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Societally, women are often expected to be hairless. (Whether or not that's fair is hotly debated.) Biologically, my body disagrees, as it tends to sprout new hairs every single day.
The most daunting part of my grooming routine has to be shaving my armpits, which I do every day to avoid looking like a hairy girl, so when I learned about Ulike's brand-new Sapphire AIR3 ($379) hair-removal device, I was immediately intrigued. Similar to professional laser hair-removal treatments, with continued use, this at-home tool promises to not only get rid of your hair but also cause it to grow back more slowly over time.
My underarm hair is pretty average in terms of density and is a dark brown color, so to be honest, I'm over having to shave before hitting the gym or a Pilates class every day. (It's a real fear of mine for people to see my armpit hair. Don't ask.) With the Ulike Sapphire AIR3, which utilizes cooling technology and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, you can expect to reduce your shaving sessions. And that sounded right up my alley.
Continue reading to see how it went when I took the tool for a road-test.
This hair-removal device comes with three operating modes for different parts of the body: soft (for your face, upper lips, and bikini); body (legs and arms); and power (chest and armpits).
IPL uses beams of light to target the pigment in the hair follicles, which then heats up to remove the hair.
The tool is equipped with a cooling sensation (at 20 degrees Celsius) to minimize any pain from the zap.
The packaging also comes with safety goggles and a razor.
What I Like About the Ulike Sapphire AIR3
I'll be honest: I was afraid of the pain going into using the Ulike Sapphire AIR3 device, but to my surprise, it was virtually painless. All I felt were little zaps, which felt like a little tickle or tingle to my skin. The device itself is lightweight and easy to handle, and I also appreciated that the directions were super easy to follow.
I can't speak to the decrease in hair density or the reduction of hair count quite yet because it requires multiple uses, with one or two weeks in between each session, but I have high hopes that after continued use, I'll be seeing results in just a few months.
How to Use the Ulike Sapphire AIR3
This was my first foray into laser hair removal, so I was shocked to learn I needed to shave all visible hair before using the laser. (I later learned this is so the light can target the dark hair follicle.) After using the provided razor to remove the visible hair on my armpits, I connected the adapter to the handset and plugged it in. From there, I popped on the ultrastylish IPL safety goggles — which honestly just look like black sunnies — and was ready to get my laser on.
Since I decided to focus on my armpits for this review, it was recommended to use the Power operating mode, and that's exactly what I did. After switching it over to my desired setting (and doing a skin patch test), I pressed the treatment button and got to work. The light would go off, effectively zapping the area I had the device on, and I'd move it over to a new area each time.
I wanted to ensure I got each and every area, so I pressed the button each time I wanted to activate the laser. However, I would like to note there is the option to hold the button down for two seconds, which activates the "gliding" mode. I think this is better suited for larger areas of the body, like the legs.
What to Consider Before Trying the Ulike Sapphire AIR3
Like many other laser hair-removal devices, it's important to note that this one won't work as well on all skin tones and hair colors. The Ulike Sapphire AIR3 isn't deemed safe for those who have deeper pigmentation (like dark brown, brown black, and darker skin) and is considered to be ineffective for people who have light-blond, white, gray, or red hair.
My skin tone and hair color fall under the "safe" and "effective" scales, so I was able to accurately test it out, but I do think that's something the brand can work on for the future to be more inclusive. I'm sure there's a bunch of science behind it that goes beyond my comprehension, but it would be nice to see an option out there for people with darker complexions and lighter hair.
Is the Ulike Sapphire AIR3 Worth the Splurge?
At $379, the Ulike Sapphire AIR3 is not cheap, but when you factor in how much you spend on razors and shaving cream each month, in the long run, it might actually save you money. Plus, if you were to go to a treatment center to get laser hair removal, you'd be spending thousands of dollars and have to go multiple times. This at-home option might require more sessions than if you were to go to a professional, but to me, this is a great alternative and worth the splurge.
When I started using the product I followed the weekly session instructions and started to find progress on most of my body after about 6 weeks. By the time I reached the end of the 12-week program Most of my body hair growth had been almost completely eliminated.
