Medically Reviewed June 2023, by Charlotte Tundy, Regional Nurse Trainer, for sk:n. Next review due June 2024.
Certain do-it-yourself beauty tricks are well worth the effort. Dyeing your own roots or threading your own brows in the privacy of your bathroom can save you both time and money. How about laser hair removal? Our expert trainer Charlotte discusses more.
Can you do laser hair removal at home?
Laser hair removal works by destroying the hair follicle. But because hair grows in cycles, the lasers can only destroy follicles when a particular cycle of hair development is actively taking place. So, you need a few treatments, each spread 4-8 weeks apart to stop hair from growing back.
There are two kinds of hair removal tools you can use at home. One is a real laser, while the other uses short bursts of very bright light. Both types of devices remove hair, but neither is as strong as the tool you’d find at a dermatologist’s office.
On the one hand, less power means less responsibility. These devices are safe for beginners to use at home, so you don’t have to worry about burning yourself to get smooth skin. However, the at-home gadgets don’t perform as effectively as the professional models found at sk:n.
Does at-home laser hair removal work?
The downside of at-home laser hair removal is that it’s hard to cover a large area, such as an entire leg, with the small at-home device. Additionally, these devices may not be powerful enough to remove all of your hair, leaving patchy results.
Is at-home laser hair removal safe?
Only a small range of hair and skin colours are compatible with at-home laser hair removal devices. The lasers only work when there is significant contrast between the skin and the hair because they focus on pigments in the hair follicle. This means that the systems are best for people with dark hair and light skin. Using these devices poses a danger of burns for those with darker skin. The gadgets are generally safe to use if you have the appropriate skin and hair tones, but it’s crucial to use them properly to avoid burns.
Laser hair removal at home vs salon
Professional in-clinic laser hair removal is the best approach to achieving long-term hair removal. Additionally, you’re in the hands of professionals who can safely and thoroughly remove hair from the locations you desire.
It may sound beneficial to do laser hair removal at home, however this requires more time as the device is relatively small, and the intensity is lower, so it takes more sessions to see improvements. Professional laser hair removal offers faster, downtime-free procedures with better long-lasting results.
The best part of in-clinic treatments is that they are performed in a welcoming environment by compassionate medical staff who are interested in you and the reasons you desire smooth, hair-free skin.
At sk:n, we’ll fully discuss the procedure, and recommend the right number of treatments, your aftercare and the expected results. Find your nearest clinic and arrange a consultation with one of our dermatologists for advice on how laser hair removal can work for you.
FAQs
It may sound beneficial to do laser hair removal at home, however this requires more time as the device is relatively small, and the intensity is lower, so it takes more sessions to see improvements. Professional laser hair removal offers faster, downtime-free procedures with better long-lasting results.
Is home laser better than clinic? ›
What's more, because the laser devices are much smaller, and they don't pack as much power as salon tech, you'll need to spend longer treating even a small area. Professional laser devices provide faster treatment time and give more impressive long-lasting results.
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 laser hair removal better at home or in office? ›
Professional laser hair removal may be your best bet!
In the end, at-home hair removal devices are much more time-consuming and painful when treating larger areas. These areas need multiple sessions to treat a full body area, depending on the device's battery life.
Is IPL at home the same as in salon? ›
Doing it yourself at home will save time, yet you'll have to do it more regularly to begin with. Having hair removal treatment in a salon requires the know-how from a professional and can lead to faster results. In either case, results will be similar – a considerable reduction in body hair.
Is at home laser as good as professional? ›
It might seem like a great investment at first. However, the at-home lasers available offer less power than a laser you'll find at a professional center. You can choose between two different types of at-home hair removal devices. These include true lasers and lasers that use intense pulsed light.
Is it worth buying at home laser hair removal? ›
If an at-home laser works for you, it may be worth the investment, as it would be significantly cheaper to use at home than to continuously get treatments at the doctor's office. However, for best results, you would have to use the device fairly often, which may make it not all that different from shaving.
What is the most effective form of laser hair removal? ›
Alexandrite (755 nm)
The Alexandrite laser hair removal system is the most frequently used laser on the market because it is so quick and extremely effective. Alexandrite (“Alex” for short) can provide quick treatments on large body surface areas due to fast laser pulse repetition rates and larger treatment spot sizes.
Should I buy my own laser hair removal machine? ›
At-home hair removal devices typically use an actual laser (diode) or intense pulsed light (IPL), often confused with being laser technology, which is why the results from an at-home device can be lackluster. The intensity is low, and the small treatment areas take a long time to treat and see results.
What type of laser hair removal is most effective? ›
Alexandrite. When it comes to efficacy, alexandrite lasers beat all of the other laser technologies. Studies consistently show that alexandrite laser devices can eliminate a greater percentage of hairs compared to other machines.
How Often Can I Try the Home Use Laser Hair Removal Treatment? Most experts recommend using the device 3 times per week to reap maximum results. On the other hand, you can also use your IPL machine at home once every two weeks and still remove hair effectively. But, don't exceed the recommended use range.
How often should you do at home laser removal? ›
There is a reason why we suggest using our hair removal devices once every two weeks. The reason is that the hair follicle can only be 'killed' by the laser when your body hair is in the anagen hair growth phase.
Can you do full Brazilian with IPL at-home? ›
You can use at-home IPL devices on any area of the body where hair is found, whether that means treating your facial hair or giving yourself a full Brazilian, according to Dr. Shirazi.
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.
What is the difference between IPL and clinic laser? ›
IPL machines produce 'broad spectrum light' (all the colours of the rainbow). It is very bright, but not focused, so it does not target things very specifically. Laser machines produce a 'single' wavelength (one tiny part of that rainbow). It is very focused, and targets specific things very effectively.
What type of laser is most effective? ›
Alexandrite. When it comes to efficacy, alexandrite lasers beat all of the other laser technologies. Studies consistently show that alexandrite laser devices can eliminate a greater percentage of hairs compared to other machines.
How many times a week should you do at home laser? ›
The frequency of using at-home laser hair removal devices can depend on several factors. These include the type of device being used, the area of the body being treated, and the individual's hair growth cycle. It is generally recommended to use these devices once every two weeks to conserve battery life.
What is the best overall laser treatment? ›
Jump to:
- Fraxel Dual Laser.
- Thermage.
- Clear and Brilliant.
- Vbeam.
- Halo Laser.
- Vivace.
- CO2 Laser.
- Alex TriVantage.
