Does laser hair removal hurt more than waxing?

For most clients, no. Laser pain is thermal and brief per pulse, with cooling firing alongside. Waxing pain is mechanical and lasts as long as the strip pulls. Most clients say laser is easier, with a noticeably shorter sensation per area and no pulling.

Is Brazilian laser hair removal more painful than other areas?

Yes, but briefly. Brazilian is one of the most sensitive areas of the body, and the sensation is more intense than legs or arms. The session itself is short, around 10 to 15 minutes, which keeps the total duration of any discomfort low. Pink's integrated cooling helps significantly.

Do I need numbing cream for laser hair removal?

At Pink, no. The integrated cooling in our handpiece manages comfort across all areas. If you have specific concerns about sensitivity, talk to your clinician at your consultation. They will adjust pacing or take short breaks during the session if needed.

How long does the warmth last during a laser session?

The sensation itself is brief, around the time of each pulse. After the session, mild warmth on the skin can linger for a few minutes to an hour, then resolves. By the next day most clients are back to normal.

Does laser hair removal hurt more on darker skin?

Skin tone does not change the sensation level significantly. Wavelength selection and integrated cooling matter more. The Nd:YAG laser at 1064nm is the choice for darker skin, paired with the same DMC cooling.

Why does the cooling system in Pink's handpiece matter for comfort?

Cooling fires at the same instant the laser pulse does. That precise timing is what changes the sensation from sharp to warm. Pink's DMC (Dry Spray Molecular Cooling) is built into the AvalancheLase handpiece, so every pulse is cooled at the same moment.

Will my first laser session hurt more than later sessions?

Mostly the same. The first session can feel more intense because everything is new. By the second session, you know what to expect and the sensation is more familiar. The cooling fires the same way every time.

Are some clients more sensitive to laser than others?

Yes. Pain threshold varies, and skin sensitivity can be affected by hydration, caffeine, menstrual cycle, and stress. Tell your clinician what you know about your own sensitivity at consultation. They will adjust the session accordingly.

What should I tell my clinician if it hurts during the session?

Speak up immediately. Your clinician can slow the pace, take a short break, or adjust where they are working. Good clinicians read your body language too. If something feels wrong rather than just intense, that is important to flag immediately.

The Hair Removal Guide

IPL vs Laser Hair Removal: An Honest Comparison

IPL emits a broad spectrum of wavelengths in each pulse. Laser emits a single precise wavelength, or two in dual-wavelength platforms. The precision affects which skin tones can be safely treated, how many sessions you need, and what your full course costs. Pink uses dual-wavelength laser at the Doncaster flagship.

By Pink Laser Clinics Medically reviewed by Pink Clinical Team, Treating Fitzpatrick I-VI since 2019 Published 15 May 2026 Last reviewed 16 May 2026 8 min read

This article is general information about laser hair removal and not a substitute for clinical advice. Your clinician will assess your skin and recommend the appropriate treatment plan at consultation.

IPL vs Laser Hair Removal: An Honest Comparison — Both use light. The precision is the difference.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and laser hair removal both use light to target hair follicles, but they deliver that light in fundamentally different ways. IPL emits a broad spectrum of wavelengths in each pulse. Laser emits a single precise wavelength, or two in dual-wavelength platforms. The practical implication shows up in which skin tones can be treated safely, how many sessions you need for a full course, and how the cost compares once you account for sessions across the course. Below is the honest comparison.

What IPL Is

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. The device emits a broad spectrum of wavelengths (roughly 500 to 1200nm) in each pulse, more like a flashlight than a focused beam. The melanin in the hair follicle absorbs some of those wavelengths, heating the follicle and reducing future growth.

Because the light is broad-spectrum, less of each pulse hits the follicle precisely. More energy spreads to surface skin. That is why IPL has a narrower skin-type eligibility. It works best on fair to medium tones (Fitzpatrick I to III) and carries more risk on darker skin.

IPL is common in beauty salons, at-home devices, and entry-level clinics. It is typically lower-cost per session than laser, though the per-course cost difference is smaller than the per-session difference suggests because IPL often requires more sessions to achieve comparable results.

What Laser Hair Removal Is

Laser hair removal uses a single precise wavelength, or two in dual-wavelength platforms, to target follicle melanin. Because the wavelength is focused, more energy reaches the follicle and less spreads to surface skin. That precision is what allows safe treatment across a wider range of skin tones.

Dual-wavelength architecture is the standard for safe full-Fitzpatrick treatment. Alexandrite 755nm is the choice for fair to olive skin. Nd:YAG 1064nm is the choice for darker tones. A platform that delivers both, through a single handpiece, in a single pass, without swapping heads or changing modes mid-session, is the architecture that allows the safest treatment across the full skin-tone range. See our guide on dark skin for the wavelength selection detail.

Pink uses Fotona's AvalancheLase®. Both wavelengths fire from the same accessory. DMC (Dry Spray Molecular Cooling) is built into the handpiece. MatrixView monitors treatment as it runs. Integrated dual-wavelength delivery in a single pass.

AvalancheLase is part of Fotona's medical-grade aesthetic platform. The same precision technology applies across skin rejuvenation, pigmentation, and vascular treatments, used here for hair removal. A multi-modality medical platform.

Peer-reviewed research on dual-wavelength systems shows meaningfully higher efficacy and safety across all Fitzpatrick types than single-wavelength approaches.

Cost-wise, laser is typically higher-cost per session than IPL. The per-course difference closes because fewer sessions are needed (see our cost guide).

The Practical Differences

Side by side, the technologies break down like this.

