2024-05-13
Gone are the days when only male swimmers, dancers, models, weightlifters and actors got permanent hair removal. Today, male grooming is a pretty standard part of daily life for the average man. Those neatly squared off beards and smooth chests are probably not God-given! They’ve just wised up to the wonders of permanent hair removal.
In this blog, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about IPL hair removal for men, and we’ll even bust a few myths along the way.
What is IPL hair removal for men?
If you’ve been researching permanent hair removal, then you’ve probably noticed IPL hair removal is often mentioned alongside laser treatments. Although they both do the same job, they do differ in several ways. While laser hair removal uses a specific wavelength of light to zap hairs, IPL instead sends out scattered wavelengths (varying between 500 and 1,200 nanometers). This is what makes IPL so much more targeted.
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light, which are the wavelengths of light that travel through the skin to the hair follicle. IPL can permanently remove hair because the pigment (melanin) in the hair attracts the light, causing heat to shrivel the follicle and terminate hair growth. By killing the hair at its root, IPL stops the potential for that prickly regrowth.
Bust this myth: does permanent hair removal mean removing ALL of the hair?
Of course not! Some men just prefer less hair rather than no hair, and IPL can help with that just as easily
Is permanent hair removal painful?
The short answer is that it really depends on where you go to get your hair removal done and what kind of permanent hair removal technology they use. Typically, laser hair removal is known to be painful, causing a sensation that is often likened to the snapping of an elastic band on the skin. This is because laser relies on one concentrated wavelength to kill the hair follicle. IPL, as already explained, uses varying wavelengths which makes it less intense but just as effective.
Bust this myth: permanent hair removal works for all hair types
Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Although most hair types are perfect candidates for permanent hair removal, people with grey, red or blonde do not have enough pigment for IPL or laser hair removal. However, the good news is that our permanent hair removal works on all skin types.
How effective is IPL hair removal?
Are you ready to be hit with some science? Well, here it comes… there are three stages to hair growth and each stage has its own name. First is the growth phase (Anagen), then the transition phase (Catagen) and finally the resting phase (Telogen) which completes with the old hair falling out and the growth phase starting up again. When you are receiving an IPL hair removal treatment, the wavelengths are going to work best on the hair in the initial growth phase.
It takes hair 6 – 12 weeks to grow from the sebaceous gland (that’s the hair bulb which you may have seen if you ever plucked a hair and found at the end a white, gooey blob) to above the skin. Therefore, you need to have a few sessions of hair removal to eliminate all of your hair. Typically, you’ll need a minimum of 10 to 15 sessions to remove 80% – 90% of your hair.
Bust this myth: permanent hair removal has no medical benefits
Not true! Many men get permanent hair removal to treat ingrown hairs in the beard and neck area.
Is IPL hair removal right for you?
There is an easy way to answer this question. Just ask yourself:
Are you bored with wasting time on grooming every morning?
Do you worry about damaging your skin with constant shaving?
Do you have unwanted hair that you’d love to get rid of?
Have you considered laser but would rather a less painful hair removal treatment?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you should definitely consider IPL permanent hair removal. Permanent hair removal means no more shaving and no more waxing. What are you waiting for?