How to choose the best IPL hair removal device | Philips (2024)

There’s nothing more satisfying than that silky-smooth skin feeling post-hair-removal, and not all hair removal techniques are created equally. Some can be painful and time-consuming, and many classic methods like shaving only last for a few days before you have to do it again.

There is a longer lasting and painless solution for hair removal: IPL. But what should you look for? Is it really safe to do it yourself at home? And which IPL hair removal is best? Here we compare home-IPL hair removal machines and show you how to find the best IPL hair removal device for you.

Home IPL hair removal: What is it?

The abbreviation IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. IPL machines work with light pulses, which is why the technique is also known as flash lamp therapy.

During the treatment, the IPL device is moved over the part of the body to be treated. Light is converted into heat, which eventually destroys the hair root and weakens and deactivates hair growth. Find more information about how IPL works, as explained by an expert, here.

The best hair removal machine can be used both at home and in a beauty salon on different areas of the body:

• Legs
• Arms
• Armpits
• Face
• Back
• Bikini line

The IPL experience has several advantages. It’s painless, gentle on the skin, easy to use and in most cases leaves no traces on the skin’s surface. You can read about real-life experiences in our IPL reviews.

What to look for to find the best IPL hair removal device

Now that you know more about the treatment, you’ll probably want to know which IPL hair removal is best. The best at-home IPL devices offer a range of features that work for your needs. Based on the following criteria, you can compare different models and decide which is the best IPL hair removal device for you:

• Effectiveness: It’s worth noting that IPL hair removal isn’t suitable for every skin tone and hair colour. In general, it works well for very white to dark brown skin tones with naturally dark blonde, brown or black hair. It doesn’t work for very light hair tones such as white, grey, light blonde or red, or very dark skin tones.

• The energy level and skin tone sensor: With the help of a skin tone sensor, which is a feature of the best IPL devices, you should be able to easily determine the correct energy level. Often this step is done automatically. A good machine is equipped with several energy levels, also known as intensity levels. This allows you to adjust the light intensity according to your skin tone and hair colour.

• Corded or cordless: Many IPL hair removal devices are battery powered or mains powered. Those that come with a rechargeable battery provide greater flexibility and mobility if you travel a lot and want to be ready to go at a moment's notice. However, a device that’s only battery-powered has a limited time span before it needs to be recharged. This is where a device that can also be plugged in scores highly, and why that type is the best IPL hair removal device for flexibility.

• Attachments: The best hair removal machine will contain multiple attachments for different parts of the body. Small attachments are suitable for the face and bikini line. Large attachments can be used to treat the legs, underarms and back.

• Number of light pulses: The lifespan of the machine is an important consideration. The more light pulses a device can produce, the longer the device will last. The best at-home IPL device will be equipped with 400,000 to 999,000 light flashes.
  

Of course, we recommend the Philips Lumea IPL 9900 Series as one of the best IPL devices. It detects your skin tone, is adjustable to your skin type with multiple light energy settings, and has an integrated safety system. Use it with or without a cable, and interchange between four attachments specifically-designed for underarms, the bikini line, body and face. You can even spread the cost with the .

If you’d like to know more, take a look at these IPL tips from real users and read about their personal IPL experiences.