IPL Hair Reduction

IPL hair reduction is aimed at people who want a lasting reduction of unwanted body hair. Commonly treated areas include the legs, underarms, bikini line, arms, back, and—for women—the upper lip and other facial zones. The realistic goal is not one-time, total removal: after a course of sessions, hair typically grows back finer, sparser, and more slowly, and periodic maintenance treatments are common.

Because the treatment relies on melanin in the hair absorbing light, it works best on dark hair against lighter skin and has little effect on white, grey, or very light blond hair. Two boundaries are worth drawing: the same technology used on pigmentation and redness is called an IPL photofacial, which has its own entry, and laser hair removal—which delivers a single, more focused wavelength—is also covered separately.

Intense pulsed light passes through filters that select a broad band of wavelengths. Melanin in the hair shaft absorbs the light and converts it to heat, which damages the follicle and delays regrowth. Only follicles in their active growth phase respond, and hairs cycle at different times, so several sessions spaced weeks apart are needed. Providers usually ask you to shave the area beforehand, avoid tanning, and skip plucking or waxing between sessions so the hair shaft remains in place as a target.