Best Pulsed Light Hair Removal

As summer approaches, the issue of hair removal also comes up. In recent years, pulsed light epilators have been very trendy … They offer almost permanent and lasting hair removal, so you might as well enjoy being at home! Explanations, advice and selection of the 3 most effective Pulsed Light.

How does pulsed light hair removal work?

This technique is similar to laser hair removal (IPL) except that it is not a laser beam but a pulsed light, emitted by the lamp of the device. Called “flashes”, the light rays are sent directly to the root of the hair bulb.

The IPL laser is much more powerful, and only practiced by professionals in institutes.

Pulsed light hair removal can be done at home, provided you are equipped with an effective device. The result: semi-permanent and almost permanent hair removal.

Hair growth has 3 phases:

– The anagen phase: hair growth phase
– The catagen phase: the follicle retracts
– The telogen phase: regression and death of the hair

Semi-final hair removal via pulsed light allows the destruction of the hair. hair bulb and delay regrowth. It acts during the hair growth phase. By capturing the light, the root is as if “asleep” by the heat. It is thanks to melanin, the coloring pigment of the hair, that the hair bulb stops growing.

This depilatory method is effective especially on dark hair. It will have little or no effect on blond or white hairs, as well as on fine down (which would tend to grow back thicker and black!)

What are the contraindications?

The hair removal pulsed light is available in beauty centers, in some dermatologists, or at home. However, be sure to meet these criteria before you start:

• This method is incompatible with the taking of drugs such as anti-diabetics, anti-inflammatory drugs, photosensitizers or chemotherapy.
• Pulsed light hair removal is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• Only light skin is compatible: dark and black skin would risk reacting to flashes by “burning” because to be effective, the light must detect a sufficient contrast between the hair and the color of the skin.
• Moles, tattooed areas and spots of the epidermis must be protected from the rays
• The sessions should not be performed in case of irritation or lesions of the skin

Pulsed light hair removal is carried out over several sessions, each spaced several weeks apart. It is recommended to perform 4 sessions in a row spaced 2 weeks apart. Once this first cycle is finished, it will simply be necessary to touch up the treated areas every 3 to 6 months.
Time required for sessions: 15 minutes maximum.

What are the advantages ?

• It is a very effective method, just like laser hair removal. It eliminates between 80 and 90% of hair, and considerably slows down regrowth:

After the treatment, the hairs are finer and rarer, they fall out on their own and grow back. It is therefore indeed a long-lasting (and almost permanent) hair removal.

• The results are sometimes visible from the 2nd session, but the sessions will have to be repeated at least 5 to 8 times to maximize the depilatory effects:

By respecting the number of sessions and the right intensity, hair removal will be even more effective:

• This technique is ideal if you have fair skin and dark brown or blonde hair.

Be careful if the contrast of the hair and your skin is not high enough, you risk not having the desired results!

• It is a painless method : you will feel at most a little tingling
• Pulsed light is a less expensive method than laser hair removal and all traditional hair removal techniques which, over time, become expensive.
• It is possible to epilate the following areas of the body: lower legs, armpits, face (in case of black hair), and bikini line (except mucous membranes)

Some tips :

– Check that the color of your hair contrasts with the skin. If they are too bright, they will pick up light poorly. You must have hair that is darker than the skin.

– Avoid exposure to the sun for at least two weeks after the operation to avoid the occurrence of pigment spots .
– Before each session, the hair must be removed from the treated area: either by shaving or by waxing 24 hours before. This allows the light to pulse directly onto the root.
– After the session, apply a neutral vegetable oil to soothe the skin, such as coconut oil, known for its healing properties (any other cream should be avoided).

Pulsed light hair removal is the cheapest technique for long-lasting hair removal, but it is still expensive if you do it in a salon. Since it takes between 8 and 10 sessions per zone, the figure can quickly climb:

• For the half legs: around 1,000 euros
• For the armpits: around 600 euros
• For the down (lips): around 25 euros

The 3 best pulsed light epilators

It is quite possible to get a pulsed light epilator in order to perform the sessions at home. Here are the three most efficient epilator models on the market, detailed just below: The Lumea Prestige by Philips, the Silk-Expert by Braun, and the Beurer.

Lumea Prestige from Philips

Equipped with smart tips and a Smart Skin sensor to assess the complexion of the treated areas, the Lumea Prestige guarantees efficiency on 92% of the hairs from the 3rd session.

Its characteristics:

Number of possible flashes: 250,000 (i.e. up to 15 years of use on average)

Number of intensity: 5 (to be evaluated using the sensor)
Operation: mains or wireless for practical use

Supplied accessories: 4 smart tips (armpits, bikini line, body, face), cleaning brushes, a storage case.

The SmartSkin sensor detects skin color and indicates the most comfortable light intensity setting. Accredited and designed with dermatologists.

Why do we love?
– Its 4 tips are adapted to specific areas such as the armpits or the bikini line, which allows greater precision.
– The free Lumea IPL application (available on IOS and Android ) allows you to schedule upcoming sessions and receive advice and tips.
– The light is only triggered if the screen is perfectly placed on the skin, to avoid any light beam sent inadvertently.
– Continuous mode eliminates the need to trigger the flash each time.

Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5

Equipped with an intelligent SensoAdapt skin tone sensor, the Silk-Expert continuously detects your skin tone (80 times per second) and adapts the intensity of the light beam for safe treatment.

The device’s IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) technology produces up to 125 flashes per minute.

Its characteristics:

Number of possible flashes: 400,000 (up to 22 years depending on the brand)

Number of intensity: 10 (a soft and ultra-soft mode )

Operation: without batteries or recharging

Supplied accessories: 1 Venus Extra Smoot razor (for prior shaving), 1 precision head (bikini line, armpits, face), and 1 storage pouch

Medical accreditation by the Skin Health Alliance as safe for the skin.

Why do we love him?

– Its 400,000 flashes make it one of the most durable models, and at this price, that’s a pretty good point. He will be able to follow you for several years without needing an appointment in institute, neither shaving nor polishing by wax strips.

– The Braun Silk · expert Pro application (available on iOS and Android ) allows you to write down your sessions, and plan the next ones, to be sure not to forget them! It also tells you how the SensoAdapt skin tone detector works in real-time.

Velvet Skin Pro from Beurer