A plain-language guide
IPL vs laser hair removal: what's the difference?
If you searched for laser hair removal in Chilliwack and landed here, this page is for you. People say “laser” for almost any light-based hair removal. IPL and laser are related, but they aren't the same thing, and I'd rather you know which one you're booking.
“I think when people hear the word laser, they think something better. That's what we're all conditioned into thinking.”Nicole
| Feature | Laser | IPL |
|---|---|---|
| The light | A single wavelength | A broad band of visible and infrared light |
| What it targets | The pigment in the hair at its root | The pigment in the hair at its root |
| How it works | The pigment absorbs the light as heat | The pigment absorbs the light as heat |
| How many visits | Repeated treatments | Repeated treatments |
| At Sweet Sugar Smooth | Not offered | Yes |
What they have in common
Both send light through the skin to the pigment in the hair. Health Canada describes it this way for lasers: the light passes through normal skin and is absorbed by melanin in the hair follicle, where it produces heat.
Both take a series of visits, because hair grows in several phases and only some of it is in the right phase on any given day.
Both depend on contrast. Fair skin with dark hair is the easiest to treat; naturally dark or tanned skin is more difficult. Your hair colour, your skin tone, a recent tan, your medications and any tattoos or moles in the area all matter, and whoever treats you should ask about every one of them.
Source for this section: Health Canada's laser hair removal safety guideline (2011).
What to ask before you book anywhere, me included
- What is your machine, and what is it suited for? IPL and laser are different tools.
- Is it a good fit for my skin tone and my hair colour? If you have a deeper skin tone or a recent tan, ask this first.
- What do you need to know about my medications, my medical history and my tattoos?
- How many sessions do you expect, and what does a series cost?
- Is the machine licensed by Health Canada? Health Canada advises facilities to buy only devices with an active Canadian medical device licence, and anyone can look a licence up. Mine is No. 85911.
What I offer
My machine is an IPL: a DermaLase IPL, which holds Health Canada medical device licence No. 85911. I started offering it in October 2026, alongside the sugaring I've done since April 2024.
I'll go through your skin, your hair and your medical history with you before your first session, and I'll tell you honestly if I don't think it's the right fit for you.
Ask me anything
I'm Nicole. If you're trying to decide between IPL, laser and just carrying on with sugaring, call me and we'll talk it through. More about me
Questions
IPL and laser FAQ
Does Sweet Sugar Smooth offer laser hair removal?
No. My machine is an IPL, which is intense pulsed light rather than a laser. If you were looking for laser hair removal in Chilliwack, IPL is the light-based option I offer.
Which is better, IPL or laser?
It depends on your skin, your hair and the machine. They're different tools. The questions above will tell you more than the word on the sign.
Is IPL a type of laser?
No. Health Canada's guideline describes IPL as a non-laser system that uses both visible light and invisible infrared radiation.
Can I keep sugaring instead?
Of course. Sugaring is still the heart of what I do, and you can keep sugaring any area you like.
More reading: shaving, sugaring, IPL or laser: how to choose
Still deciding?
Call me. I'd rather talk it through than have you book the wrong thing.