IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light therapy. It is an effective form of hair removal treatment that can drastically, and in some cases permanently, reduce unwanted hair growth in targeted areas on your body. Sounds great, right? But how does this tool accomplish this task with such amazingly effective results?
This article aims to answer the questions you have about IPL and laser hair removal, including but not limited to: how does IPL hair removal work? Does IPL work on all hair colours and skin types? And how long do IPL hair removal results last? By the end, you will know all about IPL and its mechanism. Hence, you can determine whether it will work for you and whether or not you want to try conducting treatment with a home IPL device.
What Is IPL and How Is It Used?
As the name suggests, the IPL technology uses intense pulses of light to cause changes to the hair and skin in a specific area.
Intense pulsed light is used to treat skin conditions that may occur from excessive sun exposure, acne, and broken blood vessels. And of course, it can be used as an effective means to obtain smooth, hairless skin on some sensitive parts. With this home laser treatment, you can get rid of unwanted hair in just about any place in your body such as the upper lip, bikini line, underarms, legs, or chin.
IPL was originally utilised by trained professionals in salons or dermatology clinics. However, as it grew in popularity especially as a convenient hair reduction technique, it evolved. More user-friendly IPl devices such as the Philips Lumea Prestige were created, making it safe for home use by anyone who is interested.
Home IPL laser devices, like the Lumea Prestige, have less powerful light settings allowing you to safely conduct treatments without the need for a professionally trained technician.
How IPL Works to Remove Hair
Alright, now that we have a basic understanding of what IPL is, let’s dive into the specifics on how it works to enable hair removal as well as hair growth reduction.
The Science Behind the Method
An IPL device uses polychromatic light, also called full-spectrum light, in combination with low-level infrared radiation to accurately target melanin in your hair and skin.
Filters in an IPL device block all of the most harmful wavelengths of infrared light, allowing a broad spectrum of light to be used for the treatments. Typically, IPL will use light wavelengths that fall between the range of 500 and 1200 nanometres.
Melanin, the dark pigment that gives hair its colour and skin its tone, absorbs the pulses of light energy produced by the IPL device and heat up to the point where it damages the hair follicles.
This damage to the hair follicles destroys the part of the root responsible for producing hair called the papilla. The damage from one treatment is usually enough for you to lose the hair and the results will only increase with consistency. Ideally, IPL will damage the hair follicles enough to prevent future regrowth entirely, although this will take several sessions and still is not guaranteed.
Does IPL Work on Every Hair Colour and Skin Tone?
Unfortunately, IPL hair removal does not work on all skin types or hair colours.
Due to the way IPL targets melanin, this natural pigment needs to be present in a fair quantity to be effective. When it comes to hair colour, dark hair is best. Still, IPL will work on shades ranging from dark blonde to black, although it may be less effective on the lighter end of the spectrum.
IPL hair removal will not work on grey, red, light blonde hair, or one that has been bleached from the sun because it lacks the proper amount of melanin for the treatment to be effective, unlike dark hair.
When it comes to skin colour, an abundance of melanin can make IPL hair removal treatments less effective and, in some cases, not recommended at all.
On the other hand, dark skin contains more melanin which makes it hard for the pulsed light to specifically target the melanin in hair follicles. Darker skin tones also have a tendency to heat up more which can lead to negative side effects. For this reason, a lighter skin complexion will benefit the most from an IPL treatment. Skin tones ranging from fair to olive, and to light brown colour will show a positive outcome.
How Long Does IPL Hair Removal Take to Work?
Unlike other common hair removal techniques, IPL doesn’t have instant results. So, don’t expect to walk away from a treatment hair-free. At first, you will see the hair start to shrivel. That is, of course, only if you have any strays that were missed while shaving in preparation. This is usually somewhat noticeable as soon as the IPL session is complete. Within a couple of weeks, the hair in the treated area will start to shed. This will leave you with smooth, hair-free results that may eventually last for weeks to come.
Even with the IPL’s delayed gratification, we still think it is worth the effort in the long run due to the fact that less hair winds up growing back. Additionally, you will ultimately be able to go long periods of time between treatments.
Other IPL Hair Removal Considerations
Now that you know all about the technical specifications of IPL and how it works to remove hair, there are still a few things you need to know to have a complete understanding of the process. The following section will hopefully answer any lingering questions you may have about IPL.
How Long Do IPL Results Last?
IPL hair removal provides you with long-lasting results that only get better with continued use. At first, you will want to undergo treatment every two to four weeks. Continue this until you complete anywhere from 6 to 10 sessions. It will depend on how stubborn the targeted hair is and the overall results you are witnessing.
After the initial group of sessions, you should be able to continue seeing the effect for weeks or even months. While it is not technically considered to be a permanent hair removal solution, you may find that you only need to do one or two touch-ups per year to keep unwanted hair from growing back.
What Does IPL Feel Like?
The sensations produced by IPL treatments can vary slightly from person to person and also from one device to the next, depending on the strength or intensity of the light. Keep in mind, professional IPL devices will generally be stronger than the ones you use at home. And therefore, these will also cause the most noticeable amount of sensation on the skin and hair being treated.
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For the most part, IPL sessions are considered to be pain-free. Most people report a warm and tingly sensation during treatment which some users would say is similar to a thin elastic band being flicked against your skin. When compared to waxing, we would definitely say it is painless.
Pro tip: If you are using an IPL device at home and you experience an uncomfortable sensation, try turning the light intensity setting down. Most at-home devices, like the Philips Lumea Prestige, have a variety of settings designed for targeting different areas. So, just try a lower setting until you find the area is less sensitive to the pulses of light and the treatment becomes more comfortable overall.
How to Prepare an Area for an IPL Hair Removal Treatment
Before you start an IPL treatment, you may begin by preparing the area you want to target the day before. Keep this in mind when you are planning your preferred treatment schedule.
To achieve the best results from IPL treatments, it is recommended that you always make sure to shave 24 hours before the session. Longer hairs will absorb more light and retain more heat which can easily lead to burns if you are not careful. Hence, it is always best to use IPL on a hair-free area – in fact, we would go so far as to say you need to. This not only allows the pulsed light to have a better concentration on the hair follicle and the melanin around the root but also helps to reduce possible side effects, such as skin irritation.
Waxing before an IPL treatment is generally not recommended because it can extract the hair follicles at the root and leave the pulsed light with a minimal area to target. This will significantly affect the body hair removal results.
Is It the Right Treatment for You?
Now that we know the answer to our question – how does IPL hair removal work, you may or may not be considering it as a form of hair reduction technique for yourself. When it comes to hair removal, IPL treatments are an excellent way to keep a certain area smooth for long periods, as well as to control regrowth. Just keep in mind that IPL targets the dark pigment in your hair follicles and skin. Hence, it is not suitable for those with darker skin type or light blonde, red, or grey hair.
If you are looking for a new method to achieve hair removal, IPL could be just the thing as long as you fit within the requirements and strictly observe precautionary measures. What do you think? Now that you know how IPL hair removal works, will you give it a try? Let us know in the comments below.
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Emily is a woman of many talents. She has a B.A. in English and enjoys writing. Emily loves accessorising her home with quality products that not only serve a purpose but also enhance the overall convenience and tranquillity of her living space; there’s nothing like coming home to your own personal sanctuary after a long day! She loves anything that can make life easier or more comfortable—from dishware to furniture to lighting fixtures.