IPL Hair Removal: Home IPL Device vs. Professional IPL Salon (2024)

IPL Hair Removal: Home IPL Device vs. Professional IPL Salon (1)

Many people find it tedious to continually remove unwanted hair by shaving, waxing, or tweezing. If this applies to your situation, you must have thought about finding a long-lasting fix.

One of the most popular cosmetic procedures to achieve this is IPL treatment. An IPL treatment is a type of wellness treatment that can be performed at home or by a professional in an IPL salon.

But which is better in terms of overall effectiveness and safety? Before we answer that question, let’s talk about how the procedure works.

How Laser Hair Removal Works

A focused beam of light is used to inhibit the development of unwanted hair during IPL hair removal. The dark melanin pigment in the hair absorbs this light, commonly known as intense pulsed light, or IPL.

The energy from that light then warms up the hair follicles beneath the skin, safely damaging them without causing any damage to the skin or surrounding tissue.

IPL hair removal stops or slows hair growth by going deeper than the skin’s surface. The results last longer than those of shaving or waxing.

Home IPL Devices

When you compare the cost of the handheld IPL equipment you may buy for at-home use with what you spend annually on shaving and/or waxing, you’ll see that these devices are reasonably priced.

They allow you to quickly complete any required grooming, which makes them practical as well. These tools often have easy controls and safety buttons that let you remove unwanted hair.

However, burning is still possible, especially for people with darker skin tones. Additionally, this equipment releases energy at a rate of roughly 7 J/cm2, which is far less than its professional counterparts.

Thus, you might find it hard to cover large areas with this kind of equipment and have to wait longer for results.

Professional IPL Salons

Advanced IPL devices with more adaptable settings are common in professional IPL salons. For the best results, they can be customized to meet your requirements and particular hair colour.

Moreover, with an energy output of 40 J/cm2, these machines are more potent than those used at home. They are also safe to use on any desired body part.

Furthermore, they are run by qualified specialists, so you can expect a hassle-free procedure. It is often costlier to have a hair removal treatment using IPL equipment in professional IPL salons.

Nevertheless, some professional IPL salons provide unlimited care for life.

IPL Hair Removal: Home IPL Device vs. Professional IPL Salon (3)

So, Home IPL Devices vs. Professional IPL Salons: Which Type of Laser Hair Removal Is Best?

Every laser hair removal technique has advantages. However, there is no contest between professional treatment and at-home laser hair removal.

Getting laser hair removal done professionally is preferable in terms of safety, efficiency, convenience, and long-term cost savings.

It is highly recommended to seek the help of a professional if you want to get rid of unwanted hair. They’ll assist you in getting the flawless skin you deserve in the safest way possible using cutting-edge tools and certified medical estheticians.

How professional IPL hair removal works

A professional IPL hair removal device works by sending a perfectly timed pulse of energy through the hair and into the hair follicle. This destroys the hair follicle and stops hair from growing there in the future.

A professional IPL hair removal procedure:

  • Is rather quick, taking around 10 minutes for treatment on the face or underarms.
  • Is customized, taking into account your body chemistry, skin type, and hair colour.
  • Is permanent; after the initial course of treatments is over. These treatments are carefully timed so that they work best at each stage of the hair’s growth cycle.

How at-home laser/IPL hair removal works

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a common technology used in home hair removal devices to remove hair.

The potential for damage means that these home devices aren’t built to be as safe as professional devices; the lower output means that they frequently either don’t do anything at all or they only produce enough heat to cause the hair to fall out without affecting the follicle.

After a few days, the hair just comes back or its growth is only slightly impeded.

All in All

When IPL treatment is performed professionally at an IPL salon, you can experience comfort and efficiency thanks to the most recent, cutting-edge technology used in IPL machines.

To obtain the results you desire with little to no effort, the skilled specialists will be able to safely handle any skin or hair concerns you might have and modify the machine settings to suit your skin tone.

They can also take care of your IPL needs without causing burns, as opposed to when you do the procedure at home with a device and run the danger of damaging your skin.

