Is At Home IPL Hair Removal Worth it?

Big thanks to Braun for partnering on this post with me!

As an Esthetician I get asked a TON of questions about skin care and also hair removal. While I’ve talked a lot in the past about my skin care regimens and such I realized I’ve never really answered a question I get from time to time which is if at home IPL (intense pulsed light) hair removal is actually worth it. You guys know I am all about convenience and with my busy lifestyle, IPL is one thing I can’t live without. Today I’m going to round up my thoughts/professional opinion on the subject and help all of you!

Let’s just get one thing straight here — I HATE hair (except for the hair on my head, of course). I hate shaving, I hate waxing and I hate tweezing. Don’t get me wrong, I love the end product but I just hate the process it takes to get those results. The worst part is, it never completely goes away so I have to repeat the process in a couple weeks and I mean, who has the time for that?!

Because of my background I have to admit, I’m very much a “do-it-yourself” kind of gal which is why I never got into the salon-type laser hair removal. So it’s no surprise when I heard about the Gillette Venus Silk-Expert IPL powered by Braun I knew I had to try it out.

Having a demanding full time job, I’ll be honest and say I don’t have a lot of time to myself so convenience for me is KEY. I have photoshoots and meetings every week so I also don’t have much downtime as well. Considering I’ve worked in the field as an Esthetician as well and focused more on waxing, I have to admit I’ve always been a bit skeptical about IPL hair removal systems but I’ve always really wanted to try it out. When I got the Gillette Venus Silk-Expert IPL I started using it immediately and had to share my thoughts/results with you guys!

So lets get into the specifics for those of you who don’t really understand how it works. This is a device that uses intense pulsed light for hair reduction. The great thing about it is if you are nervous at all about it – it has the SensoAdapt technology that basically reads your skin to deliver just the right amount of light. You can also use it on a few different settings: Normal, Gentle and Extra Gentle which helps to adjust for more sensitive areas. To be completely honest though, it really doesn’t hurt and I’m kind of a wuss as it is! It just feels like a light rubber band flick on the skin if that makes sense.

Most importantly – this device is ridiculously easy to use and requires NO training at all. You literally can take it out of the box, plug it in and get to work. My favorite is that it has a gliding mode that is perfect for fast and efficient treatments for people like me who are always on the go. It’s actually way more efficient when it comes to the hassles of other methods. Let’s be honest, waxing is incredibly messy, tweezing is so time consuming and shaving grows back almost immediately. No more squeezing salon appointments into my busy schedule or waiting out hairy in-between days – I’m always smooth-skin-ready!

I have now been using the Venus Silk-Expert for a few weeks and not just saying this — it WORKS. I’ve definitely noticed a significant reduction in my hair growth after just about 4-5 treatments and I couldn’t be happier. Another thing to note – the IPL is now approved by the FDA for facial use below the cheekbones which is amazing for anyone who has those stubborn problem areas on the upper lip, chin or jawline. I started on my legs but I’m now going to go back and do other parts of my body since I know it works. Best part about it? It’s so easy, convenient and comfortable to do at home. I literally will do it at the end of my day when I’m watching some of my favorite shows and it’s perfect because I can pick and choose WHEN I want to do it.

Long story short, if you have been wanting to try an at-home hair removal system I highly suggest you guys try the Venus Silk-Expert. It is available online at Bed, Bath & Beyond and in stores plus it could be a great gift to consider for the upcoming holiday season! Just sayin…

As a disclaimer, IPL is most effective on light to medium skin tones with hair that ranges from darker blonde to dark brown or black. It isn’t very effective on blonde, red, grey or white hair where there is a smaller amount of melanin in the hair follicle (and thus, less light absorbed).

Keep me posted on your guys’ thoughts and also if you have any questions!