There’s a conversation I have at least once a week. A woman books in, tells me she’s already had eight sessions of laser hair removal somewhere else, and she’s frustrated because the hair is still growing back. She paid a decent amount of money, followed the aftercare, did everything right, and her legs still need shaving.
And then she sits on my treatment bed, we do a patch test with the Alexandrite laser, and she books a course. Because it turns out she hadn’t actually been having laser hair removal at all.
Laser vs IPL: they’re not the same thing
This is the big one, and it’s where most women get caught out. IPL and laser are not the same treatment. They’re not even close, despite being marketed like they are.
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. It uses a broad spectrum of light wavelengths that scatter across the skin. It’s cheaper to buy, cheaper to run, and cheaper to deliver. That’s why you see it in so many salons on the high street at bargain prices. The problem is that because the light is scattered, only a small portion of it is actually doing anything useful to the hair follicle. You need more sessions, the results are less reliable, and it simply doesn’t work as well on finer hair, darker skin tones or stubborn areas.
A proper laser uses a single, focused wavelength specifically tuned to target the pigment in the hair follicle. That’s it. No scattering. No guessing. Just precise, targeted energy going exactly where it needs to go.
Why we chose the Alexandrite
When I was researching which laser to invest in for the clinic, I wasn’t looking for the cheapest option. I was looking for the one that actually worked. After a lot of digging and speaking to practitioners across the country, I kept hearing the same answer. The Alexandrite is the gold standard for laser hair removal, particularly for the skin tones we most commonly treat in Scotland.
We’re the only clinic in Paisley with a genuine medical-grade Alexandrite laser. Not a similar machine. Not an IPL dressed up with fancy branding. The actual Alexandrite.
Here’s why that matters to you:
- Fewer sessions. Most clients see genuine reduction within 6 to 8 sessions, rather than the 12 plus you might need with IPL.
- Better results on finer hairs, which IPL really struggles with.
- Faster treatment times, because the Alexandrite delivers energy more efficiently.
- Long-term reduction you can actually see, rather than temporary thinning that grows back in full within a year.
The hidden cost of “cheap” laser
I understand the appeal of a cheaper price. We’re all watching what we spend. But here’s the maths I always share with clients who are weighing it up.
If you spend ten pounds less per session but need double the sessions, you’ve not saved money. You’ve spent more, and you’ve been shaving and plucking through an extra year of your life while you waited for it to work. The cheap option usually ends up being the expensive one, once you add it all up.
What to ask before you book anywhere
- What make and model is the machine? A good clinic will tell you without hesitation.
- Is it laser or IPL? If they dodge the question, you have your answer.
- Who operates it and what training do they have?
- Do they do a patch test before starting a course?
If a clinic can’t answer those four questions confidently, keep your money in your purse.
Book a free patch test at Marr Laser & Skin Clinic in Paisley and see the difference real laser hair removal makes. It’s time to stop shaving.