New to home IPL? Read this before your first flash.
5 caution checks and 5 prep and aftercare steps, from the team that makes the Air 10. All 10 are unlocked for you, right below.
$279 with A10GLOW · $349 one-time · Refills $29.99 every 2 months
File no. 5+5 · open before use
- $279 todayAir 10 + free welcome kit.
- Flexible refills$29.99 every 2 months.
- Pause or cancel anytimeManage your plan online.
- 100 days to decidePlus free US shipping.
Please don'tskip no. 4.
Tutorials show you how to flash. These are the steps they rush past. All 10, unlocked.
must-do checklist
the 5+5 rules to follow before you use your IPL device
Part 1 · 5 caution checks
- RULE #1
Patch test, then wait 2 hours.
Before your first full session, test one small spot so you know how your skin responds to the light.
- Pick a small, hidden spot on the area you plan to treat. Shave it, then clean and dry it.
- Goggles on. Flash once on the lowest level.
- Wait 2 hours. Skin calm? Treat the full area, starting at that level.
- Burning, blistering or strong swelling? Stop and ask a doctor before you go further.
- RULE #2
Keep away from sun, tanning beds and self-tanner.
Your prep starts 2–4 weeks before your first flash, not on the day.
- Wear SPF daily on the areas you will treat for 2–4 weeks before.
- No tanning beds and no lying out in the sun.
- No self-tanner for a month before you start.
- After each session, keep protecting the area from the sun for 1–3 days.
- RULE #3
Check your skincare and your medications.
Some products and medications make skin more sensitive to light, so the same flash hits harder.
- Pause retinol and other strong actives a week before.
- Check your prescriptions. Ulike's guide flags some antibiotics (tetracyclines like doxycycline, fluoroquinolones), isotretinoin, some anti-inflammatories, some antifungals, diuretics and some higher-estrogen pills.
- On isotretinoin? Ulike's guide says to stop at least 6 months before light-based hair removal.
- Never stop a prescribed medication on your own. Ask your doctor or pharmacist first.
Rules 1 to 3 keep your skin calm. Rule 4 decides whether the light has anything to work on at all.Most people break it without knowing.
- RULE #4
Stop waxing and plucking. Shave instead.
This is the one people skip most, and it decides whether the light has anything to work on.
- Stop waxing, plucking, tweezing and epilating at least a week before you start.
- Shave about 24 hours before each session.
- Between sessions, shave only. Leave the stragglers alone.
- RULE #5
Know where NEVER to flash, and check your hair colour.
Some spots absorb far more light than the skin around them, and some areas are off-limits.
- Never flash over tattoos, dark moles, birthmarks or warts.
- Never flash genitals or nipples, or near your eyes or ears.
- IPL works on black to brown hair. Light-blonde, red, grey and white hair has too little pigment for the light to find.
Consistency does the work. Put it in your calendar.
Only about 20–30% of body hairs are in their growth phase at any one time, and that's the only phase the light can reach. Each session catches the next wave, so skipped weeks mean missed hairs.
Make it stick:set 3 repeating reminders for weeks 1–4, then one every 2 weeks. A full-body session takes about 10 minutes².
Part 2 · 5 prep and aftercare steps
- STEP #6 · THE DAY BEFORE
Exfoliate a day ahead, never right before.
A gentle scrub clears dead skin so the light reaches the follicle.
- Use a gentle scrub or exfoliating mitt the day before.
- On the day itself, leave skin alone: freshly scrubbed skin is more sensitive.
- STEP #7 · THE DAY BEFORE
Shave about 24 hours before.
Shave every session, not just the first one.
- Shave the whole area you plan to treat, about 24 hours before.
- Use a fresh blade (your Welcome Kit includes a razor).
- STEP #8 · ON THE DAY
Go bare: clean, dry skin.
Whatever sits on your skin sits between the light and the hair.
- Wash off makeup, residue and sweat, then pat dry.
- No lotion, deodorant, sunscreen or self-tanner on the area.
- STEP #9 · DURING
One or two flashes per spot. More isn't better.
Even coverage beats extra flashes.
- Glide in passes that slightly overlap, so you don't leave gaps on legs.
- Don't go back over a spot in the same session.
- It should feel mildly uncomfortable at most, never painful. If it hurts, stop.
