I canceled my waxing appointments after I started using Smoothskin's IPL device.
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When I got laser-hair removal on my underarms in college, I thought I’d never need another razor, waxing kit, or epilator for the rest of my life. But that was before my hair grew back full force a mere two months after my final treatment. Turns out laser-hair removal isn’t actually permanent, but it can be a great option to reduce the hair you have and keep you significantly smoother than before. The downside? It’s pricey, time-intensive, and will require some long-term maintenance, which is why I always tell my friends to experiment first with an at-home laser-hair removal device.
I know what you’re thinking: Do at-home laser-hair removal devices even work? And yes, they do—they just utilize lower energy levels than the professional devices at your derm’s office, which means they also require way more treatments to get similar results. And to help you choose one you’ll actually commit to using. I tested dozens of at-home laser-hair removal devices (no, really—I did) and compiled the most effective below. Plus, I got all the details about laser-hair removal from three experts: dermatologists Arash Akhavan, MD, and Julie Russak, MD; plus cosmetic doctor Ana Mansouri, MD. But first, keep scrolling for my top picks:
✔️ FYI: We updated this article in April 2023 to give you the most up-to-date info on at-home laser-hair removal devices, including more insights from derms on how at-home laser-hair removal devices work and new options for all skin types—all for you.
Annoyingly, there are currently no at-home laser-hair removal devices that are safe to use on dark skin and/or light hair, even if the device says it works for “everyone.” In reality, they won’t work—or are unsafe for—any skin tones deeper than “light brown” or on hair colors lighter than “medium brown.” So make sure to speak with your dermatologist before wasting your money or, worse, damaging your skin. Got it? Good.
Now keep reading for info on how laser-hair removal works, and the difference between IPL and laser below.
I used to get bikini waxes every month. Now, I just shave once a week and follow up with this at-home device that leaves me smooth af for a fraction of what I was spending before. It’s got three treatment modes depending on the area you’re focusing on (gentle, speed, and power mode), 10 intensity settings, and a skin sensor so the device only flashes when it’s pressed up against a safe skin tone. It’s been essentially foolproof for me, all while actually giving me hair-free results after three to four months.
THE REVIEWS: “I was skeptical but had seen good reviews on this from reliable sources so went ahead and ordered,” writes one tester in a review. “I’ll be darned—it works! It’s also easy to use. I saw results within just a couple of weeks, particularly in my underarm area. I no longer have to shave there at all. Very happy with this product!”
The more you know: The majority of at-home laser-hair removal devices, like this one from Silk’n, don’t actually use lasers—instead, rely on intense pulsed light (IPL), which, similar to lasers, destroys your hair follicles with heat. But what makes this one special is that it also uses something called galvanic current to help stimulate blood flow, encouraging the light to go deeper into your follicles, which can potentially increase the efficacy and results. Just follow the directions on which levels you can use depending on your skin tone (i.e., medium skin shouldn’t go past level two), and incorporate into your routine about once a week to start seeing results in about three to five months.
THE REVIEWS: According to one tester, “Dark-skinned people, BUY THIS and keep going. I use mine weekly if I have not been in the sun. You can trust that it won’t burn you. I needed to keep up with my laser-hair removal treatments at home, and I truly believe that this item will assist me with my hair removal dreams if I keep being consistent.”
Don’t mind me, just perusing the 6,500+ five-star reviews on Amazon for this IPL hair-removal device. They all rave about how it reduces and thins the hair on your face, arms, legs, stomach, back, and bikini line using intense-pulsed light, or IPL, with five different power levels depending on where you’re planning to use the device (ex: Go with a level one for your face versus a level four for your legs). Most testers started seeing results after using it two to three times a week for just a month.
THE REVIEWS: One review reads, “Just try to be consistent, and it really, really works. I am excited about eventually not needing to shave, but I am much, much more excited by the lack of that post-shave shadow, especially for my underarms. It is amazing to see the patches where hair no longer grows are actually regular skin color instead of that gray/purple tone that my armpits normally have after shaving.”
Not every at-home laser-hair removal device is great for your bikini line, because they can be a bit too powerful for your sensitive skin. Enter: Nood’s IPL device, which testers love for doing Brazilian laser treatments at home, since it uses a gentler, multi-wavelength light that’s slightly less painful while still being effective. FYI, too: You don’t have to wear protective goggles with the device, since the treatment has a skin sensor so the light doesn’t flash unless it’s pressed directly on your skin.
THE REVIEWS: One tester writes, “You can definitely do a Brazilian with the device. I've been able to get pretty much all of the hair in my entire bikini area; I just use my hand to cover up the most sensitive parts, just to be safe. The flashes definitely feel a little hotter, but I haven't had any trouble with burning or irritation.”
