Dispatch · December 14, 2025 · 6 min · By Paloma Eriksen
IPL vs. laser for hair removal
They are not the same technology, and the difference shows up in results.
The terms get used interchangeably in marketing, but IPL and laser are different tools, and the distinction affects both safety and results.
A laser emits a single, precise wavelength of light. IPL (intense pulsed light) emits a broad spectrum, scattering energy across many wavelengths. For hair removal, that focus matters: a true laser delivers more targeted energy to the follicle and is generally more effective per session and safer in a wider range of skin tones, especially darker ones. IPL can work well for fair skin with dark hair but is less forgiving and less effective on finer or lighter hair.
Most at-home devices are IPL, which is why their results are modest and slow compared with professional laser. Neither is useless, but a patient choosing a clinic should know whether they are getting laser or IPL, and a patient with darker skin should generally insist on the right laser. Calling everything laser is convenient for sellers and confusing for buyers.
Related reading: Laser hair removal on dark skin: what changed.