It’s a completely understandable question, especially if you’ve never experienced IPL before and don’t know what to expect.

The simple answer is: you will normally feel something, but IPL shouldn’t be unbearably painful.

Everyone’s pain tolerance is different, and some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, so I would never promise that IPL is completely painless. However, most of my clients find the treatment very manageable.

Here’s what you can realistically expect.

What does IPL hair removal feel like?

When the IPL pulse is delivered, you’ll usually feel a very quick burst of heat or a light snapping sensation against the skin.

It lasts for a fraction of a second and then it’s gone.

Some pulses you might barely notice, while others can feel a little sharper, particularly where the hair is thicker or denser.

You may also notice that the treatment feels different as we move around the body.

For example, an area with lots of coarse, dark hair may feel warmer than an area where the hair is finer.

Why can IPL feel hot?

IPL works by using light energy to target the melanin (pigment) within the hair.

The pigment absorbs the light and converts it into heat. That heat travels towards the hair follicle, where it damages the structures responsible for producing the hair.

So feeling some warmth during treatment isn’t unusual.

However, there’s an important difference between feeling a quick sensation from an IPL pulse and your skin feeling excessively or increasingly hot.

That’s why I regularly check in with my clients throughout their treatment.

Does IPL hurt more on certain areas?

It can.

Everyone is different, but areas with coarser or denser hair can sometimes feel more noticeable because there’s more pigment available to absorb the light.

Certain areas of the body may naturally be more sensitive too.

This doesn’t mean something is wrong or that you simply have to tolerate it.

If you’re uncomfortable during your treatment, tell me.

I’d always rather know how you’re feeling so I can assess what’s happening.

Does a higher IPL setting mean better results?

This is something I feel quite strongly about:

More pain does NOT mean better results.

I don’t believe in turning the settings up as high as possible simply because somebody can tolerate it.

IPL needs to deliver sufficient energy to achieve the desired effect while also protecting the surrounding skin.

The appropriate settings depend on factors including your skin type, hair, treatment area, previous response and the particular equipment being used.

Treatment should be about finding safe and effective settings for you, not seeing how much discomfort you can tolerate.

What if I’m nervous about IPL hurting?

Please tell me!

I’d much rather know you’re nervous than have you lying there worrying about what’s about to happen.

Before starting a course of IPL at HAZE Beauty, I carry out a consultation and patch test.

The patch test isn’t only important for assessing how your skin responds. It also gives you the opportunity to experience an IPL pulse before committing to a full treatment.

You’ll know what it feels like, what to expect and can ask me any questions you have.

For many nervous clients, simply removing that uncertainty makes the first treatment much easier.

Will you check that I’m comfortable?

Absolutely.

During IPL treatments I regularly check in with you to make sure you’re comfortable and that the area isn’t becoming excessively hot.

If you need a moment, we can stop.

I don’t believe a client should ever feel that they need to stay quiet and tolerate something because they’re worried about being difficult.

Afterwards, I cool and soothe the treated area before applying appropriate products to protect and calm the skin.

I’ll also explain your aftercare and what reactions you may expect afterwards.

Does IPL become less painful as the hair reduces?

You may find that the sensation changes as you progress through your course.

As the amount and thickness of hair reduces, there can be less pigment available for the light to target, so some areas may feel different compared with your earlier treatments.

However, this varies between people and doesn’t mean that a treatment which feels less noticeable isn’t working.

Pain isn’t a measurement of how successful your IPL treatment has been.

What will my skin feel like afterwards?

Some temporary warmth and redness can occur after IPL hair removal.

The skin around individual hairs can sometimes appear slightly red or raised too.

Your individual reaction will depend on your skin and the area treated, which is another reason why following your aftercare advice is important.

If anything following treatment concerns you, I’d always rather you contact me than sit at home worrying about it.

So, how painful is IPL hair removal?

If I had to sum it up:

IPL isn’t completely sensation-free, but for most people it’s very manageable.

You may experience a quick hot or snapping feeling with each pulse, and some areas can feel more sensitive than others.

But you shouldn’t be lying there thinking:

“I just have to put up with this because pain means it’s working.”

It doesn’t.

Safe, professional IPL treatment should be tailored to your skin and hair, and communication between you and your practitioner is really important throughout