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IPL vs waxing or shaving: what are the benefits?

Published on 25 August 2026

Shaving and waxing remove existing hair temporarily, while Philips Lumea IPL helps reduce regrowth over time for longer-lasting smoothness.

Details: Shaving, waxing, and IPL reduce visible hair in different ways, resulting in different maintenance needs. 

  • Shaving removes hair at the surface. It is quick, but hair grows relatively quickly, requiring frequent maintenance.
  • Waxing removes hair from the root, leading to longer-lasting smoothness compared to shaving, but it requires hair to grow between sessions and may cause discomfort or irritation.
  • IPL (Philips Lumea) uses pulses of light that are absorbed by the hair root, causing the hair follicle to enter a resting phase. As treated hairs shed naturally and treatments are repeated according to the recommended schedule, hair regrowth is gradually reduced and may require less frequent treatments. For those looking to move away from repeated short-term hair removal, Philips Lumea IPL offers a longer-term, low maintenance solution that fits easily into a routine.

The information on this page applies to the following models: BRI948/00 , BRI955/00 , BRI958/60 , BRI940/00 , BRI947/60 , BRI955/40 , BRI955/60 , BRI924/60 , BRI921/60 , BRI923/60 , BRI921/00 , BRI954/60 , SC1999/60 , SC1997/61 , BRI956/60 , BRI950/60 , BRI953/60 , BRI863/60 , SC1997/60 , SC1995/60 , SC1996/60 . Click here to show more product numbers Click here to show less product numbers

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