Why We Use the Splendor X Laser — and Why It Matters for Your Results

When clients come to Radiant Skin House for laser hair removal, one of the first things we discuss is the technology we use. Not because we want to impress with technical jargon, but because the laser system genuinely determines the quality of your results — and most people have no idea how significant the differences between systems actually are.

We use the Splendor X by Lumenis. Here is why, and what it means for you.

The problem with single-wavelength lasers
For decades, laser hair removal clinics have had to make a choice: Alexandrite (755nm) or Nd:YAG (1064nm).

Alexandrite at 755nm is highly effective at targeting the melanin in hair follicles. It produces excellent hair removal results with strong efficacy per pulse. But it is also strongly absorbed by melanin in the skin’s surface — which makes it unsafe for clients with darker skin tones. Fitzpatrick IV–VI clients treated with Alexandrite risk burns, hyperpigmentation, and inconsistent results.

Nd:YAG at 1064nm penetrates deeper and is significantly safer for darker skin. The longer wavelength reduces surface absorption, allowing it to reach the follicle without overheating the skin. But it is less effective per pulse for lighter skin types — the lower melanin absorption means more energy is needed for the same follicle destruction, and results can take more sessions.

Every single-wavelength clinic is working with one of these trade-offs. Alexandrite clinics struggle with medium to dark skin. Nd:YAG clinics are safer across skin types but less efficient for lighter clients. Diode (810nm) systems sit between the two and are fully optimal for neither.

What the Splendor X’s BLEND X® technology changes
The Splendor X, made by Lumenis, is the world’s first laser to fire both wavelengths simultaneously — in adjustable proportions. This is called BLEND X® technology.

Rather than choosing one wavelength, the Splendor X allows the practitioner to set a precise ratio of Alexandrite to Nd:YAG for each individual client. Fair skin types receive an Alexandrite-dominant blend for maximum efficacy. Dark skin types receive a Nd:YAG-dominant blend for safety. Clients with medium or olive skin receive a calibrated balance of both.

This is not a small incremental improvement. It changes the fundamental limitation that every single-wavelength system operates under. There is no longer a trade-off between efficacy and safety — you get both, calibrated specifically for your skin.

The square spot — why it matters more than you might think
There is another feature of the Splendor X that is less talked about but enormously practical: the square spot.

Almost every other laser system fires a round (circular) spot of energy. When you place round spots side by side to cover an area of skin, they leave diamond-shaped gaps between each pulse. To avoid missing follicles, practitioners must overlap each pulse — which increases treatment time, creates inconsistency across the treatment zone, and introduces the risk of hot spots at overlap areas.

The Splendor X fires a precisely square beam. Square spots tile together perfectly — like a chessboard — with no gaps and no overlap required. Every part of the treatment zone receives exactly the same energy. No follicle is missed. No area is accidentally double-treated. The coverage is both complete and consistent in a way that round-spot systems cannot replicate.

Combined with a spot size that is 37% larger than comparable systems, this means treatments at Radiant Skin House are faster, more consistent, and require fewer sessions to achieve complete coverage.

What this means for clients with darker skin in North London
North London is one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the UK. A significant proportion of the clients we see are of South Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Afro-Caribbean, or mixed heritage — skin types that many laser clinics cannot treat optimally with a single-wavelength system.

The Splendor X changes this entirely. With BLEND X® technology, we configure a Nd:YAG-dominant blend for Fitzpatrick IV–VI clients — safe, effective treatment for dark and Black skin with no compromise on results. The system is FDA-cleared for all six Fitzpatrick skin types, and we perform a full skin assessment and patch test before any first session regardless of skin tone.

If you have been told elsewhere that laser “doesn’t work on your skin” or have had disappointing results from another clinic, it is worth understanding what laser system was used. A genuine medical-grade laser with appropriate wavelength settings produces results that bear no comparison to a mismatched system or to IPL.

Splendor X vs IPL — the difference clients don’t know to ask about
One of the most common reasons clients come to us after disappointing results elsewhere is that they were treated with IPL rather than laser — often without being told the difference.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is not a laser. It uses a broad-spectrum flashlamp to emit unfocused visible light across a wide wavelength range. Much of that energy is absorbed by the skin rather than the follicle. IPL is less precise, less powerful for hair reduction, and not safe for darker skin tones. It is less regulated than medical laser devices, which is why it is widely used in salon settings and budget hair removal chains.

The Splendor X is the opposite in every dimension: precise, dual-wavelength, square-spot, medical-grade, FDA-cleared. If you are looking for genuine permanent reduction — not just temporary management — the technology you choose matters significantly.

What to expect at your Splendor X consultation at Radiant Skin House
At your free consultation, your practitioner will assess your Fitzpatrick skin type, examine the hair colour and coarseness in the treatment area, and configure the Splendor X’s BLEND X® ratio for your individual profile. A patch test is performed before any first session — this is standard for every client and allows us to verify the settings are safe and effective for you specifically.

We will give you an honest assessment of how many sessions you are likely to need, what results are realistic for your hair and skin profile, and the best treatment plan to achieve them. We only recommend treatments we genuinely believe will benefit you — and the Splendor X is part of that commitment, because better technology produces better outcomes for our clients.

If you would like to find out more or book a free consultation, call us on 0208 090 1050 or use the contact form on our website. We are at 19 Station Road, Finchley — one minute from Finchley Central Tube on the Northern Line.