This at-home laser-hair removal device is not only seriously good at reducing hair, but it also has a “skin rejuvenation” mode that works at a lower frequency to help boost collagen and trigger elastin production. Just shave (or grab a dermaplaner for your chin or forehead), pass the tool on the face mode over your skin to help reduce hair, then turn on the SR function and glide it over your skin—avoiding your sensitive under-eyes—one to two times a week to slowly treat your skin (think softening forehead wrinkles and smoothing uneven skin texture).
THE REVIEWS: “I’ve used razors and epilators since I can remember, but always have a spot of ingrown hairs on my legs,” writes one tester. “But this device gets rid of that. The best part? You can use it on your face too. My face also looks so rejuvenated after using the skin-renewal head. Worth every penny!”
This at-home laser-hair removal device has 10 different modes you can toggle between, depending on the area you’re treating—and it also works so quickly. Truly, I was able to treat both of my full legs—calves and thighs—in under eight minutes, which was absolutely the fastest of any other hair-removal device I tried. Plus, it’s equipped with 300,000 flashes of light, which is the equivalent of 22 years of full-body treatments, meaning it won’t die on you mid-treatment.
THE REVIEWS: “After just a few months of consistently using this laser every three to four days on setting two, I am pretty much hair free on my legs,” writes one tester. “I was getting in-office laser-hair removal once a month for two years and only had patches missing. The amount of time and money I could have saved by just buying this laser still frustrates me.”
Listen, I wouldn’t say at-home laser-hair removal is horribly painful, but it’s definitely not comfortable. So if you’re a bb like me, or have sensitive skin, try Ulike’s IPL laser-hair removal tool, which emits a cooling effect as the device passes over your skin to help reduce some pain and heat. Plus, it has five intensity levels depending on the area you’re treating, which helps cut down on unnecessary discomfort (because I def don’t need the same strong laser on my lil chin hairs as I do my legs).
THE REVIEWS: According to one reviewer, “I can say this undoubtedly does work. I am fair-skinned with dark hair and have used this on my legs, underarms, and a couple of stubborn facial hairs with great success. Oh, and as far as the pain goes... there is none, which stunned me for such an effective device.”
If you’re okay with spending a little money and want a fast-acting, easy-to-use laser-hair removal device, try this Tria Beauty one. Unlike the majority of at-home tools that use IPL (intense-pulsed light), this one uses a true laser to destroy your hair follicle. Which means it's able to target your skin with a higher concentration of specific light, as opposed to IPL, which uses a wider and more diffused wavelength of light. The end result? Seriously effective and longer-lasting results. And, as an added bonus, the tool is equipped with an LED display that guides you through the treatment and energy settings and a skin scanner that won’t unlock unless your skin tone and hair color are safe matches.
THE REVIEWS: “I am a believer of actual results, so I only did it on one armpit, and one side of my bikini line,” reads one review. “I wanted to see actual differences. Thankfully, it has passed its trial! *party time* No, not all the hair is gone, but most of it is, and what is there is fine and takes a while to grow.”
The handheld-style design and bb treatment window make this at-home laser-hair removal device excellent for reaching tighter, more precise areas, like those little hairs that hide under your chin or around your nose (heh, just me?). If your skin feels a bit inflamed after using, dab some 1 percent hydrocortisone cream over irritated spots and, as always, make sure to avoid retinoids or AHAs for two days while your skin calms down.
THE REVIEWS: “The device has worked well at dramatically reducing the number of dark hairs I had on my chin, which is great!” writes one tester. “I can now go days without shaving before I feel like the hairs start to become visible to people a normal distance away.”
This at-home laser-hair removal device is ideal for removing hair on your legs, because it has a body attachment with a large treatment window (meaning it covers a wide area of skin), along with a continuous mode setting. The combo allows you to easily glide the device over your legs in a single pass, so you don't have to keep stopping and starting.
THE REVIEWS: “I used it for my armpits, legs, and bikini line,” writes one tester, “and I can't believe that just after using it once every two weeks for a month, the hair hardly grows back. And if it does, the hair is extremely thin. It took me about a month to see the results.”
Laser-hair removal is a process where specific wavelengths of light are directed onto your skin in little pulses, targeting and heating up the hair follicle to destroy a portion of it with each treatment, says dermatologist Arash Akhavan, MD. Compared to in-office treatments (which, although pricey, are done by board-certified derms or trained professionals who know exactly what they’re doing), at-home devices have a much lower energy output—mostly because they often use IPL (intense pulsed light) rather than true laser technology—which makes them safer for you to use on your own, says dermatologist Julie Russak, MD.
