Testers Say These At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices Really Work

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First things first—there's nothing wrong with body hair. It's beautiful, natural, and healthy. Even some celebs are refraining from shaving or waxing areas like their armpits. But if your preference is hairless, smooth skin on your face, body, and Brazilian area, and you're tired of traditional hair removal methods (uhh, shaving), maybe it's time to consider an at-home laser hair removal device.

You're probably already very familiar with the frustrating and time-consuming upkeep of practices like shaving your bikini line, waxing down there, or even threading your eyebrows. Well, at-home laser hair removal helps you avoid all of that without having to leave your house or over-spending.

While at-home laser hair removal devices are great for in-between in-office laser hair removal appointments, dermatologist Jeanine Downie, MD, recommends visiting a board-certified dermatologist for a professional recommendation on what hair removal services they can offer that are best-suited for your specific skin needs. "Tell your doctor your ethnicity so they can recommend the right laser for your skin type," Downie says. "You want to receive the right treatment that does not harm your skin."

Best Laser Hair Removal Devices

What to consider

Value

Depending on the body part you're targeting, in-office hair removal appointments can get pricey (BTW, they can run you up to $500, or even more). Although at-home laser devices may appear costly at first, they offer the advantage of a one-time payment compared to paying for each visit to a professional's office. Many products on this list, like the Smoothskin, have unlimited flashes, which means they'll last quite a while. That being said, they might err on the pricer side. Other extra features like multiple intensity modes (see the Yachyee) or gentle modes for sensitive skin (hi, Braun) can also hike the price up. The amount you spend comes down to the features you want in your device and how long you want it to last.

Hair color and skin tone

The challenge with many at-home devices comes down to their inability to differentiate between dark skin and dark hair due to their pigmentation, explains board-certified dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD. These devices depend on contrast between skin and hair color to effectively target the hair follicle.

If you have darker hair or skin, see your dermatologist for a recommendation on the best laser hair removal treatments and devices for you. But in general, "IPL lasers, which stands for intense pulsed light, are much more inconsistent with their results, and they're not suitable for darker skin tones," says Dr. Downie. You can also read the device's reviews before purchasing one. Very often, people will comment on the device's ability to work on both dark skin and dark hair.

Treatment area

When buying a hair removal device, it's always a good idea to select the device based on the area you want treated. Some may be more efficient on large areas and others may be better suited for smaller areas, like the Yachyee device.

Once you choose your device, know that it can take some time to see results. Though you'll of course want to refer to the specific instructions on your device, dermatologist Bertha Baum, DO, recommends using the laser weekly for anywhere from four to 10 weeks to see lasting results. She also advises that if you have particularly sensitive skin, you may want to use the device just once a month. Either way, she notes that you should start seeing results in the form of thinning hair after your first four treatments.

If you're ready to ditch shaving, see below for the 14 best hair removal devices, according to customer reviews and dermatologists.

Skin i-expert

Meet Braun's newest laser hair removal device—one that the brand says is the only "smart" option in this category. What exactly does that mean? The beauty gadget connects to a compatible smartphone app via Bluetooth and WiFi technology to tailor your treatment to your personal needs. In our tests, the app was easy to download and navigate. Our tester was impressed with how well it assessed her skin tone and hair color for compatibility with the device, plus liked that it even guides you through the entire process. "It told me exactly what head to use for different areas of my body," our tester told us. "I like this feature, because I generally don't use these extra precision heads to my advantage, since I never really know which one to pick." The app even analyzes how much coverage you got to help ensure you don't miss any spots. Lastly, the app has a built-in calendar, so you'll always remember when you're due for some zaps—something testers told us can be hard to keep track of, but is key for results.

Like other Braun laser hair removal devices we've tried, this one comes in a sturdy carrying case that keeps everything neatly organized under your vanity, or wherever you choose to store it. The unit doesn't call out any specific cooling technology, but our tester said her experience was largely pain-free. "I felt a little zippiness here and there, but nothing I could actually describe as painful—more like a super quick, tiny pinch."

Overall, this device is pricier than other picks, but for someone serious about tackling the hair on their body—whether armpits, legs, Brazilian, and beyond—we think it's worth every penny, especially if you feel like you could use a little help through the process.

Air+ IPL Laser Hair Removal

We first tested this laser hair removal device back in 2022, and still stand behind it as one of the best picks out there. In terms of price, it falls squarely in the middle of the pack, but it's packed with features that make it both easy and comfortable to use. Take the cooling feature, for example. Our tester said she was nervous about using laser hair removal devices, namely because she didn't want to experience any pain during treatments. "I really braced myself for that first flash," she told us. "But I can confirm that I felt absolutely nothing—yep, even 'down there.'" The manufacturer also includes eye protection. "I liked the fact that it came with aviator-style sunnies to protect my eyes—why not, right?!"

The results speak for themselves, too. "The brand says you'll see visible results within four weeks, but I honestly noticed a difference in how often I had to shave closer to three weeks," our tester said. "By about six weeks, I was tempted to forgo treatments, because results were so dramatic. Of course, that's not recommended for full results, so I went the whole 12 weeks. Now, I only see hair starting to pop up every four to six weeks."

IPL Hair Removal System

Contributor Brigitt Earley first tested Braun's most popular laser hair removal device in the fall of 2023—to rave reviews. "The device is incredibly easy to use and really works," she told us. The brand claims you'll see results after just four weeks of use, removing all unwanted hair. "That's exactly what it did," says Earley. "I was so happy to say goodbye to my leg and armpit hair. As a working mom of four, anything that saves me time—and trust me, not having to shave is a huge time-saver—is something I'm 100% willing to invest in." Importantly, like all good laser hair removal devices, this one is also FDA-cleared for safety.

