Have you saved enough money to treat yourself to a laser hair removal treatment at a professional salon to say goodbye to your unwanted hair and get smooth skin without irritation, ingrown hairs or nicks and bumps? If so, what if I told you that you can do it for much less money without compromising your privacy?
Shocked, right? If you've heard about laser hair removal devices for home use, you shouldn't be surprised. But do you think that laser can only be used by professionals and that doing it at home can be risky? Or do you think that laser hair removal in a professional salon is more effective?
But that's not the case. Things are different with the latest laser hair removal devices for home use like the Ulike Sapphire Air3 hair removal device . Let's compare both in different aspects and find out which one is more suitable for you.
Laser hair removal at home vs. in the salon
1. How does it work and what type of light is used?
At-home and in-salon laser hair removal devices use light to target unwanted hair. The light is absorbed by the hair's pigment, melanin. The light then travels from the hairline to the root and is converted into heat energy.
The heat burns the hair follicles and prevents the hair from growing back. In addition, the follicles need several months to regenerate. During this time, you will therefore remain hair-free.
However, the laser works best when the hair is in the growth phase, and only a fraction of the hairs are in anaphase at any given time; 6-12 sessions are required to destroy all the hair follicles. So both types of lasers work exactly the same, but the light used is different.
Professional laser hair removal devices use Alexandrite, diode or YAG lasers, while home laser hair removal devices use intense pulsed light emitted by xenon flash lamps.
2. Schedule of meetings
This is one of the main differentiators between laser hair removal at home and in the salon. Home hair removal devices work at an optimal intensity and use mechanisms that protect the skin, while salon hair removal devices have a higher energy and make the skin sensitive.
Professional hair removal sessions are performed at intervals of 4-6 weeks to allow the skin to relax and the hair to move from the resting phase to the phase of active growth. However, home laser hair removal devices must be used several times a week to act on the hair, no matter what phase it is in.
With the Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL hair removal device, two sessions per week during the first three weeks are more than enough as it has a high energy output of 20 J/cm2 to significantly reduce hair regrowth.
3. How long do the results last?
The longer it takes to see the results, the longer they will last. In-salon laser hair removal requires 6-9 sessions, meaning it takes 6-12 months for hair to stop growing back. Since all hair follicles are destroyed, the results will last for a few months to years, from 6 months to 2 years.
Laser hair removal at home lasts a minimum of 3 weeks with high-efficiency devices such as the Ulike Air3 and a maximum of 3 months with other devices. In addition, a few booster sessions are required to destroy the hair follicles that were initially left behind. Whether it is 3 weeks or 3 months, laser hair removal at home lasts for up to 6 months.
4. Privacy concerns
If you are someone who is very sensitive about who sees your skin, especially the skin with the hair that you are hiding and do not want anyone to see it, you must be prepared to expose yourself in front of the professional laser specialist in the salon.
Additionally, if you're someone who hates touching and is afraid of getting into awkward positions to get hair removed from your thighs or intimate area, salon hair removal may be a hassle for you.
However, with at-home laser hair removal devices, there are no such fears. You can do it all by yourself, in your bathroom or even on your couch. Just shave as you normally would, turn on your device and enjoy removing your unwanted hair without sacrificing your privacy and sanity.
5. Convenience
Another point that may make you think twice about getting laser hair removal in salon is the commitment to the sessions, appointments and monthly travel to the salon. Especially if you take a taxi or the salon is far from your home, it can be difficult for people with busy schedules to sacrifice several hours of your day.
In addition, there are no touch-up sessions with professional laser hair removal. On the other hand, laser hair removal devices for home use are always close to you. You can use them how and when you want, even if you have a busy schedule and are on the go a lot.
In addition, IPL devices like the Ulike Saphir Air3 are compact and designed in a luxurious style. It also comes in a beautiful packaging. So you can even take it with you on vacation, which brings a new level of convenience to laser hair removal.
6. Total costs of the procedure
If we only talk about the cost of consultations and laser hair removal sessions in the salon, a full body hair removal session costs between 1000 and 2000 euros if you choose a reputable clinic. So, on average, a full treatment costs 10000 to 20000 euros. However, the price may vary depending on the location and experience of the laser expert.
You also have to factor in the travel costs to get an idea of the budget. Too much, right? Is 2 years of smooth, hairless skin worth 2 years of savings?
In contrast, IPL laser hair removal devices cost a few hundred euros. If we talk about the Ulike Saphir Air3 IPL hair removal device, it costs only 369 euros. For 369 euros, you get the complete hair removal kit in addition to the IPL device for home use. In addition, it has an unlimited number of flashes, which gives it a lifespan of more than 50 years.
369 euros and hairless skin for life. It's worth the investment, right?
7. Experience with hair removal
Laser hair removal in the salon can be painful, and it also compromises privacy, which is a must. Many salons use numbing gels to reduce the pain. But right after the procedure, the skin is red, sensitive and irritable, so one must take good care of it for 2 days after each session.
IPL devices, on the other hand, are only as painful as snapping a rubber band against the skin. But Ulike's exclusive ice cooling technology has now been further developed and improved in the Ulike Saphir Air3 IPL device. This means that it even spares you minor pain or such sensations. The aftercare is also not as extreme as with professional laser hair removal.
8. Who is it intended for
A major advantage of in-salon laser hair removal over at-home laser hair removal is the wider range of skin tone compatibility. Depending on the type and wavelength of the laser, it will work on almost everyone, from very light skin tones to very dark skin tones.
However, home laser hair removal devices have limited skin tone compatibility, meaning only people with light to medium skin tones can use IPL hair removal.
The reason for this difference is the fact that the IPL laser penetrates the pigment of the hair or skin, while the salon laser only penetrates the pigment of the hair and spares the skin.
Finally, in both cases there is a limitation to hair color because the light is absorbed by the hair's melanin.
9. Compatible body areas
Laser hair removal is suitable for all areas of the body. Face, armpits, chest, back, legs, arms and even the intimate area - laser hair removal at home and in the salon works well in all these areas.
However, in salons, you have to make separate appointments for the face or individual body areas, while at-home laser hair removal devices can be used anytime, anywhere.
The duration of the treatment also differs between professional devices and devices for home use. Since a professional laser only treats a few hairs at a time, a session can take hours. But the large light window of IPL devices such as Ulike Saphir Air3 only requires 10-30 minutes for a full-body treatment.
Conclusion: Which one should you choose?
Laser hair removal is an excellent choice for people who want to get rid of their unwanted hair for a long time. However, choosing between at-home and in-salon lasers can be confusing if you are unfamiliar with either.
That's why we've compared them for you. Laser hair removal at home is the best choice for most people because it's affordable, painless, privacy-friendly, and delivers efficient results. Plus, if you choose a device like the Ulike Saphir Air3 , you can have a luxurious experience.
However, if you have a dark skin tone, laser hair removal at home might disappoint you and laser treatment in salon is the right choice.
