Laser remains a very popular form of hair removal and for several reasons. While not a permanent hair removal option like electrolysis, the benefit of laser is that it enables you to treat more unwanted hair at a time than electrolysis which targets each hair follicle one by one and is thus much slower.
Over time, laser technology has vastly improved so that all skin types and most hair colors and types can now be treated with success.
But not all lasers are the same, not all “lasers” are even laser (more on that below regarding IPL) and not all clinics and practitioners are equally skilled. You really do get what you pay for.
In that regard, let’s ask and answer six questions regarding laser hair removal that will enable you to make a better decision and have hair removal success, quicker.
How important is the type of laser hair removal machine and skill of the practitioner?
Two of the biggest determinants of hair removal success are the quality of the machine and the practitioner doing the work. Not all laser hair removal technologies are suited for all hair types and some are better suited for your specific situation than others.
You want to have the choice to pick a laser hair removal technology that effectively treats your skin type and hair type but you also need a practitioner who knows what they’re doing.
Some hair removal clinics are part of a larger business that may refer to themselves as a spa and thus offer other skin and hair treatments. They may refer to doctor supervised services but often you’ll find that you only ever meet the receptionist and the person doing the hair removal and chances are they are not a doctor.
So you want to ensure that the person using a laser on your body knows what they are doing.
Can I do laser hair removal if I’m on light sensitive medication?
No. In fact you shouldn’t do laser or IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) hair removal when on light sensitive medication because you can burn your skin as a result.
Before agreeing to a laser or IPL hair removal treatment regimen you should be asked to fill out a form in writing that specifies any medicines you’re currently taking along with underlying health conditions.
If you’re not asked to fill out a medical form and are never even asked about prescription medications you’re on or a history of your medical health, I’d question whether or not this is a place I’d want to do business with.
Before you start either hair removal option speak with your doctor and ensure there are no reasons that you shouldn’t attempt laser hair removal.
Is there such a thing as IPL laser?
No. IPL and laser hair removal are two different things. IPL refers to Intense Pulsed Light which as the name would suggest is a light-based technology. Laser standards for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation so even though it’s spelled in small letters, it’s actually an acronym.
It still isn’t difficult to go online and see ads for “IPL laser” from actual (allegedly) professional hair removal clinics and on boxes of home hair removal kits.
However IPL and laser are not the same thing.
IPL uses a broad spectrum light whereas laser uses a direct beam of energy focused on a specific target area.
So IPL and laser hair removal are two different processes that attempt to solve the same problem: Removing excess body hair for the long term.
Neither IPL nor laser was specifically designed with hair removal in mind but both technologies were found to aid in the process which is how they began to get used in this way.
Why would I choose laser hair removal over IPL hair removal?
At this point in time, you probably shouldn’t choose IPL over laser for hair removal. While IPL was increasingly used in the late 1990s and early 2000s, most hair removal advances since then have come from laser. Many clinics including the IPL clinic I went to ditched their machine and switched to laser.
Modern laser machines often come with multiple options too that combine several types of laser technology and occasionally even include IPL as part of the suite.
Moving forward I suspect that the newest hair removal technologies will continue to be from laser and not IPL.
Check out this article I wrote that compares IPL vs laser hair removal for more info as I’ve personally experienced both. While IPL machines are used for hair removal, they were actually designed for vascular conditions like spider veins but were found to offer hair removal benefits.
Laser hair removal machines were designed specifically for hair removal.
What should I look for in a quality laser hair removal clinic?
A good quality laser hair removal clinic will have high end and modern machinery, a clean environment and qualified staff among other things.
If you visit a clinic that wants to charge you for an initial consultation, that’s not a great sign. The consultation should be free. With multiple required visits, you’re potentially worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars to them so a free initial consultation to speak with them is a must.
A good quality clinic won’t ask you to supply anything. If you have to supply your own towel(s) or lie with bare skin on a table or chair with no paper underneath, that’s not a good sign either. Hygiene is important and it should be to the clinic too.
Do you have to shave yourself before treatment? What if you don’t do it? Will they charge you a fee? I’ve only been to clinics that trim or shave hair right before treatment, performed by the laser hair practitioner themselves, not me. Some clinics want you to do it yourself beforehand or they will charge you a fee for them to do it.
When you shop strictly on price, you’re likely to be disappointed. You don’t get something for nothing and while paying more doesn’t guarantee success, you’re paying for quality with hair removal so simply going for a low price where quality is suspect can ultimately cost you much more.
What questions can I ask when visiting laser hair removal clinics?
Ask questions of the clinics that you visit that the average person looking for laser hair removal won’t think of:
- What brand of laser hair removal machines do you use?
- What types of laser hair removal machines do you use?
- What medical and health questions do you ask on the pre-treatment medical questionnaire? (If they have no questionnaire, that’s not a good sign.)
- Can I see some testimonials of recent customers with my skin type and hair color?
- How often are your hair removal lasers serviced and can I see the most recent service records?
- What are the qualifications of the person who will be performing the hair removal services and how much experience do they have?
- Do you offer a free test session to ensure the laser works for me?
Summary
Prior to visiting any laser hair removal clinics in person, you should do your research. Learn about what skin type you have and learn about how lasers tend to work on people with your skin type and hair color.
While all skin types can generally be helped with laser hair removal, certain hair colors won’t work and neither will thin, fine hair.
Spending time and effort up front to locate a good quality hair removal practitioner can save you literally (money) and figuratively (your health) down the line.
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