Diode laser or alexandrite laser: which laser is better for hair removal?
Diode laser or alexandrite laser: clients ask themselves this question before permanent hair removal, just as studios and clinics do before buying a device. Both lasers reduce hair in the long term, but differ when it comes to fine hair, dark skin, speed, comfort, service life and price.
This page compares the two technologies directly: which laser suits which hair and skin types, how do the session and pain perception differ, what do purchase and operation cost, and which device is worthwhile for which business? SIACSKIN builds both lasers: the DEWEON 4LD diode laser with four wavelengths and the AlexDUAL UFO with alexandrite and Nd:YAG.
Diode laser or alexandrite laser: which laser removes hair more thoroughly?
For dark hair on fair to medium skin, both lasers achieve a comparable, long-term hair reduction. What matters is less the design than whether wavelength, energy and pulse duration suit the skin and hair and whether each session is carried out properly. Differences appear at the margins: the alexandrite laser has advantages with fine, dark blonde hair on fair skin, while the multi-wavelength diode laser is more widely applicable, including on darker skin types.
SIACSKIN builds both. The DEWEON 4LD is a diode laser with 755, 808, 940 and 1064 nm for all skin types. The AlexDUAL UFO combines alexandrite at 755 nm and Nd:YAG at 1064 nm for skin types I to VI.
Which laser copes better with fine, dark blonde hair: diode or alexandrite?
For fine, dark blonde hair on fair skin, the alexandrite laser has the advantage. Such hairs contain little melanin and give off heat again very quickly. The crystal laser delivers 755 nm with high peak power in very short pulses and heats the thin hair before the heat dissipates. A diode laser usually works with longer pulses, which achieve less with thin hairs. With its own 755 nm wavelength it narrows the gap but does not close it completely.
The AlexDUAL UFO works with pulses from 0.3 ms. The DEWEON 4LD offers 755 nm as one of four wavelengths and pulses from 1 ms. For light, blonde hair and vellus hair, SIACSKIN provides the VCL DERMALIGHT.
Diode laser or alexandrite laser for thick, dark hair: which has the advantage?
With thick, dark hair both lasers work reliably, but the diode laser shows its strengths particularly well here. Coarse hairs contain a lot of melanin and retain heat for a long time. They do not need extremely short pulses but enough energy at depth, because on the back, legs or bikini line their roots often lie several millimetres deep. Wavelengths of 808 to 1064 nm penetrate deeper than 755 nm, and long pulses heat the thick hair evenly down to the root.
For this the DEWEON 4LD combines 808, 940 and 1064 nm with pulses of 1 to 200 ms. Alongside the alexandrite laser, the AlexDUAL UFO has an Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm on board and works with pulses of 0.3 to 100 ms.
Diode laser or alexandrite laser for dark skin: which is the safer choice?
With dark skin, the wavelength is decisive rather than the design: the safer device is the one that offers 1064 nm. A pure alexandrite laser at 755 nm is unsuitable for skin types V and VI because the pigment-rich epidermis absorbs too much energy. The same applies to a diode laser that offers only short wavelengths. With 1064 nm, longer pulses and powerful cooling, dark skin types can also be treated, provided the hairs are dark and coarse enough.
Both SIACSKIN devices solve this. The DEWEON 4LD has 1064 nm as one of its four wavelengths and is designed for all skin types. In the AlexDUAL UFO, the Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm is intended for skin types V to VI.
Which laser is faster on the legs and back: diode laser or alexandrite laser?
Both cover large areas in a similar time; they simply get there by different routes. The diode laser glides over the skin at a high repetition rate and passes over each area several times. The alexandrite laser places fewer, but very large, individual pulses side by side. For both legs or a back you should allow about 30 to 60 minutes with either system, depending on the area. How fast it really is depends on whether the device still delivers enough energy with a large spot and at high speed.
The DEWEON 4LD works with up to 30 Hz and spots of up to 15 × 40 mm with 4000 W at the handpiece. The AlexDUAL UFO offers square spots of up to 40 mm with a total power of 7500 W.
Diode laser or alexandrite laser on the face: which is more precise on the upper lip and chin?
On small facial areas the advantage lies with the laser that offers the smaller spot and the shorter pulse, and that is usually the alexandrite laser. On the upper lip, chin and sideburns the hairs are often fine and the areas small and curved. A small spot can be placed precisely at the lip margin and the angle of the nose, whereas a large contact window sits less well there. With dark, coarser facial hair the diode laser also works reliably in the stamping technique, and its contact cooling is a plus on the sensitive upper lip.
The AlexDUAL UFO starts at a square spot of 10 mm and pulses from 0.3 ms. The smallest spot of the DEWEON 4LD measures 15 × 15 mm, and cooling is provided via the sapphire directly at the handpiece.
Does diode laser treatment hurt more than alexandrite laser treatment?
No, that cannot be said across the board: with good cooling both lasers are described as well tolerated; they simply feel different. The diode laser in the in-motion technique builds up heat gradually, which many people experience as a warm stroking with individual peaks of heat. The alexandrite laser delivers individual strong pulses that feel like a brief snap. With both, the more sensitive areas are those with dense, dark hair such as the underarms and bikini line. With each session the hairs become fewer and the sensation weaker.
The DEWEON 4LD cools via a sapphire at as low as minus 50 °C directly on the skin. The AlexDUAL UFO has compressor and quadruple cooling. If required, the KYROMASTER supplies additional cold air.
