Hair removal is the key to silky smooth skin. However, when choosing the right hair removal device, it is important to consider your individual skin tone and hair colour. In this article, you will find out which skin tone and hair color combinations are best suited to IPL hair removal and how this method works.
It's worth noting first, however, that many women start by shaving or waxing. At some point, though, they may become tired of the stubble and the rapid regrowth of hair and start looking for longer-lasting results. IPL hair removal offers a great at-home solution to gradually reduce hair regrowth. It is particularly suitable for women who want visible results from 1st use¹ on areas such as the upper lip, underarms, bikini line, legs and arms.
Nevertheless, bear in mind that not all IPL devices are suitable for all skin tone and hair colour combinations. Read on to find out whether your skin tone and hair colour are suited to hair removal with IPL. We provide answers to the questions such as, 'Does IPL work on blonde hair?', 'Is IPL hair removal for dark skin possible?' and, 'Is IPL for red hair viable?'
The Role of Hair Colour and Skin Tone in IPL Hair Removal
IPL hair removal achieves best results on people with light-coloured skin and darker hair. This is because IPL focuses on pigment in the hair (melanin) to affect the follicle, thereby preventing hair regrowth. Color contrast between the hair and skin helps the IPL device to recognize and interact with these melanin pigments.
Does IPL work on blonde hair? Long lasting hair removal with IPL works on brown, dark blonde, dark brown or black hair. That said, like-for-like treatments are not as effective on very blonde, red or white hair. This is because the lightest hair colors have a much lower melanin content, meaning the IPL device cannot detect lighter hair follicles so well.
IPL and Different Skin Tones
Whilst an IPL treatment constitutes a simple and effective method of hair removal for some, it is not suitable for darker skin tones, unfortunately. This is because melanin pigments are not only present in our hair, but also in the skin.
Simply put, darker skin contains more melanin than lighter skin. If you use some IPL hair removal devices on melanin-rich, dark skin, the device could transfer heat energy to skin cells, causing discolouration. Consequently, it is important to ensure that IPL devices don't emit light pulses on skin tones that are unsuited to such treatment. In severe cases, painful burns or blisters might occur.
IPL treatments can usually only be used on the four lighter shades of skin tones - but technology has advanced in recent years, so some IPL devices can also be used on some darker skin tones. The Braun IPL skin tone chart, below, gives a better overview of the effectiveness of IPL treatments depending on the skin and hair tone of the individual user.
IPL for Dark Skin
If you want to use IPL for dark skin hair removal, you should consider the Braun Pro 5 or Skin i·expert IPL device, the best Braun IPLs for dark skin. They work with a lower concentration of light and automatically adjusts intensity with each light pulse. This means that they are suitable for most skin types, including type 5 (dark brown). However, like all IPL hair removal devices, they are not suitable for skin type 6 (dark brown to black).
If this applies to you, then you should use an epilator instead since this sort of device removes hair at the root, gradually thinning out regrowing hair. Even better, epilation is a safe and effective hair removal method that can be used on all skin types. Read more about how to use epilators here.
The Braun Skin i·expert system allows you to connect your IPL device to an app on your smartphone. You can then use the app in conjunction with the built-in sensors in your IPL device to identify your skin color, enter your hair colour and let the app suggest the best treatment intensity for you. This makes IPL treatments even safer and more effective and takes the guesswork out of the process.
Summary
To sum up, Braun's IPL devices can be used to treat dark hair on light to dark brown skin. However, due to the technology, it is better to avoid IPL treatment on lighter hair colors and dark brown/black skin. Now you know whether your skin tone is suitable, all you need is a detailed guide on how to use an IPL device. If your hair/skin color combination is not suitable for IPL, you can try one of our epilators or lady shavers for fast and effective hair removal.