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Laser hair removal at home is possible with small electronic devices. These are less powerful than the equipment that clinics use, but they can still be effective if a person uses them repeatedly over time.

A quick look at 7 of the best at-home laser hair removal devices:

The laser hair removal devices in this article all have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance and are safe to use at home, but it is important to read the instructions carefully. Incorrect use will not lead to the best results and can result in skin damage.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

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Best overall: Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X

Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X
  • Price: $499
  • Number of pulses: 200,000
  • Skin tone suitability: light to medium
  • Hair tone suitability: light brown to black
  • Body area for use: all
  • FDA cleared: yes

Tria laser hair removal devices use diode lasers, the same technology many clinics use.

The LED screen helps guide treatment and shows the remaining battery life.

The Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X scans skin and hair tone, only unlocking if safe to use. It also chooses a safe setting for each individual. Higher settings are more painful and more effective, but they are not suitable for every skin tone.

This product comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 60-day risk-free trial. The company offers free shipping.

Pros and cons

The Tria hair removal laser 4X has the following advantages:

  • it features advanced diode laser technology
  • it has an LED display that guides the user through each treatment
  • it has inbuilt safety features

However, it has a short battery life of 30 minutes. Additionally, it has a small laser which may increase use time on the targeted area.

Best travel-friendly: Silk’n Flash&Go Express

Silk’n Flash&Go Express
  • Price: around $279.65
  • Number of pulses: 300,000
  • Skin tone suitability: light to medium brown
  • Hair tone suitability: light brown to black
  • Body area for use: all
  • FDA cleared: yes

The Silk’n Flash&Go Express is small, portable, and easy to hold. However, its wide head may make it less effective on curved areas of the body, such as the underarms, knees, or upper lip.

The Silk’n Flash&Go Express comes with a free app. This helps the user schedule treatments for the most effective long-term hair removal.

It uses IPL technology, which may mean that it takes longer to see results.

This product comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty, free shipping, and a 60-day money-back guarantee in the US and Canada.

Pros and cons

The Silk’n Flash&Go Express has the following advantages:

  • compact and lightweight size
  • a free app to schedule treatments
  • a range of power settings
  • provides up to 15 years of use for full body treatments with monthly top-up treatments
  • features multi-plug adaptors, making it convenient for travel

However, it may be difficult to use on some smaller, more curved areas of the body. Additionally, it does not feature an LED display.

Best low-cost: MiSMON IPL

MiSMON IPL hair remover
  • Price: around $190
  • Number of pulses: 300,000
  • Skin tone suitability: light to medium brown
  • Hair tone suitability: light brown to black
  • Body area for use: all, apart from the face
  • FDA cleared: yes

This laser hair removal device is an affordable and lightweight option. It is one of the few models with safety goggles to protect the eyes from the bright light that comes with IPL technology.

The MiSMON IPL hair remover relies on the user to judge the right setting for their hair and skin tone. This may increase the risk of burns or skin damage.

This device comes with a 12-month manufacturer’s warranty and 3-months free return or replacement.

Pros and cons

The MiSMON IPL hair remover has the following advantages:

  • it is lightweight and affordable
  • the gun-shaped design can reach out to certain body parts better than some other default-shaped IPL devices
  • safety goggles are included to protect the eyes
  • it is waterproof

However, there is a delay between pulses which means that hair removal sessions may be slow. Additionally, this product does not come with special attachments for different body parts, making it may be more difficult to use on smaller, more tricky areas.

Unlike many other devices, this model does not automatically detect skin and hair tones, choosing the safest setting for the user.

Best for efficiency: Braun Silk-expert Pro 5

Braun Silk-expert Pro 5
  • Price: from $399.99
  • Number of pulses: 400,000
  • Skin tone suitability: light to medium brown
  • Hair tone suitability: light brown to black
  • Body area for use: all
  • FDA cleared: yes

The Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 has a wide range of intensity settings, and the user can easily adjust it to suit their individual pain threshold. It uses IPL technology and automatically adapts to a person’s skin tone for safety.

It features three power modes: normal, sensitive, and extra sensitive. It can easily be adjusted to suit the person’s skin type.

It is one of the fastest at-home laser hair removal devices on the market. Using it should be less time-consuming and provide quick results. However, tracking treatment may be less easy as the device does not have an LED display.

This device comes with a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty and free shipping.

Pros and cons

The Braun Silk-expert pro 5 has the following advantages:

  • it features a high number of pulses
  • it has skin tone and skin type settings
  • it provides a quick and efficient hair removal

However, this device heats up quickly and does not come with an LED display.

