Shaving is a chore I hate, and even though it's a major hassle, I always cave in and do it eventually.
That's why laser hair removal has always been a pipeline dream, because who can afford the prices of laser treatment these days on top of other spiralling living costs? Not me.
I've stuck to buying a cheap Venus razor every month from Asda. Still begrudging to pay £7 odd to remove some hair, and then embarrassingly realising it's probably not that expensive after all as I raise my arm in the gym and remember I've forgotten to shave.
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Hair removal has dramatically advanced in recent years though, and it's also become a lot more affordable as many new gadgets now claim to do the same job in the comfort of your own home. Therefore, the prices, although still steeper than your average razor, become that little more affordable, especially when you factor in the possible time, energy, and long-term cost you'll be saving by using one of the high-spec devices.
With this in mind I decided to try the Philips Lumea IPL device which claims to give six months of hair-free smooth skin. I was particular attracted to this one due to Philips being a leading brand when it comes to at-home hair removal and also the fact that this machine uses IPL.
IPL, intense pulsed light, claims to be a more painless long-term solution to keeping your skin hair-free and I've certainly found that to be the case over the course of the three months I've been using it. Over time, IPL, destroys the hair at the root and breaks the cycle of hair regrowth. It's known to be one of the most efficient and effect ways to achieving hair loss.
The difference between laser and IPL is the type of light. IPL is a broadband pulsed light source, whereas laser is a monochromatic coherent light source. Both methods target the hair follicle and permanent results can be expected from both, but I preferred the IPL option just because I found it gentler on my pale skin-tone.
Philips Lumea IPL 9000 Series
The device comes with four curved attachments, which aim to fit and adapt to every curve of your body; from armpits and bikini line to upper lip, face and legs, so you can treat the areas that are important to you. I tested the machine on my legs, but more to come on that later.
You also get a white padded pouch to store the Lumea in, handy if you want to take it away. There's a charger in there for corded and cordless use, as well as an instruction manual and guide to their Lumea IPL app. Derived from professional IPL technology and developed with dermatologists, the Lumea is suitable for the following skin tones and body hair colours (see picture below).
It also features SenseIQ technology for a personalised hair removal treatment. Their smart skin sensor reads your skin tone and indicates a comfortable setting for you, and the four curved attachments trigger tailored programmes for each body area. The model itself is very lightweight and has been designed to sit comfortably in your hand. I must admit the four different heads looked a little overwhelming in the box but a quick read of the manual soon solved this issue and the set up was really easy to follow.
Setting up and treatment
I was surprised at how easy the set up was. I simply plugged in the machine to the corded charger, left it on charge for an hour and it was ready to go. After reading the manual, I decided to target my leg area once I completed the pre-treatment which included shaving my legs and making sure there was no product on my body, for example moisturiser after shaving would be a no-go if you then wanted to use this machine.
Once charged and your body is prepped (shaved and clean) you press the on button on the head of the device and choose from five intensity settings. You need to make sure the machine head is sitting flat on your skin, you will know this to be the case when the white light sensor comes on at the back of the head with it flashing white for 'ready'. This means that you're good to press the trigger underneath the handle and a red flash will then come out of the head and onto your skin.
I chose the intensity four setting which felt warm but not painful, so I continued to use this setting across my legs. I did try the highest setting, number five, on the little niggly areas around the knees and ankles but I felt it to be a bit hot with an added pinch so I went back to four.
I held it down flat and glided the device over my skin and found I covered a bigger area in lesser time doing it this way, this was the Slide and Flash method. To use this method you keep the flash button pressed while you slide the device over your skin to release several flashes in a row. To use the Stamp and Flash method, which is ideal for around the knees, you simply press and release the flash button to release a single flash and move on to the next area.
I learnt a major lesson though during my treatment. Tattoos. The booklet does warn against not using the machine over scarring, tattoos and certain birth marks and pigmentation of the skin.
I have a large tattoo on my right ankle so had to be careful using the machine around this area. During the glide method I caught it by accident and felt a terrible burning pain. I quickly removed the device away, turned the machine off and applied a cold, damp, flannel to my skin which soothed the redness down.
Luckily, it didn't affect my skin because I was quick to realise what had happened but remember to watch out for tattoos and other skin conditions during use, and keep the machine away from these areas.
The device is designed to be used every two weeks for the first four weeks and if I'm being honest I did forget when my next treatment was due. So I found it helpful to set a reminder on my phone and also use the Lumea IPL app to enter my treatment schedule too. The app also gives a step-by-step IPL guidance and you can unlock one extra year or warranty by using it as well.
Verdict
After the first two treatments I noticed a difference. My hair was growing thinner and hardly growing back at all around my knees. My hair is slightly darker around the bottom of my legs and around my ankles and this has took the longest time to disappear. After the third treatment I noticed less hair growth and also smoother skin and was amazed at how quick the results were.
Philips usually advise at least three sessions over the course of six weeks to start seeing the results but they vary person by person. I was really pleased with how my hair decreased in thickness and density after three treatments, and it's quick too.
My biggest niggle though is the price tag, at £459, it's pretty hefty and it would have been good to have some cleaning wipes included and even protective eye-wear for that price, but overall you're saving money in the long run for results that actually work, well for me anyway.
There are cheaper options available though although they are for slightly different models but equally do the same job. Currys has a Lumea for £359, Boots has one for £318.99. Amazon has it priced at £369.99, while John Lewis has the model for £459.
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