If you’re fed up with constantly having to shave or attend waxing appointments every few weeks (forever), then maybe IPL Hair Removal is the answer to your hairy ‘problems’. It’s low maintenance and longer lasting but how does IPL Laser Hair Removal work? Let’s dive in and explore the science behind the treatment.
IPL Hair Removal – What is it?
IPL hair removal is a popular method of reducing hair growth, long-term. It uses light energy to target the hair follicles directly beneath the skin.
Many people opt for IPL hair removal at our clinic in Christchurch because it’s a low maintenance alternative to at home shaving and/or waxing.
Results vary patient to patient, some skin and hair types are better suited to the treatment than others and this is something we will discuss if you come into the clinic for a consultation. I will never recommend a treatment to you that I know won’t deliver the results you want.
How Does IPL Laser Hair Removal Work
Let’s dive into the science of how IPL hair removal actually works. At Christchurch Derma Spa Skin Clinic, we use the Lynton Laser system so that’s what we’ll be covering today.
Stages of Hair Growth
Before we talk about the treatment itself, we need to understand that your hair doesn’t grow all at once. Each hair follicle on your body goes through phases, and they aren’t co-ordinated.
The anagen phase lasts different lengths of time depending on the area. The hairs on your head have an incredibly long Anagen phase, whereas on the arms and legs (two of the most popular areas for hair removal), it’s 30-45 days.
This is the reason you need to return every 3-4 weeks during your IPL hair removal treatment. We’re trying to catch as many follicles as we can during their Anagen phase, as this is the best time to target the follicle.
How IPL Hair Removal Works – The Science Behind it
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) uses bursts of broad-spectrum (multicoloured, like the rainbow) light to target the pigment in your hair called melanin. When the light hits the hair, it’s absorbed by the melanin and converted into heat. This heat travels down the hair shaft and gently damages the follicle, disrupting its ability to grow new hair.
Only hairs in their active growth stage (Anagen) contain enough pigment for the light to travel all the way to the root of the hair.
IPL works most effectively on people with lighter skin and darker hair, as the higher the contrast, the more the light is concentrated on the hair, rather than the skin around it.
How Long Does IPL Laser Hair Removal Last?
Results vary by patient and are dependent on your skin and hair type / colour. Coarser, darker hair combined with lighter skin will usually see the best results from laser hair removal.
IPL isn’t a permanent solution to hair growth but during your course of treatments you will find your hairs become much finer and grow back more slowly. Many follicles will eventually stop growing new hair altogether – which of course is the desired result.
For some, you may need maintenance treatments periodically to keep up your results.
At your consultation I will assess your colouring and let you know if you are suitable for the treatment and how successful it’s likely to be for you.
When To Use IPL?
The best time for IPL hair reduction treatments is in the autumn / winter months in the UK, as you need to avoid sun exposure to your treatment area, for the duration of your treatment.
If you’d like to get started on a course of treatments as soon as possible, please book a consultation so we can discuss your desired results.
If you’re reading this in the spring / summer thinking it’s a shame you can’t start now, you can still book a consultation to discuss your treatment and we can get you booked in the diary ready, as the clinic is especially busy in autumn / winter.
