The idea of never having to shave again sounds like a dream for many. Visiting the salon for hair removal can be an expensive, time-consuming process, so finding a DIY solution may be a cost-effective, practical solution.

This post details out some of the best technologies currently available for home use. Most of these devices aren’t true lasers but use intense pulsed light technology (IPL). IPL can be a gentle, less intense option, but is sometimes less effective when compared to true laser. At-home IPL hair removal devices promise a permanent reduction in hair growth, so while they won’t eliminate your hair entirely, you can expect results with regular use. 

As you’ll soon discover, your skin tone matters a lot when choosing a hair removal device. These devices work best when they can identify the contrast between lighter skin and darker hair. Throughout this article, we’ll refer to skin tones based on the Fitzpatrick scale, the system dermatologists use. The scale goes from I (lightest) to VI (darkest).  

In each review, we’ll explain what makes each device unique to help you find the one that’ll be ideal for your skin tone, sensitivity level, price range, and other preferences. 

Best at-home hair removal devices overview:

• Best overall: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5
• Best for inclusivity: Iluminage Touch Home Permanent Hair Removal System
• Best for dark skin: Silk’n Infinity Hair Removal Device
• Best laser-based: Tria Hair Removal Laser 4x
• Best value: Lumilisse by Conair Intense Pulsed Light Technology (IPL) Hair Removal Device
• Best for speed: SmoothSkin Pure
• Best budget: Nood The Flasher 2.0

How we chose the best at-home hair removal devices

To compile this list, we researched all FDA-cleared home IPL and laser technologies, electing not to include many popular at-home hair removal devices that weren’t transparent about their FDA clearance. To further narrow the list, we combed through clinical studies, detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best at-home hair removal devices for each category. 

Our picks for the best at-home hair removal devices

This device from Braun is the queen of IPL hair removal devices for at-home use. It’s expensive but comes from a reputable beauty tech manufacturer and boasts a few special features that place it far above its competitors. It can be effective on Fitzpatrick skin types I through V (pale to dark), but those with Fitzpatrick type VI (very dark) should avoid it. 

Many at-home laser hair removal devices used on high settings can burn the skin, especially particularly dark tones or skin with moles. This device, however, is built with SensoAdapt technology that reads skin tones and prevents the emission of light if it detects that it’s not safe. 

It comes with a few treatment heads of varying sizes for different body parts. The larger head speeds up treatment time for the legs or arms, while the smaller heads are ideal for small or oddly-shaped areas.

While this powerful tool is long-lasting, it’s also incredibly pricey, as mentioned earlier. So, if you won’t benefit from all the unique features it has to offer, it may not be worth the expense. Additionally, it can only be used while plugged in, which may be an issue if you don’t have power outlets conveniently distributed throughout your home.

FDA cleared: Yes | Technology: IPL | Life span: 400,000 flashes (up to 22 years of full-body treatments)

From Iluminage, this device uses electro-optical synergy (elos) technology to combine IPL with radiofrequency (RF) to safely and effectively treat all skin tones (including Fitzpatrick type VI) and hair colors — even blonde. The RF current enhances the IPL while keeping things gentle to prevent burning or irritation. 

It does require more passes over the skin than normal, so treatment can take longer. Keep in mind that if you have lighter hair, you’ll need to remove the hair from the root immediately before treatment, which may be a hassle for some.

Even so, it’s rare to see an at-home hair removal device that can help remove peach fuzz which tends to be lighter. Use it once a week to see the clinically-tested, dramatic results after seven weeks.

FDA cleared: Yes | Technology: IPL/RF | Life span: 300,000 flashes

This product from Silk’n Infinity is another at-home hair removal device that’s safe and effective across all skin tones. However, it’s not ideal for lighter hair colors, such as blonde, gray, or certain red shades.

This device is based on what the brand calls eHPL technology, which, essentially, is a combination of IPL and an electrical conductor. An electrode plate on the bottom of the Infinity device generates a pore-opening current, making it easier for the light to penetrate the base of the hair follicle. This increases the device’s effectiveness in gentle settings, which is why it’s suitable for deeper skin tones. 

The Silk’n Infinity Hair Removal Device will only flash when the light-emitting window is in complete contact with your skin to prevent it from harming your eyes. Since the treatment window is vast, it’ll treat larger parts of the body quickly but is nearly impossible to use on bony areas.

FDA cleared: Yes | Technology: eHPL | Life span: Lifetime of pulses in one device

This product from Tria is the only one on our list that qualifies as a true at-home laser device (as opposed to IPL), as it uses a diode laser to address unwanted hair growth. 

Laser is largely considered more effective than IPL because it emits a more concentrated beam of light, corresponding to a more targeted effect. Unfortunately, that means it’s also more painful, and treating larger areas like the legs takes much longer. Thankfully, the Tria only needs to be used once every two weeks rather than weekly. 

We love the Tria because it’s recommended by dermatologists, supports cordless use, and works for treating smaller parts of the body or the face. The mini head fits fairly easily over small or curved areas like the jawline, ankles, or knees. That said, Tria is only safe for Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV, meaning those on the light-to-medium spectrum. 

A full charge lasts about 30 minutes of continuous use, so you’ll have to charge it before every treatment, and you probably won’t be able to treat your whole body in one go. 

FDA cleared: Yes | Technology: Diode laser | Life span: 90,000 flashes

If your skin is light, but your hair is dark, you don’t have to splurge on advanced technology — you’ll be perfectly happy with Conair’s Lumilisse, especially if you find it on sale. It’s a simple IPL device that’ll only work on light-to-medium skin tones with darker hair. 

