6 best at

Best Buys is reader supported. When you shop our picks, we may receive a commission.

Are you tired of traditional hair removal methods that are often time-consuming and painful?

The quest for smooth, hair-free skin has driven a surge in the popularity of at-home laser hair removal products. These innovative gadgets promise a convenient and effective, long-term way to remove unwanted hair. That’s right, near permanent removal at home, what more could you ask for?

We’ve explored some of the top-performing IPL and laser hair removal devices on the market from brands like Braun, Philips, Silk'n and more, to help you make an informed decision on the best one for your needs.

Read more: Shop these must-have eye creams

Specifications

Type: IPL

Flashes: 400,000 total

Cordless: no

Settings: 10

Attachments: two

Recommended usage: One treatment per week for 12 weeks

This offering from Braun stands out as one of the best IPL hair removal devices for many reasons.

Its cutting-edge technology uses painless IPL (intense pulsed light which utilises a broad spectrum of light) to kill hair follicles resulting in visible hair reduction in just four weeks, according to Braun.

Its precision heads paired with its speed (it flashes every 0.5 seconds) make it easy to target unwanted hair and avoid missing any awkward spots.

The machine comes with a SkinPro 2.0 (SensoAdapt) skin sensor which continuously adjusts the light intensity according to your skin tone. This feature ensures quick results without any discomfort, keeping you safe and your skin healthy.

Specifications

Type: IPL

Flashes: 250,000 total

Cordless: no

Settings: five

Attachments: four

Recommended usage: One treatment every other week

Developed alongside dermatologists and scientists, this Philips machine has been tested by over 3,000 women to ensure that it is always gentle on skin, even sensitive types. It uses bursts of IPL to put hair follicles in a resting phase eventually resulting in decreased hair growth.

Its SenseIQ Technology measures skin tone to recommend a light intensity level and will also adapt its setting to the most appropriate one for each part of the body depending on the attachment being used.

We love the red-tinged filter on the tool for removing facial hair that protects the delicate skin there.

Included with the device is a free companion coaching app designed by Philips that guides you through the process of each treatment which is ideal for beginners.

Specifications

Type: HPL (home pulsed light)

Flashes: 400,000 total

Cordless: no

Settings: five

Attachments: zero

Recommended usage: Treatments every two weeks, then four, then as required

Those with darker skin tones will always need to make sure the device they’re using is suitable for them. This is because melanin-rich skin can absorb various wavelengths of light energy resulting in burns or blisters.

This Silk’n pick is made for each and every skin tone. The device combines the power of optical light energy with galvanic energy. Working together, optical light opens the pores to destroy hair follicles — without affecting the surrounding skin — while galvanic energy targets those stubborn thick hairs.

The built-in Skin Colour Sensor is a further measure that keeps deep skin tones protected as it prevents the gadget from releasing light intensities that might cause issues.

Do bear in mind that this device won’t work for those with a combination of darker skin tones and grey hairs.

Specifications

Type: IPL

Flashes: unlimited

Cordless: no

Settings: two

Attachments: zero

Recommended usage: unspecified

Offering professional-grade results at a more budget price than its competitors, the SmoothSkin Bare+ combines strong light energy levels with 100 flashes per minute, ensuring quick and efficient treatment that can show results within just 12 weeks of use.

A full body treatment typically takes only 10 minutes while built-in skin sensors and UV protection keep your skin safe as you use either of the two intensities.

Specifications

Type: IPL

Flashes: nnlimited

Cordless: yes

Settings: six

Attachments: two (windows)

Recommended usage: unspecified

This machine uses FDA-approved RPL (reactive pulsed light technology) which is exactly the same technology used in professional laser clinics. It provides advanced and effective hair reduction using a light that adjusts its setting according to skin tone, ensuring safety and optimal results.

The machine isn’t as compact as some of the others on this list and has an overall bulky feel to it. However, the cordless design and efficient hair removal will make up for this for some shoppers.

Specifications

Type: laser

Flashes: unlimited

Cordless: yes

Settings: five

Attachments: zero

Recommended usage: Use for three months, then use only for touch-ups

Unlike most of the offerings on this list, this Tria product utilises laser light to remove hair rather than IPL treatment. The intense diode laser technology precisely targets hair follicles to deactivate them and prevent unwanted regrowth.

The laser hair removal machine comes with an LED screen which displays the setting you're using and even counts the number of times you’ve ‘stamped’ a certain area.

The laser treatment may feel uncomfortable in delicate areas or for those with sensitive skin but with some reviewers seeing results after only a few weeks, it seems you can trust the machine to do what it promises.

Specifications

Type: IPL

Flashes: unlimited

Cordless: no

Settings: three

Attachments: one

Recommended usage: Once a week for four weeks then once every two to four weeks

With a curved head and compact size, this SmoothSkin pick is easy to use across the whole body.

It never flashes unless in contact with the skin so you can always be sure you’re directing the light right at the hair follicles. The device can provide up to 130 shots per minute, so after some practice, you can easily have your treatment routine down to 10 minutes for the whole body.

Smart Skin Sensing Technology analyses your skin tone over 80 times per second and a premium three-millimetre glass UV filter prevents harmful rays from penetrating the skin.

No form of laser hair removal will guarantee the permanent removal of hair. That said, after repeated treatments, you can expect to see a lot less growth with hairs appearing finer and lighter after a few months.

Everyone will require ‘top-up’ treatments after an initial course just to ensure hair follicles aren’t producing new hairs.

Most definitely. While they may not be as effective as the lasers used in beauty clinics, high-quality devices will still significantly reduce the amount of hair your body is producing.

The only drawback to most IPL machines is that they work best on fair to medium skin tones that have dark hair. They will likely be ineffective or even uncomfortable when used on other skin tones and hair colours.

IPL and laser devices don’t have many disadvantages.

They can make skin feel sensitive after use and some might even feel painful on particularly delicate skin like the upper lip or bikini area. But as long as you’re safe and use one of these devices recommended above that monitors skin tone as it flashes, you have nothing to worry about.

If you’re unsure whether a device is right for you, try patch-testing a small portion of skin and check for any adverse effects.

This is not recommended. Using an IPL device daily will likely lead to irritation and aggravated skin. The light is also less effective when used too often as repeated use can make hair follicles dormant, essentially meaning they do not respond to the IPL as you would desire.

The best device for you will depend on your skin tone, skin type and various needs. When investing in any laser removal product, you always need to research the machine’s specifications to ensure it will perform exactly how you need it to.

Once you’ve done that, explore our favourite device like the Braun Silk·expert Pro 5. It’s a powerful, effective device that is capable of quickly killing hair follicles while being gentle on the skin. Or consider the Philips Lumea Prestige and Silk'n Infinity 400,000, both of which diminish hair regrowth effectively.

Prices updated on 08/09/2023. We are not responsible for any changes made to the prices listed.

Lover of bargains, dupes and deals, Ava Patel obsessively researches and tests the products she writes about so you can be sure you’re spending your money wisely. She’s a trustworthy and reliable go-to when it comes to fashion, beauty and homeware trends.