What it is
IPL sends pulses of light into the hair follicle, where the pigment absorbs the energy and the follicle is disabled. Repeated over a course, this reduces how much hair grows back and how coarse it is.
We use Lynton, a British manufacturer whose systems are used in NHS settings as well as private clinics. That matters more than it sounds, because IPL results depend heavily on the quality and calibration of the machine.
Areas we treat
Most areas of the face and body, including:
- Upper lip, chin and sides of the face
- Underarms
- Standard bikini, Brazilian and Hollywood
- Arms and legs
- Back and chest
- Not suitable around the eyes or over tattoos
Consultation and patch test
A consultation and patch test is required before your first treatment and costs £32, which is redeemable against the cost of your treatment. It is not an upsell, it is how we check your skin reacts safely to the settings we intend to use.
IPL works on all skin tones and hair colours, but it is most effective on darker hair. Very fair, red or grey hair has little pigment for the light to target, and we will tell you honestly at the patch test if IPL is unlikely to give you what you want.
How many sessions
Most people need a course of eight to ten sessions, spaced four to eight weeks apart depending on the growth cycle of the area being treated.
IPL gives long-term reduction rather than guaranteed permanent removal, and occasional maintenance sessions are normal. If you want genuinely permanent removal on a small area, electrolysis is the treatment that does that.
Before and after each session
Do not pluck or wax in the weeks before a session, because the light needs a hair in the follicle to work on. Shaving is fine.
Keep the area out of the sun and use protection afterwards. Treated skin is more sensitive to UV, and a tan changes how the skin responds to the next session.