Could ViQure’s S-LD Finally Make My Bikini Line Hair Removal Routine Painless?
Main image – Courtesy of writer
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If there’s one beauty treatment I dread come swimwear season, it’s doing my bikini line.
It’s always been my biggest hair removal frustration. Shaving leaves me battling razor rash, waxing is hardly something to look forward to, and while at-home devices promise a longer-term solution, they can be ever so slightly intimidating and they only work if you’re disciplined enough to keep using them.
Which is exactly where I fell down when I previously tried IPL…The results were genuinely impressive, but like most at-home hair removal devices, it only works if you’re prepared to stick with it; and I wasn’t. Once I’d stopped doing the maintenance sessions, the hair gradually came back and I found myself reaching for my razor or wax all over again.
Image – Courtesy of writer
So when ViQure asked whether I’d like to try its S-LD Hair Removal Device (currently $699 from ViQure US), I wasn’t expecting a miracle after one session. What I was hoping for was something that felt user-friendly enough that I’d actually want to keep using it. After all, even the most effective hair removal device is fairly pointless if it spends the next six months gathering dust in the back of a cupboard.
I decided to start with the two areas I’d always found most awkward to treat; my bikini line and underarms. I’d always found IPL slightly fiddly on smaller, more sensitive areas, so they seemed the perfect place to find out whether SLD really offered a different experience.
I only needed one treatment to realise I’d gone into it with completely the wrong expectations.
What is SLD hair removal?
Before getting into my experience though, it’s worth a quick explanation of what SLD actually is.
Like IPL, SLD (Super-Light Diode) technology uses light to target the hair follicle and reduce future growth. The difference, according to ViQure, is that SLD uses a more concentrated beam of light than traditional IPL, allowing more energy to reach the follicle itself rather than dispersing into the surrounding skin. The result is a treatment that’s gentler on the skin while still effectively disrupting hair growth.
| Feature | Traditional IPL | ViQure SLD |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Can sting or feel hot on sensitive areas | Virtually painless |
| Brightness | Very bright flashes | Less dazzling light during treatment |
| Treatment schedule | Typically 2-3 sessions per week initially | Every 20-30 days initially |
| Skin tone suitability | Typically suitable for a more limited range of skin tones | Suitable for Fitzpatrick skin types I-V (only type VI excluded) |
| Long-term commitment | More frequent treatments to begin with | Fewer treatment sessions during the initial course |
| Ease of use | Can feel intimidating for beginners | Designed to feel more user-friendly and approachable |
There’s another practical difference too. While IPL treatments are often recommended two or three times a week to begin with, ViQure says its S-LD hair removal device only needs using every 20 to 30 days during the initial treatment phase before moving onto maintenance sessions. As someone whose biggest obstacle has always been remembering to keep up with treatments, that immediately appealed.
Of course, fewer sessions only matter if the results are there to back them up – but from a convenience point of view at least, it certainly sounded promising.
Finally, everything I’d read before trying the device told me that SLD was actually significantly less intimidating than IPL; almost no pain, noise, or dazzling lights (anyone who’s tried IPL will know just how bright it can be).
The product details
ViQure’s S-LD Hair Removal Device uses SLD (it stands for Super-Light Emitting Diode and this device is the world’s first FDA-approved device using this technology), with five intensity levels designed to suit different treatment areas and comfort levels. It can be used on the face and body, including the legs, underarms and bikini area, and has both Manual Mode for individual pulses and Continuous Mode for gliding the device across larger sections of skin.
The treatment head also features built-in cooling, which is designed to keep the skin comfortable while the S-LD hair removal is firing. An LCD screen displays the selected intensity, cooling status and pulse count, while the device must be held flat against the skin before it will release each pulse.
Image – Courtesy of writer
According to ViQure, a full initial course consists of four to six treatments spaced around 20 to 30 days apart, followed by occasional maintenance sessions.
The treatment guide also covers a broader range of skin tones than many IPL devices. According to ViQure’s manual, the device can be used on Fitzpatrick skin types I to V, with only the very deepest skin tone (type VI) excluded. That’s still not completely inclusive – as is often the case with at-home IPL and laser devices – but it does make it suitable for a wider range of users than many comparable devices.
How I tested ViQure’s S-LD
Before getting started, I shaved my bikini line and underarms 24 hours before my first treatment, as instructed in the user manual. I chose level three intensity (the lowest recommended setting for my skin tone), switched on the built-in cooling function and decided to begin with my bikini line before moving onto my underarms.
Following ViQure’s guidance, I wore the supplied protective glasses at all times and used a standard bodycare gel to help the device glide more smoothly over my skin.
For this initial review, I’m focusing solely on my first treatment experience, including how easy the device was to set up, how comfortable it felt to use and my immediate observations afterwards. I’ll continue updating the article over the coming months as I complete the full course of treatments and begin to assess the longer-term hair reduction.
First impressions
Beauty gadgets aren’t usually known for their packaging, but my first impressions here were that the ViQure feels genuinely luxurious. Its box opens almost like a jewellery case, with the device, protective glasses and accessories all sitting in their own velvet-lined compartments. Lift out the main tray and there’s even a ribbon-pull drawer underneath housing the cables… Frankly, Tiffany might want to take notes here.
The protective glasses also deserve a quick mention. Rather than the oversized plastic goggles I’d been expecting, they’re surprisingly stylish (think black Wayfarers), and, had they not been foldable, I actually might have been tempted to wear them out.
Image – Courtesy of writer
Finally, the device itself is a slick, black affair with a handle and domed, vented head (that does have a somewhat Predator look to it – you’ll see what I mean in the photos).
After taking stock of everything in the box, I sat down with the user manual before attempting to set anything up.
