Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) or Laser Hair Removal: What's the Difference?

Not everyone is comfortable with hair growing on other parts of the body except the head. For those who want to get rid of unwanted hair, there are two options available which are IPL hair removal and laser hair removal. While both procedures are effective in reducing hair growth, there are some significant differences between them.

1. Light source

IPL treatment uses broad-spectrum visible light. The energy of the light is designed to attack the melanin pigment in the hair, heating it up and damaging its follicles. Laser hair removal, on the other hand, possesses the properties of a laser.

Like IPL, this method also involves heating the hair and damaging the hair follicles with light energy. However, lasers travel a great distance and focus on small areas. Laser hair removal often travels further into the pore and the light can be focused on the area where the hair is to be removed.

2. Follow-up treatment

Laser hair removal is more aggressive than IPL hair removal. The former penetrates deeper into the pores resulting in a more optimal effect. You may only need to reload fewer to achieve the desired result.

With IPL hair removal, the process itself is less abrasive, but you may need multiple treatments over several weeks to stop hair growth.

3. Treatment time

Intense pulsed light therapy treats larger areas at once, speeding up the procedure. If you propose properly, you'll not even got to take day off work or suspend other activities to undergo your IPL treatment.

With laser hair removal, only a few areas can be treated at a time, which means that you will spend a lot of time undergoing the treatment.

4. General effect

In addition to reducing hair growth, IPL treatment can address a number of skin conditions including vascular lesions, brown spots, and wrinkles. The broader spectrum of light wavelengths associated with the treatment makes it possible for your provider to target a greater number of skin structures at the same time.

Laser hair removal, however, does not leave room to treat other conditions, as it focuses on a specific area. Your provider cannot adjust the light spectrum for a more extensive treatment.

5. Pain rating

The light used in IPL treatment is more diffuse.The heating, therefore, isn't as intense as when the wavelengths of sunshine are concentrated during a particular area of the body.

The broader spectrum of light used in IPL treatment is distributed over a larger area of the skin. With laser hair removal, the intensity of the heat delivered to the target area is much higher and this often results in pain.

6. Cost

Laser light is expensive to generate. Therefore, the cost of laser hair removal in salons is high compared to IPL hair removal. The latter is usually more affordable, but requires more follow-up sessions.

7. Natural appearance

The effect of an IPL treatment is gradual, which makes it appear more natural than laser treatment, which produces a faster effect. Your friends, family, and colleagues may not even notice changes when you're slow.

The bottom line

Both laser hair removal and IPL use the same technique. Intense Pulsed Light Treatment to reduce hair growth and, in some cases, prevent it altogether. Both laser and IPL treatments are great for reducing hair growth. However, you should weigh your options and find out what is best for you before making a decision. For professional advice, do not hesitate to contact our friendly advisers.