FAQ

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) sends short flashes of light through the skin. The pigment in the hair absorbs that light and converts it into heat, which interrupts the growth of the hair root. The surrounding skin contains far less pigment and is left alone. After each session the hair grows back finer and more slowly. Read the full explanation.

Laser uses a single wavelength and a narrow beam; IPL uses a broad light spectrum and a larger window. That makes IPL safe to use at home and faster on large areas, while laser in a clinic is more precise and more powerful. The principle is the same: heat via pigment.

The Nova One IPL works with light from 510 to 1200 nanometres. Everything below 510 nm (UV and blue light) is filtered out; everything above 1200 nm doesn't come out of the window. Exactly the range used in clinics. More about the technology.

The cooling plate actively cools to around 15 °C while flashing and to 3 °C at rest. That keeps the heat at the hair root and not on your skin. You feel a warm tap instead of a burn; it's not completely sensation-free.

With every skin contact the sensor measures the melanin level of your skin. You choose the setting; if it's too high for your skin tone, the sensor limits it automatically. With skin type V the energy is limited to level 1 or 2; with skin type VI the flash is blocked.

No. IPL gives long-lasting hair reduction: after the build-up phase you only need maintenance. Without maintenance, some of the growth may return over time. Electrolysis is the only method recognised as permanent.

Skin types I to IV (light to light brown): suitable. Skin type V (brown): limited suitability, the sensor keeps the setting low. Skin type VI (dark brown to black): not suitable; the Nova One IPL won't flash. Not sure? See which skin and hair types are suitable.

Black, dark brown and brown hair give the best result. Blond hair gives a limited result. Grey, white and red hair contain too little melanin; IPL doesn't work on those.

Yes, the same technology. Men's hair is often coarser, so expect slightly more sessions and start on a lower setting. Chest, stomach, back and shoulders are the most treated areas. We don't recommend beard hair: those roots sit deeper and the skin there is more sensitive.

There's no evidence of harm, but there's also been no research on pregnant women. That's why we, like most experts, advise pausing during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

From 18. Before that, hormone levels still fluctuate too much, which makes hair growth and therefore the result unpredictable.

Yes, below the cheekbones: upper lip, chin, jawline and cheeks. Use the precision head, stay on level 1 or 2 and treat twice a week in weeks 1 to 4. Not around the eyes and not on the eyebrows. A session takes about 5 minutes.

IPL slows the hairs that are there now, but doesn't change the hormonal cause. With hormonal hair growth you often do see results, but you'll need maintenance more often because new follicles can become active. Consult your GP if in doubt.

To a limited extent. Fine, light vellus hair contains little pigment and therefore absorbs little light. IPL works best on visible, pigmented hair.

A razor, clean and dry skin without cream, deodorant or make-up, and a power socket. The Nova One IPL runs on mains power, so no charging beforehand. If you're treating your face, keep the safety glasses to hand.

Yes, 12 to 24 hours beforehand. Hair above the skin catches the light before it reaches the root. Don't wax, epilate or sugar during the treatment period: that removes the root that needs to absorb the light.

Yes. Give one flash per area on the lowest setting and wait 24 hours. If you see no lasting redness, blisters or pigment change, you can treat that area. Do this separately for each new area: your skin reacts differently on your forearm than on the bikini line.

Start with the large areas using the standard head, such as legs, arms and underarms, and finish with the small areas using the precision head, such as bikini line and face. That way you only switch once. You don't have to do everything in one session: spreading areas across the week works just as well, as long as you keep to the schedule per area.

A full round of all areas takes about 45 to 60 minutes in total. In weeks 1 to 4 you treat twice a week, then less and less, but most people split it up: legs one day, underarms and bikini line another. Legs alone take about 20 minutes, underarms about 5.

A warm feeling and sometimes slight redness that fades within a few hours. Your hair doesn't fall out immediately; it keeps growing for a few days. You only see the difference after a few sessions, when the hair grows back finer and more slowly.

Weeks 1 to 4: twice a week. Weeks 4 to 8: once a week. Weeks 8 to 12: once every 2 weeks. After that, once a month, only where hair returns. The exact rhythm per area, with setting and head, is on the How IPL works page.

Most people notice after 3 to 4 weeks that the hair grows back finer and more slowly. In the clinical test of the Nova One IPL, more than 80% of the hair was gone after 7 weeks. After 12 weeks you switch to maintenance.

Underarms about 5 minutes, legs about 20 minutes, bikini line and arms about 10 minutes, face about 5 minutes. Small areas you tap, large areas you do in glide mode.

Start low and build up per session. For legs and arms start on level 2 and build up to 4 or 5; for the bikini line start on 1 and never go higher than 3; for the face stay on level 1 or 2. The skin sensor limits the setting if it's too high for your skin tone.

