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The Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 is our best overall pick
If you’re someone who chooses to remove hair from someplace on your body, you’ll know what a royal pain it can be (time, money, ingrown hair…SMH). For those sick of shaving and who aren’t keen on waxing until the end of time, laser is by far one of the most popular (and effective) alternatives.
Our top choice is the Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5, a smart and effective device that uses special technology to adjust the flash intensity to your skin tone as you use it. We also love the affordable nood The Flasher 2.0, which is approved by the FDA to permanently reduce hair within eight weeks, guaranteed. Its wide window also ensures a virtually painless process.
According to cosmetic chemist and beauty educator Michelle Wong, laser hair removal works on the premise that dark colors (your hair) absorb light (the laser). The light from the laser then heats the hair follicle to a point where it becomes damaged, resulting in no growth at all or hair that’s much finer. The results are semi-permanent and after initial treatments, only require maintenance once or twice a year.
Laser hair removal is traditionally administered by a professional in-clinic, but these treatments don’t come cheap and require multiple sessions to see a semi-permanent reduction, making for a costly and exhaustive process.Thankfully, there are plenty of effective, easy, cost-efficient at-home laser devices on the market. While these won’t measure up to that of a trained, qualified professional, if you’re looking to save time and a few Benjamins, they may do just the trick. We did our research and read through countless reviews to find the top-rated and most effective devices that money can buy.
Keep reading to discover the best at-home laser hair removal devices.
Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5
Best Overall
All skin tones are catered to with this device's adjustable flash intensity.
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We consider our number one pick the Rolls Royce of at-home hair removal devices. The Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 is fast, effective, and delightful to use. Recommended by the Skin Health Alliance and cleared by the FDA, it utilizes a technology called SensoAdapt that adjusts the flash intensity for your skin tone as you’re using it—making it suitable for use on most skin tones. The device also boasts 10 different power settings, allowing you to tailor treatment to your skin tone and pain threshold. Needless to say, it may be pricey (as most of these devices are), but it sure is impressive.
Price at time of publish: $372
Type: IPL | Flashes: 300,000
MiSMON IPL At-Home Hair Removal Machine
Best Drugstore
Get long lasting results for a fraction of the price of a in-office procedure.
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This laser device from MiSMON is surprisingly affordable for what it is. Featuring a range of energy levels and an LCD screen that tells you how many flashes are left (it comes pre-loaded with 300,000 flashes), it’s easy to customize to your needs. The easy hand-held grip makes it a cinch to use on legs, arms, armpits, butt, and thebikini areaas well.
Price at time of publish: $190
Type: IPL | Flashes: 300,000
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SmoothSkin Pure IPL Hair Removal Device
Best for Small Areas
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If you're looking to target smaller areas, particularly on your face, this device is amazing. It's FDA-cleared and is equipped with safety sensors to check skin suitability automatically before every flash. In other words, the device adjusts to the level you need without doing a thing, which is why we love it for the face. Its precision also makes it ideal for hard-to-reach areas like the upper lip. Although it's priced higher than some options on the list, we love that this device has unlimited flashes, extending its longevity. Our only gripe is that it isn't suitable for dark skin tones, so we'd suggest going with another option if that's a concern for you.
Price at time of publish: $379
Type: IPL | Flashes: Unlimited
nood The Flasher 2.0
Best for Bikini
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You've seen this affordable, buzzy device pop up all over social—and with good reason. It uses a multi-spectrum bulb to zap and permanently reduce hair, which makes it less painful than laser devices. For this reason, we love it for the sensitive skin around the bikini area. The extra wide window also makes treating this area easy. The FDA has approved this device, and the brand guarantees permanent results within eight weeks.
Price at time of publish: $189
Type: IPL | Flashes: 6,000
Braun Silk-Expert Pro 3
Best for Medium Skin
This FDA-cleared device safe and effective for use on medium-dark skin tones.
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Braun is one of the most highly regarded brands in the at-home permanent hair removal game, and the Silk Expert lives up to the hype. Pre-loaded with 300,000 flashes, it’s one of the few devices on the market that is said to work on medium to deep skin tones (level V on the Fitzpatrick scale). The included precision head is also useful when treating small areas like the bikini or face.
Price at time of publish: $250
Type: IPL | Flashes: 300,000
Silk'n Infinity Hair Removal Device
Best for Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, this FDA-cleared device allows you to tailor your treatment.
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Bad at sticking to a routine? This device comes with a handy app to remind you of your next appointment because when it comes to at-home laser hair removal, consistency is key. The five power settings mean you can tailor intensity as well (a nice feature for sensitive skin types or those with a low pain threshold).
Price at time of publish: $429
Type: IPL | Flashes: Unlimited
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DEESS GP590 Permanent Hair Removal System
Most Comfortable
With a rechargeable device and unlimited flashes, you'll have no problem removing all your unwanted hair.
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Those who are bad with pain (even something minimal like permanent hair removal) will take comfort in the fact this DEESS device comes kitted out with cool technology to soothe the skin after treatment. It’s rechargeable and comes with unlimited flashes, so in theory, it should last a really long time. There are also three heads—some of which are for skin rejuvenation, but our advice is to stick to it for hair removal only.
