: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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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.
:quality(70):extract_cover():upscale():fill(ffffff)/2023/03/29/111/n/48169947/shoph7OfRo.jpg "We Tried Ulike's At-Home Hair-Removal Laser (2)")
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.
About the Ulike Sapphire AIR3
- 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
:upscale()/2023/03/29/107/n/48169947/tmp_IcODzH_b735d1facc869396_Ulike_Sapphire_AIR3_Bundle.jpg "We Tried Ulike's At-Home Hair-Removal Laser (3)")
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.
: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)")
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.
Rating
★★★★
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or opinions. However, I can provide information on the concepts mentioned in this article. Let's break it down:
Ulike's Sapphire AIR3 Hair-Removal Device
The Ulike Sapphire AIR3 is a hair-removal device that utilizes cooling technology and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy to remove hair. It comes with three operating modes for different parts of the body: soft (for the face, upper lips, and bikini area), body (for legs and arms), and power (for chest and armpits). IPL uses beams of light to target the pigment in the hair follicles, heating them up and removing the hair. The device is equipped with a cooling sensation to minimize any pain from the treatment.
Experience with the Ulike Sapphire AIR3
The author of the article shares their experience using the Ulike Sapphire AIR3. They mention that they were initially afraid of the pain but found the device to be virtually painless, with only little zaps that felt like a tickle or tingle to the skin. The device is lightweight and easy to handle, and the directions for use were easy to follow. The author has not yet seen a decrease in hair density or reduction in hair count, as it requires multiple uses with one or two weeks in between each session. However, they have high hopes of seeing results after continued use.
How to Use the Ulike Sapphire AIR3
To use the Ulike Sapphire AIR3, the author explains that they needed to shave all visible hair before using the laser. This is done so that the light can target the dark hair follicles. After shaving, they connected the adapter to the handset, plugged it in, and put on the provided safety goggles. They used the Power operating mode for their armpits and pressed the treatment button to activate the laser. The light would go off, effectively zapping the area, and they would move the device to a new area each time. There is also an option to hold the button down for two seconds to activate the "gliding" mode, which is better suited for larger areas of the body like the legs.
Considerations for the Ulike Sapphire AIR3
It's important to note that the Ulike Sapphire AIR3 may not work as well on all skin tones and hair colors. It is not deemed safe for those with deeper pigmentation (like dark brown, brown black, and darker skin) and is considered ineffective for people with light-blond, white, gray, or red hair. The author mentions that their skin tone and hair color fall under the "safe" and "effective" scales, allowing them to accurately test the device. However, they suggest that the brand could work on being more inclusive in the future by providing options for people with darker complexions and lighter hair.
Is the Ulike Sapphire AIR3 Worth the Splurge?
The Ulike Sapphire AIR3 is priced at $379, which may seem expensive. However, when considering the cost of razors and shaving cream each month, it may save money in the long run. Additionally, compared to professional laser hair removal treatments that can cost thousands of dollars and require multiple sessions, the Ulike Sapphire AIR3 provides a more affordable at-home option. Although it may require more sessions than professional treatments, the author believes it is a great alternative and worth the investment.
Please note that the information provided above is based on this article, and I have cited the relevant snippets from the article to support the information.
