If you’re sick of shaving, tweezing, or waxing, you might consider other more permanent methods of hair removal. Laser hair removal offers the longest-lasting results. Though not completely permanent, you might go weeks without having to redo your treatment.

Laser hair removal works with the help of high-heat lasers or intense pulsed lights (IPLs) that dissolve hair and temporarily disable hair follicles. That way, the follicles won’t be able to produce new hairs for up to several weeks.

It used to be that you had to see a dermatologist for laser hair removal. While our experts still recommend seeing a professional, you might consider advanced at-home laser hair removal devices you can use at your own convenience.

We reviewed 10 of these devices based on their safety, efficacy, and cost. While only two are true laser hair removal devices, the rest are IPL devices that work in a similar way.

Products

1. Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser

Details: The Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser is one of two devices for laser hair removal cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This laser claims to have three times the hair-eliminating energy than other devices.

  • Pros: People say it really works.
  • Cons: Some people report that it hurts to use the device, and it takes a while to see results. Others weren’t happy with the limited battery capacity and the fact that the laser targets a very small area.
  • Cost: $$$

Shop for the Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser online.

2. Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser Precision

Details: This device has the same technology and FDA clearance as the original Tria laser, but it’s designed for targeting smaller areas, such as the upper lip.

  • Pros: It delivers the same power and efficacy as the larger Tria laser hair removal device.
  • Cons: As with the original Tria, the treatments can be painful, and it may take some time to see results.
  • Cost: $$$

Shop for the Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser Precision device online.

3. CosBeauty IPL

Details: The CosBeauty IPL is an FDA-cleared IPL device that claims to treat a leg or arm in only 8 minutes.

  • Pros: A skin tone sensor can automatically adjust the light intensity suited to your skin. The majority of user reviews report that the device reduces unwanted hair with consistent use.
  • Cons: Some people have commented that they see no change using this device and that the battery life isn’t ideal.
  • Cost: $$

Shop for the CosBeauty IPL device online.

4. MiSMON Laser Hair Removal

Details: This device uses IPL technology for hair removal, which is said to be gentler and more effective than other methods. The MiSMON offers a one to five level range and 300,000 flashes. It’s also received an FDA safety certificate.

  • Pros: Users report that the device is effective, particularly on thicker, coarse hair.
  • Cons: The downside to this device is that it’s only suitable for dark hair and fair to olive skin tones. You also can’t use it on the lip area.
  • Cost: $$

Shop for the MiSMON Laser Hair Removal device online.

5. Gillette Venus Silk-Expert

Details: As a well-known brand of razors, Gillette also has its own product in the growing laser hair removal niche. The Venus Silk-Expert uses IPL technology and is smaller in size compared to other at-home laser devices. It also comes with a face cleaning brush to exfoliate the skin beforehand for more effective results.

  • Pros: The size makes it ideal for smaller areas such as the face, underarms, and bikini area.
  • Cons: The biggest downside to this product is the higher price tag. Customers have also complained that it’s ineffective for dark skin and that it takes a long time to see results.
  • Cost: $$$

Shop for the Gillette Venus Silk-Expert device online.

6. Silk’n Flash&Go

Details: The Silk’n Flash&Go uses 5,000 pulses of hair removal energy to stunt the growth of hair follicles. This device can be used on any area of the body, including sensitive skin on the face and bikini area.

  • Pros: Users report that the device works well on coarse, dark hair on both the face and legs.
  • Cons: Some users report that hair grew back as soon as they stopped using the device.
  • Cost: $$

Shop for the Silk’n Flash&Go device online.

7. Braun Silk-Expert 5 IPL

Details: If you’re looking for slightly faster results in an at-home hair removal device, consider the Braun Silk-Expert 5 IPL. The brand promises full results at just 4 weeks, which is less than half the time of most other brands.

  • Pros: The Braun Silk-Expert 5 IPL is equipped with a feature that’s said to naturally adapt to your skin tone, so you’ll see fewer side effects. It should also take less time to see results than other devices.
  • Cons: This device has a higher price tag, and it doesn’t come with an LED display like some of its competitors do.
  • Cost: $$$

Shop for the Braun Silk-Expert 5 IPL device online.

8. mē Smooth Permanent Hair Reduction Device

Details: This FDA-cleared device is said to work on any skin tone and a broad array of hair colors.

  • Pros: Users say this device is small, convenient, and easy to use. Most say they see significant hair reduction with consistent use.
  • Cons: Users say it takes many treatments and a lot of time to see results, and others report not seeing results at all.
  • Cost: $$

Shop for the mē Smooth Permanent Hair Reduction Device online.

9. Remington iLight Elite

Details: If you’re looking to try out a laser removal device that carries an FDA clearance for safety, then the Remington iLight Elite may be a good choice. This is a corded device that has 100,000 flashes of IPL and is equipped with two cartridges for large and small treatment areas.

  • Pros: The shape of the treatment cap makes it so you can spend less time on a treatment area and see more accurate results.
  • Cons: You don’t get as many flashes or an LED screen, as with other laser devices that are more affordable.
  • Cost: $$$

Shop for the Remington iLight Elite device online.

10. LumaRx Full Body IPL

Details: The LumaRx Full Body IPL is another laser hair removal device that offers professional-like results and is cleared by the FDA.

  • Pros: This device features a comfort filter that reduces the risk of burns and pain during treatment.
  • Cons: The downside to the LumaRx is that you can’t use it on darker skin tones or lighter hair colors. Some customers have also complained about seeing few results for the higher price tag.
  • Cost: $$$

Shop for the LumaRx Full Body IPL device online.

