Is Laser Or IPL Better For Hair Removal?

Laser and IPL are both known for providing medium to long term hair removal with multiple treatments over time. Laser hair removal utilizes a specific and focused type of laser to treat unwanted hair whereas IPL (intense pulsed light) uses a broad spectrum light.

But is laser or IPL better for hair removal success? While both offer hair removal benefits, one has exceeded the other in terms of the overall package when also considering safety and availability.

Laser hair removal is the best long term hair reduction option for suitable candidates that unlike electrolysis, offers the ability to treat large amounts of coarse unwanted hair quickly. Laser technology is widely available and is constantly being improved with new safety and cooling features now common.

It’s important to note that despite what you might have read, IPL is not laser. The L in IPL stands for light because it is a light-based product. Having had both laser and IPL hair removal sessions on my back and shoulders, I can speak from experience and below, will detail my thoughts on each and why you might consider one option over the other.

Having said that, laser hair removal and IPL hair removal aren’t for everyone. Let’s take a closer look at laser and IPL hair removal and why you might consider one option over the other.

What’s the difference between laser and IPL hair removal?

While IPL and laser machines both zap unwanted hair with a flash of destructive light, the process is somewhat different. Here are some key differences.

	IPL hair removal	Laser hair removal
History	The introduction of IPL was around 1997 and it quickly spread as a viable option to laser for hair removal. Intense Pulsed Light was originally used to treat vascular lesions but once its hair removal abilities were noted, it was also developed as such.	Laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) was first used as far back as 1960 but didn’t get used for hair removal in earnest until the early to mid 1980s. It quickly took over from electrolysis as a long term hair removal option.
Machine	IPL machines use a wand that is pressed up against the skin for each flash of light. Because a gel is used on the skin, the head of the IPL wand is wiped off following every light flash.	The four main types of laser used for hair removal are Ruby (outdated), Diode, Alexandrite and ND:YAG. Each machine has a different wavelength but modern laser machines might combine the use of more than one laser type.
Suitable candidates	Tends to work best for lighter skin tones and dark and coarse unwanted hair. Light, red, blonde and gray hair is very difficult to treat.	All skin tones can be treated with at least one type of laser. Dark, coarse unwanted hair continues to be the ideal target. Light, red, blonde and gray hair remains very difficult to treat.
Process	IPL treatment traditionally uses a cooling gel which is applied directly to the skin prior to treatment. The IPL wand is then pressed directly onto the gel for each flash of light on the skin.	Laser hair removal machines generally use no gel and the wand is pressed directly to the skin to treat unwanted hair.
Cooling options	IPL uses a cooling gel that is applied on the skin to be treated shortly before treatment begins. The gel is typically taken directly from the fridge and is applied cold to the skin to lower the temperature of skin and protect against the light flashes.	Modern laser hair removal machines may incorporate a variety of cooling options such as cold air, contact cooling or cryogen spray. Ice packs are more of an old school option that was previously used.
Pain	Often referred to as feeling like a rubber band flicking against your skin. The more hair you have the more you will feel. The closer you treat hair near bones (shoulder blades) the more you’ll feel it.	Often referred to as feeling like a rubber band flicking against your skin. The aforementioned cooling options help to reduce pain that would have been felt in the past.
Other	IPL hair removal appears to have peaked in the early 2000s with little to no new technological advancements since. Low powered IPL hair removal machines are now popular home options.	Laser hair removal technology continues to develop and is now more widely available than in the past so that skin tone is no longer a barrier as it was in the past.

Which is safer: Laser or IPL hair removal?

The safety of both IPL and laser hair removal is dependent on several factors not the least of which is your chosen hair removal clinic.

Important factors for safety include the:

• Skill of the practitioner who is performing the hair removal and operating the machine.
• Proper maintenance of the machine in question.
• Correct setting being used on the machine so that it successfully treats hair without putting the patient in harm’s way.

Over time, the cooling mechanisms and technological advancements of laser hair removal specifically have vastly improved so that laser is not as dangerous or painful as it was in the past. IPL on the other hand is relatively the same technology with some hair removal clinics moving away from it towards laser only.