The Lumilisse is easy to use, with a skin color sensor that adjusts the intensity based on your skin tone. It comes with attachments for both the face and body and has a glide setting that makes treating larger body parts a breeze.

FDA cleared: Yes | Technology: IPL | Life span: 300,000 flashes

If you’re a busy person, you’ll like this sleek and powerful IPL hair removal device. The SmoothSkin Pure has a Speed Mode, which claims you can treat your whole body in under 10 minutes. 

If your skin is medium dark, you can use it as long as you stick to Gentle Mode. It also has a skin tone sensor that adjusts power based on skin tone variation. 

The only trouble spots are bony areas where it might be harder to achieve full contact with the sensor. The price isn’t low, but it’s reasonable, especially if you find it on sale.

FDA cleared: Yes | Technology: IPL | Life span: Unlimited

The Flasher 2.0 is a cute IPL device that you can often find on sale, making it the most affordable option on our list. It works gentley with a low intensity (even on its highest setting), so it can be used safely on skin tones up to about Fitzpatrick V. If you don’t think you’ll be able to use IPL on higher settings, it delivers just enough power for your needs. 

This device is large enough to use comfortably on the legs or bikini area, but when it comes to the upper lip, it’s a little unwieldy. Nood guarantees results within eight weeks, but based on power output, those results are probably going to be less extreme than with some of the other devices on our list. 

There are a few other trendy IPL brands within the same price range and with similar designs, but Nood was the only such brand with FDA clearance that we were able to confirm.

FDA cleared: Yes | Technology: IPL | Life span: 600,000 flashes

How to pick the right at-home hair removal device for you

Reduce your unwanted hair growth significantly using one of these at-home devices. At-home hair removal is a convenient solution if you’re prone to strawberry legs or want to save time by skipping a salon visit. For our top pick, we decided to go with the versatile Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5, which works especially well on sensitive skin. That said, all of the devices on our list are excellent, FDA-cleared choices that cater to various skin tones and personal needs. 

How to pick the right at-home hair removal device for you

The most important thing to keep in mind when selecting an at-home hair removal device is your skin tone, but there are a few other factors to keep in mind, too. 

Skin tone 

• Light (Fitzpatrick I-II). If your skin is fair to light, you’re what dermatologists consider a Fitzpatrick type I or II. You have the ideal skin tone for using any at-home permanent hair removal device, as long as your hair is dark. If your hair is very blonde, white, or even light brown or light red, these devices may not work as well. 
• Medium (Fitzpatrick III-IV). If you have medium or tan skin, you can use most at-home devices, but the results won’t be as effective as someone with lighter skin. As a general rule, the areas where your hair is darkest and has the most contrast with your skin will react best. 
• Dark (Fitzpatrick V-VI). If your skin tone is dark or very dark, most at-home IPL and laser hair removal devices won’t be very effective. The only exceptions are Iluminage and Silk’n Infinity, which combine IPL with other technologies. When it comes to regular IPL devices, you might be able to use them on very low settings, but the results won’t be as noticeable as they are on lighter skin. You’ll also be at risk of burning yourself, especially if you try higher settings. 

Treatment area

• Large areas. Look for devices with larger treatment heads and “glide modes” that speed up treatment time. Our picks from Braun, Smoothskin, and Silk’n are all solid options. 
• Small areas. Small, bony, or curved areas are best treated with smaller heads, like our picks from Tria, Iluminage, and Conair. With larger heads, treatment on small areas can be impossible because the device won’t be able to create a proper “seal” against the skin.  
• Face. All of the devices on our list can be used safely on the bottom half of the face. Using eye protection isn’t mandatory, but we still recommend it. Results can be harder to achieve since the hair on the face is often lighter than elsewhere on the body. For those with light facial hair, Iluminage is our top recommendation. 

Technology 

• IPL. The vast majority of at-home hair removal devices use IPL, not laser. It’s gentler and safer for home use but also less likely to remove as much hair.  
• Laser. Laser is much more common at medspas, salons, and dermatology offices. The only true at-home laser hair removal device that we found is from Tria.  
• Enhanced IPL. Some brands, such as Silk’n and Iluminage, enhance the power of IPL by adding an additional source of energy like electricity or radiofrequency. These increase the effects of IPL, allowing it to work better at a lower intensity (which is why these are the only devices on our list that can safely treat very dark skin tones). 

FAQs

Which at-home hair removal is the best? 

The best option for you depends on your skin tone and overall skin sensitivity. Our top pick is the Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 because it’s effective, ideal for sensitive skin, and can be used all over the body.

Which laser hair removal machine is the most effective?

In a salon setting, dermatologists and laser technicians have access to stronger, more targeted laser technology that can reduce hair growth much more dramatically than at-home devices. The most effective (and only) laser hair removal device on our list is the Tria 4x, which will probably offer better results than IPL but with more pain and discomfort. 

Do at-home hair removal devices actually work?

Research shows that at-home permanent hair removal devices do work, but not to remove hair entirely. They usually reduce hair growth by a significant percentage (between 50% and 90%). Studies usually examine results immediately after treatments are completed (when hair reduction is the most impressive) and again after six or twelve months, at which point there’s almost always some regrowth. That’s why keeping up with maintenance sessions is important. 

Results are individual, though — some users see fantastic results, while others barely notice a change. This can depend on your chosen at-home hair removal device, treatment areas, the color difference between your skin and hair, and how your hormones impact your hair growth.