What is IPL Hair Removal and How Does It Work?
It stands for the term, Intense Pulsed Light. IPL hair removal uses bursts of light to reach down to the roots of your hair. While laser hair removal uses only one color of light, IPL uses many in itself.
It can be treated as a body maintenance activity, and people try all sorts of things to get rid of unwanted hair. There is use of razors and wax, and also epilators, which remove hair by pulling it. While these methods are laborious and require frequent repetition, technology has fortunately introduced new, longer-lasting alternatives for eliminating hair, including IPL hair removal. In this guide, we'll look at what IPL hair removal is, how it works, its benefits, and what to know if you want to try it.
Understanding IPL Hair Removal
What is IPL Hair Removal?
It stands for the term, Intense Pulsed Light. IPL hair removal uses bursts of light to reach down to the roots of your hair. While laser hair removal uses only one colour of light, IPL uses many in itself. The light dives into the skin and aims straight for the dark pigment in your hair.
People use most IPL machines on different parts of the body, like the legs, underarms, bikini lines, and even the face. Today, many individuals also use IPL gadgets at home in removing their body hair as it is straightforward to do alone.
How Does IPL Hair Removal Work?
Hair grows in cycles - growing, resting, and shedding. To be most effective, your hair needs to be in the growth stage for IPL to take full effect since this is when the hair carries the most pigment.
Here's a straightforward step-by-step on how IPL body hair removal really works:
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Flash of Light: The IPL machine emits brief bursts of light penetrating into the skin which zero in on the hair roots.
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Finding Melanin: The light looks for melanin or the colour of the hair. Melanin makes hair dark, and it consumes light by turning it to heat.
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Weakening the Hair Root: This heat travels down to the hair root, weakening it. At that point, hair grows even slower, and after several treatments, hair ceases to grow from the root.
Advantages of IPL Hair Removal
Its many benefits drive people to utilise IPL to remove body hair. Here's why IPL may just be what you need:
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Long-Lasting Effects: Through regular sessions, the result of IPL hair removal is that it slows down hair growth for a long period. You no longer have to do extensive hair removal routines.
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Covers Multiple Regions: You can do IPL on most parts of your body, for instance, the big parts like legs and even smaller areas like the face and bikini region.
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It Saves Money in the Long Run: Although it sounds expensive at first, the money you save since you are not constantly buying razors or waxing shops and salon visits stays there.
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Use It at Home: Many companies design IPL devices for home use, making machine hair removal easy to do whenever you want from the comfort of your home.
Key Differences Between IPL and Laser Hair Removal
Despite both IPL and laser hair removal using light to decrease the rate of hair growth, they use very different methods:
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Type of Light: Laser hair removal uses one colour which means the light would focus better on the hair root. IPL is using a mix of colours that can be set to work on larger areas at once.
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Works on Different Skin and Hair Colors: Laser hair removal tends to work better on darker tones of the skin, whereas IPL works best when using lighter skin and dark hair.
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Treatment Time: IPL can be quite fast at treating larger areas, thus easier for areas like legs, but lasers are slower, yet more focused.
Who is suited for the treatment of IPL Hair Removal?
IPL hair removal suits many people but there are some things to keep in mind:
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Skin and Hair Colour: For the best results from IPL, it suits people with light skin and dark hair. The difference in their colour makes it easy for the light to find the hair.
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Skin Sensitivity: If you are sensitive-skinned, then visit a dermatologist before because IPL causes some redness.
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Health Conditions: Some skin conditions or medications can make your skin light-sensitive so patients might not be safe for IPL. If unsure, ask a doctor.
How to Use an IPL Hair Removal Device
So you're thinking of trying IPL at home? Well here is the simplest guide to get you started. Although every device may vary, these simple steps will guide you as to what you must do:
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Prepare Your Skin: Clean and shave the area you wish to treat. Shaving removes hair on the skin's surface, and there it leaves its root exposed to IPL treatment.
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Adjust the Settings: Change the settings of your IPL device to suit your skin colour and hair colour. Many such devices are sold with settings that will make the treatment pain-free and safe.
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Apply the Device: Hold the device against your skin and press the button to release the flash of light. Remember to follow what is instructed for the number of seconds for a specific area.
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Move to Next Area: Once you have done the treatment of one region move to the next area. Do not overlap because now it can cause irritation to the skin.
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Care After the Treatment: After your IPL session, you should smooth your skin with lotion. Try not to expose yourself too much to sun rays for at least a few days. Sun protection is necessary because your skin will feel more sensitive.
Conclusion
This IPL hair removal smart, easy, long-term option went with those wishing to have smooth skin and the absence of constant shaving or waxing. It works by using pulses of light, getting into hair roots, and weakening them, therefore ceasing hair to grow back quickly, which can ensure you more time without having to think about hair removal. IPL may be especially effective for someone with lighter skin and dark hair. Clear apparatus instructions and diligent treatment adherence are crucial for optimal results; patience is key. With IPL, you spend less time on hair care and more time with your favourite things!
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