How to choose

Shopping for the right laser hair removal device goes beyond simply looking for the best reviews. You’ll want to make sure that a prospective device has the following:

  • A guideline for hair color and skin tone. The device should match your own.
  • Flash capacity. This refers to the capacity of IPL or laser wavelength. So, the higher the number, the longer the device is expected to last.
  • Varying intensity levels.
  • An electric cord for longer usage or is battery-powered for ease of use.
  • Different attachments for varying body parts. This may include attachments for the bikini area, underarm, face, and more.

Your budget is another consideration, but you may not want to be too frugal or else you’ll miss out on important features. A good at-home laser device usually costs $100 or more.

How to use

Now that you have your preferred laser hair removal device, you’ll want to make sure you do the necessary preparation before use. Make sure the device is fully charged and that you’ve read all the safety instructions. Clean and dry the desired area of skin before use.

To keep the device in tip-top condition, be sure that you store it in its original box or in a safe place, such as your bathroom cabinet.

The number of treatments you need depends on the device and your individual hair growth. The key is to be consistent about your use to see results.

While laser hair removal is often touted as being permanent, the reality is that your hair follicles will heal and produce new hairs at some point.

It can also take a few sessions to see results. But you don’t want to overuse the device, as it can lead to skin irritation and hyperpigmentation.

Safety tips

Laser hair removal results are more predictable when done by a dermatologist. The FDA doesn’t regulate at-home laser hair removal devices, so the results and safety aren’t guaranteed.

There also aren’t enough clinical studies available to prove that at-home lasers are more effective than hair removal at a dermatologist’s office.

Other safety considerations involve your natural skin tone and hair color. Laser hair removal tends to work best on people with light skin tones and dark hair.

Hyperpigmentation, blistering, and irritation are possible side effects in all users. Make sure you follow all instructions included with your device to help avoid injuries.

While no downtime is required with this procedure, you’ll want to avoid direct sunlight for several days after using a laser hair removal device. Doing so will help reduce the risk of side effects.

The bottom line

While laser hair removal is traditionally done at a dermatologist’s office, you may still be able to mimic some of the benefits at home. The key is to take the time and compare all the available features. You can use this guide as a starting point.

 

Laser Hair Removal: Permanent or Temporary Fix?

In short, no. Laser hair removal works by heating the hair follicles to stop new hairs from growing. This puts the hair follicles in a state of dormancy for a long period of time — much longer than with shaving and waxing. When the hairs do grow back, they’ll be lighter, finer, and fewer in number.

Although the procedure is often touted as a form of “permanent” hair removal, laser treatment only reduces the number of unwanted hairs in a given area. It doesn’t get rid of unwanted hairs completely.

According to the Mayo Clinic, this hair removal option tends to work best in people with light skin tones and darker hair. Also, for best results, the American Association of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that a board-certified dermatologist ought to perform the procedure.

Laser therapy uses high-heat laser beams as a mild form of radiation. During the process, these laser beams heat up and damage your hair follicles.

Your hair follicles are located just below the skin. They’re responsible for producing new strands of hair. If the follicles are destroyed, then hair production is temporarily disabled.

By contrast, tweezing, shaving, and waxing all remove hair above the surface. These methods don’t target hair-producing follicles.

The AAD deems the following areas as appropriate for laser hair removal:

  • chest
  • back
  • shoulders
  • neck
  • bikini line
  • face (except for the eye area)

This form of hair removal works best with darker hair colors on light skin tones. This is because the lasers target hair melanin (color). Even if some hairs aren’t removed, the lightening of their color can reduce the appearance of hair on the skin.

Some of your hairs may also shed within a few days of your first treatment session.

Overall, laser hair removal is a relatively quick process. Smaller areas, such as the upper lip, can take just minutes. Larger areas of hair removal, like the back or chest, may take an hour or longer.

If your dermatologist applies a topical pain-relieving gel (anesthetic) first, you may expect to be at the office up to another full hour.

Despite the high success rate of laser hair removal, hair follicles eventually heal. This results in new hair production. To ensure the best results possible, you will need to undergo multiple treatment sessions.

Why follow-up sessions are needed

Follow-up treatments are necessary to get the most out of laser hair removal. The exact number of maintenance laser treatments varies by individual. According to the Mayo Clinic, most people need between four and six laser therapy sessions.

You also need to space these out by six weeks each — this means that the full treatment cycle can take up to nine months.

After each session, you’ll likely notice fewer hairs. Any hair that remains or regenerates will also be lighter in both texture and color. The AAD estimates that the number of hairs will reduce by 10 to 25 percent after your initial session. The rate of reduction thereafter will improve, but will also vary.

Additionally, for the best results, you’ll likely need occasional maintenance sessions. These help ensure that the hair follicles don’t regenerate. Depending on your individual needs, you may need a maintenance session once or twice a year after your full initial round of laser treatment.

The timeline for each session is the same as your initial laser hair removal treatment. Overall, the timing depends on the area of treatment. If you’re touching up just a few small areas during your maintenance sessions, then your appointment may be shorter.

The bottom line

Although laser hair removal isn’t exactly permanent, it’s still one of the best options for slowing hair growth over an extended period of time. Other long-term hair removal options you can discuss with a dermatologist include electrolysis and needle epilators.

If you don’t want to go through with the expense of medical procedures that aren’t really permanent anyway, there are numerous at-home hair removal options.

Talk to your dermatologist about:

  • tweezer epilators
  • waxing or sugaring
  • threading
  • proper shaving techniques

Miniature versions of laser hair treatments are available on the market for home use, but their safety and efficacy aren’t clear. The U. S. Food and Drug AdministrationTrusted Source doesn’t regulate at-home laser hair treatments as medical devices, so they aren’t tested as such. It’s best to leave laser hair removal up to the expert.