The best IPL advice: using your IPL device at home

You want to do IPL hair removal yourself at home with an IPL device, but you want to do it right. Safely, thoughtfully, and without exaggerated promises. In this article, we share the best IPL advice based on the official Nova One IPL manual: from skin type and zones to treatment plan, aftercare, and when it's better not to start (yet).

What exactly does IPL do and what can you expect?

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) uses short flashes of light that heat the pigment in your hair (melanin). This heat is directed to the hair follicle and temporarily disrupts the hair's growth cycle.

The Nova One IPL is an over-the-counter (OTC) device designed for semi-permanent hair reduction: a long-lasting and stable reduction in hair growth, measured months after completing a full treatment plan.

What IPL does do

• Reduces unwanted hair growth in the long term with consistent use
• Makes hair thinner, lighter, and grow back slower
• Reduces the need for frequent shaving
• Offers the possibility of home treatment on both small and larger areas

What IPL does not do

• It does not guarantee 100% permanent hair removal
• Results are individual: hormones, genetics, and hair growth cycles play a role
• It works less or not at all on red, white, grey, and very light blonde hair
• It is not suitable for very dark skin types (Fitzpatrick V–VI) due to a higher risk of skin reactions

Is your skin and hair suitable for IPL?

Most IPL devices are intended for:

• Zones

  • Legs

  • Body (e.g., arms)

  • Armpits

  • Bikini line

  • Face below the cheekbones (e.g., upper lip, jawline)

• Hair colours

  • Suitable: dark blonde, brown, dark brown, black

  • Not suitable: red, white, grey, very light blonde

• Skin tones (Fitzpatrick scale)

  • Suitable: light to medium skin types (I–IV)

  • Not suitable: very dark skin (V–VI) – the device may not flash for safety reasons

Additionally, there are several important "do not use if..." situations (contraindications):

Do not use IPL if:

• You are under 18 years old
• You are pregnant, breastfeeding, or actively trying to conceive
• You have recently (± 3 months) undergone chemotherapy or radiation
• You have skin cancer or a suspicious skin condition
• You suffer from light-sensitive conditions (e.g., lupus, porphyria)
• You are using medications that make the skin more light-sensitive (e.g., certain antibiotics, retinoids, some painkillers, or AHA/BHA acids)
• The skin in the area to be treated is sunburned, heavily tanned, irritated, or damaged
• It concerns tattoos, dark moles, warts, or freckles (always avoid these areas)

If in doubt, please contact your doctor or a dermatologist before starting.

Before you start: get to know your Nova One

The Nova One IPL is designed as a refined, intuitive device with:

• 5 light intensity levels (1 to 5)
• A treatment window of 3.9 cm² – ideal for both smaller and larger areas
• An built-in cooling function (ice plate) to cool your skin during or after treatment
  
  

• Three modes:

  • Manual mode (you flash per zone yourself)

  • Automatic mode (repeated flashes with full skin contact)

  • Automatic skin tone recognition (sensor determines if flashing is safe and what level is appropriate)

The device only works if the treatment window makes full contact with the skin – a built-in safety feature against "loose" flashes.

Take the time to read the manual calmly and hold the device in your hand once without flashing directly. The more familiar it feels, the more calm you will experience during your actual sessions.

Step 1: Preparing skin and surroundings

For safe IPL use and consistent results, preparation is crucial. According to the manual:

1. Check skin

   • No wounds, active skin problems, or sunburn

   • No makeup, deodorant, self-tanner, oil, or cream on the area to be treated

2. Bring hair to skin level

   • Shave the area (preferably the day before or at least 2 hours before treatment)

   • Do not wax or epilate just before IPL: the hair root must be present for an effective effect

3. Dry, clean skin

   • The skin must be dry and free of product residue

4. Safe environment

   • Use the device in a dry, well-lit room

   • Not near water (bath, shower, swimming pool)

Step 2: Skin sensitivity test (patch test)

For a new device or a new zone, a patch test is mandatory if you want the best and safest IPL results. As follows:

1. Choose a small patch of skin in the area you want to treat.
2. Set the Nova One to level 1 (lowest setting).
3. Apply 2–3 flashes to that patch of skin.

4. Wait 24 hours and observe your skin:

   • Slight, short-lived redness = normal.

   • Persistent redness, swelling, pain, or blisters = do not proceed, if in doubt, contact a doctor.

Only when your skin is calm after 24 hours should you proceed with a full treatment and gradually increase to a higher level if desired.

Step 3: Choosing the right light intensity

The Nova One always starts at level 1 when you turn on the device. From there, you can slowly build up.

Guidelines from the manual:

• Darker skin tones → more likely level 1–3
• Lighter skin tones → often comfortable at level 3–5
• Sensitive areas (face, bikini line) → always start at a lower setting

If you use the automatic skin tone recognition, the sensor scans your skin and suggests an appropriate level, or indicates that flashing is not suitable for that area (if the skin is too dark).

