After IPL hair removal The hair will appear to grow (though very slowly) for 2 to 4 weeks and should then fall out; this is the treated hair being pushed out of the follicle, not new growth. Any hair that does not fall out was either too fine, too light, too deeply rooted or possibly wasn't treated.
After an IPL application, it initially appears as if nothing is happening, as no hairs fall out immediately. However, there's no need to worry. With IPL, only the hair root is heated to inhibit further growth. The hair itself remains in the skin.
Answer: Not all hair falls out after laser treatment. Not all hair falls out after laser treatment. The hair may need to be pushed out by new growing hairs in the follicle after the energy is absorbed. Don't think that the hairs that do fall out are permanently gone either.
Its common for it to take up to 3 weeks to see full shedding of the hair treated with IPL. However, as a skin type 3 - even with dark hair, IPL might not be the most effective hair removal method available to you. There are numerous alternatives that are more effective on darker skin types, as well as less risky.
Because IPL is not a laser, it is underpowered for delivering permanent hair removal. The other issue may be with the person doing the treatment. If that person is not experienced or is not using the right technology, they may not be able to deliver permanent hair removal for you.
Skin type: IPL is not suitable for everyone. People with dark skin may not be good candidates for IPL. Hair colour: IPL works best on dark hair. People with blonde, red, white or grey hair may not see as good results with IPL.
Why do hairs 'grow' after treatment? Contrary to other treatments, hairs are not vaporised by IPL treatment. The hair follicles are killed by the heat but the hairs remain in the skin and often become attached to the epidermis.
You will notice that the hair growth after four weeks of IPL treatment will be lesser and thinner. After completing a session of 12 weeks, the hair growth will reduce completely, providing you with silky, smooth skin for a longer time. However, you may have to continue touch-ups as needed.
If you notice any hair regrowth, patchy or uneven hair growth, and lack of hair reduction after undergoing laser hair removal, it means the method is not working for you.
The shedding process can take up to two weeks post-treatment, which is why you'll still see hair after laser sessions. Also, because not every hair will be in the growth stage when the area is treated, some will remain. In fact, in any one treatment only about 15% of the follicles are damaged.
Treatment cannot be completely painless
If you have dark, strong hair, the pricking will be stronger, and if your hair is weak, so will be the pricking. If you don't feel anything during the treatment, it means your hair is too light or the laser is not working well, so there will be no effects.
Pre-Treatment Shaving
This simple step not only saves you time during your session but also ensures that the laser can target the hair follicles more effectively. By removing the hair above the skin's surface, the laser can penetrate deeper, leading to more efficient and long-lasting results.
However, the full results may take several weeks or even months to become visible. This is because IPL works by targeting the underlying structures of the skin, such as collagen and blood vessels, and stimulating the body's natural healing processes.
ENERGY OUTPUT WITH THE IPL METHOD
Flash lamps based on IPL technology use short pulses of 2 to 200 milliseconds. This creates an energy of 12 to 120 joules per square centimetre. In contrast to older laser technology, the IPL method involves direct sclerosis of several hair roots.
If you've found yourself wondering, “Why is IPL not working on my hair” it could be due to your skin and hair type. IPL can be challenging to use for certain individuals,4 so it's important to know what skin types will achieve the best IPL experience: IPL works best on light, untanned skin.
It could indicate that the follicles were not sufficiently damaged during the procedure, which may necessitate further sessions or even alternative treatments, conducted with the same precision you'd expect from plastic surgery procedures.
1-3 Days Post-Treatment: Some clients may notice that the hairs fall out after laser hair removal as early as a few days after the session. This early shedding is due to the heat weakening the hair structure. 1-2 Weeks Post-Treatment: For most people, this is the period when the hairs fall out after laser hair removal.
Your IPL Treatment Schedule is Off.
We recommend doing at-home IPL treatment once a week for twelve weeks, or twice a week for six weeks. If you've been doing IPL for a long time but had long gaps in between treatments, that might make it so you don't see results as quickly.
Overusing an IPL device is a major no-no. It can lead to side effects that range from minor irritation to long-term skin damage.
Although newer machines have the ability to target all hair colors and skin tones, IPL still tends to work better on thick, dark hair than it does on fine, lighter hair due to the way broad-spectrum light targets melanin pigment. And when it comes to skin tones, IPL is most effective on light skin.
Exfoliate gently
After about a week, begin exfoliating the treated area to help remove any dead hair. To avoid irritation, use a gentle exfoliating scrub or a soft loofah.
How should skin/hair be prepared prior to using IPL? “You should shave or trim the hair down to skin level, we recommend our clients shave the area the day before,” says Thomas. “That said, some at home devices may give you different preparation advice so always follow the instructions.”
Up to a few weeks after treatment, your skin will develop stubble or blackheads as a part of the shedding process that happens from hairs that were partially grown at the time of the procedure.