I've been using an IPL laser hair remover for five years here are 3 things
to know if you're thinking of getting one
Date:
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:06:55 +0000
Description:
My IPL machine is my summertime savior here's what I tell people who ask me if they should buy one.
FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Before I tried my first IPL machine, I was suspicious. A handheld device that flashes at your skin and it somehow zaps away your body hair? It all sounded rather unlikely. Except then I got one, and it did just that, and it's been my summertime savior for the past five years.
I paraphrased before, so let me back up a bit. IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light: multiple wavelengths of light that look a little like a photo flash. (They're different to a laser, which uses one concentrated beam.) You remove the hair from the bit of skin you want to be fuzz-free, and then run your device over that patch. The light targets the follicle that sits under the surface of your skin, damaging or destroying it so it doesn't grow back.
View the full Amazon Prime Day sale
The results, for me, are incredible. It's by far the most effective, long-lasting and side-effect-free method of hair removal I've tried (and I have tried them all). However, there are a few things to know before buying one scroll down for the key things I tell anyone who asks me if I'd
recommend an IPL.
I was particularly inspired to share my tips now, because there are several heavily discounted IPL machines (including my own Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 five years old and still going strong) included in the Amazon Prime Day
sales. So if you read my tips and decide to buy, now's a great time to do so. Top deals quick links US: Philips Lumea now $299.95 at Amazon (was $449.99 ) US: Braun Silk.Expert Pro 5 now $284.99 at Amazon (was $399.99 ) UK: Lumea 7000 now 219.98 at Amazon (was 349.99 ) UK: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 now 299
at Amazon (was 610 ) 3 top tips 1. They won't work for all hair types in all places Because of the zapping mechanism, IPL machines work best on dark hair on pale skin the bigger the contrast, the better. That means they won't work for everyone people with fair, fine body hair likely won't see much of a difference, and ditto those with darker skin tones.
Further to that, they might not work equally well everywhere on your body.
For instance, my IPL doesn't really do much for my leg hair, whereas it's
much more effective on my underarms. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals,
and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. 2. They're pain-free and the results last That light looks like it's going to hurt, right? Wrong. The IPL process is pretty much pain-free, save for it occasionally feeling a bit hot. I also don't have an issue with itchy or awkward regrowth in the way I do with shaving.
If you struggle with a bad reaction to other hair removal methods, note that you will need to remove all your hair in your target area before you go over it with the IPL machine. Shaving it is recommended, so you will need to deal with that nasty regrowth at least once.
However, I've found that after that first use, the amount of hair that comes back is significantly reduced, and then after the second or third cycle, basically nothing grows back. It's really incredible. 3. They won't get rid
of hair permanently The instructions with my machine state you should use
your IPL weekly for a few weeks (I do four), and then monthly going forward after that. After around three weeks, there's no hair there, but if I don't continue with top-up sessions, after a few weeks the hair will start to return, and eventually it'll be right back to pre-IPL state. So you will need to keep up with your maintenance zapping; this isn't a permanent solution.
Got more questions? Ping me in the comments section, I am happy to help. Or
if I've convinced you that an IPL is right for you, let's take a closer look at the best deals available now. US: IPL deals 34% OFF PHILIPS Lumea IPL BRI984/03 $379.95 $579.99 shop now 27% OFF Braun Skin i-Expert Smart IPL PL7219 $379.94 $519.99 shop now 29% OFF Braun SilkExpert Pro 5 IPL5137 (2 heads) $284.99 $399.99 shop now 29% OFF Braun SilkExpert Pro 5 IPL5347 (4 heads) $334.99 $469.99 shop now 33% OFF PHILIPS Lumea IPL BRI932/03 $299.95 $449.99 shop now UK IPL deals 55% OFF Braun Smart IPL iExpert PL7442 484.99 1,069.99 shop now 38% OFF PHILIPS Lumea 8000 Series BRI944/00 (2 attachments) 279.99 449.99 shop now 42% OFF PHILIPS Lumea 8000 Series BRI949/00 (4 attachments) 293.99 509.99 shop now 51% OFF Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 PL5137 (2 heads) 299 610 shop now 37% OFF PHILIPS Lumea 7000 Series BRI921/00 219.98 349.99 shop now 49% OFF Braun SilkExpert Mini IPL 249.99 489.99 shop now Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.
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