By Catia Zaki, Clinic Manager and Laser Lead. Reviewed by Arman Zaki, GMC-registered Physician Associate (Ref A8131967). Published 25 July 2026.
For hair removal on darker skin, the machine matters more than almost anything else. IPL and laser are often sold as interchangeable, but on Fitzpatrick IV to VI skin they are not. Choosing the wrong one is the difference between a clean result and a burn or a patch of pigment that outlasts the hair.
IPL
Broad spectrum light
- Emits a wide band of wavelengths, not a single one
- More of the energy is absorbed by surface melanin
- Higher risk of burns and pigmentation on dark skin
- Better suited to lighter skin tones
Nd:YAG laser (1064nm)
A single, deeper wavelength
- Targets the follicle while sparing surface pigment
- The established standard for Fitzpatrick V and VI
- Lower risk when settings are chosen at a patch test
- Our lead choice for darker skin
Why IPL is riskier on darker skin
IPL is intense pulsed light, a broad spectrum rather than a single wavelength. Much of that spectrum is absorbed by melanin in the skin surface, not just the hair follicle. On Fitzpatrick IV to VI that raises the risk of burns and of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the dark marks that can linger for months. It is not that IPL never works, it is that the margin for error on darker skin is small.
Why we lead with 1064nm Nd:YAG
The 1064nm Nd:YAG wavelength reaches deeper and is less absorbed by surface pigment, which is why it is the most studied and established option for the deepest skin tones. We run it on a SMARTDiode triple-wavelength platform, with 808nm Diode for medium tones and 755nm Alexandrite for the lightest, and we choose your wavelength and settings at a patch test rather than assuming them.
The one rule that matters
If a clinic offers to laser your darker skin without asking your Fitzpatrick type or without a patch test, walk away. The right question is not just laser or IPL, it is whether the clinic owns 1064nm Nd:YAG and tests before it treats. At Melatone every new patient has a patch test and a Fitzpatrick assessment first.
Frequently asked questions
Is IPL safe for dark skin? IPL uses a broad spectrum of light that is strongly absorbed by melanin, which raises the risk of burns and post-inflammatory pigmentation on Fitzpatrick IV to VI skin. For darker skin the safer, established choice is 1064nm Nd:YAG laser. At Melatone we lead with 1064nm Nd:YAG for deeper skin tones and confirm settings at a patch test.
Why is 1064nm Nd:YAG laser better for darker skin? The 1064nm Nd:YAG wavelength penetrates to the hair follicle while sparing surface pigment, which is why it is the most studied and established option for Fitzpatrick V and VI. It reduces, though never fully removes, the risk that energy is absorbed by the skin rather than the follicle.
Can laser hair removal still cause pigmentation on dark skin? Any light-based treatment carries some risk on darker skin, which is why the wavelength, the settings and a patch test all matter. Used correctly with 1064nm Nd:YAG, the risk is much lower than with IPL. Where laser is not the right tool, the consultation will say so. Individual results vary.
This guide is general information, not individual medical advice. Every plan begins with a consultation and a Fitzpatrick assessment. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.