Traditional hair removal processes such as shaving, waxing, and plucking can be frustrating. This is because these hair removal processes are repetitive and life-long processes, which take a chunk of your time. Not only that, but these processes require you to be extra careful or risk being hurt or, in some cases, cutting your skin. However, thanks to advancements in technology, there is a non-invasive and painless hair removal process referred to as IPL, which helps individuals get rid of unwanted hair permanently from the comfort of their homes.
In this post, we will walk you through all you need to know about IPL, its benefits, and why it should be your preferred hair removal process in 2023 and beyond.
IPL: A Quick and Easy Solution
IPL stands for intense pulsed light, and just as the name suggests, is a type of light therapy treatment used for hair removal. Unlike other methods of hair removal, IPL is safe, non-invasive, and painless. This is because it uses a broad spectrum of light to target the hair follicles preventing them from regrowing.
The process of hair removal involving IPL is quite simple. Essentially, the device is directed towards the unwanted hair area, and upon exposure to the light waves from the handheld device the skin absorbs the light, by traveling through the epidermis to the dermis. Upon reaching the dermis, the light waves make their way to the hair follicle, and then it gets absorbed by the melanin. When absorbed, the light energy is converted into heat which burns the hair follicle, damaging it and inhibiting its growth.
After multiple sessions of an IPL procedure, the hair follicle finally gets destroyed, preventing any hair growth in the targeted area, and this is the advantage IPL treatment has over conventional hair removal methods such as waxing, and shaving since IPL achieves permanent results, which is something the traditional methods do not.
Also, IPL has the upper hand when compared to other hair removal treatments like laser. This is because IPL can be done at home, without the supervision of a professional; however, laser hair removal processes require a professional to handle the procedure. It is also, worth noting that processes like laser can be quite painful compared to an IPL.
IPL Treatment Duration and Frequency
As stated earlier, IPL isn't a one-time process. For maximum efficacy, you will be required to have multiple sessions, usually about 3-6 sessions before permanent results can be achieved. Each session takes about 20 minutes to an hour, and it is recommended that you schedule these sessions within a 4 to 6-week interval.
While the recommended IPL sessions might seem like a lot, it is worth noting that hair removal processes like waxing are usually repeated within a 2 to 3-week interval, while shaving is usually done every week. Therefore, not only will an IPL treatment permanently get rid of your hair, but also, the interval between each session is less frequent than traditional methods which are all lifelong processes.
With that out of the way, we will like to emphasize that it is important that you wait for the recommended duration between sessions to ensure maximum efficacy. This is because it takes usually about 3 to 4 weeks for the hair to reach the surface of the skin and reach its active regrowth stage. Therefore, by waiting until the 4 weeks is due, you can target any newly grown hair you might have missed earlier in its active growth phase, which is the most efficient time to target and destroy the hair follicles.
Also, spacing out your sessions allows the skin to recover and repair itself from any damage it might have incurred during the process.
Long-Term Time Savings
Looking at the bigger picture, IPL hair removal can be a great time saver, and even though the typical session takes longer than most traditional methods, in the long run, you will save more time. This is because let's say a typical IPL session takes 45 minutes, and let's assume you undergo 6 sessions. This means you will require a total time of 4.5 hours to permanently get rid of hair growth in unwanted areas. Even in the worst-case scenario, if each session takes an hour, then it means you will require a total of 6 hours for permanent hair reduction.
On the other hand, conventional processes like waxing or shaving usually take about 15 to 30 minutes, and while this might be less time than the time it takes to undergo an IPL process, it should be emphasized that these processes are lifetime commitments that require you to do them over and over again, and when we accumulate the time it will take you to shave/wax throughout a lifetime, it is far more than the time it will take you to undergo an IPL process.
(Data Sources: Daily Mail)
According to sources, women spend 72 days of their lifetime shaving their legs, while men spend 45 days shaving; therefore, why do you not do yourself a favor, and then choose a method that will take only 6 hours, which is 288 times less consuming than other conventional methods.
Other Benefits of IPL:
Besides the time-saving benefit of an IPL treatment, IPL offers tons of other benefits we will like to explore in this section. Some of these benefits include:
1.Less Risky
With IPL, users are at less risk of cutting or damaging their skin compared to other traditional methods. We all know for a fact that with shaving, there is a risk of nicks and cuts on the skin. Other processes like waxing are painful and can cause infection to your hair follicles. Also, laser treatment can be painful and can cause skin irritation and pigment changes.
In addition, IPL hair removal processes reduce the risk of ingrown hair, which is quite common in some individuals who shave or wax. Ingrown hair occurs when the hair grows back into the skin as opposed to outside the skin. This usually occurs when the hair regrows at an unusual angle, causing it to get trapped under the skin. An ingrown hair can result in a small, pimple-like bump which can be discomforting and painful, and if left untreated, it may become infected, necessitating medical attention. Fortunately, with IPL treatment, you can avoid worrying about ingrown hair.
2.Improves Skin
Besides helping you get rid of your unwanted hair, an IPL procedure will simultaneously work on improving your skin in so many ways. One of the ways it helps your skin is to improve the pigmentation of the skin by alleviating skin conditions such as hyperpigmentation. This is because IPL targets melanin, which is a substance responsible for producing the body's pigment. Therefore, when the excess melanin in your skin gets destroyed, not only will it inhibit hair growth, but also, correct your skin color as well.
Another way IPL improves your skin is to stimulate collagen production. Collagen is a protein that is responsible for supporting skin structure and strength, ensuring that your skin stays youthful and wrinkle-free. IPL treatment stimulates collagen production by causing micro-damage to the skin as it penetrates the skin; these damages cause the body to increase the production of collagen to repair the damages, resulting in much smoother and firmer skin.
Finally, IPL treatment improves your skin by dealing with skin conditions such as acne. This is because the frequency of the light waves produced by the IPL device is high enough to kill some of the bacteria responsible for acne or rosacea, resulting in much healthier and smoother skin.
3.Convenient
IPL is a convenient process that can be done anywhere. You do not require any expensive sessions or medical supervision-- all you need is to purchase the device, and carefully follow the instructions, and you should see similar results as you would with laser treatment and better results as you would with conventional hair removal processes. Also, as stated earlier, the process is less time-consuming than other processes and provides a long-lasting solution.
Looking For An Sapphire IPL Hair Removal Device?
You can save yourself, time, stress, and pain by getting yourself a IPL Hair Removal Handset. If you need an IPL handset, then we recommend that you check out our Elegtime Sapphire IPL Hair Removal Handset Troidini Edition, which is an advanced laser hair removal device that can target hair follicles with more precision and remove heat generated from the laser beams faster than ordinary IPL devices. Our device features a smart sensing capability that automatically adapts to your skin tone, ensuring that the treatment is more effective.
Our IPL is FDA-approved, therefore, you can be assured of an effective hair removal device that gets the job done. In case, you feel like the device isn't performing or getting rid of the hair as you expected, then do not hesitate to return within 90 days after purchase.
Even though an IPL handset can be used from the comfort of your home, we highly recommend that you consult your doctor before you if you have any serious medical or skin condition.
