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At-Home IPL for Men: What Works and What Doesn’t

At-home IPL (intense pulsed light) devices can help reduce hair growth. The results, the safety, and even the cost depend on your skin, hair, and how you use them. Here’s what you really need to know before buying one.

Results you can expect with home IPL

A man using a handheld IPL device on his arm at home.

How Effective Are Home IPL Devices for Men

At-home IPL devices can work, but they're a lot less powerful than professional equipment. They operate at much lower energy levels for safety reasons. 

This means you'll need more sessions and the results won't be as dramatic as what you'd get from a dermatologist's office.

Some clinical trials in dermatology journals show that home-based IPL devices can reduce hair by 50%.

Who home IPL suits

Two stacked images showing light and medium skin tones with dark coarse hair on legs and chest.

Best Candidates for At-Home IPL Hair Removal

IPL works best on men with light to medium skin tones and dark, coarse hair. 

The chest, back, and leg hairs are easier to remove than facial hair.

The hair on your face is usually too coarse and grows too fast for at-home IPL devices to work on, so it isn't recommended for your face.

Related: Electrolysis for Men: What to Expect

Two stacked images showing abdomen with dark brown skin and with upper chest with red hair, illustrating who should avoid home IPL.

Who Should Avoid Home IPL Devices

If you have dark brown to deep brown skin tones, the device is not precise enough to tell the difference between skin pigment and hair pigment, which can lead to burns or permanent patches of lighter or darker skin.

If you're working with blonde, red, or grey hair, at home IPL devices won't work either. IPL works by targeting melanin, so without enough pigment in the hair, the device has nothing to lock onto.

Related: Hair Removal for Darker Skin

Home IPL limits to consider

Side-by-side comparison of a small home IPL device and a large professional IPL machine, with a man using the small device on his shoulder.

The Major Limitations of Home IPL Devices

1. Power – Professional machines can remove 70–90% of hair. Even with regular use on maximum power, home IPL devices usually reach about 50%.

2. Size – The treatment head is small. That’s fine for an arm or shoulders, but on a full back or chest, you’ll spend a long time going over every patch.

Stay safe with home IPL

A man adjusting protective safety glasses with an IPL device on a table in the background.

At-Home IPL Safety Concerns for Men

Just because a home IPL device has FDA clearance doesn’t mean you can forget about safety. 

Your eyes need extra protection. One study found that 40% of IPL-related eye injuries happened when men didn’t wear proper safety glasses.

Some home kits don’t even give you any. If yours doesn’t, get a pair before you think about switching on your IPL device.
Close-up of a home IPL device showing the safety sensors, with a man’s hand nearby but not pressing any buttons.

Don't Touch The Safety Settings On A Home IPL Device

Don’t try to change the safety settings or use it on areas it’s not made for.

The skin tone sensor stops the light from firing if your skin tone isn’t safe for IPL, and the contact sensor makes sure the flash only fires when the head is flat against the skin.
A man performing a small patch test on his forearm with a handheld IPL device at home.

Patch Test Your Home IPL Device Before Each

Even if you've used it before, always patch test the device before you use it on a large area. 

Your skin might react differently if you've started new medication, developed sensitivities or had health issues since the last time you used it.

Home IPL costs and clinic options

Split image showing a home IPL device with replacement cartridges and a professional IPL machine in a clinic.

The Real Cost of Home IPL for Men

Home IPL devices look cheaper, until you add replacement parts plus the limited results.
A clinic will adjust settings for your skin and hair, which makes it safer and more effective.

Even after using an at home IPL device, a lot of men still have to get professional treatments.  They didn't get the results they wanted at home, which means they pay twice for the same goal.

Related: Is Men's Laser Hair Removal Effective?

Split image showing a man consulting with a dermatologist and a home IPL device with an instruction manual.

Dermatologist Advice on Using Home IPL Devices

Dematologist say its best to have a professional consultation instead of buying a diy IPL device.

They can tell exactly which hair removal treatment will work best for you.

If you do go with a home IPL device, follow all the safety guidelines and remember the limitations.

How Long At-Home IPL Takes to Work for Men

Home IPL devices can thin out hair, but can't give a totally smooth finish - more like a slow fade, not a clean shave.

You might notice a difference after 30 days, but the best results show up after about 90 days of consistent use. Even then, you'll still need a few sessions to keep the skin smooth.

Which home IPL kit have you used? Did you still need to get professional sessions? Comment below.
You must not rely on the information on our website as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.
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