This Device Promises 96% Hair Reduction in Just 2 Weeks… But Does it Work?
As someone who spent much of my twenties trying to find the perfect hair removal method to deliver freshly-waxed dolphin vibes year-round, it’s fair to say I’ve tried most things.
There was the waxing (effective but I’m no fan of the chicken skin effect for days after), hair removal creams (great, cheap, but fiddly), and the epilating (plain terrifying). But each time I tried something new, I found that the downsides inevitably outweighed the affordability and speed of simply shaving.
But since shaving isn’t without its drawbacks either, there was one final thing I’d been keen to try for years; IPL.
Which is why when Ulike got in touch with details of their at-home Air 10 device (£399.99 from Ulike UK /$349 from Ulike US), which claims to reduce hair growth by up to 96% in just two weeks, I jumped at the chance to try it.
Image – Courtesy of writer
As the perfect candidate for IPL (very fair skin, very dark hair) then, would I finally gain the hair-free legs of my dreams in a fortnight? And would I relegate razors to the bin forever?
Read on to find out.
How does IPL work?
First though, I wanted to know how a simple beam of light (IPL stands for ‘intense pulsed light’) even impacts hair. I turned to Live That Glow’s own skincare agony aunt, Dr Sonia Khorana, for information.
“IPL uses light energy that targets the pigment (melanin) in the hair, which absorbs the light and converts it into heat,” she tells me. “That heat travels down the hair shaft to damage the hair follicle, reducing its ability to produce new hair.”
Image – Courtesy of writer
So far, so simple then. But there are downsides. “IPL is less effective on very light hair (blonde, grey, red, or white) because there is little melanin for the light to target,” Dr Khorana explains.
Meanwhile, “darker skin tones are at higher risk of burns and pigmentation changes, as IPL can mistake skin pigment for hair pigment and overheat the skin.” Instead, “Results are best on dark hair and lighter skin, where the contrast allows the light to target hair more precisely,” she tells me.
If you are a good candidate for IPL though, how long do the results last?
“Results are not permanent and maintenance sessions are required, as some follicles recover over time,” Dr Khorana confirms.
It’s not a one-and-done treatment then but you can still expect impressive results, she explains. “Over repeated treatments, hair grows back slower, finer, and lighter, leading to long-term hair reduction rather than instant removal.”
The product details
Since IPL devices work by ‘flashing’ hair with light, the treatment window size (the bit where the light comes out), and the flash speed matter when it comes to effectiveness.
Where Ulike claims the Air 10 differs is with a wider treatment window, combined with a high energy output (26 joules per second), and high flash speed. This combination, the brand claims, means a full body treatment time of just 10 minutes, plus results in two weeks.
The Air 10 treatment window. Image – Courtesy of writer
The Air 10 also features two other benefits. The first is its ‘SkinSensor’ – which scans skin as in real time and automatically adjusts power output depending on factors like skin tone, moles or tattoos to prevent burning or irritation.
The second is its ‘Sapphire Ice Cooling Technology’, which maintains a contact temperature of 18°C to soothe skin and reduce pain while using the device.
The Air 10 has four modes depending on the hair you’re treating and where you are in your treatment cycle. For example, the brand recommends its ‘fast’ mode for maintenance sessions and ‘SHR’ (Super Hair Removal) mode for coarse hair.
You can also activate the device’s ‘AutoGlide’ mode, which keeps the device continuously flashing (without having to manually press its flash button), in order to treat larger areas quickly.
The flash button. Image – Courtesy of writer
For best results, the brand recommends using the device two to three times a week for the first four weeks, once a week in weeks five to eight, every two weeks in weeks nine to 12, and once or twice a month thereafter for maintenance.
Finally, while I’m only testing the device on my legs, the brand says it can be used everywhere from cheekbones down – including the entire Brazilian wax area. Caution is still advised on small moles or tattoos that may not be easily recognised by the SkinSensor though.
How I tested Ulike’s Air 10
I was particularly intrigued by Ulike’s claims of “96% hair reduction in just 2 weeks”, so I’ve been using the device for exactly two weeks – at a pace of three times a week.
Following the brand’s instructions, I shaved around 24 hours before each use (hair needs to be shorter than 2mm for treatments but using the device immediately after shaving can cause irritation), and made sure to leave at least 24 to 48 hours between sessions.
According to the brand, in this two-week timeframe I should see “patchier regrowth, thinner coverage, and fewer visible follicles.” I should also need to shave less often and notice less coarse regrowth.
First impressions
At first glance, the kit is impressive and contains the device itself, charging cables (with cable tidies – always appreciated), a pre-treatment razor, foldable eye protection glasses, and a linen carry bag. All of which seem sturdy and decent quality.
I begin by plugging the device into its charger and firing it up for a first test session (the brand recommends doing this 24 hours before beginning treatment to check for adverse reactions).
