IPL at home: How to use your IPL hair removal device

So you’ve got your device, but you’re wondering how to use IPL for home treatments. IPL devices are easy and effective – as long as you know what you’re doing! In this article we share some IPL tips and tricks to help you make the most of your machine, covering questions like ‘how often should I use IPL at home?’ and offering insights into how to use IPL for hair removal at home on different hair types and skin tones.

1. Read the manual about IPL for home treatments

• Take a look at the manual and familiarise yourself with your device before you start the treatment.
• This will tell you how to use your IPL hair removal device and its attachments, for each area of your body.
• You will also be told how much time it takes and how often to use IPL at home.

2. Check your hair and skin tone

• IPL isn’t suitable for every hair colour. Before using IPL, comparison is necessary to determine how well it’s going to work on different areas of your body where hair may be lighter or darker. IPL works well on naturally dark blonde, brown and black hair, but it isn’t effective for light hair tones such as white, grey, light blonde and red.
• With IPL, comparison between skin tones is also necessary, as the application works for very white to dark brown tones but isn’t effective on very dark skin.
• The best IPL devices detect your skin tone and select the most comfortable setting. Find out more about what makes a good IPL device here.
  

3. Do a patch test with your IPL at home

• The first step in how to use IPL for hair removal at home is to do a patch test 24 hours before the first treatment.
• To do this, you need to set your device according to your hair colour and skin tone.
• The IPL light flash is then tested on a small area of skin.
• If you don’t notice any irritation after the rest period, you can continue the treatment.
• In case of traces  on the skin, you should use lower light intensity levels as a precaution or reconsider whether the treatment is right for you.
• If skin irritation persists, talk to a dermatologist to avoid skin damage.
  

4. Prepare your skin for IPL at home

1. Remove hair from the area to be treated: Shave, epilate or wax the area you want to treat with IPL. By removing the hair, you prevent your hair from burning on the surface of the skin.
2. Clean the skin: Your skin should be dry and clean, and free of oil and soap before treatment.je huid moet droog en schoon zijn, en vrij van olie en zeep voor de behandeling.

5. Choose the right light intensity and attachment

• After determining your skin tone and hair colour, you should set and use the recommended light intensity. This can be found in the instruction manual.
• With the Philips Lumea IPL 9000 Series and its SenseIQ technology, it’s best to test the skin in the relevant area one day before use. It will determine the correct light setting and intensity.
• On the subject of relevant areas, you’ll also want to know how to use IPL hair removal device attachments. The best devices, like the Lumea IPL 9000 Series, come with different attachments for the face, underarms, bikini line and another for your legs and the rest of the body.
  

6. Clean the IPL device

With IPL for home use (compared to in a salon) it’ll be your responsibility to clean the entire device and the attachments with a soft cloth. Fortunately, this is quick and easy.

7. Take care of your skin after the treatment with IPL tips

Our top tip for nourishing your skin following IPL is to avoid irritating creams, scrubs and gels immediately after treatment. Instead, apply skin-care products that are gentle and soothing to the skin.