A razor that cuts hair with a laser has Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter Raised over two million dollars within a very short time. Unfortunately, the prototype only works to a limited extent. The first fully functional razors should be delivered in March 2016.

The Californians Morgan Gustavsson and Paul Binun want to revolutionize shaving: Instead of blades, a laser will in future ensure hairless, smooth men's skin. The two makers are currently collecting money for the so-called Skarp Razor. The goal of 160 dollars was reached after just a few days and is now over two million and the campaign will run until October 000.

Thanks to the new laser razor, small cuts, razor burns or other skin irritations should be a thing of the past. This is made possible by a new chromophore that Gustavsson and Binun claim to have discovered and light with a special wavelength. A chromophore is part of a dye that is responsible for its color. If light of the correct wavelength hits the chromophore, it is cut. No UV rays are used and the light does not penetrate the skin, the two explain on Kickstarter. Since the laser is also not very powerful, there are no risks of possible skin or eye damage and because the hair is not burned away, the laser will not cause the smell of burned hair.

Gutstavsson claims to have developed the so-called Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) in 1989. This is still a widely used method of removing hair today. However, this method works especially with dark hair, but with light or gray hair, this technique is not very effective. Thanks to the discovery of the new chromophore, the new razor will now work on all types of hair. On the Kickstarter page, the makers of Skarp have also posted some videos showing that the razor actually works. You can see, for example, how the device cuts hair on the back of the hand - but with moderate success. Sometimes it even takes several attempts before a hair can be cut. The prototype shown does not yet represent any serious competition for today's razors.

Gustavsson and Binun emphasize, however, that this is due to the glass fiber used. The reason for the Kickstarter campaign was also to raise money to finance the production of precise, industrially manufactured optical fibers. These would significantly increase the efficiency of the razor and make it practicable. If everything goes according to plan, the laser razor should be delivered from March 2016. According to Skarp, the razor runs on a simple AAA battery that will last about a month with normal use. The laser has a total lifespan of 50 hours. The device, which is intended for women and men, should also be waterproof. The price remains the same as in the Kickstarter campaign, the razor will cost $ 89.