IPL vs Laser Hair Removal

Regularly removing body hair and facial hair can be a time-consuming and boring chore on your to-do list. So, to be able to be hair free and put an end to waxing, plucking, shaving or depilatory creams sounds like a dream come true doesn’t it? However, finding the right hair removal method is also tricky as there are many treatment options available, so you need to find the right one for you.

Firstly, its worth knowing that all light-based hair removal treatments will require multiple sessions for optimal results as both IPL and laser technology can only target hair follicles when they are in their growth phase. On average, you can expect a 10-25% reduction in current hair growth per laser or IPL hair removal treatment session.

What is better IPL or laser hair removal?

Laser Hair Removal with a diode laser is the current gold standard in terms of both safety and efficacy. So it is more effective for more skin tones, has a lower risk of damaging the skin, it usually works quicker, requiring fewer appointments and is less painful. Diode Laser hair removal uses a more targeted concentrated beam of light energy (compared to IPL) to target the melanin in the hair follicle. The longer wavelength limits absorption of the energy by the surrounding skin, minimising the risk of damage and offering a safer alternative for those with darker or tanned skin tones. These devices are often equipped with cooling technology to improve levels of comfort – a huge benefit to IPL!

Is IPL the same as Laser hair removal?

No, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology isn’t actually a laser, an IPL device emits a pulse of broad-spectrum light energy that is delivered to below the skin’s surface. IPL is often confused with Laser hair removal though as they both use similar looking devices that use a light beam- so make sure you know a bit about the machine your therapist is going to use.

Is IPL hair removal effective?

Yes, but it depends on your hair and skin tone and colour. With IPL treatment, the pulse of light targets the melanin that gives the hair follicle it’s pigment. The light energy transfers to thermal energy, damaging the follicle structure and preventing future hair growth. However, as the device targets melanin, it risks damaging the skin surrounding the hair follicle so works best on those people with a combination of paler skin and darker hair.

Does IPL remove hair permanently?

Yes it can, however, make sure you have the right skin tone and hair colour is suitable for this treatment to ensure it works effectively and avoid burning the skin.

Which is more painful IPL or laser hair removal?

Laser machines are usually equipped with a cooling device to make the treatment more comfortable. The Venus Velocity machine used at thespaCLINIC uses an effective cooling tip that cools the skin before the laser passes. This is very effective at increasing the comfort levels – the Venus machine is also super-quick which means the treatment is over and done with quicker than most other hair removal treatments so you can get on with the rest of the day.

Are At Home IPL devices cheaper and more convenient?

At-home IPL devices do have their benefits – they seem cheaper than in-salon treatments and the idea of doing your own hair removal might well be tempting. However, the downsides are that they are less effective than lasers, so you would need to do many more treatments to get the same results. Also, as the at-home devices only have one size of pulse which covers an area of about 3㎠, imagine how long it would take to do an area like your legs! And, remember it can be difficult to reach parts of your own body and treat it effectively as you don’t want to miss out any patches, or even worse overlapping an area can cause burning!