What is Best IPL or Laser Hair Removal?

Brian Lett
By Brian Lett
10 Min Read

what is best IPL or laser hair removal

Have you tried shaving, plucking and waxing without success? Are you considering permanent hair removal via IPL or laser technology?

IPL works by sending out a broad spectrum of light rays that target dark hair. These light rays absorb into melanin pigment and heat up hair follicles to destroy them effectively.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

IPL uses a broad spectrum of light to target darker hair. When the light hits your skin, it heats up and damages the hair follicle preventing further hair growth. Additionally, IPL rejuvenates skin by reducing fine lines and wrinkles as well as breaking blood vessels or pigmented spots or lesions; and can even be performed at dermatologist offices or with portable IPL devices at home.

IPL may be an ideal option for people with darker skin tones looking to reduce permanent hair reduction with less expense and access issues than laser. Treatment can be administered by board-certified dermatologists, nurses or physician’s assistants as opposed to laser’s bulkier machines that must only be operated by trained professionals at clinics; IPL, on the other hand, is portable handheld device used by anyone without need for trained professional supervision at any clinics.

IPL treatment should not cause much discomfort; however, some may experience more than others due to differing pain thresholds. If this concerns you, try applying topical anesthetic before your IPL session to alleviate pain.

Permanent results typically require 6-8 sessions with IPL to achieve. You should avoid waxing, tweezing or plucking hair before receiving treatment as these practices can pull roots out of their follicles and disrupt their function. Once achieved, repeat sessions every six weeks in order to keep up your results and maintain them.

Though both methods are effective, laser is faster and can target darker hair follicles more precisely in darker skin tones than IPL can. Therefore, it is advisable to see a doctor who specializes in laser or IPL hair removal; they will know how to assess your skin tone and determine whether treatments are suitable for you as well as answer any queries about laser or IPL treatments that arise. They might suggest trying a test patch prior to making your final decision and you should avoid tanning or sunbathing immediately prior to receiving IPL treatments as it could damage these treatments or could become ineffective.

Laser

Are you tired of shaving, plucking and waxing to get rid of unwanted hair? IPL and laser hair removal offer semi-permanent solutions. Both technologies work by targeting pigment in the skin and hair follicles – with IPL offering several advantages over laser.

IPL works by emitting multiple wavelengths of light similar to what a flashlight produces, which are then absorbed by melanin pigmentation in hair follicles and heating it, thus disrupting their growth cycle and leading to less hair regrowth across your body. It may help with peach fuzz or hormonally driven facial and arm growth as well.

One of the great advantages of IPL treatments is their accessibility for home use with devices such as Bruan’s SmoothSkin Pure Mini, which promises hair-free results in four weeks. If you prefer visiting a salon instead, options like IPL and laser treatment exist as alternatives – both can be pricey, yet provide many advantages over shaving, plucking or waxing alone.

Since IPL treatment utilizes a wider spectrum of wavelengths, its precision may differ from laser treatments. Light may reflect off some parts of your skin without reaching hair follicles directly – meaning more treatments may be required than would otherwise be necessary to reach desired results.

Treatment for skin tags is painless; however, some individuals describe its sensation as being similar to that of an elastic band flick or hot oil splash on their skin. Individual experiences will differ based on the temperature and intensity of light used for each session.

Laser hair removal is more precise than IPL but can take longer for larger areas, like legs or backs. A typical session could take between 30-60 minutes, depending on which part is being treated.

Both IPL and laser treatments can be successful for most individuals with light to dark blond or black hair, although laser is typically superior for people with darker skin tones and contrasting hair colors, as it targets melanin more effectively in their scalp hairs.

Electrolysis

Unwanted hair growth can be an annoying reality of life. Laser and IPL permanent light-based hair removal methods offer permanent solutions to unwanted hair. Which method you opt for depends on a range of factors: time and pain tolerance requirements, level and permanence of loss desired and cost factors.

IPL and laser hair removal both utilize light energy to reduce unwanted body hair, though their methods differ significantly. IPL machines emit bursts of broad spectrum light similar to flash photography which cover larger areas than laser beams would. While less precise, IPL treatments tend to cause less discomfort.

Light energy absorbed by skin cells warms them, damaging and ultimately destroying hair follicles over time, stopping new hair production while slowing the regrowth process for existing locks. Coarser, darker locks are especially susceptible to light energy absorption and may require multiple treatments before success is seen.

As IPL machines don’t depend on one single wavelength of light, they are effective against various skin conditions as well as hair loss. Unfortunately, as they’re less precise than lasers in treating skin issues and hair reduction, additional sessions may be necessary before permanent hair reduction occurs.

If you are considering IPL treatments, be sure to properly prepare your skin by limiting sun exposure and applying topical lidocaine cream prior to your appointment. It is also best not to wax or pluck hair prior to IPL appointments as this could compromise its effectiveness and may reduce results.

If you’re searching for an IPL machine to perform hair removal treatments at home, the Bruan SensoAdapt 9000 has garnered incredible reviews and is said to achieve up to 92% permanent hair reduction after just three treatments. Plus, its cordless design boasts an inbuilt cooling system as well as five intensities so you can find what best fits your skin type!

Other Options

Laser treatments differ from IPL by employing a highly focused wavelength of light that’s tuned specifically towards hair follicles to damage them. Melanin (the pigment responsible for skin tone), absorbs light when exposed to laser light which turns into heat that damages hair follicles to inhibit future hair growth and inhibit future hair follicle damage. Because laser treatments are more precise, making them particularly suitable for darker hair tones and skin tones.

No matter which hair removal method you select, both IPL and laser treatments are safe for most people when performed by an experienced aesthetician. Each one is FDA-cleared for permanent hair reduction backed by scientific research; ultimately the decision will depend on both budget and skin tone considerations.

If you have dark hair and fair skin, IPL or laser are both viable options to consider for permanent hair reduction. While laser requires greater precision than IPL does, the latter often costs less due to being less precise.

IPL not only helps reduce unwanted hair but can also be an effective solution to hyperpigmentation on your face such as brown spots or sun damage. Furthermore, it can eliminate fine, dark hair that appears during hormonal fluctuations like pregnancy and menopause – another plus!

Are You Tired of Tweezers and Wax Appointments? Contact Us Now For A Free Consultation! Our IPL specialists can answer your questions about IPL treatment and get you on your journey towards permanent hairless skin.

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