treatment / IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

What’s involved?

This works by destroying the hair follicles so that they don’t create any more hairs.

The area to be treated is first shaved, then an electrical device is run over the area, and emits a light on a certain frequency. You know when you pluck a hair out, and at the root of the hair there’s a small dark ball? Well, that darkness is what the light is attracted to. The darker the ball, the better it will work. And, because the light is also attracted to colouration on your skin, the lighter the skin, the better it will work.

The hair follicle is only destroyed if the hair is still attached to the follicle at the time of treatment. As hairs go through their growth cycle, they start off attached to the hair follicle, then as they mature they separate from the follicle and eventually fall out, to be replaced by a new hair. So, not all hairs will be attached to the hair follicle at the time of treatment. This means that 4-6 (or more) treatments will be required to clear all hairs from the area.

Pros:

• It is actually permanent – for some people.

• Very quick – each visit takes half as long (or less) as waxing.

Cons:

• Doesn’t work so well for people with naturally dark or tanned skin.

• Cost –this is expensive.
• Requires a salon visit.
• This is a relatively new treatment, and so the existence (or otherwise) of long-term side-effects has not been established.

Pain rating:

High –depending on the area being treated, this can hurt a lot! Try taking painkillers half an hour beforehand.