Laser vs IPL Hair Removal - Which Is Better? [Pros & Cons] (2024)

In an era when our time is more limited than ever, have you ever wondered how long you spend shaving? A beauty poll revealed that women spend, on average, 72 days over the course of their lives shaving their legs – that’s nearly two and a half months of your entire life wasted on razor bumps and ingrown hairs!

The good news is that nowadays we have more options, and one of them is light-based hair removal. Laser hair removal and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) hair removal are safe methods of light-based hair removal that produce outstanding hair reduction results, and thanks to advances in technology, you can now do it from the comfort of your own home. Keep reading to find out the difference between laser and IPL methods and learn which one right for you.

How It Works: The Similarities Between Laser And IPL

IPL and laser are two popular types of permanent hair removal methods that use light to remove or reduce hair in specifics areas of the body. How To Prepare For IPL Facial? Click to learn more. Laser hair removal devices produce a concentrated beam to penetrate deep into the skin and zap the melanin (the dark pigment of the hair) inside the hair follicle, meaning the hair growth cycle is inhibited, without impacting the surrounding skin. For this reason, darker skin tones are less suited to light-based hair elimination techniques.

How Does IPL Laser Work? Click to find out.

IPL treatment sessions are similar to laser hair removal in that it also uses light to damage the hair follicle. IPL stands for intense pulsed light. It is a broad spectrum high-intensity light that emits multiple wavelengths to cover a wider area of skin.

How Long After IPL Can I Exfoliate? Click to find out.

Other similarities between IPL and laser include:

Although both IPL and laser machines use light energy to keep follicles from forming new hairs, the key difference between laser and IPL is the light source. IPL devices work by emitting several intense pulsed wavelengths that get absorbed by colored hairs. These wavelengths don’t penetrate the skin as deeply as laser does, which means that they work best on people with darker or thicker hair. For people with darker skin tones, YAG lasers may be a suitable option.

How Long Does It Take To See Results From IPL Hair Removal? Read our article to find out.

Here are more differences between the two:

Permanent removal options are notorious for being expensive. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, one session of laser hair removal at a beauty salon or clinic can cost $285 on average, and most people will need at least six treatments to notice a difference.

Fortunately, at-home laser or IPL devices can give you the same results for a fraction of the price. These machines use the same technology as professional beauty salon units and produce incredible results. The only difference is that hair removal machines designed for home use don’t have the same intensity, so you’ll probably need a few more sessions.

Both are more cost-effective than professional hair removal treatments. However, laser units tend to be slightly more expensive. Because both types are effective, choosing which hair removal treatment is right for you depends on several factors, including:

You may be interested to see the OGLF review of at-home IPL and IPL hair removal devices.

IPL can improve the appearance of:

If you are tired of shaving, waxing, and plucking, consider giving laser and intense pulsed light hair removal methods a chance. These methods use concentrated light in various wavelengths to disrupt the hair growth process inside of hair follicles, preventing hairs from growing. So, after just a few treatments, hairy legs will be a problem of the past.

At-home permanent hair removal methods – when done right – can be just as effective as professional treatments. Choosing laser vs. IPL hair removal is a matter of personal choice. IPL is generally less expensive, but it requires more sessions. Whereas laser hair removal treatments can be faster, but tends to be costlier. Other factors to keep in mind include your hair color and skin tone.