Ulike Discount Codes & Vouchers

Ulike sells intense pulsed light handsets for hair removal at home, built around a cooling plate that makes the pulse more comfortable than earlier generations of device. Before buying one, it is worth understanding what the technology can and cannot do.

How the light actually works

IPL is not a laser. It sends a broad spectrum flash into the skin, where pigment in the hair absorbs the energy and converts it to heat, which damages the follicle. Because it works on pigment contrast, it performs best on dark hair against lighter skin and does very little on grey, white, red or very fair hair, whatever the settings. Handsets include a skin tone sensor precisely because darker skin absorbs more of the energy and needs a different approach.

Reduction, not removal

Honest language matters here. What a home device delivers is a long-term reduction in hair growth, not permanent removal. Hair grows in cycles and only follicles in the active phase respond, which is why the schedule involves regular sessions over several weeks followed by occasional maintenance. Anyone expecting a single course to end shaving forever will be disappointed; anyone expecting noticeably less regrowth generally is not.

Who should not use one

Manufacturer guidance excludes use over tattoos, moles and dark pigmented marks, and on skin that is broken, sunburnt or recently tanned. Pregnancy, certain skin conditions and medications that increase light sensitivity are all reasons to check with a pharmacist or doctor first, because photosensitising drugs are more common than people realise. If you have a history of pigmentation problems, take advice before the first session rather than after a reaction.

Using it sensibly, and the guarantee

The area is shaved rather than waxed or plucked before treatment, since the follicle needs to remain intact for the light to reach it. Test a small patch and wait before treating a whole area. The brand offers an unusually long money-back window on direct purchases, which is worth noting given that individual results genuinely do vary.