Underarm IPL Hair Removal: All You Need to Know

Love the affordability of a quick shave at home? Then deal with quick grow-back times and irritation. Don’t mind the pain associated with waxing underarm hair? Enjoy having to grow your underarm hair out between sessions. 

But what about more modern and high-tech underarm hair removal techniques? Are laser hair removal and IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) devices, such as the Bondi Body V2 Laser @ Home viable alternatives to shaving, waxing, and other methods of removing underarm hair? 

In this post, we’ll explore why these modern body hair management solutions remain a popular choice for long-term underarm hair reduction, taking a closer look at how they operate, offering advice for getting the best out of your sessions, and how you can use these incredible devices at home to gradually thin out and reduce underarm hair.

What’s the difference between IPL and laser permanent underarm hair reduction?

There is only one small difference between IPL & LASER hair removal systems. Both technologies use light to heat the hair follicle to prevent regrowth, however, the technology used to deliver the light is different. In short, a laser hair reduction device produces a specific type of light consisting of one wavelength or colour. The light travels in a focused direction shaped like a ‘V’, targeting individual hair follicles with each pulse.

IPL produces a wide range of wavelengths of light to emit a single white flash, with the light direction representing an upside-down ‘V’ and giving it more range. Both Laser and IPL hair reduction devices flash when the output window is placed against the skin. IPL and laser hair reduction work by heating the melanin (pigment in the hair) to target the follicle. This heat then transfers down the hair shaft into the follicle, damaging the follicle and stopping its ability to grow new hair, slowing down regrowth over time.

While both are effective at reducing hair growth rates and thinning out visible underarm hair over time, each comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Our article on What is IPL Hair Removal? discusses the difference between IPL and Laser hair removal in more detail.

Why do some IPL devices say laser IPL on the packaging? 

All home-use IPL or laser IPL devices available on the market use IPL technology and do not produce true laser beams, which are only available as an in-clinic treatment in the UK. 

It largely comes down to marketing and consumer awareness. Laser hair removal predates IPL and many consumers are more familiar with ‘laser’ than ‘IPL’. Since both use similar (light-based) technologies to achieve the same results, manufacturers are comfortable marketing ‘at-home IPL devices’ as ‘laser devices’ purely for consumer recognition and to drive sales. This practice is consistent in markets around the world. 

Why don’t at-home laser hair removal devices actually use laser beams?

The intensity of direct laser light is much stronger than IPL and requires the expertise of a qualified esthetician to ensure safety and effectiveness during treatment. Home-use devices are designed to provide safe and effective hair reduction with IPL, which is more suitable for personal use. Used incorrectly, laser hair removal devices may cause long-term harm. 

True laser treatments for permanent hair reduction—whether for your underarms or any other area of the body—are only available in laser clinics. If you’re specifically looking for medical-grade laser hair removal, a clinic setting would be the best option. However, IPL devices remain an effective at-home solution for long-term hair reduction with consistent use.

At-Home IPL Underarm Hair Reduction

While in-clinic laser and IPL hair reduction treatments date back to the 90s, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that we saw the first home-use versions of IPL devices (as previously stated, home-use laser hair removal devices actually rely on IPL technology). In recent years, their popularity has skyrocketed and consumers can now choose between dozens of variations of at-home IPL devices, each varying in power output, output window size, and usage indication. 

Why IPL is perfect for at-home underarm hair removal

IPL has become the go-to choice for millions of consumers who want perfectly smooth underarms without the hassle, costs, or discomfort associated with salon laser treatment. At-home IPL underarm hair removal devices have been proven safe and effective, gently reducing hair over a period of 4 to 12 weeks, depending on skin and hair type, frequency of use, and the chosen power settings. IPL is safe for underarm use, even on sensitive skin, and generally doesn’t cause redness, swelling, or discomfort. Further, unlike laser hair removal sessions that require a significant rest period in between sessions, most home IPL devices, including the Bondi Body V2, are safe to use up to twice per week.

The only drawback of IPL underarm hair removal is that the technology is less effective on very dark skin and very light hair. Please consult our IPL Hair & Skin Tone Chart to see if IPL is the right body hair management technology for you. 

How does IPL thin out underarm hair over time

We’ve already discussed how IPL devices use light to heat the melanin in the hair shaft to damage the hair root or follicle, but why does it take so long to see results? Why can’t you just crank up the power setting and kill all the follicles with one go?

Both IPL and laser hair removal devices are most effective when used during the follicles’ ‘anagen’ or growth phase. During this phase, the hair shafts are actively connected to the follicle. allowing light energy (converted into heat energy) to travel down the hair shafts into the follicles’ bulbs, damaging the structures responsible for hair growth. Over time and with repeated sessions, the hair bulbs and dermal papilla—the vessels responsible for delivering nutrients and growth signals—are eventually disabled, leading to a long-term or semi-permanent reduction in hair growth. 

Unfortunately for those who wish to disrupt all hair growth in one swoop, our hair follicles are never all in the anagen phase at the same time. This means multiple sessions over a series of weeks to see the desired results. While timelines and results vary between individuals, most at-home IPL devices promise noticeable results after around 4 weeks. 

Top tips for home underarm IPL hair reduction

If you’re one of the millions of people who manage their underarm hair using devices such as the Bondi Body V2 Laser @ Home, understanding exactly how these devices work and taking these top tips to heart can help you see the best possible results from day one.

1. We strongly recommend shaving the underarm, and when you can just feel the hair stubble (less than 5mm in length) this is the perfect time to use the device. A small amount of stubble allows the device to distinguish between hair and skin, targeting the hair with precision and heating it to exactly the right temperature to harm the follicle without harming the skin.
2. Ensure that your skin is clean, dry, and free of creams or lotions before use.
3. We recommend using the device in the evening to avoid direct sunlight and minimize sun exposure. This also allows your skin to smooth and rejuvenate overnight, ensuring the best results from your treatment.

Home IPL devices can be incredibly effective at long-term body hair management; however, we encourage you to take a few minutes to find out if it’s the right treatment for you based on your skin tone, hair colour, and other factors. 

Check out our IPL Hair Removal FAQ page for more details.