If you are comparing hair-removal clinics in Beijing, you may see terms such as IPL, 808 diode, Alexandrite, Nd:YAG, medical-grade laser and triple wavelength.
It is easy to assume that the machine with the longest name, the greatest number of wavelengths or the highest price must be the best. The reality is more individual.
IPL is not technically a laser, while Diode 808, Alexandrite and Nd:YAG are lasers. However, the word “laser” alone does not determine safety or results. In everyday practice, IPL and Diode 808 are two of the most widely used and versatile technologies for long-term hair reduction. Together, they cover many of the common needs seen in an international clinic: dark, visible hair on the face or body, efficient treatment of larger areas and adjustable protocols for different skin-and-hair combinations.
Alexandrite and Nd:YAG remain valuable technologies. In many practical cases, however, they are considered when a specific client profile gives them a clearer advantage—for example, Alexandrite for selected lighter-skin/high-contrast combinations or long-pulsed Nd:YAG for deeper skin tones. The best choice still depends on skin tone, recent tanning, hair colour and thickness, treatment area, settings, cooling and operator experience.
The Short Answer
IPL is a mature, versatile light-based technology. Its adjustable filters and parameters can make it an efficient option for suitable pigmented hair, particularly when there is a clear contrast between the hair and the skin.
Diode 808/810 nm is a true laser and one of the most practical all-round choices for dark, terminal hair. It combines useful melanin absorption with good follicular penetration and can be used across a relatively broad range of skin tones when parameters are selected correctly.
Alexandrite 755 nm is a true laser with strong melanin absorption. It is often particularly effective when there is high contrast between lighter skin and dark hair.
Long-pulsed Nd:YAG 1064 nm is a true laser that interacts less with superficial epidermal melanin than shorter wavelengths. It is often preferred when treating darker skin, although it still requires skilled operation.
No platform works equally well for every person. Very light blonde, white, grey and many red hairs contain too little melanin for reliable light-based targeting.
What Is the Difference Between IPL and Laser?
Laser devices emit light at a defined wavelength. Hair-removal lasers are designed to deliver energy that melanin in the hair absorbs and converts into heat. With suitable parameters, enough heat reaches the follicular structures to reduce future growth while the surrounding skin is protected.
IPL stands for intense pulsed light. It produces a broad range of wavelengths, and filters are used to select the useful portion of that light. IPL is therefore a light-based hair-reduction technology, but it is not a laser.
This technical distinction matters—but it does not mean that every laser treatment is automatically superior to every IPL treatment. Modern IPL is widely used because it is flexible, efficient and capable of producing meaningful long-term reduction in appropriate clients. Diode 808 complements it with focused laser energy, reliable penetration and strong utility for coarse, dark hair. For many clinics, these two technologies form a highly practical core hair-reduction offering.
A Practical Comparison
| Technology | Is it a laser? | Main practical advantages | When another option may be considered |
|---|
| IPL | No | Flexible filters and pulse settings; efficient coverage of face and body; comfortable, established option for suitable skin-and-hair combinations | A laser wavelength may offer a better safety margin for very deep or recently tanned skin |
| Diode 808/810 nm | Yes | Versatile all-round laser for dark, terminal hair; useful penetration, efficient body-area treatment and effective contact cooling | A dedicated 1064 nm Nd:YAG may be preferable for some deeper skin tones |
| Alexandrite 755 nm | Yes | Strong melanin absorption and efficient treatment when lighter skin contrasts clearly with dark hair | Diode or IPL may provide a more versatile everyday platform across a mixed client population |
| Long-pulsed Nd:YAG 1064 nm | Yes | Important specialist option for deeper skin tones because superficial melanin absorbs relatively less energy | Often chosen for a specific safety profile rather than as the default for every client |
| Multi- or triple-wavelength diode | Yes | Offers several wavelength options in one platform | The practical result still depends on delivered energy, pulse control, cooling and operator technique |
Clinical reviews support the use of Alexandrite, diode, Nd:YAG and IPL for long-term hair reduction, while also showing variation in study design, devices, parameters and follow-up. This is one reason responsible clinics should promise progressive hair reduction, not identical results for everyone or complete permanent removal after one session. Evidence-based review indexed by PubMed
Why IPL and Diode 808 Are Practical Mainstay Technologies
IPL and Diode 808 are popular worldwide because they can address a large proportion of everyday hair-reduction requests without requiring a different machine for every body area.
Their strengths are complementary:
Broad clinical usefulness: Both can be used for many common areas, including underarms, bikini, legs, arms, back, chest and selected facial hair.