Do you need fewer sessions with the alexandrite laser than with the diode laser?
No, generally not: with both lasers 6 to 8 sessions are usually needed. The number is determined by the hair cycle and not by the type of laser. Each session only affects the hairs that are currently in the growth phase, and depending on the area that is only a proportion. On the face, appointments are 4 to 6 weeks apart, on the body 6 to 10 weeks. Hormonally influenced areas and very fine hairs need more sessions. The result is a long-term, marked hair reduction; individual hairs may grow back.
The DEWEON 4LD and the AlexDUAL UFO document the treated areas and shot counts in their client management system so that each session follows on from the previous one.
How does a session with the diode laser differ from one with the alexandrite laser?
The most important difference lies in skin contact: the diode laser is placed on the skin with its cooled window, whereas the alexandrite laser generally places pulse next to pulse without gel. With the diode laser a thin film of gel is applied to the shaved skin, then the handpiece glides over the area in passes or stamps across it. With the alexandrite laser the handpiece is moved on field by field, and you hear and feel each pulse individually. Preparation, protective eyewear, test pulse and aftercare are the same for both.
On the DEWEON 4LD the AI skin analyser selects wavelength and energy. On the AlexDUAL UFO the SIA AI uses cameras on the handpiece to set skin type, body area and energy.
Can you switch from the diode laser to the alexandrite laser during a course of treatment?
Yes, switching is possible and sometimes even advisable. The follicles already treated remain damaged, so the course does not start again from the beginning. A switch is typical when, after a few sessions, only fine, lighter residual hairs remain that respond more weakly to the diode laser. Conversely, a switch is made to a longer wavelength when a darker skin type reacts too strongly to 755 nm. What matters when switching is a new test pulse, the previous settings as a guide and the usual interval between appointments.
A studio with the DEWEON 4LD and the AlexDUAL UFO can offer both in-house and continue the course on the appropriate device depending on the hair pattern.
Are 100 million shots on a diode laser the same as 100 million shots on an alexandrite laser?
No, the figure is the same, but the two designs use very different numbers of shots per treatment. A diode laser in the in-motion technique delivers many small pulses: at 10 Hz, 6,000 shots accumulate in just 10 minutes of actual laser time. An alexandrite laser with a large spot manages the same area with a few hundred to a few thousand individual pulses. Shot counts of different classes of device therefore cannot be compared directly. It is better to calculate in treatments per day and in years.
On the DEWEON 4LD the handpiece is designed for around 100 million shots, on the AlexDUAL UFO the crystal for 100 million shots. At 30,000 shots per working day and 250 working days per year, this figure would only be reached after a good 13 years. An alexandrite laser, which needs far fewer pulses per treatment, stays below it for even longer.
Why is an alexandrite laser more expensive than a diode laser and how high are the instalments?
An alexandrite laser costs more because its technology is more complex: the light is generated in a crystal that is excited by flashlamps, and added to this are a powerful power supply, the beam delivery to the handpiece and high-performance cooling. A diode laser generates the light directly in the handpiece and is more compact in design. As a guide for leasing, SIACSKIN applies around 1% of the net price per month over a term of 60 months, plus VAT and subject to credit rating.
For reference, the instalments: DEWEON 4LD from approx. €470 per month, AlexDUAL UFO with alexandrite and Nd:YAG from approx. €1,190 per month. The current net prices are shown on the product pages.
Which laser is easier for beginners to operate: diode laser or alexandrite laser?
For beginners the diode laser is regarded as the more forgiving system. In the in-motion technique the energy is distributed over many weaker pulses, the contact cooling rests on the skin constantly, and a setting chosen too high makes itself felt early through heat. The alexandrite laser delivers the full energy in a single short pulse. This demands greater confidence regarding skin type, tan and overlap, because a mistake has an immediate effect. You need thorough training for both.
Both SIACSKIN devices take the presetting off your hands: the AI skin analyser of the DEWEON 4LD selects wavelength and energy, and the SIA AI of the AlexDUAL UFO sets skin type, body area and energy using cameras on the handpiece. Training is included in the purchase.
Which studio is the diode laser right for and which clinic the alexandrite laser?
The diode laser suits studios that want to treat as many clients as possible cost-effectively with one device, and the alexandrite laser suits businesses that want to stand out through their results on fine hair. For newly founded businesses, beauty salons with one treatment room and locations with a mixed clientele, the lower instalment of the diode laser is the strongest argument. Clinics, dermatology practices and specialist laser centres with high utilisation and many fair-skinned clients with fine hair get more out of the alexandrite laser.
With four wavelengths the DEWEON 4LD covers all skin types. The AlexDUAL UFO combines alexandrite and Nd:YAG for skin types I to VI. Which one suits your location is clarified in the free consultation.
Is it worth running a diode laser and an alexandrite laser side by side in the studio?
Yes, as soon as two treatment rooms are fully utilised, the two lasers complement each other well. You can then assign each client to the appropriate device: coarse, dark hair and large areas to the diode laser, fine hair on fair skin and stubborn residual hairs to the alexandrite laser. Two devices also mean double the capacity at peak times and a reserve if one is undergoing maintenance. One device is enough to start with. The second is worthwhile when appointments are fully booked for weeks.
An obvious route is to begin with the DEWEON 4LD and add the AlexDUAL UFO later. With the SIACSKIN price calculator you can check at what level of utilisation the second device pays for itself.
