Reviewers Say These At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices Really Work (2024)

While some laser hair removal devices require cartridges that come pre-loaded with light pulses/flashes, Silk'n Infinity's device doesn't. Translation? You'll never have to purchase refill cartridges for this system, so feel free to use it as often as you'd like (safely, of course!).

New York dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD is a major fan of this device. "It uses eHPL technology, a combination of galvanic energy and home pulsed light (HPL), that can address trickier hairs at the root for extremely effective and even hair removal," she says. Another bonus? It works on a range of skin tones. "I love that it has a safety sensor that reduces the risk of harm to users—if the device senses that the skin being treated may be at risk of damage from the pulsed light, the device will not emit the HPL." How innovative is that?

Rave Review: "I have dark skin with dark coarse hair. I didn’t think that this could work, and would have a beard I was doomed to shave for eternity. But as weeks and treatments progressed, I have noticed hairs growing back thinner and slower. This works great. If you have the patience, it will pay off in the long-run."

This hair removal device cools the skin as it glides to decrease—or even eliminate—pain as you zap away hair. Even if you have a high pain tolerance, the cooling feature feels super soothing. At only $120, it's listed at a good price for its value.

And, with a max limit of 999,999 flashes, this device has enough life to help slow hair growth across your entire body, including legs and arms (I said what I said!).

Rave Review: "I really love it. The machine is so easy to use, and it's definitely slowing down my hair growth. It’s so simple to use that I pick it up at least a couple of times a day to tackle different parts of my body. I'm seeing noticeable improvement in less than two weeks."

Bosidin's device has five amazing precision heads of different sizes, which make it super easy to get into every unique contour of your body. The device also allows you to switch between modes designed to tackle the characteristics of hair in different areas, like root-length, thickness, and texture.

Reviewers really like this device because it helps their in-office hair removal appointments last longer, and they don't have to deal with high fees. One person even mentioned that the device got rid of a bothersome chin hair that kept coming back.

Rave Review: "This thing works so well on fine and coarse hair. I love that it has different heads to do different things. I’d heard great things about this hair remover and it lives up to my expectations. It also has a skin rejuvenation head to help reduce wrinkles, [which] makes it worth the extra cost over cheaper versions."

Thanks to its five-level system that starts out very gentle, Cosbeauty's IPL hair removal tool is great for first-time users who want control over the laser's strength. Because it's gentle, it's definitely better suited for those with thinner hair or skin that errs on the sensitive side.

It's also suuuper lightweight, so holding it up with one hand doesn't feel so taxiing, especially if you're giving yourself a full-body laser hair removal treatment. According to the brand, it's 40 percent lighter than other traditional hair removal devices.

Rave Review: "This works! I’m shocked that it worked as well as a professional hair removal salon [service]. It's also easy to use. But read the directions."

The Braun laser hair removal device uses IPL with the goal of permanent hair reduction. After just four weeks of use, it claims to remove all unwanted hair. Not only is it FDA-cleared for safety, it's also one of the best-selling laser hair removal devices on Amazon.

This device claims to have the quality of salon hair removal, and while Dr. Engelman has never tried this device, she recommends finding one that utilizes the same technology that is used by professionals in-office. "This allows for very precise and effective hair removal at home."

Rave Review: "I suffer from PCOS and excessive hair growth due to hormonal imbalances. I got this because I was tired of waxing, plucking, and shaving every day. A month in, I have already seen a significant reduction in the hair on my chin and neck. This has been worth it."

The ergonomic design of the Gozye pocket-sized device is meant to help you comfortably angle the device towards any hard-to-reach areas, such as the armpit, bikini area, or behind the legs. For under $90, the no-frills device is sleek and easy to operate.

After just four or five treatments, the brand claims that you'll notice a substantial reduction in both hair growth and density in the treated areas. This transformation can typically be achieved within a span of six weeks (crazy, right?).

Rave Review: "I used to get laser hair removal and paid hundreds of dollars for multiple sessions at a med spa, so it’s great to have a device that is much more affordable and convenient to use at home. I’ve used it for two months and have noticed a reduction in my hair, which is great!"

