At-Home IPL Hair Removal

BEAUTY · UNITED KINGDOM

At-Home IPL Hair Removal

How it works, who it works for, eye and skin safety, and realistic results

Home IPL devices work on a real mechanism with clear limits, and the limits are about colour rather than about the device.

How it works

Broad-spectrum light is absorbed by melanin in the hair, converting to heat that damages the follicle. It needs a contrast between dark hair and lighter surrounding skin for the energy to go where it should.

It reduces and slows regrowth rather than removing hair permanently, and needs maintenance sessions indefinitely.

Who it works for

Dark brown and black hair on light to medium skin. It does not work on grey, white, red or very blonde hair, because there is no melanin to absorb the light.

On darker skin tones, the surrounding skin absorbs the energy too, risking burns and pigmentation changes. Check the manufacturer's skin tone chart honestly, and many devices have a sensor that refuses to fire.

Eye safety

Never use it near the eyes, on the eyebrows or above the cheekbones. The light can damage the retina, and devices are not designed for the face above the upper lip.

Use the eye protection supplied and do not look into the flash.

What to avoid treating

Tattoos, permanent makeup, moles, dark freckles and any pigmented lesion, since these absorb energy intensely and burn. Cover them, and see a doctor about any mole that has changed.

Who should not use one

Anyone pregnant, on photosensitising medication such as isotretinoin or certain antibiotics, with active skin infections, or with a history of keloid scarring or epilepsy triggered by light. Ask a doctor first.

Before you start

Shave the area the day before or the same day, since the device needs the follicle rather than the hair above the skin. Never wax, pluck or epilate between sessions, which removes the target entirely.

Do a patch test on a small area and wait at least a day before treating a whole region.

Sun and pigmentation

Avoid sun exposure and self-tan for a couple of weeks before and after treating an area, since tanned skin absorbs more energy and burns. Use sunscreen on treated areas afterwards.

Cost and alternatives

Work out the device price against a course of professional laser, which is more powerful, works on a wider range of hair and skin, and is supervised. For a small area, waxing or shaving may be the sensible answer.

Professional laser is also the option for anyone with darker skin, where specific wavelengths are used safely.

Realistic results

Weekly sessions for two to three months, then top-ups. Shave beforehand, never wax or pluck, and avoid sun exposure before and after.

WHERE TO BUY

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