Swedish firm designs laser razor

Swedish outfit Skarp has smashed its kickstarter goal to get an ambitious laser razor company off the ground, reports the independent.

Although it looks like a normal razor, rather than blades the Skarp (Swedish for 'sharp') razor uses a laser to slice through unwanted hair. Users don't need soap or water - you can just wave it over any part of your body like a silky smooth wand.

It works by utilising Intense Pulse Light (IPL) laser technology, which Skarp's Morgan Gustavsson invented in the 1980s and has remained a popular hair removal treatment.

IPL can target and zapp away dark hair, but has never worked that well on lighter shades.

Now Gustavsson and his partner Paul Binun say they've pinpointed a specific part of the hair molecule which is present in every hair colour, and have developed a laser that can cut through it.

The alumnium razors are powered by one AAA battery that lasts about a month, and have a lifespan of 50,000 hours.

According to their promo video, the US alone throws out 2billion razors a year. That's as good a reason as any to update the art of shaving - which hasn't changed since the dawn of time.