According to the brand, Sensica's FDA-cleared hair removal device has one of the largest light faces on the market, making it ideal if you're looking to remove hair from larger areas of your body, like your arms or legs and possibly armpits. But, if you want to zap the smaller areas of your face and body, it, of course, comes with a small light face, too.

The device also has unlimited flashes, so you can complete a full-body treatment as many times as you want, wherever you want (however it should only take a few weeks to see some major results!).

Rave Review: "It's now been three weeks, and I haven't had any armpit hair growth! It used to grow back within a day or two of shaving. My leg hairs also have not grown back after three weeks."

Innza's luxurious hair removal device is built with a sapphire crystal ice compress designed to keep your skin calm, cool, and collected. You can manually select different modes to choose how wide or small you want the laser to be, making this hair remover perfect for the unique contours of your bikini area. Pssst, it also comes with laser-proof sunnies.

The price of this laser hair removal device is practically unbeatable—at just $140 (it's on sale RN!), you get 999,999 flashes, which the brand says lasts long enough to treat your body from head-to-toe for 10 to 15 years.

Rave Review: "This device is super easy to use. It’s been a month and I've totally noticed my hair is about 50 percent thinner. There is way less!"

This laser hair remover from Silk'n is the perfect pocket-sized follicle-zapper to throw in your purse. It's not a quick solution (it takes eight weeks to notice a reduction in hair growth), but a great way to slowly reduce hair or to use as a maintenance tool. Who wants to mess with razors on a beach vacation, anyway?

This device is gentle enough to use on even the most sensitive areas—think the bikini area and the upper lip. So, if you're looking for something to treat legit every area of your body without causing irritation, this is the one for you.

Rave Review: "I was super skeptical at first because I couldn’t understand why salons will charge thousands of dollars for hair removal and I could do it at home for a fraction of the price. But you actually can! I do my armpits and mustache for two minutes every two weeks, and I am seeing results."

If you've always strayed from laser hair removal because just thinking about it makes you say "ouch," try the Nood. It promises a pain-free experience and can help you avoid razor burn, ingrown hairs, and pain that can come with other hair removal treatments.

According to the brand, this machine works everywhere that hair grows, so feel free to treat your bikini, Brazilian, underarms, legs, arms, and face. Your body will be so soft, you won't believe it.

Rave Review: "Nood 2.0 is painless and so easy to use. The best part is that it actually works when you use it twice a week. I’ve talked about it so much that my family and friends have also purchased one."

FDA-cleared and super luxurious, Smoothskin's system is great for anyone who wants something that's easy to use and doesn't require a lot of manual work or tinkering with buttons/various features. It measures your skin before each flash and automatically selects the light best suited to your skin tone, so your dirty work is taken care of automatically.

Although it's pricey, it offers visible hair reduction in as little as four weeks. Reviewers even said they noticed a major difference after just one use, which is a true testament to its power.

Rave Review: "I've been using this for three weeks now. It's so easy to use. Just push the main button and a flash of intense light comes up. After two weeks, the hair on my armpits and upper lip hasn't come back."

With the Braun Silk Expert, you won't have to worry about missing a spot. It's designed to flash up to 100 times per minute, so the entirety of your skin is covered. The device can also toggle between two different modes—normal and gentle—which makes it as close to pain-free as you can get.

Whats more, this device is suuuper smart. It features the brand's SkinPro technology, which legit scans your skin to automatically determine the power needed for every flash. Have thicker skin or hair in one area? DW, it'll know.

Rave Review: "I have fair skin and dark, course hair. I used to shave every other day and was tired of buying razors and having razor burn all the time. After a few months of using this weekly and only seeing minimal results, I started using it every five days. After a month, there was a big difference."

Reviewers rave that Roseskinco's IPL device is perfect for achieving hair-free pits and legs. For $150, it's one of the more affordable options on this list. It also claims to reduce hair growth in as little as four 45-minute treatments. If you're looking to remove unwanted hair fast, this one's for you.

The brand claims that you may notice a major difference in your hair growth patterns after just four uses. After 12 treatments, you may notice full results. If your results aren't top-notch, they offer a one-year warranty, so you can return the device for a full refund at any time.