Best for ergonomic design: JOVS Venus Pro II IPL

JOVS Venus Pro II IPL hair remover
  • Price: around $400
  • Number of pulses: 500,000
  • Skin tone suitability: light to medium
  • Hair tone suitability: medium to dark hair
  • Body area for use: all
  • FDA cleared: yes

The JOVS Venus Pro II IPL hair remover combines optimal pulse technology (OPT) with continuous pulses and red light to help break the hair regrowth cycle.

According to the manufacturers, OPT is an advanced and improved version of IPL and may provide a more effective result.

It features a cooling system that reduces the heat of the pulsed light on the skin. This means there is no need to pre-treat the area with gels, creams, or ice packs. It also has an ergonomically designed head that rotates 180 degrees to fit into and reach difficult areas.

This model also features an LED option which may help reduce visible signs of aging.

The manufacturers state that pulses flash at 0.7-second intervals, which may make the hair removal experience quick and less painful.

This device has six function modes and six intensity levels, targeting different body parts. It also has six adjustable energy intensities to accommodate different skin sensitivities.

The JOVS Venus Pro II IPL hair remover has a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty and free shipping.

Pros and cons

The JOVS Venus Pro II IPL hair remover has the following advantages:

  • a built-in cooling feature
  • six treatment heads
  • may help treat signs of aging
  • ergonomic rotating head

However, this model is A higher cost than other options on the market. Additionally, it is not suitable for light hair or dark skin.

Best for sensitive skin: SmoothSkin Pure Fit

SmoothSkin Pure Fit
  • Price: around $380
  • Number of pulses: unlimited
  • Skin tone suitability: light to dark
  • Hair tone suitability: medium to dark
  • Body area for use: all
  • FDA cleared: yes

The manufacturer claims that the SmoothSkin Pure Fit can give noticeable results in 2 weeks, removing up to 99% of hair after 12 weeks of treatment.

This device features three comfort settings: power, speed, and gentle. These have ten intensity levels. Additionally, it has precision head adaptors for small areas and safety features such as a UV filter and automatic skin tone adjustment sensor to protect the skin.

The SmoothSkin Pure Fit has a 2-year manufacturer warranty against faults, a 90-day money-back guarantee period, and free shipping.

Pros and cons

The SmoothSkin Pure Fit has the following advantages:

  • it is easy to use
  • it has precision head adaptors to tackle even the smallest areas
  • it has in-built safety features to protect the skin
  • it has a built-in UV filter
  • unlimited flashes

However, results are not permanent or long-term, and it can take up to three months to obtain full results.

Best for beginners: Braun Silk-expert Pro 3

Braun Silk-expert Pro 3
  • Price: around $236
  • Number of pulses: 300,000
  • Skin tone suitability: light to medium
  • Hair tone suitability: light to black
  • Body area for use: all
  • FDA cleared: yes

Braun states that this product can treat both legs within 9 minutes at its lowest energy level.

It features a skin tone sensor with UV protection which continuously reads the skin tone and automatically adapts the light intensity for safety.

This product comes with a Gillette Venus razor to remove hair before the IPL treatment, a precision head, and a carry pouch. These additional accessories, along with its small and light design and gentle mode setting may make it a good option for beginners.

The Braun silk-expert Pro 3 comes with a 2-year manufacturer warranty and free shipping.

Pros and cons

The Braun silk-expert Pro 3 has the following advantages:

  • it has a light, compact design
  • it has a skin tone sensor with UV protection
  • it has a gentle mode setting

However, it may take people longer to see visibly permanent results as the Braun silk-expert Pro 3 is less powerful than some other competitor brands. People with light skin tones may also benefit from a more powerful IPL.

Below is a comparison table of the home laser removal devices in this article:

PriceBody area
for use
PulsesSkin tone
suitability
Hair tone
suitability
Tria Laser 4X$499all200,000light-mediumlight brown-black
Silk’n Flash&Go Express$279.65all300,000light-mediumlight brown-black
MiSMON$190body only300,000light-medium light brown-black
Braun Silk-expert Pro 5$399.99all400,000light-medium light brown-black
JOVS Venus Pro II$400all500,000light-mediummedium-dark
SmoothSkin Pure Fit$380allunlimitedlight-darkmedium-dark
Braun Silk-expert Pro 3$236all300,000light-mediumlight-dark

When choosing a suitable laser hair removal device, it is important to consider the following:

  • the skin and hair tones it will work best on
  • its design for use on smaller or larger areas of the body
  • how many pulses the device will last for
  • battery life, or the ability to plug in the device
  • use of diode lasers or intense pulsed light (IPL) technology

Laser hair removal devices work by using intense pulses of light. A device will no longer work once it delivers a certain number of pulses, so it is important to look for a reasonably high pulse rating.

