History of IPL Hair Removal

IPL hair removal has exploded in popularity in recent years, with women and men across the globe using the at-home laser treatment to get rid of unwanted body hair. Whereas in the past, one would need to shave, wax or pay through the nose for professional laser hair removal, unsightly body hair can now be removed painlessly and inexpensively in the comfort of your home thanks to intense pulsed light technology.

Intense pulsed light (IPL) is an advanced form of light therapy that safely and effectively removes undesirable hair. It involves using a small handheld hair removal machine or device that emits flashes of light which are then absorbed by the hair follicle, which slows down hair growth and prevents hair from growing back altogether.

Origin

IPL technology has been utilised by cosmetic and medical practitioners to perform various skin treatments for aesthetic and therapeutic purposes. The technology of intense pulsed light was initially developed for vascular conditions. When doctors applied IPL treatments to patients with skin problems, it was shown to be effective as a hair removal treatment in the 1990s. Since then, IPL hair laser removal technology has continued to advance. A 2009 study evaluated the rate of hair removal after a second-generation IPL source. Results found that patients had 75% hair reduction after 4 months, and up to 80% after 8 months.

Curious how this actually works on the skin? See our full breakdown of how IPL technology works.

From Clinic to Home: How IPL Became a DIY Treatment

For years, IPL was strictly a clinic treatment. Machines were large, expensive, and needed a trained operator. That started to shift in the mid-2000s as manufacturers developed smaller, lower-powered IPL units safe enough for people to use on themselves at home.

The real turning point came with improvements in flash-count technology. Early home devices needed frequent cartridge replacements, which added ongoing cost and hassle. Modern devices, including ours, use lamp-based systems rated for 500,000+ flashes, so a single device can realistically last 20 years or more of regular use with no refills needed.

Regulatory approval followed the technology. Reputable home IPL devices are now tested and registered with bodies like the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), giving buyers a level of safety assurance that wasn’t available when home IPL first launched.

A Quick IPL Hair Removal Timeline

• 1990s: IPL, originally developed for treating vascular skin conditions, is found to be effective for hair reduction in clinical settings.
• Early 2000s: IPL becomes a mainstream salon and clinic treatment worldwide, offering an alternative to single-wavelength laser hair removal.
• Mid-2000s: First-generation home IPL devices launch, mostly cartridge-based with limited flash counts.
• 2009: A key clinical study confirms second-generation IPL devices achieve 75-80% hair reduction after 4-8 months of treatment.
• 2010s-today: Lamp-based home devices with 500,000+ flash counts, multiple power settings, and multi-year warranties become the standard, making IPL hair removal accessible and affordable for home use.

Best at Home Hair Removal

Today, IPL hair removal is the easiest permanent hair removal solution for most people. Getting unwanted hair removed professionally can be costly and inconvenient. It’s a hassle to find an available booking at a clinic for laser hair removal at a time that suits you.

The best hair removal option if you want to keep more money and value convenience is investing in a compact IPL machine. Not only will you save big on money and time with your own IPL hair removal device, but getting rid of hair is quick, easy and can be done in privacy as you multitask or binge a show at home.

A single device with 500,000+ flashes covers years of full-body treatments across legs, arms, underarms, and more, with no ongoing cost per session. Compare that to laser clinic pricing, where each area is billed separately per visit, and the cost difference adds up fast over a typical 8-10 session course.

Before you buy, it’s worth checking whether IPL hair removal is safe for your skin tone and hair colour.

Purchase our IPL hair removal device today