Now, anyone who’s read my tech reviews will know just how much I dread the setup process with new gadgets, so you’ll imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to discover that the manual is just 10 pages long, with *enormous* font, clear photographs and straightforward instructions. Within a couple of minutes I knew exactly what I was doing.
Following the numbered steps, I plugged in the power cable, attached the adapter and connected the device. I then held down the power button to fire it up before using the LCD display to switch on the cooling function and select my chosen intensity level.
By this point I could already tell the device was weighty enough that I’d probably want to rest my elbows on something during treatment, but I was also genuinely relieved by how painless the setup had been. Considering that’s usually my least favourite part of trying any new beauty tech, I took it as a good sign.
My first treatment
With everything set up, it was finally time to tackle my bikini line. If there was one area where I expected S-LD to hurt, this was it. My previous experience of at-home hair removal had always been a little disconcerting, involving a staggeringly bright flash, the faint smell of singed hair and the odd little ‘zap’ sound.
Instead, within a couple of minutes I found myself glancing at the pulse counter on the LCD display because I genuinely wasn’t convinced the device was firing (it was).
The difference, I quickly realised, was that I simply wasn’t getting the sensory cues I’d become used to. The combination of using a generic bodycare gel (to help the device glide) and the device’s cooling plate creates a sensation that’s probably closest to using a chilled gua sha. It’s cool enough that you’re constantly aware of it, but never cold or uncomfortable; in fact, I found it surprisingly relaxing.
That isn’t to say I felt absolutely nothing. On my bikini area I did notice two spots that stung a little – but I mainly put that down to post-shave irritation from the treatment prep, rather than the device itself.
Under my arms too, there was one tiny jolt on a particularly sensitive spot under my right arm, but it happened only once during the entire treatment and certainly wasn’t enough to make me wince.
Compared with IPL though, the flashes themselves are dramatically less bright. I still wore the protective glasses throughout (and I’d always recommend doing the same), but I never once felt the need to close my eyes between pulses.
Treating my bikini area took me around nine minutes and by the end of the session the pulse counter had reached 823. My underarms took eight minutes each, racking up a further 1258 pulses on the counter.
Image – Courtesy of writer
The device is heavier than I’d anticipated – roughly the weight of a standard hairdryer – so I found it much easier to rest my elbows on cushions while I worked. Once I’d found the right angle to keep the treatment head flat against my skin though, using it was ridiculously easy.
Afterwards, I checked my bikini area expecting at least a little redness. There was none, and ditto no irritation, no lingering soreness and no heat in the treated area; my skin simply looked and felt normal. I then checked my underarms too and was pleasantly surprised to find that they too had come out unscathed.
It’s obviously far too early to comment on whether the treatment will permanently reduce my hair growth. But after just one session, I can honestly say I’d gone into S-LD hair removal with completely the wrong expectations – in reality, it was both completely painless and also easy.
What other users are saying
I’m not the only one who’s been impressed. While the ViQure S-LD is still relatively new, there are already some detailed reviews from early adopters on Reddit.
Another Redditor, u/Aggravating_Rise_15, was equally enthusiastic after switching from IPL: “After only two months of inconsistent use, this is one of the best hair removal devices on the market. It produces actual results, quickly, with a fraction of the pain that both IPL and in-clinic laser treatments have.”
Meanwhile, u/EngineerNo2254 (who shared their first impressions after years of using IPL) praised the comfort of the treatment, saying: “The cooling is honestly incredible… it’s enough to completely mask the pain from the S-LD treatment.”
Continuing with his review, u/Aggravating_Rise_15, who had previously been disappointed with an IPL device, said: “ I am extremely satisfied with this device and I will never go back to IPL.”
That said, a few users have also pointed out that the marketing and instruction manual could be clearer, while others noted that, like any at-home hair removal device, consistent treatments are key if you want to see the best long-term results.
Overall value for money
With an RRP of $699, the ViQure SL-D certainly isn’t an impulse purchase. In fact, it’s one of the more expensive at-home hair removal devices on the market, so it’s fair to expect a premium experience.
On that front, I don’t think it disappoints. From the luxurious packaging and intuitive setup to the comfortable treatment itself, everything about the device feels thoughtfully designed. If, like me, you’ve avoided using IPL on your bikini line because it’s felt uncomfortable, intimidating or just too much hassle to keep up with, the combination of monthly treatments and the cooling technology could make it far easier to stick with.
Of course, whether it’s ultimately worth the investment will depend on one thing: the results. At the time of writing I’ve only completed my first session, so I can’t honestly tell you whether it will deliver the long-term hair reduction ViQure promises. I’ll continue updating this review as I work through the full course of treatments.
What I can say is that, if the results do live up to my first impressions, I wouldn’t hesitate to say the higher price is justified. After one session alone, it’s already the most pleasant at-home hair removal experience I’ve had.
The takeaway
I went into this review expecting to compare ViQure with the IPL devices I’d used before but I came away questioning whether I’d ever want to use IPL again.
Of course, I’m only one treatment in, so it would be irresponsible to make any bold claims about long-term hair reduction at this stage. That’s exactly why I’ll continue updating this review as I complete the full course.
What I can say with confidence, though, is that ViQure has already solved the biggest barrier I’ve always had with at-home hair removal: I actually want to use it again. The treatment – particularly on my bikini line, which I’d expected to be the most uncomfortable area of all – was completely painless and far more user-friendly than I’d imagined, to the point where it felt more like using a cooling skincare tool than a S-LD hair removal device.
If the results over the coming months prove to be as impressive as the treatment experience itself, I suspect ViQure could become the device that finally persuades me to retire my razor for good. Until then, consider this an extremely promising first impression rather than a final verdict.
Now, Live That Glow readers get $100 off their ViQure SL-D using code GLOW100.
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