How an IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) hair-removal device works, in brief:
An IPL hair-removal device sends intense pulses of light into the skin, which melanin in the hair roots absorbs and converts into heat. This weakens and destroys the follicle, slowing down or stopping hair growth.
It works best on dark hair and fair skin; results are lower on white/gray or very dark skin. Typically, you shave and flash once a week, achieving results over multiple sessions across several weeks. This is not permanent destruction, but long-term hair reduction; maintenance sessions are required later. It can be used on legs, arms, underarms, bikini line, and face.
Precautions: Wear protective goggles, avoid use on sunburns/wounds and tattoos/moles, and it is best not to use during pregnancy or skin diseases. Lasers are more powerful and faster-acting at a single wavelength; IPL uses broad-spectrum light, making it safer for home use but slower to work.