IPL treatments reduce hair growth by using broad-spectrum light to target the hair follicles. You can get professional IPL treatments at a salon or do it yourself at home with a handheld IPL device. This hair removal method works best on dark hair and can result in permanent hair removal in as little as four to 12 treatments with continued, regular use.

Laser hair removal is similar to IPL, however laser treatments use a single wavelength to target the hair follicles, rather than broad-spectrum light which can be less precise. The wavelength focuses on maximizing the heat absorption of the hair follicles during the treatment to prevent regrowth, whereas broad-spectrum light used in IPL targets larger patches of hair at multiple wavelengths. You can have laser hair removal performed by a professional at a salon or you can do it yourself at home. Although highly effective and easy to do, laser treatments, and IPL, can cause burning and irritation if performed incorrectly.

Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal method which uses a special machine to stop hair growth with chemical or heat energy; then, the hair follicles are removed with tiny electric tweezers. Although electrolysis is permanent, the amount of sessions needed to achieve permanent hair removal varies by each person’s genetics. Electrolysis can be very costly and requires a skilled professional to administer the treatments.