The Best At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices We Tested, Including Nood, Braun, and More
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Razor bumps, strawberry skin, and semi-permanent underarm shadow? Forget about the side effects of shaving and the pain of at-home waxing — laser hair removal makes it easy to achieve smooth, lasting results from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
How does at-home laser hair removal work?
These devices work by emitting a beam of light that is attracted to the pigment in a hair follicle. The light heats up and destroys the follicle, effectively reducing and delaying hair growth. Most at-home devices rely on Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), a less powerful laser than what is used professionally.
While at-home laser hair removal devices can help to minimize hair growth at a fraction of the cost of in-office treatment, some devices deliver better results than others. Our PEOPLE Tested team tried out 18 at-home laser hair removal devices (13 last year and an additional five this year), and those that scored highest across our tests are included on this list.
Best Overall: Nood The Flasher 2.0
Star Qualities
Five intensity levels for a customized experience
Wide, easy-to-read digital display
Treatments take less than 10 minutes
Reasonably priced
Red Flags
Flashes aren't unlimited like other options we tested
Ingrown hairs and stubble-induced shadows are a thing of the past since we’ve been hooked on Nood The Flasher 2.0. With five intensity levels and a fully digital display, it’s easy and painless to use over large areas — even on sensitive skin. The Nood device features a wide treatment window and a high-intensity bulb, meaning we were able to achieve quick results (our armpits only took five minutes!).
While the larger size may feel a bit bulky in smaller hands and the brighter flash can be visually startling at first (and may be triggering for those with epilepsy), it was still comfortable to use. It’s also one of the most budget-friendly options on our list, and while you won't get unlimited flashes, we’d highly recommend it as an effective and affordable alternative to the other picks on this list.
Intensity Levels: 5 | Flashes: 600,000 | Suitable For: Full body and face
Are at-home laser hair removal devices safe?
“Laser hair removal is safe to perform on all skin types,” says Dr. Kim Nichols, board-certified celebrity dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, but she encourages users to take their time as they learn to use them, noting that since there’s no physician oversight at home to prevent burns or other negative side effects, it’s crucial to proceed with caution as you get comfortable with the device.
Best Pain-Free: Ulike Air 3 Laser Hair Removal Device
Star Qualities
Painless hair removal
Significantly reduced hair thickness and regrowth
Handheld and easy to use
Red Flags
Small laser surface area makes process a little tedious
If concern for pain is what’s holding you back from trying laser hair removal, then this painless device is the best place to start. Even for laser hair removal newbies, the Ulike Air 3 caused absolutely no pain while leaving skin feeling smooth and hairless. Thanks to the Sapphire Ice-Cooling Technology, our skin felt completely comfortable through the whole process.
The device is super user-friendly and offers multiple settings, making it a great choice for someone new to laser hair removal. Its handheld size is great for maneuvering, but the small laser surface area makes the process a little tedious. After just one month of use, we noticed our hair was growing back significantly lighter and slower than before.
Intensity Levels: 3 | Suitable For: Full body and face (but avoid direct contact with genitals and eyes)
Best Investment: Braun Skin i·expert Smart IPL
Star Qualities
Smart technology includes an app that creates a personalized use plan based on your hair type and desired results
Near painless
Significantly reduced armpit hair growth after 4 weeks
Red Flags
This is the most expensive option on our list
The Braun Skin i Expert is more expensive than other IPL devices on our list — but after testing it over multiple weeks, we believe it’s worth the price. The device does everything for you, including an app that provides you with a personalized schedule for how often and on what setting to use the device based on your hair type and the area you plan to remove hair from.
For laser hair removal newbies and experts alike, the Braun device is easy to use and provides pain-free results. After four weeks of using the device on the armpits, we noticed a significant decrease in hair growth. It also includes a bunch of features that make it foolproof, including a power bar that tells you how hard it is to press down. Although it’s pricey, the extra features, like four smart heads meant for different areas of the body, make it feel worth the cost.
Intensity Levels: 3 | Flashes: Not listed | Suitable For: Full body and face
Best for Large Areas: Foreo Peach 2 IPL Hair Removal Device
Star Qualities
Larger treatment window than most we’ve tried
Mostly pain-free hair removal
5 preset intensity options
Red Flags
More power levels are available behind a $10 paywall
While some of the other laser hair removal devices we’ve tried can feel tedious, the Foreo Peach 2’s large treatment area felt much faster to use while still feeling lightweight and easily maneuverable. We used the device on our legs and found that we preferred it over any other IPL device we’ve tried to remove hair from those large swaths of skin.
The whole process was almost entirely painless, even at the highest level. The device comes with five strength levels, with the option to access more power for $10 a month — a feature we found frustrating since the device is already expensive. But, overall, it was easy to use and provided pain-free, smooth results.
