IPL Hair Reduction (2024)

FAQs

Does IPL permanently reduce hair? ›

IPL isn't going to make every single hair on your legs (or bikini line, or wherever) permanently vanish, but both in-office treatments and many quality at-home IPL devices are FDA-approved for permanent hair reduction. You may need a few sessions to see results, though, and IPL treatments aren't for everyone.

IPL treatments, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology, show that people get 83.3% less hair growth after one month and 78.1% less after three months. Results can last for years or even permanently. This makes IPL an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy long-lasting smoothness.

IPL hair removal treatment uses concentrated light energy to laser target the melanin (or pigment) within the hair follicle and shaft. The laser light is then absorbed by the melanin and converted to heat.

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light technology. Home IPL hair removal devices apply very gentle pulses of light to the hair root. This makes the hair go into its resting phase: the hair you have falls out, and gradually your body grows less hair in that area. That smoothness lasts a long time, too.

What happens to stubble after laser hair removal treatment? After laser hair removal treatment, the treated area may look and feel like it has stubble. This is a typical response to laser treatment. The hair follicles are still present, but the hair is damaged and falls out over time.

IPL is most effective while your hair is in the growth phase –if you treat your skin multiple times a week, your hair can become dormant and IPL treatment won't work as well. Additionally, while IPL is a gentle treatment, too much of it can be a bad thing. If you use IPL too frequently, you can irritate your skin.

IPL hair removal is a progressive treatment that offers full body hair removal - but you can use IPL to treat separate areas, such as your arms, legs, or pubic area, depending on your individual needs. When using IPL, you'll hold a flashgun device that delivers a spectrum of light to the skin.

Smoother skin: Shaving can be quite traumatic for the skin and many people suffer from rashes or bumps. IPL means that the skin doesn't need to undergo such harsh treatment, which is beneficial for its condition and appearance.

Both IPL and laser hair removal offer various benefits for women, helping to control peach fuzz, maintain smooth skin and hormonal hair growth. For men, these technologies offer solutions to reducing ingrown hairs from shaving.

Do I need to shave before an IPL? ›

You won't have to worry about this with IPL, as you're actually advised to shave before treatment. Shaving before your IPL hair removal treatment helps the light beam to focus in on the hair root. When using IPL, you'll need to shave less and less as your treatments go on.

The simple answer is no. Laser hair removal works by focusing targeted beams of light onto your hair follicles. This light energy is absorbed by the melanin (pigment) within the hair follicle which then heats up.

So, if you are wondering how long IPL hair removal lasts, remember that even though an IPL hair removal treatment can interrupt and kill the hair follicles in the targeted treatment area, hair may still eventually grow back, even at a reduced pace.

This in itself helps you understand that there is no permanent hair removal using IPL because there are a series of treatments that have to be done periodically. One or two hair follicles may grow back. In rare cases, all your hair may grow back.

After IPL hair removal

Any hair that does not fall out was either too fine, too light, too deeply rooted or possibly wasn't treated. After the hair falls out you should have a hair free period for approximately 3 to 6 weeks.

After IPL hair removal

New growth will appear, though there will be a certain percentage of hairs that don't grow back. This percentage will increase with each session. Between treatments, growth can be shaved but not waxed or tweezed.

IPL results are essentially permanent! That is, if we were to never go outside nor age. So, you will continue to get sun/age spots and pigmentation as you naturally age and live life (no matter how much SPF you apply). It is best to get a series of 3-6 IPL's and then complete maintenance treatments in between.

Efficacy. Most at home IPL devices cannot deliver the amount of heat required to destroy the hair follicle permanently.

We refer to IPL as a semi-permanent hair removal treatment as although the initial course of treatments will remove all of your hair follicles your body will eventually produce and develop more. We find that clients typically require a 'top-up' treatment once every six to twelve months to keep unwanted hair away!