Both laser and photoepilation use light energy, which acts on melanin (the pigment contained inside the hair). The hair is heated, the hair follicle is destroyed. Thus, with each subsequent procedure, more and more new, actively growing curls die off. At the end of the course of procedures, the client receives a lack of growth of bristles for a long period of time. This article will answer the question of which is better - a photoepilator or a laser epilator.
How long does the effect of the procedure last?
Ten years ago, it was believed that removing hair with wax or sugar paste is a temporary method, while laser and photoepilation are forever. Unfortunately, practice has shown that the hopes placed on hardware methods did not materialize. Hair is not removed all and not forever.
The American organization FDA, which is an honest and independent body for evaluating the effectiveness and safety of all the most advanced methods, devices and preparations, clearly defines two terms - permanent hair redaction and permanent hair removal. Just hardware correction (that is, hair removal with a photoepilator or laser epilator) refers to permanent hair redaction. The term in translation means permanent reduction of hair, but not their removal forever. Permanent removal is permanent hair removal.
According to the FDA, no manufacturer of hair removal devices can claim that laser or photo hair removal is painless or permanent. Since there is no data demonstrating such results. Therefore, the question of which epilator is better - a laser or a photoepilator, you can answer that neither one nor the other does not remove 100% of hair for life. And if the word “forever” is written on the clinic’s website, this is knowingly false information. The result can be considered excellent when it was possible to get rid of 90% of hair for five years.
Types of Lasers
Laser hair removal is carried out on devices of three types: diode, neodymium and alexandrite. Both diode and alexandrite have a similar wavelength - 805 and 755 nanometers. But an alexandrite laser is more efficient because it has higher power. Both types of laser are designed for people with high contrast between skin and hair. It is light-skinned or slightly tanned with dark hair color.
Neodymium laser is designed specifically for fair-skinned blond and red, as well as for dark-skinned with dark hair. In addition, it removes gray and fluffy hair. Its wavelength is 1064 nanometers.
Laser hair removal. The essence of the procedure
What is the best laser epilator or photoepilator? The operation of the first system is based on the emission of electromagnetic waves of a fixed length. This allows the laser beam to act strictly on the bulb and hair growth zone. Due to the constant wavelength, the radiation scatters very little and focuses on the hair, and not on the surrounding tissues. All this allows you to get a long-term effect for a relatively small number of procedures.
The energy of a neodymium laser, in comparison with the other two types of laser, is dissipated more. Therefore, it is often not enough for coagulation ("sealing") of the vessels that feed the bulb. This means that on the neodymium system you will need to do more procedures to overcome unwanted hair.
The interval between the first two procedures is from 4 to 7 weeks. With each subsequent visit to the beautician, sleeping follicles wake up much more slowly. The phases of hair growth for each patient are individual, so for someone between the first and second procedure should take 6 weeks, and for the other - all 10.
What is better laser hair removal or photoepilation in terms of discomfort? Light pain, or rather tingling, is the same for both methods. If the patient is hot during the procedure, this is not normal. It is noticed that with each subsequent epilation, pain is reduced. This is due to the fact that in the case of the correct selection of intervals with each visit, the amount of hair decreases.
Sensations also depend on the type of skin and hair, because these parameters affect the time of thermal relaxation. This is the period necessary to completely cool the laser-treated area. It is believed that the alexandrite laser is the most tolerant, and to transfer the procedure to a neodymium or diode laser is a little more difficult. This is due to the fact that the alexandrite laser is much better absorbed by melanin, and the other two lasers - except for hair, are also vessels of the skin. If only hair follicles are heated, the skin cools faster. If both follicles and blood vessels are heated, then more time is required for the skin to return to its original state.
Thermal relaxation time is also associated with the size of the spot, that is, the area of ​​exposure to radiation. If the procedure is done with a maniple with a diameter of 5 mm, then this will be tolerable when compared with a manipula that is twice as large. But the procedure will last longer, so balance is important here.
Thermal relaxation time can be reduced by using additional cooling factors — cryogas, the temperature of the manipula itself, or the flow of cold air. At the request of the client, the doctor can apply anesthesia in the form of an anesthetic cream or additionally apply a cold pack.
I must say that with an alexandrite and neodymium laser the procedure is slower than with a latest generation diode or alexandrite laser (Moveo technology). The time depends on the charge rate of the capacitance required to generate the flash.
The essence of photoepilation
Photoepilators use krypton lamps, their principle of operation is similar to a flash. A photoepilator is a cheap laser replacement. It should cost much cheaper, since the device itself, its production costs much less.
A photosystem, in contrast to a laser, produces not one constant wavelength, but many waves ranging from ultraviolet to infrared. Since the wavelength is very different, the radiation is absorbed by different parts of the skin. Most of it is simply lost, scattered, so the flash of the photoepilator is much brighter than that of a laser. Photosystems are therefore less efficient and more dangerous.
What is better photoepilator or laser epilator? Important question. Although manufacturers put different filters on the photosystems to cut off harmful ultraviolet waves, they cannot compare radiation with the laser radiation efficiency. Photoepilators alone are not very effective, and even more so for light, gray hair. This is due to the fact that a large amount of radiation is simply scattered, and what is left can be absorbed only by hair with melanin, that is, dark.
Photoepilator or laser epilator - which is better?
The reviews and further arguments clearly show that the first is inferior to the second. Therefore, the choice is obvious. Consider the disadvantages of hair removal with a photoepilator:
- suitable only for owners of dark hair and fair skin;
- due to the large dispersion of radiation, the device passes hair;
- due to the low efficiency, more procedures will be needed;
- with improperly selected parameters, it causes burns;
- contraindicated for people with suspected cancer, persons with melanomas;
- Eye contact harms eyes.
Home photoepilator or laser epilator?
Now both devices can be used independently. In a home photoepilator, manufacturers install a cheap emitter lamp, so the effectiveness of such an apparatus is doubtful. As for security, there are also drawbacks here. A cheap photoepilator is equipped with the same cheap filters that should cut off harmful radiation. They cope poorly with their task, so flashbulbs can cause irreparable damage to both skin and eyesight.