When it comes to home hair removal options, the Ulike Air 3 uses IPL (intensepulsed light) in their home hair removal device. With ice-cooling technology andhigh-energy intense pulsed light, this device is extremely effective but notextremely painful.
What is Ulike Sapphire Technology?
The Ulike Sapphire IPL hair removal device uses cutting-edge technology to both removehair long-term and do it in a way that is less painful than traditional laserhair removal. Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy was first developed in 1992 byDrs. Goldman, Fitzpatrick, and Eckhouse for the treatment of legtelangiectasias. IPL, the technology used by Ulike, uses these same wavelengthsof light to target and destroy the roots of the hair by thermodynamicallyheating the follicle’s pigment (melanin)1. Sapphire Ice-Cooling Technology™ provides powerful protection for the skin by thermoregulatingthe device’s tip to remain at a cool temperature despite the heat of the lightflashes.
While other devices get very hot and can cause burns or irritation, the UlikeSapphire remains cool and protects the skin. Ulike technology targets the rootsof the hairs most effectively with its specially designed head that fits ,leading to their long-term destruction and therefore decreased or no growth.Not only is this technology extremely effective, it is FDA-cleared, clinicallystudied, and dermatologist recommended. Studies have shown that home light-basedhair removal devices like Ulike are relatively safe and effective2.
The Benefits of Ulike Sapphire Technology
The main benefit of Ulike Sapphire is long-term hair removal, but it is muchmore than just that.
- Convenience: Convenience is one of the biggest benefits of using this device, as studies have shown that it can be done from the comfort of your own home at a time that works for you rather than having to head to a hair removal clinic several times2.
- Cost: While the Ulike IPL hair removal device costs from $289 USD to $329 USD, other methods of long-term hair removal generallycost much more. Electrolysis can cost upwards of $200 per hour (and you’ll needat least 10 hours), Laser Hair Removal costs thousands of dollars, and evenwaxing has long-term costs of thousands of dollars over the years.
- More Areas: For the price, you can target many more areas more cost-effectively than other methods. The Ulike can be used on lightto tan skin types, almost everywhere, other than near the eyes, tattooed areas,birthmarks, or wounds.
- Less Pain: Because of their Ice-Cooling technology,many users find the Ulike to be less painful than other hair removal methods.
- Longer-Lasting Results: Compared to tweezing,shaving, waxing and other methods, the Ulike removes hair in a long-term orpermanent way. Studies have shown that home IPL devices are effective forlong-term hair removal3.
Is IPL Hair Removal Treatment Painful?
Though everyone has a unique pain threshold, most users do not find IPL hairremoval to be particularly painful. Most people compare the sensation of eachflash to a small pinch on the skin or like a rubber band snapping on the skin.Waxing is usually considered more painful than IPL, for context.
The hair follicle itself is a complex anatomical structure with both permanentcomponents and components that renew on a regular cycle. The hair follicles areinnervated by thousands of both myelinated and unmyelinated afferent nerves,essentially pain sensors. This means that hair removal causes pain by affectingthese nerves which causes pain immediately and also longer term due to possibleinflammation caused after the hair removal5.
With light-based hair removal, the pain is usually caused by the heat which thelight targets into the follicle to thermally destroy it. Devices with cooledtips, like Ulike, will reduce this source of pain5.
It is also important to note that IPL has been shown in studies to be lesspainful and cause less inflammation than lasers6.
How to Remove Unwanted Hair without Pain by Ulike?
Painless Facial Hair Removal
When it comes to removing facial hair, there are many ways to go about it. Mostof them, however, involve some amount of pain and are also not verylong-lasting. Shaving may be painless, but since it involves simply cutting thehair shaft near where it protrudes from the skin it does not last long at all.Waxing, though slightly longer lasting because it plucks the hairs from belowthe skin, is painful and can also damage the skin.
IPL devices like Ulike are particularly appealing because it can be done athome, is relatively painless, and lasts much longer than other methods and caneven be permanent for some.
