Pulsed Light Hair Removal: The Ideal Hair Length

You've chosen Intense Pulsed Light as your permanent hair removal method, but you'd like to optimize the results of your session? The length of your hair during treatment is one of the elements that will most influence your results. Discover the ideal hair size for a successful IPL session. 

Intense pulsed light hair removal is one of the two most effective methods (along with laser hair removal) for permanent hair removal. As with the other methods, there are a number of tips for achieving perfect hair removal. Hair length is central to the success of your session.    

Why hair length is important for IPL hair removal

As a reminder, IPL hair removal uses flashes of light to target the melanin in hair bulbs. This light is then transformed into heat, which prevents regrowth. If your hair length is too long, the light energy will disperse over the surface of the hair, making it harder to reach the root. Conversely, if the length is too short, the epilator won't be able to target the melanin properly, and the treatment will be less effective.  

Ideal hair length for effective IPL hair removal

For your session to be effective, you need a hair length of around 1 mm. This is the length that enables the flashes to target melanin optimally. We advise you to shave 2 days beforehand to achieve this size on the day of your IPL treatment. This also reduces the risk of burns or irritation.

How to prepare your skin before waxing

Just like hair length, good skin preparation will give you even better results. 

It's important to cleanse and exfoliate your skin to remove dead cells so they can't be targeted by the flashes. 

Shave your hair 2 days beforehand so that it is no more than 1 to 2 mm in size. 

Don't wax, tweeze or epilate before your treatment. This can have a negative impact on your results.   

Tips for optimizing hair removal results

You may have read our article detailing the care you need to take before and after your IPL hair removal session. As a reminder, here are the main tips: 

• -Set up a schedule to keep track of your sessions and plan the next ones. It's important to scrupulously respect the intervals between sessions to obtain perfect results. 
• -Apply a soothing moisturizing cream to your skin after your session. 
• -Following your session, for the next 2 hours, don't plan any sporting activities that might cause friction on the area you've waxed. Sweating is also to be avoided, so don't engage in high-intensity sports or sauna sessions. 
• -Don't expose yourself to the sun, or apply sunblock.  

Conclusion

By following our advice on preparation and skin care before and after your session, you'll achieve perfect results without any risk to your skin. Make sure your hair is 1-2 mm in size on the day of your IPL treatment. You can follow our other tips on permanent hair removal and IPL on our blog. If you're looking for an IPL permanent hair removal device, visit our online store for salon-quality results, without leaving your home.