IPL Hair Removal Guide: What to Expect from Your First Treatments

Want to be hair-free and care-free all summer and next? Cast your mind back to last summer and think if any of these sound familiar:

• Experiencing more skin irritation in the summer than other seasons due to more frequent shaving 
• Avoiding wearing an outfit – like a tank top or dress if you haven’t removed your hair beforehand
• Packing a method to remove hair when you go on vacation for top-ups
• Getting ingrown hairs more frequently on the underarm or bikini line
• Dry shaving in a last-minute panic if you have plans

You’re not alone, these are all things that women who remove hair told us that they do more frequently in summer. In our research, 72% of women said they felt more self-conscious about body hair in the summer than any other season.

Removing body hair is a personal choice. If it’s something you choose to do, at-home IPL can be an effective long-term solution.

Benefits of IPL Hair Removal

Unlike shaving or waxing, IPL targets the hair follicle to reduce regrowth over time. This means it can offer longer-lasting results while fitting easily into your routine with convenient at-home treatments.

Other benefits of IPL hair removal include:

1. Less time spent removing hair – as regrowth slows and becomes finer, many users find they need to shave far less often
2. Convenient at-home treatments – IPL devices can be used whenever it suits you, making it easy to fit treatments around your schedule.
3. Fewer ingrown hairs – by reducing regrowth, IPL can help minimise ingrown hairs, particularly in areas like the underarms and bikini line.
4. Improved skin appearance – stopping hair growth at the root can reduce the dark shadows sometimes visible after shaving, leaving skin looking more even.

Our SmoothSkin Pure Switch IPL hair removal device is clinically proven to reduce up to 95% hair reduction in just 2 treatments¹.

¹ With Pure Switch – in a clinical study of 40 participants on the lower leg. Individual results may vary.

How IPL Hair Removal Works

In short – IPL (intense pulsed light) stops unwanted hair growth.

It’s a light-based hair removal method that targets the melanin (pigment) inside the hair. Interrupting the hair growth cycle and prevent hair regrowth, without damaging the skin.

It does this in 3 steps:

• Uses light energy to convert to heat energy that targets the melanin (pigment) in your hair follicle
• Disables the hair follicle so the hair naturally falls out over the following days.
• This process is repeated over a 12-week period to catch all hairs

IPL Hair Removal Results Timeline

With Pure Switch you can achieve up to 95% hair reduction in just 2 uses² and enjoy up to 1 year of smoother skin after 12 uses.

Across your 12 weekly treatments, most users will start to notice significant changes between 2 and 4 weeks, depending on hair type and treatment area. This is backed by evidence from our clinical trials, user experience and proprietary hair count software.

After 2 uses:

Hair grows back thinner and finer. See up to 95% hair reduction² on legs with Pure Switch.

After 4 uses: 

You’ll notice patches where hair no longer grows.

After 8 uses:

Significant hair reduction on the treatment area.

After 12 uses:

Your final session, up to 99% hair reduction and up to 1 year of smoother skin

2 - In a clinical study of 40 participants on the lower leg. Individual results may vary.

Why spring is the best time to start IPL

• Starting in March or April means completing the 12-week cycle before peak summer.
• Skin tends to have less recent sun exposure, which is ideal for IPL treatments.
• You’ll reduce the need for shaving during vacations and beach trips.

Why IPL Treatments Follow a 12-Week Cycle

IPL is most effective when hairs are in their active growth phase. Not all hairs are in this phase at the same time.

Across the 12 weeks you will target all hairs in their correct phase. SmoothSkin has the benefit of over 5500 clinical treatments using our recommended weekly treatment, so we know this is the most effective for our products to get consistent results. 

Does IPL Work on All Body Areas?

Some body areas respond faster to IPL, such as the legs. You may notice a bigger reduction in hair earlier on in these areas than others. For treatment areas with thicker, coarser and more stubborn hair (like underarms and bikini lines) – these can take between 2 and 4 uses to see similar results – with full results in 12 uses.

What Other Benefits Does IPL Hair Removal Have?

Users who typically use traditional hair removal methods such as shaving will be familiar with the feeling of razor burn, ingrown hairs and dark shadows caused by hair under the skin. As IPL stops hair growth at the root, it also helps reduce a lot of these side effects. 100% of users who tried SmoothSkin agreed their skin looked and felt smoother and softer.  See our user results here.

How do I maintain results? If I stop will the hair grow back?

No, SmoothSkin IPL is clinically proven for permanent hair reduction, and you can enjoy up to 1 year of smoother skin. To keep your skin smooth, we recommend maintenance treatments as and when is needed.

Why Consistency Matters With IPL

Of course, life happens and we know sometimes you may not be able to complete a treatment, if that happens just pick up where you left off. Review at the end of the 12 weeks if you need to continue with an extra treatment or 2 to get the best results.