Laser vs IPL hair removal pre-treatment requirements

IPL and laser only treat hairs that are above the skin. In both cases, hair needs to be shaved or trimmed around 24 – 48 hours before treatment. Check with your hair removal practitioner for their instructions.

While some clinics may do the shaving for you, they often charge money for the service. Find out ahead of time what their policy is as I’ve seen some clinics that won’t perform the hair removal service if you arrive unshaven.

For both IPL and laser, the flash of light/laser travels down the hair shaft to the bottom of the hair follicle so the shorter the strand of hair, the less it has to travel and the more concentrated the flash. This should lead to a more successful treatment and a more safe one too.

Laser vs IPL hair removal pain

The classic marketing statement is that both IPL and laser feel like a rubber band being snapped against your skin each time the flash of light or laser hits your skin. It’s not always quite that simple or painless.

Having experienced both IPL and laser hair removal options, I can say that many flashes did feel not much worse than a flick of an elastic band against the skin. But it also depends on the setting of the machine as the higher the setting the more it can hurt.

The more dense the hair to be treated, the more pain you tend to feel.

And the closer the unwanted hair is to bones, the more it will hurt. For me, the collarbone area hurt a fair bit with a short sharp pain. I also noticed pain with both IPL and laser in the upper shoulders area around extremities and where skin tends to be thinner.

Anywhere that I normally notice sunburn after too much time in the sun, I noticed more pain with IPL and laser hair removal.

Laser vs IPL post treatment requirements

Post treatment, laser and IPL hair removal have similar requirements. You can help yourself by dressing in light loose fitting clothing so that you aren’t wearing skin tight clothes that can chafe or irritate your skin after treatment.

It’s usually recommended to stay out of the sun for several days after treatment to avoid irritating the skin. Wear sunblock if you do venture outdoors and if the treated skin is exposed to direct sunlight.

While lightly exfoliating the skin after hair removal is a good idea, you might wait a few days or as long as it takes for the skin irritation to disappear.

Laser vs IPL hair removal technology

Laser hair removal technology has vastly improved over time whereas IPL appears to have been left in the dust. While IPL is largely the same as before, the only real difference I’ve noticed is that some IPL machines no longer require the use of cooling gel.

IPL now seems to be focused more on the home hair removal market. The home hair removal machines that tend to be available for consumer purchase are IPL-based even if they are marketed as laser. They are lower powered than commercial IPL machines that are used by trained staff in clinics so you should keep that in mind before buying a home IPL machine for hair removal.

Commercial laser hair removal machines have added a number of interesting features. The previously mentioned cooling features better protect the skin and may allow the machine to be put on a higher setting which can improve your hair removal success. Modern laser machines often combine two or more laser technologies in the same unit which offers more flexibility to clinics who can offer the service to a wider range of customers.

Modern laser machines now increasingly include software which enables the practitioner to “read” your skin so that it is automatically set to your personal skin tone and type. Less guess work means that your hair removal experience should yield a better result.

Is laser or IPL better for hair removal?

While we’ve discussed the differences regarding each process, which one is actually better in terms of the hair removal results and success over time?

It is generally accepted that laser hair removal offers a better chance of long term hair reduction with repeated treatments than IPL. The focused zap of light from a suitable laser that matches your skin type is preferable to achieve hair reduction than the broad spectrum and unfocused light from an IPL machine.

Laser has a longer track record of success for hair removal and modern technological improvements appear to be focused largely on laser machines and not on IPL which has been largely relegated to the cheaper home market.

Summary

Over time, laser hair removal technology has vastly exceeded that of IPL. IPL hair removal machines are now widely available for home use but they are lower powered than commercial machines used in clinics which are much more expensive and require professional training to operate.

Laser hair removal technology’s main new benefit includes various cooling options to better protect the skin during treatment. This not only increases safety but also enables the power setting to be increased to better treat unwanted hair potentially quicker and thus cheaper in the long run.

Laser hair removal is also much more widely available which also indicates its status as the popular and preferred option for long term hair reduction.