“Laser”, “pulsed light”, “IPL”, “electrolysis”: the terms circulate as if they described the same thing. In reality they cover three distinct technologies, with very different results and limits. Here is what you need to compare them, without the jargon.
The medical laser: a single wavelength
A laser emits monochromatic light: one wavelength, chosen precisely to be absorbed by the melanin in the hair. All the energy goes to the same place, deep down, and the beam is coherent — it does not scatter.
That allows two things: high efficiency per session, and the ability to match the device to the phototype. We use the Alexandrite at 755 nm for light to intermediate skin and the Nd:YAG at 1064 nm for darker skin, as we explain on our technology page.
What to expect: a lasting reduction in hair growth, generally 6 to 8 sessions on the body. Its limit: white, grey or very light hair, which no longer contains enough melanin to be targeted.
Intense pulsed light (IPL): a broad spectrum
IPL is not a laser. It is a flash lamp emitting a broad spectrum of wavelengths, filtered more or less finely. The energy is therefore scattered: some reaches the hair, the rest spreads into the surrounding tissue.
The practical consequences: more sessions are needed for a comparable result, the reduction is generally less complete and holds for less time, and adapting to darker skin is trickier — which is exactly what a single wavelength allows you to control.
IPL has its place: it is the technology behind home devices and many beauty salons, at a lower cost per session. You simply need to know what you are buying: a gradual reduction that has to be maintained, not a permanent treatment. We do not offer IPL, and we say so plainly when asked.
Electrolysis: hair by hair
Electrolysis is the oldest of the three, and the only one recognised as truly permanent in the strict sense. A very fine needle is inserted into the follicle, a current destroys it, the hair is removed.
It has one decisive advantage: it does not depend on melanin. It is the only method that works on white, grey or red hair.
Its drawback is just as clear: you treat one follicle at a time. On a small area — a few hairs on the chin — it is perfectly suited. On a back or a pair of legs it would mean dozens of hours. That is why electrolysis remains reserved for finishing touches and for hair the laser cannot treat. We do not practise it: if that is what you need, we will tell you rather than sell you something else.
The summary
- Large areas (back, legs, chest): the laser, without hesitation.
- Dark skin: the Nd:YAG laser, and it alone among light-based methods.
- White, grey or red hair: neither laser nor IPL can do much. Electrolysis is the option.
- Tight budget, top-up result: IPL, knowing it will need maintaining.
- A few isolated hairs on the face: electrolysis is often more relevant.
How to choose without getting it wrong
Ask any centre you consult three questions: which device exactly (brand and wavelength), who carries out the session, and how many sessions are planned for your particular case. A vague answer on any of those three is a signal.
With us the answer fits in one sentence: medical Candela Alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers, trained staff, and a number of sessions given after we have seen your skin — never before. The first appointment is a free assessment, in our centres in Uccle, Etterbeek and Watermael-Boitsfort.
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