Permanent Hair Removal At Home: Why DIY IPL Treatments Are Becoming So Popular
[Photo: Getty]
The rise of at-home treatments started with dyeing your hair yourself and doing your own waxing but come 2016, a whole host of professional salon treatments are available to do in the comfort of your own home. We’re not talking just temporary fixes though, how about permanent hair removal?
The rise of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), an alternative treatment to laser hair reduction, has shown phenomenal growth with multiple at-home IPL tools now available in shops. But how does IPL work and is permanently removing your hair actually safe or (more importantly) painless?
First of all - the ultimate question. Does it burn or damage skin?
IPL is a form of light therapy that works by emitting a wavelength into the skin which targets the colour pigment in the hair follicle. Since it targets the actual hair rather than the skin, this means it’s virtually pain free as the skin receptors feel nothing but a gentle warming sensation.
Nathali Eleni, beauty ambassador for Braun says “think of it in the same way as wearing a black top on a hot sunny day - the black clothing absorbs the heat where a white top would reflect it.” The hair pigment absorbs the lightwave, which heats the follicle and destroys the hair cells. This disrupts the hair growth cycle so that eventually, the hair stops growing all together.
Hate having to shave every other day? [Image: Getty]
IPL is a great option for stubborn hair that grows back quickly and is stubbly after shaving or waxing. Bored of constantly trying to maintain your skin? Do you have problem with ingrown hairs and shaving cuts? IPL offers a long term hair removal solution for those who struggle with excess hair or anyone that wants long-term, smooth, hair-free results. No wonder the IPL industry is set to be worth 2.19 billion by 2019.
Another reason why it’s increasing in popularity is because it’s cheaper and somewhat less ‘scary’ than laser hair removal. Laser treatments are much more intense and go deeper, reaching right to the root of each hair to destroy it, compared to IPL which is more of a disruptor.
Laser hair removal is far more precise but is likely to be more painful than IPL - it’s described as feeling like the ping of an elastic band compared to the warming sensation of IPL.
Laser treatments should only be done by a trained professional [Image: Getty]
Laser hair removal works well for clients with fair skin and fine hair, but is not always recommended for those with darker skin tones due to the higher melanin content in darker skin. It’s also a salon-only treatment as it requires specialist machinery and training.
Since IPL uses a weaker lightwave, it’s a great solution for achieving salon-quality smoothness with the comfort and convenience of being able to do it in your own home. The latest IPL tools on the market are easy to use, with minimal instruction or training required. We are literally taking the beauty science into our own hands.
How long will it take to be permanently hair free?
As individuals, we each have our own unique hair growth pattern, density and colour of hair so results will vary. IPL is a bit of a time commitment though because results aren’t instantaneous. This is because human hair grows in three stages, so one treatment will not cover every hair.
For permanent results, you must use the IPL over a period of time in order to disrupt the growth cycle permanently. How long though? Nathalie explains “The start-up phase is generally once a week for a duration of three months, then you will switch to maintenance treatments.”
Nathalie’s top tip for doing IPL at home is to shave or epilate before each treatment so that the IPL can have better access to the root. “It also helps to direct the light at the hair beneath the skin, rather than above the surface. Also, always start with clean, dry skin and keep skin exfoliated and hydrated in-between treatments.“
To improve the smoothness of your skin, exfoliate regularly. Exfoliating removes old, dead skin cells that can build up and block new skin, and possibly the follicle underneath. This is how hairs get trapped and become ingrown.
Regular exfoliation removes build up of skin cells, keeping legs looking smoother and glossier. It also helps to boost circulation and stimulate lymphatic drainage which helps to alleviate water retention and improve your skin tone.
Our at-home IPL picks
The Braun Silk-expert IPL £399 has intelligent SensoAdapt™ technology that continually reads and adapts to your skin tone throughout use. To keep track of your treatment sessions, Braun also has a clever mobile app that syncs to your diary to plan your treatments. This special beauty edition also comes with a Sonic Body Exfoliator brush worth £45.
Keep skin in top condition with dry brushing to promote skin renewal and circulation. We like the Mio Skincare Body Brush £14, with natural boar bristles and rubber massage nodules, this brush lets you massage and exfoliate the whole body in a matter of minutes.
IPL and laser has historically only worked well on fair skin tones but the Iluminage recise Touch Permanent Hair Remover £240 combines IPL and Radio Frequency to offer permanent results on all skintones, and the widest range of hair colors. Small and lightweight, it’s perfect for bikini, underarm and face.
To prevent ingrown hairs, exfoliate regularly with Caudalie Crushed Cabernet scrub £21.50, a natural body scrub made with exfoliating grape-seeds, honey and brown sugar. Just buff in circular motions for super smooth and soon to be hair-free skin.
This new cordless Panasonic ES-WH90 IPL Hair Removal System (available in July) allows for treatment of hard to reach areas, within easy access of the nearest mirror - or wherever you want to do it. It has five intensity settings, which can be increased as you progress through the course of treatments and also has an integrated UV filter to protect the surrounding skin.
So if you are willing to put in the time commitment, and don’t mind treating your skin at home, then IPL might be a cheaper alternative for you compared to laser hair removal or even regular waxing. Over time, the investment in an IPL tool is also likely to work out cheaper than waxing appointments and razor purchases - the biggest decision is, do you want to rid yourself of hair permanently?.
Would you trust yourself to do permanent hair removal at home? Tweet us your thoughts @YahooStyleUK.