Painless Bikini Hair Removal
The bikini line and bikini area is particularly tricky when it comes to hairremoval. The most common method, waxing, is quite painful and of course needs tobe repeated every 2-3 weeks for most people.
IPL is a great way to remove bikini area hair in a relatively painless way andwith longer lasting results.
Painless Body Hair Removal
Most people do not realize that home IPL devices like the Ulike can be usedalmost everywhere on the body! Avoiding some areas like the eyes and any injuredor tattooed skin aside, the IPL can be used on most places such as the face,neck, chest, arms, legs, feet, buttocks and bikini area.
How Many Hair Removal Sessions are Needed?
Many users of the Ulike IPL device seevisible results within 4 weeks of use, and many even see permanent results afterjust 8 weeks of proper use. Ulike recommends using it 3 times a week for thefirst month, and then 2 times a week the second month. It is also good tomaintain it with regular use weekly or biweekly after that or as needed.Generally, IPL hair removal has been shown to be most effective in areas of thebody with longer hair growth cycles such as the legs and underarms, while areassuch as the face with shorter growth cycles require more treatments and haveless permanent results4.
The Ulike IPL device is very effective. Specifically, the Ulike Sapphire Air3reduced hair density by 90% in 4 weeks of use. The Ulike Sapphire AIR+ showed78% hair density reduction in just 4 weeks of use.
In contrast, in-office laser hair removal requires around 6 sessions performedweeks apart and results take up to six months to see a major reduction in hairgrowth.
Dos and Don’ts for IPL Treatment – Before and After
First and foremost, read the manual carefully when you receive your Ulikedevice. Here are some additional tips to DO and DON’T with IPL treatments.
Do’s for IPL Treatment
- Follow the instructions carefully
- Conduct a skin test in a hidden area first
- Shave the area before treatment
- Use eye protection or avert your eyes
- Be patient, results can take time
- Know that it works best on lighter skin tones with darker hairs (IPLtargets the dark hair roots)
Don’ts for IPL Hair Removal
- Avoid sun exposure before and after treatment
- Don’t use self tanners or spray tans before treatment
- Don’t tweeze or wax between treatments
- Don’t use IPL on sensitive areas or pigmented areas (tattoos orbirthmarks)
- Ask your doctor before using IPL if you are pregnant
- Don’t use peels or other skin treatments while using IPL withoutchecking with your dermatologist
- Don’t use on darker skin color
Conclusion
When it comes to long-lasting removal of unwanted hair, home IPL devices likethe Ulike Air are a fantastic option. These innovative tools are designed toprovide safe and effective hair reduction in the comfort of your own home and ata lower cost.
By following the instructions and recommendations provided, you should see adramatic improvement in hair reduction with little to no pain within a few shortweeks of regular use.
Reference
- Gade A, Vasile GF, Rubenstein R. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy. PubMed.Published 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35593833/
- Town G, Botchkareva NV, Uzunbajakava NE, et al. Light‐based home‐usedevices for hair removal: Why do they work and how effective they are?Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2019;51(6):481-490.doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.23061
- Adhoute H, Hamidou Z, Humbert P, et al. Randomized study of tolerance andefficacy of a home-use intense pulsed light (IPL) source compared to the hot-waxmethod. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2010;9(4):287-290.doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1473-2165.2010.00523.x
- Krasniqi A, McClurg DP, Gillespie KJ, Rajpara S. Efficacy of lasers andlight sources in long-term hair reduction: a systematic review. Journal ofCosmetic and Laser Therapy. 2022;24(1-5):1-8.doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/14764172.2022.2075899
- Aimonetti JM, Ribot-Ciscar E. Pain management in photoepilation. Journal ofCosmetic Dermatology. 2015;15(2):194-199. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12196
- Szima GZ, Janka EA, Kovács A, Bortély B, Bodnár E, Sawhney I, Szabó É,Remenyik É. Comparison of hair removal efficacy and side effect ofneodymium:Yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser and intense pulsed light systems(18-month follow-up). J Cosmet Dermatol. 2017 Jun;16(2):193-198.doi:10.1111/jocd.12312