	IPL	Laser
Light type	Broad spectrum (500 to 1200nm)	Single or dual precise wavelength
Skin tone range	Fair to medium (Fitzpatrick I to III typically)	Full spectrum (Fitzpatrick I to VI with dual wavelength)
Sessions for full course	Typically 8 to 12	Typically 6 to 8
Cost per session	Lower	Higher
Cost per full course	Comparable or higher (more sessions needed)	Comparable or lower (fewer sessions)
Where it is commonly offered	Beauty salons, at-home devices, entry-level clinics	Medical-grade clinics

The headline per-session cost difference often closes once you account for the number of sessions each method requires. Most clients end up paying broadly comparable amounts across a full course. The real differences are outcome reliability, the skin-tone range each can treat safely, and where on the price-quality spectrum you want to sit.

How to Tell What Technology a Clinic Uses

The most direct way is to ask. Most reputable clinics will tell you upfront what device they use, and they name the brand and model on their website or in consultation paperwork.

IPL devices are typically labelled "IPL" or by various brand names. Laser devices are typically labelled by laser type (Alexandrite, Nd:YAG, Diode) and by brand. Pink uses the Fotona AvalancheLase® dual-wavelength platform.

A few standards good clinics meet:

They name the device. Look for the clinic's website or consultation paperwork to name the device explicitly. Generic language like "the latest light technology" without a brand or model is worth asking about.

They assess your Fitzpatrick type at consultation. The right device and wavelength selection depend on your skin tone. A clinic that does not assess your tone in person is not calibrating treatment to you.

They explain how cooling works. Whether cooling is integrated into the handpiece, delivered as cold air, or applied as a separate gel matters for comfort and safety. Good clinics walk you through their cooling approach.

They are transparent about pricing. Per-session and per-course pricing should both be quoted before you book. See our cost guide for the framework.

Pink's Doncaster Clinic

Pink Laser Clinics is a specialist laser clinic in Doncaster, serving Melbourne's eastern suburbs and the wider city. Pink treats clients from Doncaster, Templestowe, Bulleen, Balwyn North, Box Hill, Kew, and Blackburn week to week.

Pink's clinicians work across the full Fitzpatrick spectrum every day. Pink was voted Best Laser Hair Removal in Manningham at the Quality Business Awards three years running, in 2024, 2025 and 2026. More than 400 reviews across Google and Yotpo sit behind the 4.9 rating.

What to Expect at Your First Session

Your first appointment at Pink begins with a free consultation. There is no obligation to book a treatment on the same day.

Your clinician walks you through the device, the wavelength selected for your skin tone, and what to expect from the sensation (see our pain guide for what each area feels like). The first pulse is the orientation pulse. You feel it, you know what laser feels like, you settle in. From there, the session is quick.

Pink offers three ways to begin: a single session, a package priced for a full course, or a customised plan that combines areas and pacing to suit. Single sessions cost more per visit and are never refused. Packages bring the per-session price down for clients ready to commit to the full course. Customised plans suit clients with specific timelines or multiple areas to coordinate.

Whichever path suits, your clinician walks you through the cost, the spacing of sessions, and the expected outcome before any booking is made.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the main difference between IPL and laser hair removal?

IPL emits a broad spectrum of wavelengths in each pulse, less precisely targeted at the follicle. Laser emits a single precise wavelength (or two, in dual-wavelength platforms), more precisely targeted. The precision affects which skin tones can be treated safely and how many sessions you need for a full course.

Which one is better, IPL or laser?

It depends on your skin tone, your budget, and how many sessions you are willing to do. Laser typically delivers comparable results in fewer sessions and works safely across a wider range of skin tones (Fitzpatrick I through VI). IPL is lower-cost per session but usually needs more sessions and works best on Fitzpatrick I to III.

Is IPL cheaper than laser?

Per session, yes, typically. Per full course, the difference closes because IPL often requires more sessions to achieve comparable results. Most clients end up paying broadly similar amounts across a full course. See our cost guide for the full framework.

Does IPL work on darker skin tones?

IPL is generally not recommended for Fitzpatrick V or VI. The broad-spectrum light spreads more energy to surface skin, which on darker tones carries higher risk of burns and pigment changes. Laser with the right wavelength (Nd:YAG at 1064nm) is the safer choice for darker skin. See our guide on dark skin for the full breakdown.

How many more sessions does IPL need compared to laser?

Most IPL courses run 8 to 12 sessions. Most laser courses run 6 to 8. The exact ratio depends on your hair type, hormones, and the area being treated. See our guide on how many sessions you need.

Can I switch from IPL to laser mid-course?

Yes. Your clinician will assess where you are in your reduction and build a fresh laser plan from there. Some progress from IPL may carry over, but the laser course will be calibrated to what your hair is doing now, not what it was before.

Is at-home IPL effective?

At-home IPL devices deliver lower energy than clinic-grade IPL or laser, which makes them safer for unsupervised use but limits how much reduction they can achieve. Some clients see useful results on small areas with consistent use. For full-body or sensitive-area treatment, clinic-grade devices remain the standard.

What technology does Pink use?

Pink uses Fotona's AvalancheLase® medical laser. It delivers two wavelengths from one handpiece: Alexandrite 755nm and Nd:YAG 1064nm. DMC (Dry Spray Molecular Cooling) is integrated into the handpiece. The platform supports treatment across the full Fitzpatrick spectrum.

How do I know what technology a clinic is using before I book?

Ask. Reputable clinics will name the device on their website or in consultation. If a clinic uses generic language like "the latest light technology" without naming the device, ask which brand and model. The wavelength and platform determine which skin tones can be treated safely.

Book Your Free Consultation

Book your free consultation at Pink's Doncaster flagship. Meet your clinician, see the room, and walk through whether laser is right for your skin and your goals.

Pink Laser Clinics, Shop 3, 642 Doncaster Road, Doncaster VIC 3108. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 10am to 7pm. Thursday 10am to 8pm. Saturday 10am to 3pm.

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