10 Best At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices, Tested by Experts

Hairless results come in speedy timing thanks to this GH Beauty Award winner. The Smoothskin IPL device received rave reviews from a top dermatologist and GH Beauty Lab former Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D., who “saw noticeable results with this device after a single use." The top-notch technology features a sensor that automatically detects your skin color to apply the right amount of light intensity and won't flash if your skin tone is not compatible.

Plus, if the device is not held flush against your skin, it won't flash, making it safe and easy to use. It has three settings that allows you to customize the treatment to each area, too, but only one precision cap, which testers didn't love. Aral tested the speed mode on her legs and the gentle mode on her face and reported minimal discomfort. “I also find the user guide very informative and well written, which is rather a rarity in the device space,” she said.

What testers say: "Overall, I am impressed with just how easy this device is to operate without feeling painful," shared one tester. "I will definitely continue using it!

Cute and compact, Nood's IPL device is less intimidating in the grand scheme of at-home laser hair removal. It works quickly — the brand touts 10-minute treatments — and offers seven different intensity levels to choose from based on your skin’s sensitivity.

Aral appreciated The Flasher 2.0's on-off button (a rarity in IPL devices). However, since it doesn't come with a precision attachment for smaller spots, she noticed that the bright light of the flashes escapes from the sides, which could potentially make it less effective and unsafe for your eyes. One plus: Nood will replace the tools if the flashes ever run out and offer customers a full refund within 90 days if it doesn't work for you, no questions asked.

What testers say: "I like how easy this device is to use," said one tester. "Plus, I loved having control over the treatment. The instructions were simple to understand!"

An updated version of the Ulike Air+ (a previous pick), this device has three treatment intensities, and like its predecessor, a special cooling feature in the treatment head that cools the skin for comfort during treatment. However, it only has one treatment head, unlike many of its competitors.

"I was impressed with how cold it felt," says GH's Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. "The max energy output of this device is higher than the old device and the brand claims it can yield 90% hair reduction in four weeks of use."

What Reviewers Say: "It works!" said one Amazon reviewer. "The cooling system is perfect and keeps it comfortable. It also has an auto-flash feature so you don't have to keep pressing the button."

Braun's latest IPL device is both the first Smart IPL and the brand's fastest tool, claiming to permanently reduce hair in just three weeks. It's Wi-Fi enabled and connects to an app which helps you keep track of your treatments and your hair reduction progress. You can track treatments for each body area, and the app reminds you when it’s time for another treatment.

"While the technology is new, the hardware of the device itself is mostly the same as the last version, the Silk Expert Pro 5," Butler says. A pricey option, it has 10 intensity levels and comes with four heads: one wide, one standard and two precision heads for face and body (which are labeled so you won't confuse them).

"The contact sensor and skin tone sensor on this IPL are really impressive," she adds. "It won’t flash until the lamp is fully pressed against the skin, so that you don’t accidentally look into the lamp."

What Reviewers Say: "I was impressed with how easy the IPL was to operate and to move to different areas of the body with minimal interruptions since the device is quick to produce back-to-back IPL flashes to zap the hair follicles in treatment areas," said one Amazon reviewer. "I also liked that the device did not overheat or get too warm for a thorough session period."

RoseSkinCo boasts noticeable results in just four treatments, per the brand. Sleek, pink and chic, this IPL device stands out as one of the cheapest options we've found.

Rave reviews noted huge improvement on underarm areas, ingrown hairs and thickness of hair growth. For longer term results, reviewers saw the most difference with 12 sessions. Take note though, the sessions are long: one takes about 45 minutes on average. If you're not impressed by the end of it all, they offer a one-year warranty, so you can return the device for a full refund at any time.

What reviewers say: "The only reason I bought this product was because of the reviews ... so I'm adding this one in case someone else needs that extra 'this is legit,'" a reviewer from the brand's website said. "I have been using the product for about a month and am amazed. It works!"

BoSidin takes pride in the fact it uses the same "medical-grade technologies" that professional cosmetic centers use. The precision head rotates from side to side for hard-to-reach contours, like near the bikini area. Several users agree that the device is painless or nearly pain-free. But if your pain tolerance differs, it even offers a cool mode to help shield you from the burning intensity of the light flashes. It does lack a skin tone sensor, which many other devices offer.

What testers say: "A totally painless process," boasted one tester. "And I really appreciate that the light will not [flash] if the device isn't placed totally on your skin. It's very comfortable to hold and angle the right way to reach the back of my thighs which is always a tricky spot."

Those who want a bit more control over their hair removal can get much use out of this device. Its LCD screens allows users to track their flash use and monitor the intensity level. The intuitive IPL device comes with a built-in skin sensor that detects and clears your skin tone before use. (It also comes with safety goggles designed to protect eyes from its light). A significant caveat, however: The device isn't suitable for dark skin tones, and only levels 1 through 3 are recommended for medium and olive skin tones.

What reviewers say: "Been using this for about a month and have noticed a big difference in my hair growth!" an Amazon reviewer said. "Much better than going to the spa for treatments! I also appreciate being able to zap myself on MY time frame, not the spa's! Loving mine!!"

"Easy to use," "minimal instructions needed" and "works really well for touch-ups" are some of the top comments coming from reviewers about Sensica's hand-held device.

The brand touts the efficacy and safety of the Sensilight technology: They claim that the built-in sensors assess your skin color and the placement of the device against your skin, ensuring treatments are safe and effective. Another key feature is the rechargeable and cordless aspect, allowing you to travel with this tool and treat skin wherever you go. One complaint was the bulkiness, as it isn't as compact as other devices.

What reviewers say: "I [used] it a few more times every two weeks, and it has now been three weeks without any armpit hair growth while it used to grow back in a day or two of shaving," said one Amazon reviewer. "It didn't irritate my skin at all. I used it on my bikini line as well and, again, it's been two weeks with minimal growth."

A slightly different take on laser hair removal, this Iluminage device combines both IPL and radio frequency (RF) waves to reduce hair growth. Thanks to its precision adapter head, this machine is ideal for small areas like the upper lip and other targeted spots on the face, although it may not work as well on thick hair. While many devices won't work on darker skin tones, the brand claims that it is effective for every skin tone.

What reviewers say: "I have been using the product on my face, legs and underarms for the past six weeks and have really seen a difference (peach fuzz on face and 'mustache' on upper lip are nearly gone!)," shared one Nordstrom reviewer.

Soft to hold against your skin, this IPL device has a smooth silicone handle and a unique treatment head where the lamp is surrounded by a ring of silicone. Plus, there are air vents inside the silicone ring that deliver cool air to the treatment area.

Butler liked that while the treatment head is bigger than the other IPLs she reviewed, it still conforms to smaller areas like the ankles quite well. "However, on a very small area like the chin, I think some light will escape," she says. "It felt very comfortable to use on my legs, and I never experienced discomfort, even at the highest setting."

One thing Butler was not a fan of: the device's companion app which has to “unlock” the tool by scanning a barcode or entering the serial number before it can be used at all. "I found the unlocking process unnecessary — I had to try multiple times to get it to activate." Thankfully, after unlocking the device you don’t need the app to use it.

What Reviewers Say: "This device is really easy to use and I have noticed hair reduction even after two months of using it," said one Current Body reviewer. "Effective and easy to use, huge difference after only a couple of uses," said another.