It's no surprise it's one of the bestselling models on Amazon and is widely-hyped on TikTok. Like our top overall pick by Braun, this one continuously and automatically reads your skin tone and self-adjusts the energy setting for safety and efficacy. "I love the ergonomic design of the handle, too," says Earley. "It's a lot easier to hold than some of the other options designed more like hair dryers." For larger areas of your body, you can hold down the trigger for continuous flashes—a feature our tester says speeds things up immensely.

Pure Intelligent Hair Remover

FDA-cleared and super luxurious, Smoothskin's system is great for anyone who wants something that's easy to use and doesn't require a lot of manual work or tinkering with buttons/various features. It measures your skin before each flash and automatically selects the light best suited to your skin tone, so your dirty work is taken care of automatically.

Although it's pricey, it offers visible hair reduction in as little as four weeks. You may even notice a major difference after just one use, which is a true testament to its power.

Ice Cooling Hair Removal Device

This hair removal device cools the skin as it glides to decrease—or even eliminate—pain as you zap away hair. Even if you have a high pain tolerance, the cooling feature feels super soothing. At only $120, it's listed at a good price for its value.

And, with a max limit of 999,999 flashes, this device has enough life to help slow hair growth across your entire body, including legs and arms (I said what I said!).

Express Laser Hair Removal System

This laser hair remover from Silk'n is the perfect pocket-sized follicle-zapper to throw in your purse. It's not a quick solution (it takes eight weeks to notice a reduction in hair growth), but a great way to slowly reduce hair or to use as a maintenance tool. Who wants to mess with razors on a beach vacation, anyway?

This device is gentle enough to use on even the most sensitive areas—think the swimsuit area and the upper lip. So, if you're looking for something to treat legit every area of your body without causing irritation, this is the one for you.

The Flasher 2.0

If you've always strayed from laser hair removal because just thinking about it makes you say "ouch," try the Nood. It promises a pain-free experience and can help you avoid razor burn, ingrown hairs, and pain that can come with other hair removal treatments.

According to the brand, this machine works everywhere that hair grows, so feel free to treat your swimsuit, Brazilian, underarms, legs, arms, and face. Your body will be so soft, you won't believe it.

OG IPL Hair Removal Handset

Reviewers rave that Roseskinco's IPL device is perfect for achieving hair-free pits and legs. For $150, it's one of the more affordable options on this list. It also claims to reduce hair growth in as little as four 45-minute treatments. If you're looking to remove unwanted hair fast, this one's for you.

The brand claims that you may notice a major difference in your hair growth patterns after just four uses. After 12 treatments, you may notice full results. If your results aren't top-notch, they offer a one-year warranty, so you can return the device for a full refund at any time.

Touch Hair Reduction System

Iluminage's FDA-cleared Touch permanent hair reduction system combines both intense pulsed light (IPL) and radiofrequency energies to remove hair. The brand ensures that the clinical studies were done on an inclusive range of skin tones to make sure the device is both safe and effective for all.

It can also be used on a wide range of hair colors like blond, dark blond, and red hair. Plus, it gets to work on many different skin tones, too.

Laser Hair Removal Device

Innza's luxurious hair removal device is built with a sapphire crystal ice compress designed to keep your skin calm, cool, and collected. You can manually select different modes to choose how wide or small you want the laser to be, making this hair remover perfect for the unique contours of your swimsuit area. Pssst, it also comes with laser-proof sunnies.

The price of this laser hair removal device is practically unbeatable—you get 999,999 flashes, which the brand says lasts long enough to treat your body from head-to-toe for 10 to 15 years.

How we chose the best laser hair removal devices

For the past few months, Women’s Health editors and writers, including commerce editor Jasmine Gomez, associate commerce editor Lily Wohlner, and contributor Brigitt Earley have been researching the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated laser hair removal devices. Our team tested several of the devices first-hand and consulted dermatologist Jeanine Downie, MD, dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi MD, dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD, dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, and dermatologist Bertha Baum, DO, for the picks and insights.

Are at-home laser hair removal devices effective on dark skin?

Truthfully, they're not optimal for people with sensitive skin, or dark hair, but anyone else can still give them a try (but be warned, it may take a bit longer to see results). The problem: Many at-home devices cannot distinguish between darker skin and dark hair, says dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD. And, just as is the case with salon laser hair removal, it's important to practice patience—this isn't a "one and done" situation.

Are at-home laser hair removal devices safe?

Dr. Downie says she has seen a lot of skin complications with laser hair removal devices. So, to avoid burns, scars, acne, or rosacea flare-ups, be sure to talk to your board-certified dermatologist before using one. They'll be able to talk through laser options for your skin's specific needs before you purchase an at-home laser.

Once you've purchased your device, Dr. Shirazi provides a few ground rules to follow before giving it a go."Start with a test spot, do not expose the treated area to sunlight for at least seven days, do not use the laser if you have a tan, and do not use the device on skin that's open, tattooed, or has moles or birthmarks."

Meet the Experts

• Corey L. Hartman, MD, board-certified dermatologist

• Bertha Baum, dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon

• Jeanine Downie, MD, board-certified dermatologist

• Azadeh Shirazi MD, board-certified dermatologist

• Dendy Engelman, MD, board-certified dermatologist

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