IPL Hair Removal Tips for Best Results

 1. Complete a patch test 24 hours before 

·       First things first, complete a patch test 24 hours before starting treatment

2. Before your IPL treatments

·       Ensure all visible hair is removed – for this we recommend shaving only. This is to ensure the light from the IPL reaches the root of the hair beneath the skin and to help avoid skin discomfort

·       Skin should be clean, dry and free from any gels, moisturisers, oils

3. During your IPL treatments

Choose between two treatment modes depending on treatment area:

Stamp Mode: Use stamp mode for smaller areas (such as underarms, bikini line and upper lip/face) for a more controlled and precise treatment on smaller areas. Place the handset on the skin, press and release the activation button, remove from the skin before re-applying to the next treatment area.

Glide Mode: For larger areas, use glide mode. Place the handset against the skin, press and hold the activation button continuously. Glide the handset along the skin between flashes at a steady speed.

Our Pure Adapt and Pure Switch devices also have a glide head which follows the contours of your body for continuous coverage for fewer missed spots.

4.      Aftercare

·       Follow up with a lightweight moisturiser for extra skin benefits.

How to use SmoothSkin devices

You can find our how to use videos and user manuals for all SmoothSkin products here.

Frequently Asked Questions About IPL Hair Removal

Can you shave between IPL sessions?

Yes, you can shave between IPL sessions. Over the first few weeks you’ll usually need to shave less as the hair starts to take longer to grow back in and with patches of no growth at all.

Always ensure that your skin is freshly shaved within the last 24 hours before completing your IPL treatment. 

Is IPL safe for sensitive skin?

Yes, IPL is safe for sensitive skin – always complete a patch test 24 hours before your first treatment to check your suitability. Our latest IPL device, Pure Switch has Sapphire Ice Cooling technology – it cools the skin to a comfortable level before each pulse, so you won’t feel a thing - even in sensitive areas².

^{2 –} in a consumer study with Pure Switch on bikini line, VIO and underarm area. 98% agreed a treatment with Pure Switch was painless – using Ice Mode. 

Can IPL be used on the face?

Yes, IPL can be used on the face to stop unwanted hair growth on the upper lip, chin and neck. IPL cannot be used on the eyebrows. Our Pure Switch IPL device has a precision head attachment which makes treating the smaller areas like the upper lip easier.

If you use skincare with active ingredients that cause sensitivity to light e.g. retinol, it’s recommended to avoid IPL hair removal.

How long does an IPL session take?

You can complete a full body IPL session (that’s full legs, underarms and bikini line) in 7 minutes³.  With SmoothSkin, you only need to complete 1 IPL treatment a week, that’s a third less than some other well-known brands.

³ – using Ice Mode on Bikini Line and Speed Mode on legs

How many IPL sessions do you need?

We recommend one treatment a week for 12 weeks.

When will I see results with IPL?

This will vary by IPL manufacturer. With SmoothSkin IPL devices you can see up to 95% hair reduction in just 2 uses³ with our Pure Switch IPL hair removal device.

³ - In a clinical study of 40 participants on the lower leg. Individual results may vary.

What should I expect after the first IPL session?

You will not notice any significant changes, but this is to be expected. IPL works over time to stop hair growth at the root. After 2 uses, you will start to notice hair starts to grow back thinner and finer, and on legs you can notice up to 95% hair reduction⁴

⁴ - In a clinical study of 40 participants on the lower leg. Individual results may vary.

Does IPL work for light hair?

IPL will not work on super light blonde hair. The reason for this is that there is not enough melanin present in the hair shaft for the IPL to work effectively. You can check hair and skin tone suitability in our hair chart:

Can IPL results be permanent?

SmoothSkin is clinically proven to permanently reduce hair. Similar to laser, you will need to carry out a few maintenance sessions as and when to keep regrowth at bay.

Does IPL hair removal hurt?

IPL hair removal is well tolerated, with most users describing it as a 3/10 on the pain scale.

Our latest IPL device, Pure Switch has Sapphire Ice Cooling technology which cools the skin to a comfortable level, so you don’t feel a thing, even on the most sensitive areas. 95% of users found the treatment on their underarm gentler to the skin than shaving⁸.

^{8 – Pure Switch when used in Ice Mode.}

What is IPL hair removal?

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) hair removal is a light-based treatment that reduces hair growth by targeting pigment in the hair follicle.

Summary

Starting IPL in spring gives your skin time to complete the full treatment cycle before summer. With consistent weekly treatments, most users see noticeable hair reduction within the first month and long-lasting smoothness after 12 weeks. If you're new to IPL, following the best-practice tips above will help you get the best results from your device.

Shop our IPL hair removal devices here.