The Difference Between At Home and In-Clinic Laser Hair Removal Treatments

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So, you’re thinking of trying out laser hair removal. It's a great option when trying to get rid of some unwanted hair, but not all options are created equal. At-home options are more accessible and give you great flexibility, but are they really a match for professional devices? Each treatment comes with its own 

pros and cons - here's what you should know before choosing which to go for. 
What Is Laser Hair Removal?

It's good to start with understanding what it actually is. Laser hair removal is a procedure that uses light (the laser) to target and remove hair follicles. The pigment in the hair absorbs the light and converts it into heat, which ends up destroying it. This is what happens with laser hair removal machines in a clinic. It's more highly concentrated than the at-home alternative of IPL (intense pulsed light). As the name suggests, it's IPL uses light that pulses rather than a single concentrated beam like a laser. 

 

Some Key Differences
 

Technology Used

As we’ve already explained, there are some differences in how the technology works for lasers and at-home devices. Clinics can utilise much stronger, medical-grade lasers that end up being a lot more targeted than doing it yourself. With these at-home machines, there's not a huge amount of customisation - you get what you bought, and that's about it.

With clinical equipment, the treatments are performed by trained professionals who can adjust the machines to suit each individual better. IPL’s lower light concentration will be much less powerful when compared to professional devices because there will be more of a concern about safety and side effects when people are using the equipment at home on themselves.
 

Expected Results

Although overall clinical treatments will cost more when compared to at-home products, the results can be extremely different. Thanks to the more powerful lasers, the treatments at clinics can provide a more dramatic hair reduction. It can also provide longer-lasting results than at-home devices can provide.

Another benefit is that if you have more stubborn hair than grows back constantly, you’ll have better luck having it removed with professional, stronger devices than with home IPL. You can still get results with the at-home products, but you have to be more patient, as the reduction will be a lot slower to see.
 

Skin Tone Compatibility

The biggest downside with laser hair removal and IPL therapy as a whole is the difficulty with certain skin tones. The bigger the difference in your hair colour and skin colour, the more effective the treatment can be. This is especially important for at-home devices, as they tend to only work on people with pale skin and very dark hair. Clinic treatments can safely treat a wider range of skin tones thanks to the different laser types and strengths they can use. This alone might be the decider for what device is best for you.

If you’re considering getting laser hair removal or IPL, make sure you weigh up all the pros and cons before deciding. What works for one person might not be the best thing for you, so read through everything before choosing which one to go for.

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