Laser hair removal devices either use a diode laser or IPL technology. Both target hair color in the follicle and damage it to prevent regrowth. Diode lasers are more targeted, while IPL technology uses light waves and is less powerful. IPL technology is generally more affordable, however.

Most devices will have enough pulses to last several months or years. As a rough guide, the approximate number of pulses necessary to treat the following areas of the body are:

  • upper lip: 25 pulses
  • underarm: 100 pulses
  • bikini line: 200 pulses
  • upper leg: 600 pulses
  • lower leg: 600 pulses

Laser hair removal devices give long lasting results, but they are not permanent. Treatments need repeating over time for the best results.

Some devices are most effective on larger areas of the body, such as the legs, while others work best on smaller areas, such as the underarms.

Laser hair removal devices for use at home can save time and money. The convenience of carrying out treatments at home is also an advantage.

However, this technology is still relatively new, and devices are likely to improve in the future. Current results often vary from person to person, and devices may not work on all skin or hair tones.

Certified dermatologists have the expertise and technology to achieve better results than untrained people using at-home devices. Results often last for longer, and there is less of a risk of sustaining skin damage in a clinic. Hygiene and safety must also meet high standards.

A person should use laser hair removal devices with caution. Always read the instruction manual and follow the proper aftercare tips. Also, avoid using laser hair removal devices on tattooed, damaged, or tanned skin.

Lasers work by telling the difference between skin tone and hair tone. If a device cannot tell the difference, it may target the skin rather than the hair and burn it. Laser hair removal devices may be unsafe for all skin or hair tones. It is best to do a patch test on a small skin area to check for side effects.

For the best results, shave, clean, and dry the skin beforehand. Use the highest safe setting for the best results. In general, the darker a person’s skin tone, the lower the setting that is safe to use. Higher settings can be more painful, so choose a comfortable setting.

Some manufacturers recommend using a skin-numbing cream before use. Use these products with caution, however. Numb skin cannot feel pain, which makes it easy to damage it accidentally.

Not all laser hair removal devices are designed for use on all areas of the body. Avoid using on the genitals and near the eyes. For targeting hair on the face, use devices that are specifically designed for that purpose.

Some possible side effects of at-home laser hair removal can include:

  • burns
  • blistering
  • swelling
  • pain or soreness
  • changes to skin color
  • scarring

Users should avoid sunlight or tanning after using a laser hair removal device. Also, moisturize after removing the hair, use sunscreen, and wear clothes that cover the skin.

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about home laser hair removal devices.

Does laser hair removal at home actually work?

At-home laser hair removal works best if a person has light or medium skin tone and dark hair. If the skin tone is deeper than a medium tone, the pulsed light will not be able to distinguish the hair from the skin, which could lead to discoloration. These devices will also not work on gray or blonde hair.

Additionally, long-term visible results may take a few months, and results are temporary. People should be aware that they may still need to top up every month or so even after reaching their desired result.

What is the best hair removal laser for home?

There are many home laser hair removal devices available. The best device is the device that suits that particular person’s needs, hair tone, and skin tone.

People should also consider the device’s features, such as the number of pulses, treatment heads, level of intensities and modes, speed, and automatic skin tone sensor.

Home laser hair removal devices are not suitable for those who are pregnant.

Can you use at-home laser hair removal on pubic hair?

People can use at-home laser hair removal on the bikini line, but not recommended for the genital area.

The genitals are more sensitive than the rest of the skin, making using a hair removal laser more painful. Additionally, there is usually greater hair density which would absorb more light energy and may cause discomfort.

What are the negatives of at-home laser hair removal?

If people use at-home laser hair removal devices correctly, there are usually minimal side effects.

However, some people may experience blistering, scarring, scabbing, or other changes in the skin, such as redness, slight swelling, or soreness, which should only last a day or two.

Laser hair removal uses high heat to destroy individual hairs and stop hair follicles from working. This means that the hair appears finer over time, and it will take longer for hair follicles to produce new hair. This can result in a gradual reduction of hair over weeks and months.

Using a laser hair removal device is cheaper and more convenient than undergoing treatment in a clinic. However, it carries more of a risk, and the results will likely be slower. Also, most at-home laser hair removal devices do not work on lighter hair or darker skin tones.

A person should choose a device based on the area of the body they wish to target. Most people will need multiple treatments, so they should also consider how long the device will likely last.

Laser hair removal is not permanent, but these devices can significantly reduce body hair with correct use. A person should follow all instructions carefully and be patient, as good results take time.