Efficient coverage: Modern handpieces and suitable spot sizes make them practical for both small zones and larger body areas.
Adjustable treatment: Pulse duration, energy, treatment mode and cooling can be adapted to the hair thickness, area and skin response.
Comfort management: Contact cooling and controlled pulse delivery can make a treatment course easier to tolerate.
Repeatable protocols: They work well within a staged course, allowing the practitioner to document shedding, regrowth and tolerance and refine later sessions.
Strong real-world accessibility: IPL and Diode 808 are well-established, widely available platforms, making it easier for international clients to understand previous treatments and continue a properly documented course.
At PA BEAUTY, IPL and Diode 808 are the main hair-reduction technologies because they provide a useful combination of flexibility, efficiency and client coverage. The decision is usually not “Is laser always better than IPL?” but “Which of these two platforms better matches this client’s skin, hair and treatment area today?”
Diode 808/810 nm: A Versatile All-Round Laser
Yes. A diode system operating around 808 or 810 nm is a true laser.
It is popular because its wavelength offers a practical balance: useful melanin absorption, sufficient penetration for many follicles and efficient energy delivery across common face and body areas. With appropriate pulse duration, fluence and cooling, it can treat:
Underarms
Bikini area
Legs and arms
Back and chest
Selected facial hair
For coarse, dark hair, Diode 808 can be particularly useful because the follicle provides a clear pigment target. Good contact cooling supports comfort and epidermal protection, while adjustable pulse delivery allows the practitioner to tailor treatment rather than relying on one setting for every client.
The technology is also practical for an international client base: many people have previously received “diode laser” in another country, and a clear record of the device, settings and response helps a new practitioner plan the next step. As with any platform, machine quality, calibration, cooling and technique still matter; “808” describes a wavelength, not the entire treatment protocol.
Alexandrite 755 nm: A Targeted Option for High-Contrast Hair and Skin
Alexandrite laser light at 755 nm is strongly absorbed by melanin. This can make it highly effective for coarse, dark hair when the surrounding skin is relatively light.
This makes Alexandrite a useful targeted option when the skin is light and the hair is dark. For a clinic already covering many routine indications with IPL and Diode 808, Alexandrite may be considered when that particular skin-to-hair contrast gives it a clear practical advantage. It is not automatically a better choice for a diverse international clientele, especially when skin is darker or recently tanned.
Nd:YAG 1064 nm: An Important Option for Deeper Skin Tones
Long-pulsed Nd:YAG uses a 1064 nm wavelength. Compared with shorter wavelengths, it is absorbed less by superficial epidermal melanin and penetrates more deeply. For this reason, experienced practitioners often consider it when treating Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI or other clients with higher epidermal pigmentation.
This makes long-pulsed Nd:YAG an important alternative when IPL or a standard Diode 808 protocol would not provide the preferred safety margin. It is especially relevant for Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI and for other clients with substantial epidermal pigmentation. It is best understood as a specialised option for a defined need, not as the universally strongest or fastest technology.
IPL: Flexible, Efficient and Often Underrated
Not automatically.
IPL can produce meaningful long-term hair reduction in properly selected clients. Its broad-spectrum output is filtered and adjusted, giving an experienced practitioner flexibility to match the treatment to the area, hair thickness and skin response.
Practical advantages can include:
Efficient treatment of larger areas
Adjustable filters, pulse structure and energy
A comfortable treatment experience with suitable cooling
Good utility for dark, visible hair on lighter to medium skin tones
Versatility within a clinic that manages several light-based skin concerns
A familiar, widely available technology with an established treatment history
The most important point is accurate positioning: IPL is a light-based treatment rather than a laser, but that does not make it a lesser treatment by definition. A well-maintained device, suitable client selection and carefully adjusted parameters matter more than using the word “laser” as a quality label.
More useful questions include:
What exact device and filter will be used?
Is it suitable for my current skin tone and hair colour?
How are fluence and pulse duration selected?
What cooling protects the skin?
Will a patch test be performed when appropriate?
How will my response be documented and settings adjusted?
What About Triple-Wavelength Laser?
Some diode platforms combine wavelengths such as 755, 808/810 and 1064 nm. Marketing often suggests that this automatically targets every follicle depth and every skin type at once.
Multi-wavelength technology may offer useful flexibility, but the number of wavelengths does not reveal:
How much energy each wavelength actually contributes
Whether the pulse duration suits the hair diameter
Whether enough energy reaches the follicle
How effectively the skin is cooled
Whether the operator adjusts treatment for the individual
“Triple wavelength” should therefore be treated as a technical feature—not a guarantee of a superior outcome.
