This page covers what each booking includes, how DPL relates to IPL and laser, who it suits and who should look elsewhere, and how to prepare. The studio does not offer laser hair removal or waxing, and face and bikini areas are not on the menu.
DPL hair removal prices at J.H Beauty
| Treatment | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Korean DPL Hair-Removal - Underarm | 30 min | $98 |
| Korean DPL Hair-Removal - Arm | 45 min | $158 |
| Korean DPL Hair-Removal - Leg | 45 min | $178 |
Each price is per visit for that area; the menu lists no packages. For a sense of the wider market, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports an average fee of $697 for laser skin treatments such as laser hair removal, a figure that excludes other related costs. That is a national average for a different technology, not a quote for any area here.
What DPL hair removal is
DPL belongs to the intense pulsed light (IPL) family. DermNet explains that IPL systems differ from lasers because they "deliver many wavelengths (or colours) in each pulse of light instead of just one wavelength", and that most IPL systems use filters to shape that output. In the dermatology literature, DPL stands for delicate pulsed light, a filtered, narrower-band pulsed light. The menu describes the Korean DPL service simply as using advanced light technology.
The principle is the same one Cleveland Clinic describes for laser: light turns to heat in cells that carry a lot of pigment, and "since dark hair has a lot of pigment, it absorbs the most heat." That is why the hair's color matters so much, and why every hair is not caught in one visit. Cleveland Clinic notes it's "unlikely that treatments will target all the hairs in their growth phase," so hair reduction is always a series.
DPL, IPL or laser?
All three reduce hair by heating pigment. Lasers deliver a single wavelength; IPL delivers a broad band; DPL is a filtered, narrower pulsed light. The evidence base differs too. A 2006 systematic review found laser and light treatments give partial hair reduction, better than shaving or waxing, with the strongest long-term evidence for alexandrite and diode lasers and a lack of evidence for long-term removal after IPL. A 2026 randomized trial comparing IPL with a diode laser on opposite underarms found both reduced hair, the diode laser did better at about seven months, and IPL scored lower for pain with the specific devices tested. Neither study tested DPL.
The side-by-side table is in our DPL light therapy guide, and laser hair removal in Sunnyvale covers laser cost, pain and session counts if you're weighing a laser provider instead.
Who DPL hair removal suits, and who it doesn't
A good fit: dark hair on the underarms, arms or legs, on light to medium skin, if you want less hair rather than a guarantee of none. Cleveland Clinic says light-based hair removal is "most effective for people with thick, dark hair and light skin."
Probably not a fit:
- Blonde, gray, white or red hair. These carry too little pigment to absorb the light well. DermNet calls IPL "generally ineffective for light coloured hair." Cleveland Clinic lists electrolysis as the only FDA-approved method of permanent hair removal, and it works on a wider range of hair colors.
- Darker skin tones. UT Southwestern says the ideal IPL candidates have light to medium skin tones, and that people with darker skin tones may not be good candidates. Talk it through before you book.
- A fresh tan. UT Southwestern lists a recent tan from sunlight or tanning beds among the reasons to avoid IPL, and DermNet advises avoiding sun exposure in the days and weeks before and after treatment. Wait until a tan has faded.
- Pregnancy. UT Southwestern lists pregnancy among the reasons to avoid IPL; ask your doctor first.
- Isotretinoin (Accutane). UT Southwestern lists isotretinoin among the medications that rule out IPL, and MedlinePlus advises avoiding waxing, laser treatments and dermabrasion while taking it and for six months after. Mention any prescriptions when you book.
- Areas not on the menu. Face, bikini, back and chest are not listed for DPL hair removal at J.H Beauty.
What a session involves
Each booking covers one area: 30 minutes for the underarms, 45 for the arms or legs. Shave the area beforehand. Cleveland Clinic's laser guidance is to shave two to three days before a treatment and, once treatment begins, to avoid waxing, tweezing and plucking the treated areas. Pulsed light usually feels like a slight sting with each pulse, which UT Southwestern compares to "a rubber band snapping against the skin."
Plan on a series rather than a single visit. In the 2026 underarm trial, the IPL and diode groups had four sessions a month apart. The studio can suggest spacing for your hair once it has seen it.
Aftercare
- Expect some pinkness. DermNet describes skin turning "pink and a little sore immediately after the procedure", and says people can return to work straight away.
- Keep it cool. Cleveland Clinic suggests a cold compress on the treated area after laser hair removal.
- Stay out of the sun. Avoid sun and tanning beds on the treated skin, and use sunscreen of at least SPF 30 while it recovers, as UT Southwestern advises after pulsed-light treatment.
- Shave, don't pluck, between sessions. Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding waxing, tweezing and plucking in treated areas once treatment has begun.
Book DPL hair removal in Sunnyvale
J.H Beauty is at 525 W Remington Dr, Suite 102, Sunnyvale, CA 94087, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:45 AM to 8 PM. Book the underarm, arm or leg session on our menu, or call +1-650-784-6076. If you're curious about DPL for skin rather than hair, the Italian DPL PhotoTherapy ($288, 75 minutes, face or back) is covered in DPL light therapy for acne.