These high-tech devices make it easy to achieve silky-smooth skin at home.
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When it comes to removing unwanted, pesky hair at home, the most popular methods include razors and shaving cream to and wax kits, hair removal creams, and more. But these methods often result in hair growing back pretty quickly—so if you’re looking for more long-lasting results (without shelling out on professional laser treatments at the salon, of course), using an IPL hair removal device at home is a great, cost-effective option.
“IPL hair removal devices are energy devices that emit broad-spectrum light pulses to target the brown pigment of hair (melanin),” explains Teresa Song, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical. “The heat energy damages the hair follicles and targets the cells in the hair bulb responsible for hair growth, thus inhibiting the growth cycle of the hair.” While these at-home treatments may not be as effective as a professional laser, they can result in noticeable reduction of hair growth with repeated treatment, says Kristin Gunn, celebrity esthetician and owner of Halcyon Skincare and Beaux Medspa.
Meet the Experts: Teresa Song, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical; Kristin Gunn, celebrity esthetician and owner of Halcyon Skincare and Beaux Medspa; and Azadeh Shirazi, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of AziMD.
However, IPL hair removal isn’t recommended for everyone. “IPL hair removal devices are best for patients with lighter skin tones and dark coarse hair, as it picks up the pigment and higher contrast between the skin and hair pigment is preferred,” says Dr. Song. “It is not recommended for patients with sensitive skin, darker skin types, and lighter hairs, as it can cause irritation and skin damage without effectively reducing hair.”
Once you’ve figured out whether IPL hair removal is best for you, the next step is to find the right device that will give you the best and safest results. To start, experts recommend looking for an FDA-cleared device with automatic light intensity settings and other safety features. Ahead, we rounded up the best, expert-approved IPL hair removal devices to help you achieve silky, smooth skin at home.
Crowned the best overall IPL hair removal device by the Good Housekeeping Institute, this pick from SmoothSkin impressed Beauty Lab experts with its useful features—including three comfort modes, a skin contact sensor, and a special sensor that detects your skin color to automatically adjust the light intensity. “I saw noticeable results with this device after a single use,” says Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Former Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D., who also noted little discomfort during use. “I also find the user guide very informative and well written, which is rather a rarity in the device space.”
The FDA-cleared device also offers unlimited flashes and comes with a precision head attachment that makes it easy to use on small, hard-to-reach areas of your body. “Best investment ever!! I’ve only used this for two weeks so far and already see results,” wrote one satisfied reviewer. “It is almost painless and so easy to use. It feels safe and impossible to mess up.”
Dr. Song recommends this popular (and affordable!) pick from Nood, which features three sensitive skin modes, a convenient digital LED display, and a continuous Glide Mode for quick 10-minute treatments. “It’s FDA-cleared with lifetime flash guarantee so you won’t run out of treatments,” she says.
The device also has approval from the Good Housekeeping Institute, with Beauty Lab experts appreciating the light and compact design, the convenience of the on-off button, and easy-to-understand instructions. However, they noted that it doesn’t come with a precision head attachments for smaller areas, allowing the light of the flashes to escape from the sides, which potentially makes it less effective and unsafe for your eyes.
Azadeh Shirazi, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of AziMD, recommends this pick from BoSidin for its versatile, multifunctional design. “[It] offers different settings based on the location of treatment and offers different filters as well,” she says. “This device makes choosing the proper settings easy, as it changes them automatically based on the location and depth of the hair you’re removing,” adds Gunn. “It also has a cool red light treatment to calm skin and help stimulate collagen.”
The device features five customized attachments and a rotating precision head to help you access difficult-to-reach places, allowing it to be easily used on many different areas of your body—including your face, underarms, legs, arms, and even the bikini area.
Braun’s Silk Expert Pro5 device comes recommended by the Good Housekeeping Institute, with one Beauty Lab expert noticing slowing of leg hair growth after four weeks of using it once a week. Experts also appreciated the ease of use, the built-in automatic skin color sensor, and the three sensitivity modes you can choose from (standard, gentle, and extra gentle). To top it all off, the device promises quick treatments with fast flashes up to 125 times per minute, with the brand claiming that you can treat legs in as little as five minutes.
Shoppers confirm that the device is great for quick treatments. “This product is very simple to use, painless, quick, and effective. I can’t believe how fast this has slowed the growth of my hair (underarm, bikini, legs),” shared one reviewer. “I did this once a week for four weeks and haven’t needed to shave my underarms since buying it (apart from the pre-treatment shave)...Would highly recommend.”