What Actually Determines the Best Choice?
1. Skin tone and recent sun exposure
The more melanin present in the epidermis, the more carefully wavelength and settings must be chosen. A tan changes the treatment situation even if the client normally has lighter skin.
2. Hair colour
Light-based devices target pigment. Dark brown and black hair usually respond best. Blonde, white, grey and many red hairs may respond poorly because there is insufficient melanin to absorb the energy.
3. Hair thickness and depth
Coarse terminal hair usually provides a clearer target than fine, soft hair. Wavelength, spot size, pulse duration and energy must work together; wavelength alone is not the treatment.
4. Treatment area
Underarm, bikini, leg and facial hair can behave differently. Hormonal areas such as the face may require particularly careful diagnosis and expectations.
5. Hormonal influences
PCOS, menopause, medication and other hormonal factors can affect hair growth and maintenance needs. Sudden or significant new facial or body hair may warrant medical assessment.
6. Device quality and maintenance
A recognised wavelength does not guarantee accurate output. Calibration, maintenance, handpiece condition and cooling performance matter.
7. Operator judgement
The practitioner must select and adjust settings, monitor endpoints, recognise risk factors and respond appropriately. The same machine can produce very different outcomes in different hands.
Why Are Multiple Sessions Necessary?
Hair grows in cycles. Light-based hair removal is most effective when the follicle is in an active growth phase and contains an appropriate pigment target. Not every follicle is in that phase on the same day.
For this reason, one session cannot treat every future hair. Most clients need a course scheduled according to the body area and regrowth pattern, followed by occasional maintenance if needed.
You should expect:
Progressive reduction rather than instant permanent removal
Uneven shedding between sessions
Regrowth that may become finer and less dense
Different response rates across body areas
Possible maintenance, especially when hormones influence growth
Any clinic promising that one treatment will permanently remove all hair is setting an unrealistic expectation.
Is Laser Hair Removal Safe for Brown or Dark Skin?
It can be, but the margin for error may be narrower because the skin itself contains more melanin. Appropriate technology, conservative parameter selection, effective cooling and relevant experience are especially important.
Potential adverse effects include:
Temporary redness or follicular swelling
Irritation or tenderness
Burns or blistering
Temporary darkening or lightening of the skin
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
Rare paradoxical hair stimulation, particularly in some facial or hormonal areas
A patch test can be useful, but it does not guarantee that a full treatment will be risk-free. Tell the practitioner about recent sun exposure, tanning, photosensitising medication, previous reactions and any pigment disorder.
What Hair-Removal Technology Cannot Do
IPL and lasers do not reliably treat hair with little or no pigment. They also do not diagnose the cause of new hair growth.
Consider medical assessment if you experience:
Sudden new facial or body hair
Irregular periods, acne or other possible signs of hormonal change
An inflamed, infected or painful treatment area
An unexplained skin lesion
Persistent pigment change after a previous treatment
For white or grey hairs, electrolysis may be a more relevant option because it does not depend on melanin in the same way, although it treats follicles individually and has its own time and comfort considerations.
How to Prepare for Hair Reduction
Follow the instructions supplied for your exact device and treatment area. General precautions often include:
Avoid tanning and disclose recent sun exposure
Do not wax, tweeze or epilate before treatment, because the follicular target needs to remain present
Shave according to the clinic’s timing instructions
Avoid applying deodorant, perfume or irritating products to the area on treatment day if instructed
Share all medication, skin conditions and previous light-based treatment reactions
Do not treat over active infection, open skin or suspicious lesions
After treatment, gentle skincare, sun protection and avoidance of unnecessary heat or friction may be advised. Do not pick or pull at shedding hairs.
Hair Removal During a Short Visit to Beijing
International travellers sometimes want to complete hair removal during a three- to five-day Beijing trip. One session may be possible after assessment, but a complete course cannot be compressed into a short stay because hair cycles determine treatment spacing.
Before booking, tell PA BEAUTY:
Your arrival and departure dates
Your natural skin tone and any recent tan
The area you want treated
Your hair colour and thickness
Previous IPL or laser technology used
The date of your last session
Any history of burns, blistering or pigment change
Planned swimming, sauna, outdoor activities or onward travel
If you arrive with sunburn, a fresh tan, irritated skin or incomplete treatment information, postponing or modifying the session may be safer than trying to fit it into the itinerary.