Always listen to your skin: if you feel sharp pain instead of a brief, warm tingling sensation, the intensity is likely too high.

Step 4: Using IPL at home: how a session proceeds

A typical session with the Nova One IPL for home use is as follows, according to the manual:

1. Connect device

   • Plug in the adapter, press the on/off button for ± 2 seconds to start the device.

2. Activate cooling function (optional)

   • Hold the flash button for 3 seconds to activate ice-cooling (snowflake icon lights up).

3. Choose mode

   • Switch between manual, automatic, or automatic skin tone recognition by briefly pressing the on/off button and flash button simultaneously.

4. Protect your eyes

   • Preferably wear the provided safety glasses and never flash towards your eyes; the Nova One should not be used above the cheekbone line.

5. Place treatment window

   • Place the window at a 90° angle fully on the skin.

   • The status light glows solid blue once skin contact and energy reserve are in order.

6. Flash

   • In manual mode, press the flash button per zone.

   • In automatic mode, the device flashes repeatedly as it glides over the skin with full contact.

   • After each flash, move to the next patch of skin, without overlap but also without "gaps."

7. Do not overtreat

   • Never treat the exact same spot endlessly.

   • The manual indicates: maximum 2–3 times per zone in the same session, provided the skin allows it and does not overheat.

8. Turn off and clean

   • Hold the on/off button for ± 2 seconds to turn off the device.

   • Wait until the head has cooled down, clean the treatment window with the provided cloth, and store everything dry.

Step 5: The official treatment plan of Nova One IPL

An important part of the best IPL advice is rhythm. The Nova One manual provides a clear schedule:

Phase 1 – Build-up (week 1 to 8)

• Frequency: 2 times per week (from week 5, reduce to 1 time per week)

• Per session:

  • Treat each zone (e.g., legs, armpits, bikini line, face below cheekbone) completely

  • Within one session, you may treat a zone a maximum of 2–3 times (no more)

Phase 2 – Further reduction (week 8 to 12)

• Frequency: 1 time per week

• Per session:

  • Treat each desired zone completely again

  • Optionally 2 times per zone if there is still significant hair growth

After 12 weeks – Maintenance phase

• Frequency: 1–2 times per month

• Per session:

  • 1 full treatment per chosen zone is usually sufficient

Important to remember:

• In the first few weeks, you will still see hair; this does not mean IPL is not working; some hairs were in a resting phase and will be targeted in later sessions.

• After a few weeks (3–7 weeks), many users already experience visible hair reduction, provided they follow the schedule. However, results are always individual.

Step 6: How to care for your skin after IPL

The manual is clear: good aftercare significantly reduces the risk of side effects.

Immediately after treatment

• Cool the area with:

  • the built-in ice plate, or

  • a cool pack / cold, clean cloth (not direct ice on the skin)

• Apply soothing aloe vera gel (preferably fragrance-free)

The first 24–48 hours

Avoid:

• Sauna or steam bath
• Very hot showers or intense exercise (lots of heat and sweat)
• Scrubs, peels, retinol, acids (AHA/BHA) or other aggressive skin products
• Tanning beds or direct, strong sunlight on the treated area

Do:

• Protect the skin with at least SPF 30+, preferably SPF 50+ when spending a lot of time outdoors
• Wear loose-fitting clothing that does not chafe over recently treated areas

When to be concerned and when not?

Normal, temporary reactions:

• Slight redness or swelling around hair follicles
• Feeling of warmth or tingling
• A slight pulling sensation

These usually disappear within hours to a few days. Keep your skin cool and hydrated.

Stop and contact a doctor if you experience:

• Severe, persistent redness or swelling (> 72 hours)
• Blisters, burns, or noticeable pigment changes
• Pain that does not slowly subside

IPL and sensitive skin: extra gentle, extra aware

Do you have sensitive skin or react quickly to products? Then combine the official schedule with extra gentleness:

• Stay at a lower level for longer if that feels better
• Keep a small logbook (date, zone, level, skin reaction; the manual even provides a user log)
• Give your skin enough time between treatments if you notice it recovers more slowly
• If you are unsure about a reaction? First observe, cool, possibly consult a doctor; only then treat again

Why the Nova One fits into a calm, stylish routine

The Nova One IPL is not a device you quickly stash in a cupboard. Its design, cooling function, clear interface, and long lamp life (up to 500,000 flashes, often good for several years with normal use) are made for women who choose quality and tranquility.

You don't have to go to a salon, no strict appointments in your calendar; you choose your own moment. With a soft towel, a calm environment, and your favourite care products afterwards, IPL becomes part of your self-care ritual:

Own Your Glow, at your pace, within your safe limits.