- STEP #10 · THE 2 DAYS AFTER
Soothe, stay cool, cover up.
Your skin is warm and sensitive for a day or two. Treat it gently.
- Aloe vera gel right after (it's in your Welcome Kit and refill box).
- No hot baths, saunas or hard workouts for 2 days.
- No scrubs, glycolic acid, bleaching creams or harsh soaps for 1–2 days.
- Sun protection on the area for 1–3 days. Clean the device after each session.
Timings from the Air 10 manual and Ulike's IPL pre- and post-care, medications and session-plan guides. Always follow your device's manual.
Ice cooling technology that sets us apart from the rest
Heat at the skin is what makes IPL uncomfortable. The sapphire window cools the skin while it flashes, so each pass feels like a cool touch.
"Effective if you adhereto the schedule."
★★★★★"I liked the device! It is effective if you adhere to the schedule given in the guidebook. It has easy instructions to follow."
Zahra · Trustpilot
★★★★★"Obsessed, it's only been three weeks but I am already seeing results. … The repetition is actually relaxing."
Joelle · Trustpilot
4.4★ from 810 Trustpilot reviews of ulike.com.
Follow the rules for 100 days.Then decide.
That's the full 4-week starter routine at 3× a week, plus your first maintenance sessions from week 5, all inside the guarantee.
- Order on ulike.comFree US shipping, Glow Plan or one-time.
- Use it for up to 100 daysPatch test, prep, flash, aftercare: the full file.
- Not for you? Contact supportReach out within the 100 days.
- Return it for a refundA return shipping fee is deducted if you use Ulike's prepaid label.
Plus a 5-year warranty with the Glow Plan (while active), or 2 years one-time.
Questions,answered.
How do I get the Glow Plan price?+
Choose the Glow Plan in the buy box. A10GLOW is applied automatically for $70 off the $349 device, bringing it to $279. The first subscription gift box is free. Future refills are $29.99 per delivery at your selected cadence. Pause or cancel anytime. One-time purchase is $349.
Does it hurt?+
Ice cooling technology keeps the contact surface at 65°F, so it feels cold, not hot. Start on the lowest level and step up when you're comfortable.
Will it work on me?+
It works best on black to brown hair and very fair to tan skin. It isn't suited to light-blonde, red, grey or white hair, or to very dark skin.
How long until I see smoother skin?+
SGS measured 96% hair reduction in just 2 weeks¹ with recommended use. Keep to the schedule: 3× a week for weeks 1–4, then once every 2 weeks or once a month depending on hair growth. Results vary.
What's in the Glow Plan?+
Air 10 for $279 with A10GLOW, plus a free first subscription gift box with 2 gels, a razor and goggles. Future refill boxes include 2 gels and a razor for $29.99 per delivery. Choose every 1 or 2 months. Pause or cancel anytime.
What if it's not for me?+
You have 100 days to return it for a refund. A return shipping fee is deducted if you use Ulike's prepaid label.
Now start your first session.
$279 with the Glow Plan and A10GLOW, or $349 one-time. Free first subscription gift box, then $29.99 per refill delivery. Free US shipping and 100 days to decide.
IPL provides long-lasting hair reduction and may require maintenance. Individual results vary. IPL works best on very fair to tan skin with black to brown hair; it is not recommended for very dark skin or white, grey, red, or light-blonde hair.
¹ Based on third-party lab testing by SGS, showing a significant reduction in hair density in the bikini area after 2 weeks of recommended use. Individual results may vary. ² Full-body session time based on Ulike internal testing. IPL provides long-lasting hair reduction and maintenance sessions are needed. The checklist is general guidance from Ulike's care guides; always follow your device's manual, and ask a doctor or pharmacist about medications or skin conditions. Ice cooling technology: 65°F contact temperature. Glow Plan: $279 with A10GLOW ($70 off the $349 device). First subscription gift box is free; future refills are $29.99 per delivery, every 1 or 2 months. Pause or cancel anytime. One-time purchase $349. Payment options through Affirm are subject to an eligibility check and are provided by these lending partners: affirm.com/lenders. The 100-day money-back guarantee covers IPL devices bought on ulike.com; a return shipping fee is deducted when using Ulike's prepaid label. Trustpilot rating: ulike.com, 810 reviews, accessed Oct 2026. People pictured are models.