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 correctly. 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 you should (not yet) start.

What exactly does IPL do and what can you expect?

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) works with short flashes of light that heat the pigment in your hair (melanin). This heat is conducted 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 long-term with consistent use
• Makes hair thinner, lighter, and grow back less quickly
• Makes shaving less often necessary
• Offers the possibility of home treatment for small and large 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 effectively 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)

  • Underarms

  • 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 cannot 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) had chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• You have skin cancer or a suspicious skin condition
• You suffer from photosensitive conditions (e.g., lupus, porphyria)
• You are taking medication that makes the skin more photosensitive (e.g., certain antibiotics, retinoids, some painkillers, or AHA/BHA acids)
• Your skin in the treatment area is sunburned, heavily tanned, irritated, or damaged
• It concerns tattoos, dark moles, warts, or freckles (these areas must always be avoided)

If in doubt? Please consult 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 3.9 cm² treatment window – ideal for both smaller and larger areas
• A 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 which level is appropriate)

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

Take the time to read the manual thoroughly and hold the device in your hand without flashing it directly. The more familiar it feels, the more at ease you will be during your actual sessions.

Step 1: Preparing skin and environment

For safe IPL use and an even result, 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 result

3. Dry, clean skin

   • 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, pool)

Step 2: Skin sensitivity test (patch test)

With a new device or a new zone, a patch test is mandatory if you want the best and safest IPL result. 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. Give 2–3 flashes on 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 continue, if in doubt, contact a doctor.

Only if your skin is calm after 24 hours, proceed with a full treatment and you can gradually build up to a higher level.

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 → preferably 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 skin is too dark).

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

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

A typical session with the Nova One IPL for home use looks like this, according to the manual:

1. Connect device

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

2. Activate cooling function (optional)

   • Press and hold the flash button for 3 seconds to activate the 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 included safety glasses and never flash towards the eyes; the Nova One must not be used above the cheekbone line.

5. Position treatment window

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

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

6. Flashes

   • In manual mode, press the flash button for each 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 indefinitely.

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

8. Turn off and clean

   • Press and hold the power button for approximately 2 seconds to turn off the device.

   • Wait for the head to cool 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 (weeks 1 to 6)

• Frequency: 2–3 times per week

• Per session:

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

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

Phase 2 – Further reduction (weeks 8 to 12)

• Frequency: 1–2 times per week

• Per session:

  • Treat each desired zone completely again

  • Possibly 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 selected zone is usually sufficient

Important to remember:

• In the first few weeks, you will still see hair; this doesn't mean IPL isn't 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 cold pack / cold, clean cloth (no 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
• Sunbeds or direct, strong sunlight on the treated area

Do:

• Protect the skin with at least SPF 30+; if spending a lot of time outdoors, preferably SPF 50+
• Wear loose-fitting clothing that doesn't chafe over freshly treated areas

When to worry and when not to?

Normal, temporary reactions:

• Slight redness or swelling around hair follicles
• Sensation of warmth or tingling
• A slight tight feeling

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

Stop and consult 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 do you react quickly to products? Then combine the official schedule with extra gentleness:

• Stay at a lower level for longer if it 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 shove into 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 favorite care products afterwards, IPL becomes part of your self-care ritual:

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