First Time Using IPL? A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

Your first IPL session can feel intimidating: blinding flashes, a device pressed to your skin, the promise of permanent change. But IPL is one of the safest, simplest at-home hair removal methods — if you follow a few basic steps. Here's everything you need to know for your very first session.

What you'll need

• Your IPL device (we recommend The Hooha™)
• A fresh razor (shave the night before or morning of)
• Safety goggles (included with The Hooha™)
• A handheld mirror (for hard-to-see areas)
• Cooling gel for after (optional but recommended)

Before your first session

1. Shave the treatment area within 24 hours before. IPL targets the hair shaft below the skin — long hair on the surface just absorbs energy uselessly.
2. Cleanse and fully dry your skin. No lotion, oil, deodorant, or makeup.
3. Skip self-tanner for at least a week before. Self-tanner stains skin and increases IPL absorption (risky).
4. Check skin condition. No sunburn, broken skin, active acne breakouts, or recent waxing/sugaring in the area.

Your first session, step-by-step

1. Plug in The Hooha™. It's a plug-in device for consistent pulse strength.
2. Put on the safety goggles. Always. Even on a quick test pulse.
3. Start on intensity level 1. Trust the process. You can increase next session.
4. Test on a small patch. Try the side of your knee or ankle. Wait 24 hours. If no irritation, proceed.
5. Press the device firmly against skin. Light contact won't trigger the flash properly.
6. Fire the flash, then lift the device. You'll feel a brief warm tingling.
7. Move the device about 1 inch. Slight overlap is fine; multiple flashes on one spot is not.
8. Cover the whole treatment area methodically. Don't randomly hop around.
9. Apply cooling gel if any redness.

How long should your first session take?

• Underarms: 2–3 minutes
• Bikini line: 5–7 minutes
• Full leg: 15–20 minutes
• Upper lip: 1 minute
• Whole face: 5 minutes

What you should and shouldn't feel

Normal: Warm tingling sensation. Faint smell during treatment (the hair shaft absorbing energy). Mild pink color on skin for 15–30 minutes after.

Not normal: Sharp burning, white/blistering skin, persistent redness lasting hours. If any of these, lower intensity and consult your doctor.

After your session

• Avoid sun exposure on treated areas for 48 hours.
• Skip hot showers, saunas, intense workouts for 24 hours.
• Apply sunscreen daily if treated areas will be sun-exposed.
• Don't wax, pluck, or epilate between sessions. Shaving is fine.

When will you see results?

• Week 3: First visible reduction
• Week 6: 50–70% reduction
• Week 12: Near-complete hair-free

Be patient. The first 2 weeks feel like nothing is happening, but the follicles are absorbing energy and entering shedding phase.

Get started today — The Hooha™ $69.99, free shipping, 60-day guarantee →