Is IPL or laser hair removal right for me? The pros and cons at a glance!
Tired of toiling in the bathroom several times a week for a pair of hairless legs, and would you rather stay permanently smooth?
Then IPL and laser are great alternatives!
I’ve listed them for you. This way, you can check for yourself if these so-called “permanent” hair removal methods are right for you.
(And of course, I’ll also explain why permanent is in quotation marks.)
What are IPL and laser?
During an IPL or laser treatment, the hair root is heated so much that it dies. This happens through the energy released by the light from the laser or the flash lamp.
This energy is converted into heat and destroys the hair follicle, preventing a new hair from developing.
Having light flashes fired at your skin might not sound very pleasant, but it’s much less painful than you might think.
However, it’s not completely painless, and the sensation can be compared to a rubber band snapping against your skin.
It’s not exactly pleasant, but whether it’s bearable depends mainly on your pain threshold.
The difference between IPL and laser
Both laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) and the flash lamp (Intense Pulsed Light, IPL) use selective photothermolysis.
This means that light energy is converted to destroy hair follicles. The effect is the same, but the methods differ significantly.
For instance, the laser emits a powerful, thin beam of energy of a single wavelength/color. This ensures no light is lost, making the treatment extremely effective.
In contrast, the light in IPL is emitted in various wavelengths (colors), just like a regular lamp. This makes the light less intense, meaning the hair follicles are not destroyed as effectively.
Even though IPL is faster because you can treat large areas at once, you do need more treatments.
Furthermore, with IPL, there’s a higher chance of hairs growing back, while laser treatment ensures that up to 80% of hairs are permanently removed.
Myths about IPL and laser hair removal
It always works and the result lasts forever! That’s what many people believe. However, this isn’t entirely true.
Myth 1: IPL and laser always work
IPL and laser are incredibly effective, but unfortunately, it’s not true that everyone can enjoy these technological hair removal methods. For example, the hair must be darker than the skin.
So, older women with white or gray hair are out of luck. People with very blonde hair should also look for another option.
Myth 2: The result lasts forever
The idea that the result is forever isn’t quite right either.
Besides the thin hairs that cannot be removed by the laser, dormant or inactive hair follicles can also be awakened by hormones.
Specifically testosterone. This can sometimes cause new hairs to appear over time.
Fortunately, this can take years!
A dangerous nightmare or a hairless dream?
Visiting the beauty salon a few times and then enjoying silky smooth legs for years? That sounds ideal! Unfortunately, nothing in life is perfect (even though we’d sometimes like it to be).
And despite the benefits that IPL and laser bring, these hair removal methods are naturally not equally suitable for everyone.
Read on to discover the pros and cons.
Advantages
- Sustainable form of hair removal
IPL and laser may not remove your body hair forever and ever, but both options offer a long-lasting effect.
They drastically reduce hair growth, and after a number of sessions, 70 to 90% of unwanted hair is permanently gone.
- Less maintenance
You might have to go in for a session every 6 weeks for a few months, but that’s nothing compared to applying hair removal cream weekly (or even daily), right?
- Bye bye strawberry skin
Strawberry skin has nothing to do with the sweet taste of strawberries. It refers to the dots and pits you see on your legs after shaving.
These are caused by the skin’s own oils, bacteria, and dead skin getting trapped in the hair follicle and then turning black when exposed to oxygen.
During an IPL or laser treatment, the hair root is destroyed. So, there’s no longer a chance of clogging the follicles. (Want more tips to avoid strawberry skin? Then read this article!)
- Can be used anywhere
Legs, back, underarms, bikini line, stomach, or face: IPL and laser can be applied anywhere.
Disadvantages
- Ouch(?)
Whether IPL and laser are painful depends mainly on your personal pain threshold. The sensation can be compared to a rubber band being snapped against the skin. Furthermore, it can leave a burning sensation, and if used incorrectly, there is a risk of burns.
- A long-term process
Because your hairs don’t all grow at the same rate, you need multiple sessions. During each treatment, you only destroy the hair follicles of the hairs that are currently in the first growth phase.
The average number of sessions is 6 to 10, but this also depends on your skin color, hair color, and hair structure.
Furthermore, you must allow for a rest period of 6 weeks between each treatment.
- Expensive
The treatments themselves are quite expensive, but when you consider that you’ll never have to buy wax strips or razors again, it’s actually not that bad in the end. Think of it as a beauty investment!
- Not for everyone
For laser and IPL, the hair must be darker than the skin. Therefore, it’s not suitable for people with blonde, white, or gray hair.
In these cases, the contrast between hair and skin is insufficient.
Furthermore, laser treatment can also cause pigmentation problems, resulting in white or dark spots. This doesn’t happen excessively often, but people with a dark skin tone should be extra careful.
- You have to let the hair grow
Before a treatment, the hair must be at least a quarter of its length. This means you shouldn’t shave for at least a week before the treatment and let your hair grow for a bit.
IPL and laser are perfect for women who…
- Have a low pain threshold and therefore cannot manage epilating or waxing
- Don’t have overly sensitive skin that discolors easily
- Want to invest in being hair-free
- Want to enjoy their results for as long as possible
I don’t think IPL and laser are really my thing…
- Do you have sensitive skin? Then shaving is a better option.
- Do you have a high pain threshold but your skin discolors quickly? Then epilating is a good idea.
- Don’t mind having to get to work regularly as long as the job is done quickly? Then hair removal cream might be for you.
Every woman is unique, and depending on your schedule, wallet, and pain threshold, there’s a hair removal method that fits you perfectly.
Finding it sometimes takes some work, effort, and time. I’m happy to help you with that! So, in the future, you can expect more blogs where I highlight the various hair removal options for you.
Together, we’ll find the method that’s tailor-made for you and makes you feel Beautiful, Confident, Yourself.
For example, are you curious to know if waxing suits you better? Then read this article. Or do you think you’re better off just sticking to shaving? Then make sure you definitely avoid these typical shaving mistakes!
And also apply these 6 proven tips so you get an even more beautiful and smoother result after shaving.
Would you like to receive even more useful and interesting beauty tips? Check out our shop, follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram & Let’s stay in touch.
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After desperately trying all sorts of ways and remedies for red shaving bumps and ingrown hairs and spending a lot of money, I was
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