For those residing in London and seeking IPL hair treatment or other wellness treatments, please feel free to make an appointment with our specialist for a full consultation.

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IPL Hair Removal: Home IPL Device vs. Professional IPL Salon (2024)

FAQs

IPL Hair Removal: Home IPL Device vs. Professional IPL Salon? ›

Doing it yourself at home will save time and money, but you'll have to do it more regularly. Having hair removal treatment in a salon requires the know-how from a professional and can lead to faster results and often a higher cost. In either case, results will be similar: a considerable reduction in body hair.

Is IPL better at home or professional? ›

Professional IPL Treatments Provide Better Results

There really isn't a comparison when it comes to results. Professional IPL devices provide noticeable results with limited sessions, whereas home devices might provide minor improvements after months of consistent, ongoing use.

Is home IPL as good as salon? ›

Advanced IPL devices with more adaptable settings are common in professional IPL salons. For the best results, they can be customized to meet your requirements and particular hair colour. Moreover, with an energy output of 40 J/cm2, these machines are more potent than those used at home.

Is salon laser hair removal better than at home? ›

Effectiveness. Professional laser hair removal stands out as the more effective option. The laser technology used by professionals is far more powerful, ensuring that all pigmented hair follicles are adequately addressed. The result of professional hair removal is over 90% hair-free skin.

Is home laser better than clinic? ›

Professional laser devices provide faster treatment time and give more impressive long-lasting results.

Are at home IPL lasers worth it? ›

According to the Cleveland Clinic, these IPL and other devices do work to remove unwanted hair, but it often takes many sessions, and the results are rarely permanent. IPL devices are generally safe, and they have been approved by the FDA for hair removal.

Can home IPL cause more hair growth? ›

IPL treatment does not cause hair to regrow any quicker, despite what the myth may have you believe.

Is at home laser as good as professional? ›

At-home devices don't offer the same level of intensity as professional machines. As a result, you might need multiple sessions for a single treatment area.

What's the difference between at home and professional laser hair removal? ›

Professional laser hair removal devices use focused laser light to only target the melanin in the hair follicle, not all melanin like at home IPL laser hair removal devices. Laser hair removal when done professionally is safe and effective on all skin tones.

What is the difference between home laser and clinic laser? ›

Clinic treatments can offer a higher level of hair reduction due to the use of more powerful lasers. At-home devices may require more sessions to achieve comparable results.

Which IPL device is best? ›

Most powerful: SmoothSkin Pure Fit IPL Hair Removal Device

The Pure Fit is an easy to use IPL device that achieves up to 99% hair reduction in 12 weeks, and visible results in just 2 weeks. It stands out as one of the most fast and powerful hair removal devices on the market.

Can you trust at-home laser hair removal? ›

1) Risk of irritation and burns

Although the FDA clears most at-home laser hair removal devices, there's still some risk of side effects such as injuries, burns, and skin irritation. The risk is especially high if you use a machine that's incompatible with your hair color and skin tone.

Does at home IPL work permanently? ›

IPL isn't going to make every single hair on your legs (or bikini line, or wherever) permanently vanish, but both in-office treatments and many quality at-home IPL devices are FDA-approved for permanent hair reduction. You may need a few sessions to see results, though, and IPL treatments aren't for everyone.

Does at home IPL hair removal improve skin? ›

To achieve permanently smooth skin, persistence with IPL treatment is key. Even if after repeated use you find your hair grows back, it will grow back at a significantly slower rate, leaving you with salon-like soft skin which will last for weeks.

Does home IPL work on pubic hair? ›

Can you use IPL on bikini areas? First things first, let's answer a pressing question: can you use IPL on the bikini area safely? Yes, you can! That is, as long as you have a device, like the Philips Lumea IPL 9000 Series, that has a specific attachment designed to work with the contours of this area of your body.

Can you use at home IPL too often? ›

We know you're SO excited to experience permanent hair removal, but we do not recommend using your device more than twice per week. Using IPL every day may result in irritation – and it won't work as well, anyway!

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