Listen: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is our speciality here at Japan IPL Express. When it comes to hair removal, IPL prevents hair growth by using light to heat hair follicles at the root. This destroys unwanted hair without damaging surrounding skin. Stick to consistent treatment (read: once every four weeks), and you’ll start to see the effects you want!
Be it for beauty reasons, comfort or convenience, IPL has been highly raved about as a hair removal solution. But we hear that there have also been some misconceptions floating around — let’s set the record straight:
Myth 1: Shaving causes hair to regrow thicker and faster
Nope, this myth has been debunked by science. At the start of every IPL session, beauty therapists shave off hair from the targeted area, and contrary to the old wives’ tale that this causes hair to grow back thicker and faster than before, it won’t. It’s individual genetics that determine how much hair you have, how thick each strand is and how quickly it grows back.
Newly grown hair might feel thicker because it hasn’t been exposed to the sun, soap and other chemicals. But it’s not actually thicker. Similarly, freshly cut hair could also feel coarse at the tip as it emerges through the skin, but you’ll find it “softens” soon enough.
Combine shaving with IPL treatment and hair will grow back finer and slower than before. Just the way you want it to!
Myth 2: IPL is costly
We beg to differ. If you compare the short-term results from shaving and waxing against IPL’s long-lasting effectiveness, IPL treatments are an amazing bargain! It’s smart spending in the long run.
Besides, not only would you no longer have to buy razors and other hair removal products, but IPL’s long-lasting results mean bidding adieu to time-consuming shaving habits, messy shaving cream and painful wax treatment. You could put your time to better use — priceless. And you won’t have to worry about side effects like rashes and ingrown hair.
Which area you target also determines the precise price and number of sessions required. Picture this: if you’re getting your upper lip done, that’s bound to cost way less than if you’re tackling your whole back or legs. Smaller areas could work out to be as cheap as $30 per session. Hormones are also an influencing factor, which is why unlike your average beauty salon, we don’t require you to commit to any package at Japan IPL Express. Instead, you only have to pay for IPL Shots™ that you use. How worth it does that sound?
Myth 3: IPL is only for women
No way! IPL is effective in achieving that tidy, hair-free look for men too. IPL treatment requires less commitment than the daily shave, and it’s a means to avoiding cuts and razor burn. Japan IPL Express is a unisex beauty salon, and we more than welcome men and women alike.
Go for Ken-doll smoothness or reduce hair by just a little; your grooming habits are for you to decide.
Myth 4: IPL can provide immediate results
Heck, it’s true that some people might notice a significant difference — a slow down in hair growth and finer hair strands — after as little as one IPL session. But make no mistake about it: for treatment to be effective, you’ve got to be consistent about coming in once every four weeks.
Sure, your hormones, skin and hair conditions play a part in deciding on how many sessions you need. But the point of treatment once every four week is because IPL is most effective on hair during the active growth stage of the hair growth cycle. At any given time, only a certain amount of hair follicles are active, while others are in a resting phase. Be on top of consistent treatment to increase the likelihood of targeting hair follicles at the optimum time.
Myth 5: The younger you are, the more effective IPL treatment is
There’s no harm starting young — as long as you’re at least 18 years old* because any younger and you’re still undergoing puberty, during which hormones fluctuate. But being any age after that shouldn’t influence how effective IPL treatment is on you.
The verdict:
We get that you’d want to be as informed as possible before making any decision. Now that you’ve learned the truth about IPL, leave it to our therapists to get the hair-free, baby smooth skin of your dreams!
There are all sorts of reasons why one might want to seek hair removal solutions, and let’s face it, IPL Hair Removal is an appealing choice for anyone who wants to save time and hassle, while giving themselves a boost in comfort and confidence.
If you’d like more information about our practice, come on into any one of our Japan IPL Express outlets or reach us at @japaniplexpress on Instagram or Facebook.
If you’d like to experience it for yourself, click HERE for a free trial 😉
*Kindly note that anyone under 18 would need to bring a parent or guardian along to sign an indemnity form during their first visit to Japan IPL Express.
