light emission and also have an "advisor" in a dermatologist/scientist specializing in cosmetic laser.
We wanted to be in stealth mode (and will probably still be, hypothetically), but have to thank YC for this opportunity, to get feedback from smarter folks than a handful of us.
Yes. This project has the potential to be patented, and possible use-cases are a bundle.
Please keep your feedback flowing and how this might fail. That is the only way we will learn and not die.
Thanks so much!