I've decided it's time to ditch the salon. Not only was it costing me a ridiculous amount of money for each appointment, but it was also incredibly time-consuming. I don't have the busiest life in the world, but my time, like yours, is precious, and I don't want to have to rush around the city just for some self-care.
One menial task that I think we all forget takes a lot of time is hair removal — we feel a lot of pressure to be dolphin smooth. And while gliding through the water and being aerodynamically sleek would be an absolute win, with sensitive skin and what often feels like a minefield of hair removal methods, choosing the right one seems like an impossible task.
After a whole lot of research, I tried out an IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) device. This technology uses light to kill the hair at the root, and it can all be done by you at home. I've been testing the ULike Air 10 for three months, and it's the perfect solution for me.
How the device works
While laser is a popular hair removal method, IPL makes it accessible for at-home use.
The device stops hair growth with zaps of light that target the melanin in the hair and inhibit growth. This is because when the melanin absorbs the light, it is converted to heat energy, which disables the growth of the follicle. This means when the hair eventually grows back, it’s slower and thinner, before completely stopping with continued use over time.
This is not the same thing as laser hair removal, although the processes are very similar. Laser is more targeted and therefore more reliable, but IPL uses a broader spectrum of light, making it a better option for a wider range of people.
But there are some limitations. Since the process relies on light absorption, it won't work on dark skin tones or light hair.
Why I started using IPL
After seeing a whole host of devices all over my social media feeds, I was naturally curious about IPL treatment. Like many other women, I've used every method of hair removal out there on the quest to have smooth skin, and IPL promised to tick all of the right boxes for me.
What drew me in the most was the prospect of it being pain-free. Up until now, I have been using an epilator, and if you ask anyone who has tried one, they will tell you it's akin to a modern form of torture. This method plucks out the hairs from the root one by one — ouch!
IPL treatment is also a lot less time-consuming, and I can do a session in under 10 minutes.
My experience
This treatment couldn't be any easier. The sessions are short, and the device works everything out for you, so you just have to hit a button and start zapping.
The machine is a little loud during use, and that's because it uses cool air to create a completely pain-free experience. This also keeps the device cool to operate for longer. IPL flashes use a lot of energy, so it’s only natural that the device will begin to heat up with prolonged use.
I used the schedule set out by ULike in their manual, and this gave me great results. I saw results in just three weeks of use, and was totally impressed by how easy this has been to maintain over time.
Every person is different, and while my skin reacted well to the IPL, this won't be the case for everyone. Like with most beauty treatments, you need to do a test patch first, but I had no issues.
You can find out more about how the device works and my own results by reading my full ULike Air 10 review.
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