Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a method of permanently removing hair from the body involving the use of a specially constructed xenon flash lamp and focusing optics. The focused, broad spectrum light is applied to the surface of the skin by way of either a hand-held wand, or by an articulated arm. The intense light travels down the hair shafts, where it strikes the bulb, or root, of the hair. The bulb is usually where the highest concentration of melanin is located, as opposed to the rest of the hair shaft.

When the light strikes the dark-colored melanin, the light is converted to heat energy. The bulb and most of the hair shaft is instantly vaporized. The intense heat radiated by the hair also destroys the hair-producing papila or the entire follicle. It is also claimed that direct light-heat conversion occurs directly in the darker colored capilaries that bring nourishing blood to the follicle.

The pulses of light produced by IPL equipment are very short in duration, so discomfort and damage to non-target tissues is very minor. Most people who undergo IPL epilation, only experience slight irritation similar to that of a minor sunburn. The light that eminates from the IPL wand is filtered to remove any ultraviolet components, elimminating the possibility of UV skin damage.

The end result of epilation using IPL is a mass of dead hair follicles and invisible, subdermal scar tissue.

The IPL process has become quite popular due to the low cost of equipment and service rates of IPL practitioners, as well as the very rapid procedure. IPL purportedly compares quite closely to laser hair removal, which can sometimes be costlier. The comparison of effectiveness between IPL and laser epilation is debated by scientists, equipment manufacturers and practitioners.