Intensity Levels: 5 | Flashes: 500,000 | Suitable For: Full body and face
Best Cooling: Ulike AIR+ IPL Hair Removal Handset
Star Qualities
Five intensity levels and cooling technology
Unlimited number of flashes; no need to refill a cartridge
Several add-ons, including a razor, case, and protective glasses
Red Flags
Highest setting caused slight discomfort (may not be suitable for sensitive skin)
This remote-shaped wand boasts proprietary Sapphire Ice Cooling Technology, which greatly helped to minimize discomfort by cooling down the skin as we used it. It features five intensity levels, and only on the fifth, most intense level did we experience slight discomfort akin to snapping a rubber band against our skin.
We love that this comes with a razor, protective glasses to wear during use, and a travel case. We found the lightweight device easy to hold and maneuver but noted that it’s a bit thick for smaller hands. Overall, this rarely impacted the smoothness of our ability to use this wand.
Intensity Levels: 5 | Flashes: Unlimited | Suitable For: Full body and face
Best for Travel: Smoothskin Pure Mini
Star Qualities
Small frame makes it easy to use on the face and bikini line
Gentle mode designed for sensitive skin
Built-in UV protection
Red Flags
No complaints here!
We loved how easy this model was to set up and how quickly we were able to zip through treating our legs (in just six minutes!) by using the convenient glide method, which auto-flashes as you steadily move the device along. This is going to be a mainstay in our carry-on thanks to the handy traveling pouch that you can store everything in.
We appreciated that there’s built-in UV protection thanks to a three-millimeter glass filter. Plus, there’s a gentle mode for sensitive skin that feels comfortable and pain-free. The precision head and lightweight design were also handy for hitting smaller areas. After five sessions of weekly use, we noticed much less hair coming in along our legs.
Intensity Levels: 2 | Flashes: Unlimited | Suitable For: Full body and face
Best Features: Jovs Venus Pro II Hair Remover
Star Qualities
Ergonomic design makes it easy to maneuver
Head rotates to achieve the ideal angle
Cooling sensation helped minimize discomfort during testing
Red Flags
One of the more expensive options on this list
Unlike the majority of remote or egg-shaped devices on the market, this laser hair removal model comes in an ergonomic L-shaped design, with a 330-degree rotating head to help you find the ideal angle. It’s loaded with useful features, like a cooling system that minimizes discomfort, a mode to fade hyperpigmentation, and an auto-flash mode that allows you to cover large areas in a shorter period of time.
This is more of an investment purchase than most of the others on this list, but we found that the additional features (plus the included razor and safety glasses) were worth it. Plus, you can occasionally find it on sale, so it's worth grabbing when you do.
Intensity Levels: 6 | Flashes: Unlimited | Suitable For: Full body and face
Best for Beginners: RoseSkinCo. Lumi IPL Hair Removal Handset
Star Qualities
Noticed a significant reduction in hair growth with consistent use
Three modes (stamp, glide, and auto) for efficient hair removal
One of the cheapest options we tested
Red Flags
Curved device can be difficult to grip at certain angles
The Lumi makes at-home laser hair removal more straightforward than any other option we tried: Just plug it in, press the power button, and select one of the three modes. We found stamp mode, which delivers a pulse every time you click, to be super effective in more precise areas. Glide and auto don’t require repeated clicks, so those were our go-to for larger areas. The device easily fit in our palms, but we wished there were ridges for an easier grip, as the rounded shape proved difficult to hold at times.
We also love that there’s a quick quiz on their website to figure out if the Lumi will be effective for you (TL;DR: It is better suited for light skin to medium brown skin and dark blonde to black hair; it isn’t great for super fair or dark skin, or hair that’s light, red, or gray.) This is another wallet-friendly option that showed us promising results after twice-weekly use over three months.
Intensity Levels: 6 | Flashes: 900,000 | Suitable For: Full body and face
People / Daniela Galvez
Related: The 8 Best Facial Hair Removers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Pro Tip!
Generally speaking, most at-home laser hair removal devices are not meant for use with darker skin tones or very light hair colors, as they can’t pick up on the contrast in pigmentation and could cause hyperpigmentation or scarring. Be sure to consult your dermatologist before using a new product if you fall into one of these categories. You may be better off considering a professional session, which has access to more advanced and sensitive lasers.
Best for Light Hair: Iluminage Touch Permanent Hair Reduction System
Star Qualities
Comes ready to use
Precision adaptor makes it easy to target smaller areas
Easy to handle and maneuver
Red Flags
Not super user-friendly
At-home laser devices that are effective for use with light or red hair are few and far between. We found this model to be the strongest contender after testing it on light hair and noticing the hair growing back slower and sparser after just six sessions of weekly use. As recommended, we used the included epilator first to remove lighter hair before treatment, but found this step to be confusing even after reading the instructions.
