Hair Removal Costs, Hair Removal Technology
IPL and Diode Laser Hair Removal: What’s the Difference and How Much Does It Cost?
What’s the difference between IPL technology and DIODE LASER technology? And how much does hair removal with IPL technology and diode laser hair removal cost?
WHAT IS IPL?
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. IPL hair removal technology is designed to disrupt the hair growth cycle by targeting the hair root or follicle. Light energy is delivered through the skin’s surface and absorbed by the melanin in the hair shaft. The absorbed light energy is converted into heat energy beneath the skin’s surface, damaging the follicle and helping prevent hair from continuing to grow. Treated hairs then shed naturally within a few days to 1–2 weeks.
Is IPL safe for my skin?
IPL is generally safe for use on most skin tones, but because of how the technology works, it cannot be used on very dark skin, Fitzpatrick skin type 6, or on red, gray, or very light hair (blonde). And don’t forget that all SmoothSkin products are fitted with a safety sensor to ensure they only activate when a safe skin tone is detected.
How IPL works
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) helps disrupt the hair growth cycle.
Light energy is delivered through the skin’s surface and absorbed by the melanin in the hair shaft.
That light energy is converted into heat energy beneath the skin’s surface, which helps prevent hair from growing back. Treated hairs will shed naturally within a few days to 1–2 weeks.
Once you have completed the initial treatment phase, you will need to continue with regular maintenance treatments. The great thing is that IPL technology can help reduce regrowth as long as you keep up with the routine. So, with ongoing treatments, you can help minimize the return of leg or underarm hair, and skin may look smoother as pores appear more refined.
2. Diode Laser technology
Diode Laser, also known as a cooling semiconductor hair removal solution, offers an effective way to target unwanted hair follicles at the root.
Diode laser uses advanced light-based treatment to remove hair from the skin more effectively.
Advanced diode laser technology applies diode laser light directly to each hair follicle on the epidermis, separating the follicle root from skin cells deeper in the dermis and hypodermis, helping remove hair from root to tip and damaging the nutrient source that supports the follicle, while not affecting the epidermis or surrounding skin.
Diode laser light with an 810nm wavelength is considered the gold standard in hair removal because 810nm is effective across many skin types, especially for brown and black hair. 810nm diode laser light acts directly on each hair shaft at the skin’s surface, separating the follicle root from deeper skin cells in the dermis and hypodermis, helping remove hair from root to tip and damaging the nutrient source that supports the follicle.
The difference between Laser and IPL
Both laser and IPL help inhibit hair growth by using light and heat to target the hair follicle in line with the hair growth cycle. However, the technology used to deliver the light is quite different in practice — the main difference is the type of light.
IPL devices generate a range of light wavelengths to produce a single white flash of light. This light may appear orange/red when the device is fired onto the skin, similar to a camera flash. Laser uses a single wavelength of light to create a beam, like a laser pointer.
Because of these differences, laser and IPL treatments differ in:
- Treatment time: Because the light beam used in laser treatment is highly focused, treatment areas are very small. Since IPL uses a broader flash of light, IPL devices have larger treatment windows and can cover much larger areas at once, meaning treatment time is faster than laser.
- The single, more focused light beam used in laser therapy is often reported to feel more uncomfortable than IPL treatment.
- Cost: Generating laser light is expensive, and especially in salons, laser treatments are often priced higher than IPL. IPL is usually much more affordable.
- Laser treatments may deliver better results. However, maintenance sessions are still needed.
- Safety: Laser light is very strong and can even be risky. For this reason, at-home laser hair removal devices use significantly lower energy levels, especially compared with the higher-powered devices used in salons. One benefit of IPL is that it is generally safer to use because the light is less concentrated, making it suitable for at-home use without unnecessary risk while still offering long-term results.
See more articles below:
Cost of permanent hair removal devices.
Types of at-home hair removal devices
