If you’ve been scrolling through BeautyTok lately, there’s a good chance you’ve come across one enthusiastic review of a home IPL hair removal device. The main claims: These handheld gadgets can remove unwanted hair, and it won’t grow back right away — or maybe ever. We haven’t checked every single one of these videos, but research suggests that these TikTokers might be onto something.
IPL, or intense pulsed light, is a long wavelength of light. This means that an IPL device releases multiple types of light—red, yellow, green, and infrared—that together can target different components of the skin, including melanin (the pigment that gives skin and hair a certain color) and hemoglobin (a protein in blood cells that can contribute to skin redness—or the lack of it). 1 Because of this, IPL can have an effect on blood vessels, blackheads and hair follicles.2 “IPL hair removal works by targeting the pigment at the hair follicle, heating it and ultimately destroying the follicle.” Aanand Geria, MDa board-certified dermatologist based in Verona, New Jersey, tells SELF. 3
You can have IPL hair removal as an in-office treatment, in which a dermatologist, nurse, or certified laser technician moves a large hand-held device along the skin. You can also do it yourself in the comfort of your bathroom using these smaller devices that may have appeared on your social media pages.
You’re free to do whatever you want with your body hair, of course, but if you’re looking for smooth skin from a hair removal method that’s longer-lasting than others you may have tried (like waxing or shaving), IPL hair removal could be for you. Keep scrolling to learn more about the potential benefits and risks of IPL hair removal (it’s not for everyone!), how it compares to laser hair removal, and how to prepare your skin for IPL treatment.
IPL vs laser hair removal | IPL hair removal results | IPL hair removal side effects | IPL treatment preparation | The bottom line
What is the difference between IPL and laser hair removal?
Both IPL and laser hair removal rely on light to damage hair follicles, as SELF previously reported. Professional laser and IPL devices also usually have built-in cooling systems to reduce the risk of burns and relieve pain. The main difference is that laser therapy uses a specific wavelength of light that is solely intended to target melanin, while IPL is a broad band of light with multiple wavelengths and end-point targets (again, this light reaches both melanin as well as hemoglobin, which is why IPL can also treat some forms of hyperpigmentation such as melasma and scars, as well as spider veins).2 Laser hair removal also tends to be slightly more expensive: about $300 to $400 per in-office session, according to American Society of Plastic Surgeons. IPL hair removal can cost between $150 (for a facial hair removal session) and $300 (for body hair removal), but the price depends on the size of the treatment area.
However, IPL may require more sessions—expect to make four to six 20-minute appointments every three to six weeks to complete your IPL treatment cycle. To compare, laser hair removal may involve only two to six sessions every four to six weeks to see results American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). No cure is permanent permanently, but results for both IPL and laser hair removal can last for months, and both devices are FDA-approved to reduce the volume of hair regrowth over time.4
However, IPL treatment can save you some discomfort compared to laser.5 With IPL, your doctor will usually apply a cold gel to the area before the treatment to offset the heat radiated from the IPL device. With laser hair removal, people who have sensitive skin and only target smaller areas (such as the armpits) may receive a numbing gel beforehand, but in terms of pain, that may not compensate for the intensity of the laser. (On that note, for the safest laser treatment, you should always see a board-certified dermatologist experienced in working with these devices, as recommended by AAD.)
