Is Laser Hair Removal better than IPL?
Constant shaving, plucking, and waxing is a time-consuming and painful way to remove unwanted hair. All three require a significant amount of effort, and the results are usually unimpressive (and fast regrowth).
Two options you can turn to when you’ve exhausted all the tedious methods of hair removal are laser hair removal (LHR) and intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments.
But what’s the difference between laser and IPL and which one is better for hair removal?
Light is used in both laser hair removal (LHR) and intense pulsed light (IPL) to remove unwanted hair. This light prevents hair from growing back in the long run, making these options extremely appealing to people.
Many people think these methods of hair removal are the same. They are similar, but they don’t use the same technology and they don’t produce the same results.
So, if you're considering IPL or laser hair removal, you should first decide which is best for you.
What is an IPL treatment for hair removal?
IPL, or intense pulsed light treatment, is a method of removing unwanted body hair as well as treating pigment or vascular lesions.
IPL can target dark hair by using a broad spectrum of light. Dark hair absorbs light, heats up, and is destroyed all the way down to the root, similar to how wearing black on a sunny day can cause you to overheat.
IPL treatments have one significant advantage over other methods of hair removal, such as waxing or plucking: they are permanent. Any living hair follicle that has been treated is completely destroyed and will not regrow.
IPL treatment for permanent hair reduction is most effective on darker hair and may be less effective on lighter hair. Your unwanted body hair will be permanently reduced once your IPL treatment is completed.
What does an IPL treatment cost?
IPL treatments for hair reduction range in price from $85 to $400 per treatment and can take up to eight treatments to achieve a 70% reduction in hair.
What exactly is laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal is similar to IPL, but it is also very different! Medical lasers emit a single wavelength of light that is focused on a specific area. This light is absorbed solely by the pigment in the hair and has no contact with the surrounding skin or other types of tissue in the treatment area.
The laser causes the hair shaft and follicle to heat up, disrupting the hair growth cycle and stopping hair growth.
Laser hair removal can be used on most parts of the body, including the:
- • Face
- • Underarms
- • Legs
- • Chest
- • Back
- • Hands
- • Feet
- • Bikini line
Laser hair removal is most effective on darker hair and may be less effective on lighter hair, as with IPL treatments.
What is the cost of laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal treatments can range in price from $85 to $400 per treatment and can take up to eight treatments to achieve a 94 percent reduction in hair.
What’s the difference between laser hair removal and IPL?
Light is used by both laser and IPL to heat the hair follicle. This prevents hair growth and removes any unwanted hair.
The primary distinction between IPL and laser hair removal is that IPL causes more discomfort, whereas laser hair removal is virtually painless. Despite this, both modalities are extremely effective at removing unwanted hair.
The key difference between the two, however, is the technology used to deliver the light. That, and the type of lighting employed.
Lasers generate a specific type of light for treatment that has only one wavelength (colour) of light travelling in one direction. This produces a beam similar to that of a laser pointer.
IPL devices emit a much broader spectrum of light wavelengths, which appear as a single white flash. When flashed against the skin, the light in an IPL is similar to natural light and can have a light orange glow.
When it comes to hair removal, both laser and IPL light work in the same way. Light enters the skin and is absorbed by pigment in the hair shaft and follicle.
One of the primary objectives of laser or IPL is to achieve the proper temperature in the hair follicle while avoiding overheating the skin. If the skin is heated, it will be damaged and may result in a blister as well as unwanted pigment changes.
Is laser hair removal or IPL better?
To determine whether IPL or laser is better for hair removal, we'll look at and compare five different factors.
1. Light source:
IPL makes use of a broad spectrum of light. This targets the melanin pigment in the hair and heats it up, causing follicle damage.
Laser hair removal uses light energy to heat up the hair and damage the hair follicles. The laser concentrates on a smaller area and frequently travels deeper into the pore. The light used by lasers is focused more finely on the area where the hair is being removed, increasing its effectiveness and lowering the risk of side effects.
2. Follow-up treatment:
Laser hair removal is unquestionably a more aggressive treatment. It gets deeper into the pores, resulting in better results. This means you may need fewer treatments to achieve your desired result.
IPL, on the other hand, does not focus solely on hair, so you may require additional treatments to prevent your hair from growing back.
3. Treatment time:
Because IPL is performed in pulses, it can be a slow and tedious treatment, whereas laser is performed in motion and is very quick.
Average treatment times of IPL vs Laser:
Treatment Area | IPL treatment time | Laser treatment time |
| Legs | 60 minutes | 20 minutes |
| Under Arms | 15 minutes | 5 minutes |
| Back | 45 minutes | 15 minutes |
| Brazilian | 30 minutes | 10 minutes |
4. Time Savings:
The average woman spends 72 days, or 1,728 hours, of her life shaving her legs!
With the treatment of permanent hair reduction with either IPL or Laser treatments, the time savings and improved quality of life are significant.
5. Pain rating:
IPL is more likely to cause discomfort, whereas laser hair removal is virtually painless.
We've compiled a list of the most common treatment areas, as well as the average treatment pain rating on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain you've ever experienced) for people with lighter skin and dark hair.
Treatment Area | IPL treatment pain rating | Laser treatment pain rating |
| Legs | 6 | 2 |
| Under Arms | 5 | 1 |
| Back | 7 | 2 |
| Brazilian | 7 | 2 |
Are you still unsure which treatment is best for you?
It is recommended that you should consult your dermatologists to help you determine which treatment is the best and most appropriate for you to become your best self at any age.