Hair-Removal Assessment at PA BEAUTY Beijing
At PA BEAUTY, most hair-reduction consultations begin by deciding whether IPL or Diode 808 offers the better match. These two mainstay platforms cover many common requests while allowing treatment to be adapted to the body area, hair diameter, skin response and course history.
The assessment considers:
Current skin tone and tanning history
Hair colour, diameter and density
Treatment area
Previous hair-removal methods and results
Medical, hormonal and medication history
Sensitivity and pigment-change risk
Available time in Beijing
Realistic course and maintenance expectations
For selected clients, another wavelength may be more appropriate. A person with a very deep skin tone, for example, may benefit from assessment for a dedicated long-pulsed Nd:YAG service rather than being pushed into a less suitable protocol. This is a sign of responsible selection, not a weakness of IPL or Diode 808.
The aim is long-term reduction with an appropriate safety margin—not using the highest setting or selling the most impressive machine name.
Questions to Ask Before Booking
Is the device IPL or a laser, and what wavelength does it use?
Why is this technology suitable for my current skin and hair?
Who will perform the treatment, and what experience do they have with my skin tone?
What cooling and eye protection will be used?
Do I need a patch test?
How should I prepare, and what must I avoid afterwards?
How many sessions are likely, and how will progress be reviewed?
What happens if my skin reacts unexpectedly?
The Bottom Line
IPL is not technically a laser; diode 808/810, Alexandrite 755 and Nd:YAG 1064 are lasers. But “real laser” is not a treatment plan.
For many clients, IPL and Diode 808 provide the most practical starting point. IPL offers flexible, efficient light-based treatment for suitable skin-and-hair combinations. Diode 808 offers focused laser energy, useful follicular penetration and strong performance for dark, terminal hair across many face and body areas.
Alexandrite may offer an advantage for selected lighter-skin/high-contrast profiles, while long-pulsed Nd:YAG is an important option for deeper skin tones. In this sense, these technologies can complement—not automatically replace—the broad everyday usefulness of IPL and Diode 808.
The best choice is the one that safely matches your skin, hair and treatment area—and is delivered consistently by someone who understands the machine, the parameters and your individual response.
Book an English-Language Consultation in Beijing
When contacting us, please share clear photographs in natural light, the body area you wish to treat, your previous hair-removal history and your available dates.
Contact PA BEAUTY
📍 Shine Hills, Shunyi, Beijing
Near ISB, Dulwich College Beijing and Keystone Academy
Approximately 30 minutes from Beijing Capital International Airport
📱 WeChat: parishy2012
📞 WhatsApp: +86 138 1124 8726
🌐 Website: www.beijingpabeauty.com
This article is for general education and does not replace an individual medical assessment. Device availability and treatment suitability should be confirmed directly with PA BEAUTY.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IPL a real laser?
No. IPL uses filtered broad-spectrum light, while a laser produces a defined wavelength. IPL can still reduce appropriate pigmented hair, but it should be described accurately.
Is an 808 diode a real laser?
Yes. A diode operating around 808 or 810 nm is a true laser. Its results still depend on device output, settings, cooling, operator technique and completion of a suitable course.
Why does PA BEAUTY mainly use IPL and Diode 808?
Together, IPL and Diode 808 cover many common hair-reduction needs. They are versatile across treatment areas, efficient for larger zones, adjustable for different hair characteristics and well suited to a documented course of progressive reduction. When a specific profile—such as very deep skin tone—would benefit from another wavelength, an alternative or referral may be recommended.
Is Alexandrite better than diode laser?
Not for everyone. Alexandrite’s high melanin absorption can be very effective for dark hair on lighter skin. Diode is often more versatile across a wider range of clients. Individual assessment matters more than a universal ranking.
Which laser is best for dark or brown skin?
Long-pulsed Nd:YAG 1064 nm is often preferred for deeper skin tones because less energy is absorbed by superficial epidermal melanin. Some diode systems may also be suitable. Device selection, settings, cooling and practitioner experience remain essential.
Does triple wavelength mean better results?
Not automatically. It describes the wavelengths available, not the energy delivered to each follicle, the suitability of the settings or the skill of the operator.
Can laser permanently remove all hair?
It is more accurate to expect long-term hair reduction. Multiple sessions are needed, some regrowth may occur, and maintenance can be necessary.
Why does laser not work well on grey or blonde hair?
The treatment relies on melanin to absorb light. Grey, white, very blonde and many red hairs do not contain enough target pigment for reliable results.
Can I have one session while visiting Beijing?
Possibly, after assessment. However, one session will not complete the process, and the next session must be timed according to regrowth rather than squeezed into the same short trip.
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