A quick click on the ‘on’ button powers the device up and also allows me to cycle between three of the Air 10’s four modes; fast, normal, and high. SHR has its own dedicated button.
Image – Courtesy of writer
I scroll to ‘fast’ mode, don my protective glasses, and line up the treatment window on the back of my calf.
I have to admit, I was expecting to feel something – a small zap, at least – but actually my first test flashes were completely painless. What I did notice though is how dazzling the light is.
Even with the protective glasses on, it’s very noticeable – in fact, my boyfriend told me off for testing this while our dog was in the room as it’s so bright. Protective glasses are an absolute must then, and making sure you’re using the device in an otherwise empty room is also advisable.
Twenty four hours later though and the spot I had test-zapped showed no signs of irritation. I was ready for my first full treatment.
My results
Before I get into how well the device treated my leg hair though (spoiler: I’m impressed), it’s worth a quick note to mention that this device definitely has a learning curve.
While Ulike says that a full body session is possible in 10 minutes, I have to say that my first full leg treatment took me over an hour.
This was partly because it took me a while to work out the best angle to position the treatment window over my skin (the device won’t flash if it can’t ‘read’ your skin properly). And partly because I was initially over cautious to make sure I covered every centimetre of skin.
I needn’t have worried though… Although Ulike recommends using ‘AutoGlide’ mode for large areas (where you essentially push the device up and down your leg in slow motion as if you’re shaving really slowly), the brand assured me that by repeating each pass up to three times I would likely have uniform coverage.
The other thing that tripped me up was keeping track of exactly which bits of leg I’d treated and which I hadn’t.
I’d seen others saying they used a white eyeliner to draw guidelines on their legs to create a clear path for each pass of the device, and the brand confirmed this was fine. Once I’d got the hang of all that then, I managed to dramatically reduce my treatment time – to around 30 minutes in total for both full legs.
So, after a full two weeks, was I completely hair free? Well no, not completely (but then, to be fair, the brand doesn’t claim that).
Instead what I have noticed is significantly less hair. And by that I mean, fewer follicles actually producing hair, hair growing back significantly slower, and hair that’s significantly less coarse.
I deliberately took close up before and after photos from the coarsest area of my inner calf (the rest of my leg is mainly fluff) to give the best idea of my results. Both photos are taken two days after shaving.
As you can see, my ‘before’ hair is longer and thicker. While in my ‘after’ photo, there’s barely any regrowth.
As a side bonus, my skin randomly feels softer too.
Overall, I’m really impressed with my results – and I’m confident that continued use will give me completely hair-free legs that just need occasional maintenance.
My sessions weren’t at all painful (apart from the odd spicy spot here and there), but the initial three sessions a week are still time-consuming, so just be aware that there most definitely is a time commitment here.
What other users are saying
I’m not the only one who’s been impressed. A quick scan of Reddit tells me that plenty of others have had significant results with the Air 10 too.
Late_Resource_1653 says: “I used mine consistently, very pale, dark hair, and had amazing results. Eventually any regrowth was incredibly fine and pale.”
Meanwhile, in another thread, Puzzleheaded-Pin6282 says: “I’ve done professional laser hair removal but like 10 years ago with minimal effect. I’ve been using ulike since October, initially only armpits and lower legs every other day. Now more like once every 5 days or so and my hair is so thin and basically gone!”
One user, Suspicious-Bowl-6408, makes a fair point though: “It works wonderfully while you’re using it.
If you stop using it, the hair starts to grow back. Not like it was before, but it grows back.” That is to be expected though – Ulike doesn’t claim the hair removal here is permanent and maintenance sessions to keep skin hair-free are recommended every month.
Overall value for money
Whether £399.99/$349 represents good value to you will of course ultimately come down to how suitable a candidate you are for IPL, your budget, and how much time you can commit to it.
Compared to in-office IPL (often around £125 per session in the UK or $138 in the US) you could recoup the cost of this device in roughly fewer than four sessions (although in-office IPL is typically more powerful).
Even compared to waxing though, the Air 10 only really represents around 10 professional full leg waxes.
If you’re a committed shaver though, the only saving here will likely be in time (and ingrown hairs) once you go into maintenance mode.
For me at least though, the freedom from shaving rash, nicks, and the endless single use plastic is absolutely worth it. And as someone prone to ‘strawberry legs’ too, I am hopeful that IPL will make some improvements there too – reducing the need for expensive AHA body creams as well.
The takeaway
Overall, I’m a convert. Apart from some fiddliness early on, the device is straightforward to use. And yes, the treatments (for me at least) aren’t quite as quick as advertised. But since you only need to do three sessions a week for the first month, it’s not exactly an ongoing problem.
My results from just two weeks have been impressive. My legs are significantly less hairy and my overall skin tone is smoother.
I can’t wait to now see how everything looks in another two weeks.
Get Glowing!