Price at time of publish: $300
Type: IPL | Flashes: Unlimited
Elos Me Me Sleek
Best for Dark Skin
This rechargeable device allows for unlimited treatments and even works on darker skin tones.
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With unlimited treatments and FDA clearance to work on all skin tones, there’s a lot to love about this Me Sleek laser device. it boasts unlimited flashes and a ultra-sleek design. We love the luxe charging cradle as well.
Price at time of publish: $299
Type: IPL and radiofrequency | Flashes: Unlimited
ORA Iluminage Touch 4ever Home Permanent Hair Removal IPL & Radio Frequency System (FDA-Cleared)
Best for Large Areas
Get large areas, like your legs, treated more quickly and efficiently.
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If you want to treat your arms, legs, or back, you need a device with a larger head, such as this one from ORA. The combination of IPL and radiofrequency used in this is actually patented by the brand—in fact, the technology was originally developed by scientists behind in-clinic machines, so you know you’re in good hands. It’s also one of the few FDA-cleared tools that are said to work on all skin tones and hair colors.
Price at time of publish: $449
Type: IPL and radiofrequency | Flashes: Unlimited
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HappySkin Ice IPL Hair Removal Handset
Best with Cooling Technology
A cooling feature reduces the chance of unwanted irritation occurring.
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This handset from Happyskin is fitted out with cooling technology to mitigate any stinging or redness post-treatment, so it’s a nice choice for sensitive skin. With 999,000 flashes and three modes (including auto, glide, and manual), it’s not bad for the price point. Bonus points for its sleek appearance as well.
Price at time of publish: $269
Type: IPL | Flashes: 999,000
Final Verdict
The Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 wins for us, hands down. It’s smart, effective, quick, and safe—all features that are really great value given the price point. We also love the affordable nood The Flasher 2.0, which is approved by the FDA and offers a money-back guarantee on permanent hair reduction within eight weeks.
Michelle Wong is a cosmetic chemist, beauty educator, and the founder of Lab Muffin.
Rachel Ward, MD, is a dermatologist and a Cleveland Clinic practitioner.
What to Look For in an At-Home Laser Hair Removal Device
Laser versus IPL
According to Cleveland Clinic practitioner and dermatologist Rachel Ward, MD, there are two types of at-home hair removal methods: true laser and IPL. Both use light to heat the hair follicle; the only palpable difference is the light they actually use (laser uses one wavelength, whereas IPL uses multiple).
Skin Tone and Hair Color
Ward touches on this elsewhere, but because the laser is attracted to dark pigment, it’s tricky territory for dark skin tones due to the possibility of the laser getting confused and heating the actual skin instead of the hair (and causing permanent damage). These days, technology has come far enough (and rightly so) that people of color can reap the rewards of laser hair removal, but it’s important to seek out the right tool. If you're really in doubt, hedge your bets and speak to a professional from the get-go. Even if you don’t commit to a series of treatments, you’ll at least have peace of mind and a better understanding of what you can and can’t do.
Likewise, those with fair body hair should also consider their options because at-home devices might not be intelligent enough to pick up the hair follicle (remember, they’re attracted to dark pigment).
Frequently Asked Questions
Are at-home laser removal devices safe?
<p>Ward explains that if you use your device correctly, it’s generally safe but still advises to never run the light over pigmented areas (like moles), tattoos, or around the eyes and genitals. If you have dark skin, you’ll need to seek out a suitable device, otherwise, you can risk burning your skin or <a href="https://www.byrdie.com/hyperpigmentation-treatment" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">bringing on hyperpigmentation</a> (this is due to the fact the laser light is not only attracted to the dark hair follicle but the melanin in your skin).</p>
How do you use at-home laser removal devices?
<p>This will depend on your device of choice, but most are to be used on <a href="https://www.byrdie.com/12-shaving-tips-to-prevent-ingrown-hairs-2442849" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">shaved skin</a> (free of all skincare) once a week. You should run your device over the entire treatment area before repeating the process several times (check your instructions for specifics).</p>
How do the results of at-home laser hair removal devices compare to in-office treatments?
<p>Ward explains that the main differences are that in-clinic machines are more powerful and often bigger, so they can cover a treatment area faster and do a better job at eradicating hair. They are generally more advanced, too, which is why those with light hair or a deep skin tone are often better off <a href="https://www.byrdie.com/best-laser-hair-removal-services-5095322" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">seeing a professional</a> (given it’s in their means).</p>
Can you use at-home laser hair removal devices be used on hormonal-based hair growth?
<p>Yes! IPL devices are effective on hormonal-based hair growth. People who have hair growth from PCOS, for example, are cleared to use at-home IPL devices.</p>
Can you use an at-home laser hair removal device on a tattoo?
<p>No. The frequencies used by an at-home IPL device might cause a skin reaction on the skin that is covered by a tattoo. It's best to use your device around areas with tattoos.</p>
Why Trust Byrdie
Over the years,Emily Algarhas experienced and spoken to dozens of experts in the permanent hair-removal treatment space, figuring out what works and what doesn’t. For this feature, she has borrowed the expertise of two professionals (a dermatologist and a beauty educator) to break down the how's and what’s of at-home laser hair removal.
According to ourDiversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any at-home laser hair removal devices from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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