Yes, at-home laser-hair removal devices do work, but they take consistency. Because at-home devices use lower energy levels than in-office treatments, they require continued use (think: weekly, or every time you shave) to notice similar results, says cosmetic doctor Ana Mansouri, MD. Basically, they are not for the lazy.
You also need to be aware of the limitations of at-home laser-removal devices. Despite how they sound, these devices don’t permanently remove hair in a few sessions, leaving you hairless like a full-body wax. Instead, laser-removal devices only help to reduce the total number of hair follicles in your skin and potentially make your existing hair finer and thinner (only electrolysis-hair removal can permanently remove all hair, fyi).
Neither IPL nor laser-hair removal is “better,” it really just comes down to preference. True laser-hair removal only uses one wavelength of light (essentially, one precise laser beam) that targets just the hair follicle to help slow down hair growth. IPL (intense pulsed light), on the other hand, isn’t actually a laser. Instead, they emit broad-spectrum light in multiple wavelengths that spread across a larger area of skin, meaning they’re less precise and won’t penetrate your skin as deeply. That’s why IPL devices are generally gentler and easier for people to use, which is why most at-home devices use IPL rather than laser beams.
That said, both IPL and laser-hair removal can slowly destroy your hair follicle to reduce hair growth over time with continued use. But expect laser-hair removal to be a bit stronger (and potentially more painful or irritating), which is why it often yields quicker and better results. Meanwhile, IPL devices are usually not as intense, so they’re great for using consistently at home or for use on sensitive skin, like on your bikini line or face.
Yes, it’s okay to do laser-hair removal at home, according to Dr. Akhavan. “At-home devices tend to be generally safe, although a real potential for adverse effects, like scarring, does exist,” he says. Which is why most dermatologists will suggest opting for the professional in-office route, if you have the means (laser-hair removal can cost anywhere from $200 to $1,500, and usually requires at least six sessions spaced six weeks apart).
Just note: “If you’re using an at-home device, don’t use it on sensitive areas, like your face and neck,” says Dr. Akhavan. “And if you have sensitive skin, always patch-test first on a smaller area, then wait three to four weeks to make sure there are no complications.” And depending on the area you’re treating, you may also need to adjust your skincare routine to exclude skin-thinning ingredients (like chemical exfoliants or retinol serums) for three days before and after your laser-hair removal treatment.
Currently, at-home laser-hair removal devices don’t truly work for dark skin. These lasers work by targeting the dark color of your hair follicle, and at-home devices don’t have the technology yet to properly distinguish between dark hair follicles and dark skin, meaning they can potentially burn you. While some devices might market themselves as being safe for dark skin, they are usually considering medium-to-tan skin, versus actual deep-brown skin tones.
So far, there are no at-home devices that are safe to use on true type-six Fitzpatrick scale skin tones (reminder: This dermatological scale ranges from one to six, with six being “brown to dark-brown” skin). Most laser-hair removal devices are only approved for up to level-four skin tones, with four being “olive to medium” skin. But if you’re unsure where your skin tone lies, talk to your dermatologist before you try an at-home laser device.
Yes, you should shave before using an at-home laser-hair removal device, otherwise the IPL/laser won’t be able to correctly target the melanin (pigment) in your hair follicle. Because these devices work by homing in on dark, contrasting colors (think: a black dot on a white canvas), they need to be able to differentiate between your skin and your follicle to prevent errors or burns.
Just remember: Don’t wax before your laser-hair removal. Waxing completely rips out the hair and its root, which will leave nothing for the light to target, and you won’t be able to use your device. Instead, make sure your skin is freshly shaved and free of lotions or creams.
Only some devices are suitable for deep skin tones, and even fewer can work on light hair, so read the description of the product carefully, then scan the reviews for people who have a similar skin tone or hair color as you and see how they rate the device. We noted above if a device can be used on lighter hair, fyi.
You'll also want to consider the size of the device you're purchasing and the area that you intend to use it on, says Dr. Mansouri. Basically, a tiny device meant for your face probably isn’t going to be the best if you’re looking for a tool to quickly target your legs.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and has nearly five years of experience writing skincare stories, like bikini trimmers and hair-removal creams. To compile this list, she interviewed dermatologists, scoured Amazon reviews, and tested at-home laser-hair removal devices.
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair and skin stories that range from the best detanglers to the best laser treatments for acne scars. She’s an authority in all hair and skin categories but is an expert when it comes to laser hair removal. She regularly tests and analyzes at-home laser hair removal devices for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top derms to assess new technologies and brands.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for nine years at Cosmopolitan and has contributed to Women’s Health and Seventeen magazines as well. Follow her on Instagram.
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