We found that the precision adaptor was great for targeting smaller areas and underarms. This is the most expensive pick on our list, but for those with light hair or particularly fair skin tones, it may be worth the investment: It’s been clinically proven, FDA-cleared, and is still significantly less of an investment than in-office treatment.
Intensity Levels: 3 | Flashes: 300,000 | Suitable For: Full body (except bikini area) and face
Does hair grow back after using an at-home laser hair removal device?
Just like with the use of a dermaplaning device or a hair removal cream, hair will continue to grow back after using at-home laser hair removal devices. It’s important to note that these aren’t get-hairless-quick schemes. They are designed to minimize the amount and size of hair follicles, which in turn reduces the amount of hair that grows and the rate at which it fills in.
Related: The 7 Best Epilators of 2024, Tested by Real People
Other Laser Hair Removal Devices We Tried
Mismon IPL Hair Removal: While this wasn’t our favorite option we tested, we still think it’s a great choice for folks with fairer skin and darker body hair.
Sensica SensiLight Pro Bronze: We thought the Sensica device did a great job at reducing hair growth on our legs, but it didn’t do as well on our thicker hair. However, we loved the automatic mode that flashes light as you move the device along your body.
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Sensica SensiLight Pro Laser Hair Removal DeviceWhat to Know About Laser-Hair Removal Devices
Value
At-home laser hair removal devices will require more sessions over time but ultimately cost significantly less than professional laser hair removal sessions. The price of in-office sessions will depend on the body parts targeted, your geographic region, and the number of sessions required, but typically falls into the range of $100 to $800 per session, with an average of $582 according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
That price is similar to the cost of a one-time investment in an at-home laser hair removal device. Most of the devices on this list include unlimited flashes, meaning they’ll last indefinitely. Based upon your needs, consider what features you require and note that those will up the cost of the device slightly, like cooling features (which the Ulike Sapphire AIR+ features), or a variety of intensity levels, like the RoseSkinCo. Lumi.
Hair Color and Skin Tone
Laser hair removal may not be as effective for "those with lighter hair,” warns Dr. Nichols — the same goes for those with darker skin. That's because the lasers function by emitting a light that is attracted to the melanin pigment in hair and then destroys the follicle.
“Without pigmentation, the laser can't easily find the hair follicle," Dr. Nichols says. Read customer reviews and consider consulting your dermatologist before using an at-home laser hair removal device if you have light hair or dark skin.
Below, you can see the dramatic results after 12 weeks of testing the Braun laser hair removal device on light skin with dark hair.
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Before and after testing Braun hair removal deviceDevice Size
Take into account the size and maneuverability of your chosen device. If you’re looking to target facial hair, you may want to opt for a smaller, more precise device, like the Smoothskin Pure Mini, whereas if you plan to use it on your legs, back, or other large areas, you’ll want to find an option that has a wider window to help speed up the process, like the Foreo Peach 2.
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Before and after testing Foreo Peach 2Behind the Scenes
We tested 18 at-home laser hair removal devices from leading brands in order to narrow down a list of our top recommendations for safe and effective use at home.
Long-Term Testing: Each laser hair removal device was used consistently in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions over several weeks, during which time we took detailed notes on everything from the ease of setup and use to levels of comfort and efficacy.
Evaluation: During and after consistent use of each laser hair removal device, we evaluated the learning curve of using the devices, how the device shape impacted maneuverability, how long it took to use per session, if there was a reduction in the speed or thickness with which our hair grew back after use, and if the device functioned the same at the end of the testing period as it had in the beginning.
Rating: At the end of our 12-week testing period, we rated each at-home laser hair removal device on a scale of one to five. The devices with the highest average scores made this list and earned the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval.
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PEOPLE Tester using Mismon IRL At-Home Hair Removal DeviceWhy Trust PEOPLE?
Sophie Dodd is a PEOPLE contributor who has been writing for the site since 2018. She covers travel and lifestyle, with a focus on home goods and beauty products (namely, skincare). For this story, Sophie did a deep dive into the results of our at-home laser hair removal device test and used her expertise as a commerce and lifestyle writer to research the top-ranked products. She also received advice from Dr. Kim Nichols, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of NicholsMD, on the key features to keep in mind when shopping for at-home laser hair removal devices.
This story was recently updated by PEOPLE shopping writer and skincare expert Cai Cramer. After an additional 12 weeks of testing, Cai used the new testing insights to update this list on the latest home laser hair removal technology.
Meet Our Expert
Dr. Kim Nichols is a board-certified celebrity dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon, and founder of NicholsMD. Her practice offers several kinds of laser hair removal services, from back to torso, legs, and more.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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Read the original article on People.