Permanent hair removal: These methods put an end to annoying hairs

So it's no wonder that many women are looking for a method for permanent hair removal. Laser, IPL and electro-epilation are said to be the (almost) final solution for hair freedom. But what is the best way to keep areas of the body such as legs, armpits and bikini area stubble-free for the longest time? And are there hair removal methods that REALLY ensure permanently smooth skin?

We will introduce you to the most common hair removal procedures - including the chances of success and risks.

The most common hair removal methods that literally tackle unwanted body hair at the 'root' are laser, IPL ('Intense Pulsed Light') and electro-epilation. The principle of action is the same for all procedures: an external stimulus is intended to destroy the growth cells in the hair root.

Basically, IPL and laser initially work in a very similar way: light pulses are sent to the hair roots and converted into heat there. The difference: IPL devices emit a wide range of wavelengths. This corresponds to a xenon lamp like those found in cars.

The problem:The large radiation spectrum of the IPL devices means that not only hair roots, but also skin vessels, moles or tattoos can be exposed to the high light source. In principle, nothing should be exposed that is not the goal of the treatment. When permanently removing hair using IPL, moles should always be left out or covered to avoid burns or skin changes.

Laser rays have long been used to successfully combat unwanted hair growth. The method is based on a physical trick: the light pulse from the laser sent to the skin reaches the hair root via the hair.

There its energy is converted into heat. What happens next has not yet been fully researched. However, it is believed that the heat destroys the hair-producing cells. The crucial thing is that the laser energy is absorbed by the hair pigment, melanin.

The darker the hair and its roots, the better. And: The laser devices need contrasts. Dark hair on light skin is therefore ideal for laser treatment.

The laser is guided centimeter by centimeter over the shaved skin and emits precisely dosed light pulses. The energy strength and pulse duration were previously adjusted by the dermatologist to the patient's hair and skin type.

During the treatment, the hair “burns up” at the root (you should also smell it) and a slight pinching sensation becomes noticeable. After the treatment, small bumps may be visible where the hair roots are. It all sounds very unpleasant, but it is bearable and an indication that the session was carried out successfully.

Thehas been celebrated in recent years as a further development of laser epilation. Less risks, greater effectiveness – this is how the hair removal method is often advertised. The impression of a more harmless variant also arises from the fact that home devices with IPL technology have been available for some time. Compared to treatment by a beautician or dermatologist, the IPL devices are cheaper.

But home IPL devices have a catch: If treatment with home devices is discontinued, the annoying stubble returns for many users after a few months. The reason lies in the devices' built-in power limitation: to prevent burns, they do not emit as much energy as professional laser devices.

This means that for some hair types the heat is not enough to destroy the hair root. The hair is destroyed above the growth cells, falls out and later grows back. However, if you stay on the ball, you can at least reduce your hair growth with DIY devices. By the way, IPL devices for permanent hair removal work most effectively if you have light skin and very dark hair.

Particularly popular on Amazon: the “Lumea Prestige” device from Philips. With an average of 4.0 stars and over 300 comments, it is also one of the best-rated IPL devices for home use. We tested it ourselves and can confirm that the device can permanently remove most hair on the legs, underarms and intimate area after 8-10 uses at intervals of 1 to 2 weeks.

The Philips Lumea IPL device is currently available particularly cheaply on Amazon.*

But hair removal at home using IPL doesn't seem to work for everyone. There are also some users in the comments who complain that their hair has not disappeared despite regular use.

In addition, permanent hair removal with IPL devices is not 100% pain-free, which we can also confirm after our test. The stronger the light pulse and the darker the hair, the more painful the flash of light can be.

Our tip: Before permanent hair removal using an IPL device, make sure that your skin is completely clean and freshly shaved, this will reduce the pain.

In order to capture all the hair in its active state, several treatments are necessary at intervals of six to ten weeks. It takes a while until complete, permanent hair removal is achieved.

In addition, only very small areas of the body are reached per laser pulse. This makes the treatment time-consuming and costly. As a rule, you should expect six to eight laser treatments on the face, eight to ten on the body and eight to twelve on the lower legs. IPL home devices are cheaper than visits to the beauty salon. Depending on the device, the costs are between 300 and 400 euros.

Our tip:You can also rent the popular “Lumea” device from Philips for around 40 euros per month. This way you can first test whether your hair can be removed permanently. If you are satisfied, you can buy the device minus the rental amount you have already paid.

Anyone who spends a lot of money on IPL or laser treatment wants permanent hair freedom. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that no hair will sprout after countless sessions. Often you have peace of mind for many years, but after six to eight years a few hairs can grow back again.

These stragglers are hair roots that were once dormant but are now active again. It is therefore correct not to speak of permanent hair removal, but rather of hair reduction. The aim is not to promise patients smooth skin forever, but rather to permanently reduce hair growth as far as possible.

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Basically:With IPL you can achieve the same results as with the laser - if used correctly.

The problem, however, is that IPL devices are much more difficult to adapt to the patient's skin and hair type - which reduces the chances of success of the treatment and at the same time increases the risk of pigmentation disorders.

However, the greatest risk of hair removal using IPL lies in a legal gray area: the operator of medical lasers, including hair removal lasers, must be a doctor (e.g. a dermatologist).

Things are different with IPL devices: In theory, anyone could buy a device, pretend to be a hair removal specialist and open a studio - without any qualifications. The risk of incorrect treatment is correspondingly high.

Laser and IPL have pushed electric epilation somewhat into the background, but it is still a proven method of permanent hair removal.

This is how the procedure works: A fine probe is inserted into the hair root along the hair. A precisely measured shock of electricity then destroys them. The hair can then be removed with tweezers. Since each hair is treated individually, this procedure is extremely time-consuming and is only suitable for very small areas of skin and body parts.

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The biggest disadvantage of electric epilation is that it is very painful - how much depends on the type of current used. Besides, canremain behind, which is of course particularly undesirable when treating the face.

There are almost painless variants in which the hair is only grasped with special current-carrying tweezers. Scars are excluded here, but the hair can grow back bristly due to irritation of the hair root. The biggest disadvantage of this hair removal method: It is extremely time-consuming because each hair root has to be treated individually.

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A popular method for removing hair is epilation. In contrast to IPL or laser treatment, the hair is not completely and permanently removed. But with regular epilation, the hair grows back more slowly and sparsely. Modern epilators are particularly thorough and remove the hair including the root. This means your legs can stay smooth for up to four weeks.

The Braun Silk épil 9 is one of the most popular epilators. It has an average rating of 4.5 stars on Amazon.

The Silk épil 9 epilator is currently cheaper on Amazon.*