Summary: It WORKS! It does not burn (tested with fair-medium skin and thick PCOS dark brown/black hairs, and also thinner brown arm hair, and underarm hair) The cooling system is perfect and keeps it comfortable. It also has an auto-flash feature so you don't have to keep pressing the button.
This at-home laser-hair removal device is not only seriously good at reducing hair, but it also has a “skin rejuvenation” mode that works at a lower frequency to help boost collagen and trigger elastin production.
The devices are FDA-approved, clinically tested and dermatologist recommended. Since inception, the brand has grown to be a global leader of IPL at-home beauty devices with over 4 million units sold in 17 countries worldwide.
Requires Patience: IPL treatments are not instantaneous; they require patience and consistency. Users typically need multiple sessions spaced several weeks apart to achieve desired results. This might not be suitable for those seeking immediate hair removal.
Ulike Laser Hair Removal for Women and Men, Sapphire Air Ice-Cooling Nearly Painless IPL Hair Removal for Salon-Level Result at Home, Safe and Long-Lasting Hair Reduction for Body, Face & Bikini.
Potential Side Effects: While rare, some individuals may experience temporary side effects such as redness, swelling, or skin irritation following Ulike Laser Hair Removal treatments.
Delivering 1 flash every 0.7 seconds, the Air 3 boasts unlimited flashes for a lifetime of smooth, hair-free skin. Use 3 times per week during your first month, twice per week during the second and third month, and finally once every month to maintain.
To get visible results, make sure to use the device at least 3 times per week on weeks 1-3, and at least 2 times per week on weeks 4 to 6. After that, treat 1-2 times per month for long-lasting results.
Take your time – that's one of the most important rules when lasering intimate areas with IPL. Pubic area hair removal is a delicate art. Treatment at home with the Philips Lumea IPL 9000 Series doesn't take particularly long, but it shouldn't be rushed.
Skin irritation. Temporary discomfort, redness and swelling are possible after laser hair removal. Any signs and symptoms typically disappear within several hours.
Pigment changes. Laser hair removal might darken or lighten the affected skin. These changes might be temporary or permanent.
Q: Do I need to shave everytime before I use the device or just shave before I use it the first time? Hi dear, Thanks very much for contacting us. We suggest you shave every time before us…
Ulike Sapphire Air+ is suitable for treating facial hair, bikini line, underarms, legs and arms. Use the cooling technology to use comfortably on intimate areas. Choose from 5 energy settings and be in complete control of your IPL treatments for effective hair reduction by 90% in just 4 weeks.
Yes, we recommend that you shave the treatment area before using your handset. Shaving the hair to the appropriate length will help IPL effectively focus on the hair follicles. How frequent should I use this product? We recommend using the handset three times a week for the first month to achieve the best results.
Notice 93% lower hair density and 63% fewer hair follicles after just 4 weeks. Auto-glide completes a full-body treatment in less than 10 minutes. Use 2 to 3 times per week and see visible results within 3 to 4 weeks.
Ulike Sapphire Air+ is suitable for treating facial hair, bikini line, underarms, legs and arms. Use the cooling technology to use comfortably on intimate areas. Choose from 5 energy settings and be in complete control of your IPL treatments for effective hair reduction by 90% in just 4 weeks.
Kim often does her treatments late at night and is believed to use at-home laser devices. Khloe and Kylie, on the other hand, visit Sev Laser for Candela GentleMax Pro treatments.
IPL treatments, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology, show that people get 83.3% less hair growth after one month and 78.1% less after three months.
Introduction: My name is Lidia Grady, I am a thankful, fine, glamorous, lucky, lively, pleasant, shiny person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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:upscale()/2023/03/29/105/n/48169947/tmp_hI1o8u_51bd060a896163b7_Hand_Holding_Ulike_Sapphire_AIR3.jpg "We Tried Ulike's At-Home Hair-Removal Laser (1)")
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:upscale()/2023/03/29/106/n/48169947/tmp_RxxE6K_a9e7366b3a3694f3_Taylor_Before_and_After.jpg "We Tried Ulike's At-Home Hair-Removal Laser (4)")
