In today's laser hair removal device market, we see ads for at-home laser hair removal devices when most of the devices advertised are not even laser at all! There is a mass amount of "laser" hair removal devices you see on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Most of these devices use a technology called IPL which's short for Intense Pulsed Light. In layman's terms that's not a laser!
Tria is the only FDA-cleared at-home hair removal laser available on the market and uses the same diode laser technology used by dermatologists and laser hair removal clinics. But how do Tria's lasers compare with those of the IPL variety, and how is laser more effective for permanent hair removal? Let's take a deeper dive into the technology, shall we?
What is laser hair removal?
While both IPL and laser hair removal methods use light to heat the hair follicles to prevent regrowth, the technology is different due to the light source used. With laser, a pulse of focused light targets the pigment in the hair, and the energy from that light converts to heat which then disables the hair follicle underneath the skin. This process helps stop future hair growth, but it doesn't happen overnight.
Since each hair on the body is in a different growth phase, your hair growth will need to be in the anagen hair growth phase for permanent hair removal. This is why lasering at home can take between 3 to 8 sessions or more to see results over 2 to 6 months when performed once every two weeks with Tria's lasers. Consistency and patience is the key to achieving long-term results. If you miss a session doing laser in the areas you are targeting, you will have to wait longer to see the results you were hoping for.
Who is laser hair removal for?
Laser hair removal is not suitable for all skin tones or hair colors. Since there must be a contrast between the skin color and the hair color, the laser works best on pale to light brown skin tones with light brown to black hair color. The laser will not work on grey, blonde or red body hair. Even if you do artificial tanning, such as using a spray tan or tanning bed, you will need to wait until your tan fades before using the laser. Tria's laser will not unlock if your skin and hair color are not suitable--this is a safety feature to keep skin from any injuries.
Another factor to take into consideration when deciding on laser hair removal is hormones. The most common reason why women grow thick facial hair is due to a hormonal disorder called PCOS. Laser will work to help control the hair growth, but it will not permanently remove it, resulting in long-term use of laser for the face.
If you are a candidate for laser hair removal, then there's no better time than now to get started on your smooth skin journey!
What is IPL hair removal?
IPL technology, which is different from laser technology, uses a broad spectrum of light with multiple wavelengths to target pigment in the hair. The energy is not as focused as a laser, as you can see in the diagram above, causing the energy to be much weaker than Tria's diode lasers. This means you will need more treatments and will most likely see less permanent results. When it comes to safety, IPL can be concerning since the beam of light emitted covers a large area of skin surrounding the hair, increasing your chances of skin and tissue damage.
If we look at this chart here that compares Tria's hair removal lasers with at-home IPL devices, we see that Tria uses 20 Joules (a unit of energy) and delivers 3X more energy than leading IPL hair removal devices.
Now that we've covered the technology portion of IPL vs. Laser, let's talk about the machine's body and why Tria is easier to use than an IPL device.
Tria's lasers are cordless and do not require you to be tethered to the wall during treatments like IPL devices. You can enjoy the outdoors, lounge on the bed or couch, or use it anywhere you want! Having a cordless device also means that you can maneuver the device in a broader range of places without tangling yourself in a cord.
With Tria's lasers, you do not have to wear protective eyewear like you do with IPL devices. No need to wear sunglasses at night while zapping away body hair!
Before you go, I'd like to go over the three P's--the three reasons why you should opt for laser:
- Precise - Lasers use pinpoint precision when treating each hair.
- Power - More power means faster results.
- Permanent - Who wants to invest time into hair removal when it is not permanent?
That's all for today Tria Beauties; please don't hesitate to ask us any questions regarding our hair removal devices by sending a DM to @triabeauty.
