How to Choose an IPL Machine for Hair Removal and Skin Treatment

IPL filters explained: a cut-off wavelength, not a centre point, defines what each filter treats. That single fact changes how you buy an IPL machine for your UK salon. This guide covers filter selection, UK compliance, and the practical costs you'll face in Great Britain.

IPL Filters Explained: Cut-off vs Centre Wavelength

An Intense Pulsed Light machine emits a broad burst of light, typically from around 400nm up to 1200nm. The filter sits in front of the handpiece and blocks everything below a chosen cut-off. Fit a 640nm filter and all wavelengths shorter than 640nm are stopped; 640nm and above pass through. So the filter is a cut-off, not a centre wavelength. According to StatPearls (Intense Pulsed Light Therapy), IPL uses this broad spectrum to target melanin and haemoglobin, and filter choice shifts which chromophore absorbs most energy.

This is the real decision point in buying an IPL. The same machine can behave very differently depending on which filters you own. A 530nm filter passes green through to near-infrared, good for superficial pigmentation and redness. A 610nm filter blocks most visible light and passes red and near-infrared, which is why it's used for hair removal on lighter skin. Get this wrong and you either under-treat or burn.

Matching Filter Cut-offs to Treatment Indications

Each cut-off opens a different treatment window. On our IPL platform, the wavelength range is 430-1200nm across eight filter bands. The exact band set is listed on the product page, but the core logic works like this. A PMC review of current trends in IPL notes that filter selection is one of the key variables that differentiates IPL systems.

• 430nm cut-off: passes all wavelengths above 430nm, making it the least selective filter. It's sometimes used for acne protocols and maximum photorejuvenation, but it is not a narrowband blue-light device. A dedicated blue-light system targets a specific wavelength near 415nm, which this filter blocks. Do not buy a 430nm filter expecting the same mechanism.
• 530nm cut-off: used for skin rejuvenation and superficial pigmentation. It blocks violet and blue, letting through green to near-infrared.
• 585nm cut-off: used for vascular lesions such as spider veins and diffuse redness. Haemoglobin absorbs well in the green-yellow range, so this band is a standard choice.
• 610nm cut-off: used for hair removal on lighter skin phototypes. It blocks most visible light, reducing melanin absorption in the epidermis while still heating the follicle.
• 640nm cut-off: used for hair removal on darker skin phototypes because it reduces epidermal melanin absorption. But recent sun exposure or an active tan is a reason to defer treatment, not a reason to change filter. A 640nm filter makes treating higher Fitzpatrick phototypes safer, but it does not make treating a fresh tan safe.

The filter set you own is the menu of services you can offer. More filters mean more protocols, but only if you train staff on each one and keep the filters in good condition.

How Many Filters Do You Need

The number of filters a machine comes with varies widely. Our IPL platform ships with eight filter bands covering the full 430-1200nm range. Other suppliers may include one, two, or ten; you need to ask for a written list. Filters are not all equal, and a machine sold with 'a filter' is rarely useful.

For most UK salons, the essential three are 530nm for skin rejuvenation, 585nm for vascular work, and either 610nm or 640nm for hair removal depending on your client base. If you plan to treat darker skin phototypes, you will want the 640nm as well. A 430nm filter can expand acne and rejuvenation protocols, but it also passes the most short-wavelength energy, which brings stricter eye protection and training requirements under the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations.

Don't assume extra filters are cheap. Ask for the individual replacement filter price and the labour time to swap and recalibrate. Filters are consumable items; they will need replacement after a certain number of shots. Ask the supplier for the rated shot count and the replacement criteria before you commit.

Checking Filters at Delivery and Over Time

You cannot judge a filter by looking at it. Ask for the transmission curve. If the supplier won't send one, ask for three numbers: the T50 cut-on wavelength, the 10%-90% edge width in nanometres, and the blocking optical density (OD) below cut-on. The T50 tells you exactly where half the light gets through; the edge width tells you how sharp the cut is; the OD tells you how well it blocks the wavelengths it's supposed to cut. These three numbers let you compare filters without trusting marketing.

Filters degrade with use. The optical coating ages, and the cut-off can shift. You cannot see this with the naked eye. Treat filters as a service item: record the shot count, ask the supplier for a recommended replacement interval, and have the transmission re-tested at intervals if you do high volume. A filter that has drifted may pass more short wavelengths than intended, which increases the risk of burns or unexpected reactions.

UK Compliance and Client Safety

In Great Britain, the first question is whether the machine has a medical purpose. If the manufacturer declares an intended medical use, it falls under the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002. Many IPL devices sold for hair removal and skin treatment are medical devices. If it's purely cosmetic and not in a category that MHRA currently regulates as a device, it may sit outside. Always ask the supplier for the device's marking (UKCA or CE under transitional arrangements), its MHRA registration status, the UK Responsible Person, and a written Declaration of Conformity. Transitional deadlines change, so check the MHRA's current guidance on the day you order.

Patch testing is non-negotiable. Test a small, inconspicuous area with the exact filter and settings you'll use on the client. Wait at least 24 to 48 hours before treating the full area, and write down the response. This catches unexpected reactions before they happen on a visible area. Record the settings and the result; if a client later reports a reaction, that record is your defence.

For darker skin phototypes, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a real risk. Even with a 640nm filter, clients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI can develop PIH after IPL. The filter reduces melanin absorption but does not eliminate it. Fitzpatrick VI skin is usually outside the safe window for IPL; an 808nm diode laser is a better choice for those clients. We have a separate comparison guide at /guides/diode-laser-vs-ipl/.

If you add a 430nm filter to your set, remember it passes the most short-wavelength energy. You must have wavelength-matched eye protection for both operator and client, a controlled treatment area, and staff trained under Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations. The employer is responsible for this, not the machine supplier.

Cost, VAT and Import Realities in Great Britain

When you buy an IPL machine, the headline price is not the whole cost. You also pay for filters, training, insurance, and import clearance if the machine comes from outside the UK. VAT is added unless you're VAT-registered and can reclaim it. Ask for the price excluding VAT, the delivery time, and what happens if a part fails. Spare filters, lamps, and handpieces should be available within a reasonable time; if the supplier cannot say, walk away.

Our own IPL platform is priced in the low-to-mid four figures before VAT, with the standard eight filter bands included. That is our company price, not a market survey. Other suppliers price differently, so get written quotes with line items for each filter and each year of warranty. Insurance for IPL treatments usually costs more than for basic facials; ask your broker to quote for the specific filters and protocols you plan to offer.