IPL, (Intense Pulsed Light) is a broadband pulsed light source that emits a beam of light that heats up the melanin in your hair follicles causing the root to be damaged. With repeated use, IPL delays the production of new hair preventing regrowth over time with visible results on the first use, based on app data from our top-of-the-range Skin i-Expert Pro 7 devices. The energy of the light, frequency of usage and colour of your hairs are all determining factors in defining how effective the IPL treatment will be. The best results are achieved on people with dark hair and fair skin, but if you have sensitive or slightly darker skin then you may have to repeat the IPL process more times to achieve the desired result as it must be treated with lower energy to avoid discomfort.

When done correctly, IPL Pro 1 and Pro 3 devices achieve one year of smooth skin while Pro 5 and Pro 7 IPL treatments can yield two years of smooth skin. However, Pro 7 devices offer our fastest way to two years of smooth skin, not least because this collection constitutes the world's first smart IPL system that learns and adapts to you. Across the range, persistence with IPL treatment is key though – since hairs grow within a hair growth cycle, repeating IPL treatments will ensure the hair root is targeted at the right growing phase resulting in a consistent reduction in hair growth over time. This will eventually give you long-lasting hair growth reduction.

Yes, our Braun IPL devices have been built with your safety in mind thanks to their integrated UV filters. The light beam from your IPL device will only be triggered once contact with the skin is made and the light visible during the treatment is perfectly safe. This means you don’t need to wear safety glasses or protective eyewear.

IPL only works on hair in its growing phase. For this reason, we recommend a start-up phase of 4-12 weekly treatments to achieve the best results. You should proceed with the treatment after the 4 first weekly treatment if you see that the hair growth persists until you see no hair regrowth. Then, you can continue treating with a touch-up session every 1-2 months depending on your needs. A full-body session with a Pro 5 or Pro 7 IPL device can be completed in ten minutes a week while a similar session with a Pro 1 or Pro 3 model would take about 13 minutes.

It is possible to use IPL on pubic hair, since our dermatologist tested IPL devices can safely treat your full body, including intimate areas. However, they aren't suitable for the genital area where skin may be darker or with a higher hair density. These areas might absorb more light energy resulting in increased discomfort.

Yes, shaving before an IPL treatment is recommended as it makes sure you avoid any discomfort during the IPL treatment.

If you have dark or dark brown skin, your skin contains more melanin. Since darker skins contain more melanin which absorbs higher amounts of light energy, using IPL is not safe and may cause discomfort. Always consult the colour and hair skin chart (can be found on packaging and user instruction) to see if it’s safe and effective for you to use IPL hair removal treatments. Braun IPL uses a SensoAdapt™ system which continuously and automatically ensures that only eligible skin tone gets treated. Depending on the model, our IPL devices benefit from either a SkinProtect sensor or a Smart SkinProtect sensor, our best skin sensor for maximum protection. Usually, IPL works best on people with dark hairs and fair skin.