How IPL hair removal works
To get started with IPL hair removal, you need to buy a device that looks like a gun from a science fiction movie, which has a slot through which intense pulsed light is emitted. This intense light is absorbed by the melanin contained in the hair, which is the dark-colored substance that gives color to the skin and hair on the body.
By absorbing light, the energy is converted into heat. This heat inhibits or destroys the hair follicle, inhibiting future hair growth. Just like laser, IPL works by the difference in tone between the hair and the surrounding skin. Dark hair absorbs the light and heats up, while light skin reflects it. This way, the hair is destroyed without burning the skin.
The fact that IPL technology uses a wider range of wavelengths than lasers allows it to treat larger areas in each pass, and is better suited to different skin and hair types. However, it is still light and has limitations. It will not work well for people with blonde or grey hair, as they do not have dark-coloured melanin to absorb the light. There are also difficulties for people with dark skin, as there is not as much of a difference between the colour of their hair and their skin. In both cases there is a risk of side effects, such as redness or burns.
IPL at home vs other methods
The main difference between IPL treatment and laser hair removal in beauty clinics is the duration. While laser hair removal delivers concentrated light to the desired area, IPL, on the other hand, disperses the concentrated light over a wider area of the skin. The scattered light, not being as powerful as the focused laser beam, will not be as effective as laser light. In addition, laser hair removal devices are much more powerful than home IPLs.
While a laser hair removal session takes about half an hour, when using IPL hair removal at home we will need more time to remove excess hair in the same area, or more sessions over more days. This means that, for example, while laser can provide permanent hair reduction with six to eight sessions, we may need to repeat IPL hair removal once or twice a week, which is the manufacturers' recommendation. At this frequency, it may take several months to notice hair removal, although there will always be variations between each case.
While in a professional setting laser application is supervised by trained personnel, home IPL devices are intended to be safer in the hands of anyone. This means that manufacturers intentionally reduce the power of the light. The increased safety is offset by the need for more patience and commitment to see results. In addition to skin tone, the effectiveness of IPL hair removal is also influenced by hormonal and genetic factors, meaning that some people may experience less pronounced or slower hair reduction than others.
One of the benefits of IPL hair removal at home is that the application is comfortable and minimally painful compared to professional laser hair removal or methods such as waxing. Most modern devices are equipped with cooling systems and intensity adjustment options that allow the treatment to be tailored to each person's comfort level, reducing the sensation of heat or discomfort during use. But beware, there is always a small risk of side effects, such as redness, irritation or temporary hyperpigmentation, in which case it is advisable to stop the treatment and consult a health professional.
IPL hair removal devices for home use can represent a significant initial investment, compared to shaving, waxing or depilatory creams. These devices cost between 100 and 500 Euros. However, the savings come in the long term, especially when compared to the cost of laser hair removal, which can be much higher. Also, no hair removal method is permanent, and although hair reduction may last for several months or even years, it is common for periodic touch-ups to be needed, in which case you will already have the device at home and no additional outlay will be necessary.
Home hair removal with IPL devices has been studied and proven to produce permanent hair reduction. in 80% of cases One year after treatment. The key is patience and perseverance, as this method requires several sessions to show visible effects.