Rave Review: "I bought this product out of desperation and did not think it would work. I was so wrong! After three weeks, I have several large patches of skin on my legs with no regrowth! It's amazing!"

Iluminage's FDA-cleared Touch permanent hair reduction system combines both intense pulsed light (IPL) and radiofrequency energies to remove hair. The brand ensures that the clinical studies were done on an inclusive range of skin tones to make sure the device is both safe and effective for all.

It can also be used on a wide range of hair colors like blond, dark blond, and red hair. Plus, it gets to work on many different skin tones, too.

Rave Review: "I've been using this for five weeks and am very pleased with the results. My leg hair is growing so slowly and it's so sparse that I can shave once a week, whereas before I was shaving daily. Even then, very little hair is left to shave. I am medium/dark in coloring and this is working great on me."

For the past few months, Women’s Health editors, including commerce editor Jasmine Gomez and associate commerce editor Lily Wohlner, have been researching the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated laser hair removal devices. Our team consulted dermatologist Jeanine Downie, MD, dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi MD, dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD, dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, and dermatologist Bertha Baum, DO, for the story.

Value

Depending on the body part you're targeting, in-office hair removal appointments can get pricey (BTW, they can run you up to $500, or even more). Although at-home laser devices may appear costly at first, they offer the advantage of a one-time payment compared to paying for each visit to a professional's office.

Many products on this list, like the Smoothskin and the Silk'n, have unlimited flashes, which means they'll last quite a while. That being said, they might err on the pricer side. Other extra features like multiple intensity modes (see the Yachyee) or gentle modes for sensitive skin (hi, Braun) can also hike the price up. The amount you spend comes down to the features you want in your device and how long you want it to last.

Hair Color And Skin Tone

As Dr. Hartman explained, the challenge with many at-home devices comes down to their inability to differentiate between dark skin and dark hair due to their pigmentation. These devices depend on contrast between skin and hair color to effectively target the hair follicle.

If you have darker hair or skin, see your dermatologist for a recommendation on the best laser hair removal treatments and devices for you. You can also read the device's reviews before purchasing one. Very often, people will comment on the device's ability to work on both dark skin and dark hair. The Silk'n device has high reviews for exactly that.

Treatment Area

When buying a hair removal device, it's always a good idea to select the device based on the area you want treated. Some may be more efficient on large areas, like the Sensica, and others may be better suited for smaller areas, like the Yachyee device.

While at-home laser hair removal is convenient, Dr. Downie recommends undergoing an in-office laser hair removal treatment whenever possible. She tells Women's Health that, overall, in-office laser is better for hair removal—she likes the Cutera excel V for all skin types and colors and the Candela Gentle Pro laser for light skin (specifically shades 1,2, and 3) because they are much faster and they work much better.

Dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi MD, says you can think of professional laser sessions at your dermatologist's office like working out with a personal trainer for two hours, while using an at-home device equates to going on a 20 minute walk. "It can take many more treatments with at-home laser hair removal devices than in-office ones, so you must be patient."

"IPL lasers (this stands for intense pulsed light) are much more inconsistent with their results, and they're not suitable for darker skin tones (shades 3-6)," says Dr. Downie. The bottom line: Keep in mind that the success of laser hair removal devices can depend on many factors from skin color to laser strength.

Dr. Downie says she has seen a lot of skin complications with laser hair removal devices. So, to avoid burns, scars, acne, or rosacea flare-ups, be sure to talk to your board-certified dermatologist before using one. They'll be able to talk through laser options for your skin's specific needs before you purchase an at-home laser.

Once you've purchased your device, Dr. Shirazi provides a few ground rules to follow before giving it a go."Start with a test spot, do not expose the treated area to sunlight for at least seven days, do not use the laser if you have a tan, and do not use the device on skin that's open, tattooed, or has moles or birthmarks."

• Corey L. Hartman, MD, board-certified dermatologist
• Bertha Baum, dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon
• Jeanine Downie, MD, board-certified dermatologist
• Azadeh Shirazi MD, board-certified dermatologist
• Dendy Engelman, MD, board-certified dermatologist