Yes, as long as you keep the treated areas out of the sun two weeks before and 48 hours after a session, and use SPF afterwards. Tanned skin has more pigment, so the sensor sets lower or won't flash.

Just pick up the schedule again at the next session. Don't catch up by doing two sessions close together: leave at least 48 hours between two treatments of the same area.

Yes. Wipe the window and cooling plate clean after each use. Each person follows their own schedule and setting; the skin sensor measures again with every flash, so also with a different skin tone.

Most people feel a warm tap, similar to a rubber band. Thanks to the ice cooling the skin itself stays cool. On sensitive areas start on level 1 or 2. If it feels too warm, go down a level.

With a good skin and hair colour match and correct use: yes. The Nova One IPL is CE-certified and has a skin sensor that limits the setting, a contact sensor that only flashes with full skin contact, and a UV filter. Slight redness after a session is normal; blisters or lasting pigment change are not.

Not over tattoos and dark moles: the pigment absorbs the light and can burn. Skip them or cover them with white medical tape. Not over open wounds or active skin conditions.

Never look into the window while flashing. For the face we recommend safety glasses; for body areas such as legs and underarms it's enough not to look into the light.

Cool the skin with aloe vera gel if you like and moisturise with a fragrance-free cream. For the first 24 to 48 hours no direct sun, sauna, hot showers, intense exercise, scrubs or acids. If redness lasts longer than 72 hours, or blisters appear, contact a doctor.

With skin type VI, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, on tattoos and dark moles, on open wounds, active eczema, psoriasis or acne patches, on recently tanned or sunburnt skin, and with medication that makes the skin light-sensitive. Unsure about medication or a skin condition? Consult your GP or pharmacist.

Slight redness and a warm feeling straight after the session are normal and usually disappear within a few hours. With a setting that's too high for your skin tone, temporary pigment changes or blisters can occur; the Nova One IPL's skin sensor is there to prevent that. In the clinical test there were no serious side effects.

Laser in a salon works with more energy per session and is more precise, but costs 70 to 250 euros per treatment and often 600 to 3,000 euros in total. Home IPL is a one-off purchase, with results in the same range if you stick to the schedule.

Waxing removes the hair for 3 to 6 weeks, hurts and it keeps coming back. IPL requires an upfront investment and a 12-week build-up phase, but after that there's structurally less hair and only maintenance.

Shaving only removes the visible hair; after 1 to 3 days it's back. IPL slows growth at the root. During the build-up phase you keep shaving, because otherwise the light hits the hair above the skin instead of the root.

Epilating pulls the hair out with the root, so it stays away for 2 to 4 weeks, but the follicle stays active. IPL leaves the root in place and disables it with heat. Don't combine them: during the IPL period only shave, otherwise there's no hair in the follicle to absorb the light.

Shipping is free in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, with no minimum order value. Ordered before 5 pm ships the same day. Netherlands 1 to 2 business days, Belgium 2 to 3, Luxembourg 2 to 4. Standard via PostNL with Track & Trace, DHL on request.

Yes, 60 days from receipt, used or unused. Register the return via our returns portal and you'll receive a free return label. Refund within 14 days of receipt and inspection.

2-year manufacturer's warranty. Drop and water damage are excluded; the Nova One IPL is not waterproof. Report a warranty claim via support@laesera.com; we reply within 1 business day.

iDEAL, Wero, Klarna, PayPal, Bancontact, Visa and Mastercard. Payments go through a secure connection.

The Nova One IPL with standard head, the power adapter and the manual. The precision head for face, bikini line and underarms is available separately or in the Complete Set, together with aloe vera gel.

Yes. All prices on laesera.com include VAT, and shipping is free within the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. No extra costs are added at checkout.

Yes. The precision head (2.5 cm²) is available separately and is also in the Complete Set. The standard head (3.9 cm²) is always included.

Wipe the window and cooling plate after use with a dry or slightly damp microfibre cloth. No alcohol, abrasives or water in the device.

Each lamp lasts 500,000 flashes, enough for years of use on your whole body. When the lamp is used up you replace only the lamp and have another 500,000 flashes. You don't need to buy a new device. Request a replacement lamp via support@laesera.com.

No, on mains power via the included EU adapter. That keeps the intensity constant throughout the session, and you never have to charge it.

Within the EU, yes, without a converter (200 to 240 volts). For the United Kingdom you need a plug adapter; for countries with 110 to 120 volts, such as the US and Japan, a voltage converter. It contains no lithium battery, so no restrictions on planes.

Dry, at room temperature and out of direct sunlight, preferably in the original box. Let the device cool down after use before putting it away.