Like the SmoothSkin Pure Fit, this newly-released device from the brand has three comfort modes and an automatic skin color sensor—but it also features the new Adapt Plus technology, which intuitively adapts to the curves of your body for optimal skin contact and fewer missed spots, making it especially great for using on hard-to-reach areas of your body.
The pick also offers 10 intensity settings and two treatment modes (Glide and Stamp), and comes with unlimited flashes to boot. “I tried this on my armpits and I would say that I did see a noticeable difference over the course of 6 weeks! My hair in that area can be quite thick,” wrote one reviewer on the SmoothSkin website. “With continued use, I was able to see it thin out and some follicles disappear! The instructions were very easy to understand and it wasn’t hard to get started.”
This sleek handheld device from RoseSkinCo is light and compact with a user-friendly design, making it especially great for beginners. “This device is aesthetically cool and looks good on your bathroom shelf! It’s FDA-cleared which is important to look for due to safety reasons,” says Gunn. “It has five intensity settings for use on any part of the body. It has 300k flashes which should last you quite a while.”
One customer on the brand’s website calls it “life changing” in their review, writing: “Extremely easy to use, and it really works! No more costly appointments at a laser clinic for similar results, I am now on the way to no hair where I don’t want it. Highly recommended!”
Ulike’s Air 10 is “made with a high quality sapphire crystal window that comes with an adequate cooling mechanism to reduce heat on the skin’s surface with each pulse allowing the energy to be delivered deep into the skin,” says Dr. Shirazi. “This helps reduce the risk of burns while optimizing efficacy.”
The device features a SkinSensor technology to detect skin tone and automatically adjust the power, as well as a special SHR mode that’s designed to eliminate even the most stubborn hairs. Plus, the device also comes with a razor, drawstring bag, and UV glasses. “This is absolutely top of the line at home hair removal device. It has 3 settings and a cooling feature,” said one reviewer. “Easy to hold and move. I saw results in about two and a half weeks. The cooling feature keeps you from feeling like you’re burning. It is painless.”
For removing hair from large areas of your body—such as your back, chest, or legs—this FDA-cleared device has you covered with its large head. It has a patented technology that uses both IPL and radio frequency (RF) to effectively hinder hair growth—and the brand claims that it’s the only at-home hair removal device that’s FDA-cleared and effective for all skin tones and the widest range of hair colors.
“This machine has been a miracle! It has lived up to all my expectations. The machine is solid, well built and feels luxe. It’s simple to use, plug in, power on, select the strength, place the applicator where you want, and ZAP!” one Nordstrom reviewer wrote. “After about two to three weeks, I finally started to notice the amount of hair begin to decrease, lighten and soften. It’s been a few months now and I still use it a few times a week and I can honestly say I’m super happy with my results!”
✔️ Check for FDA clearance: “You should only look for FDA-cleared devices as these devices have been evaluated and cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where the devices have been tested and reviewed for their safety and efficacy,” advises Dr. Song. However, it’s important to note: “FDA clearance means the FDA has deemed it safe to operate but it doesn’t tell you if you are a good candidate to use the device, so it’s important to be informed of the risks and do’s and don’t,” advises Dr. Shirazi.
✔️ Consider the number of flashes: IPL devices operate by producing flashes, or quick bursts of light to treat an area of skin. Some devices have a limited number of flashes such as 300,000 or 1 million, while others come with unlimited flashes, notes Dr. Shirazi. “A higher number of flashes indicates a longer life span for the device and allows for more treatment sessions,” explains Dr. Song.
✔️Opt for devices with automatic light intensity settings: It’s important to use your IPL hair removal device at the right intensity level for your skin tone. While some devices will have you manually figuring out what level is best for you, “several [devices] come with a smart sensor and auto-adjust to send the right amount of light and intensity for your specific skin tone and hair color,” says Gunn.
✔️ Look for safety features: “Safety features that are helpful include integrated cooling systems to keep the skin cool as well as larger headpiece to allow for a bigger treatment size,” says Dr. Song. “Eye protection goggles should also be provided.” Gunn also recommends specifically looking for for devices with skin tone sensors, adjustable intensity settings, and tip cooling mechanisms.
“It should be called laser hair reduction rather than permanent hair removal as treatments significantly reduce hair growth, but they typically don’t result in permanent hair removal,” says Dr. Shirazi. “For more permanent hair removal, multiple sessions in a professional setting is required.”
But even professional lasers don’t result in complete, permanent removal, notes Gunn. Still, if you’re looking for a way to reduce hair growth at home, using an IPL hair removal device is a good option. “Your at-home results aren’t going to be as dramatic as a professional laser, but you will see some reduction with each treatment,” Gunn says.
“IPL devices can be safe when used properly in the right skin type depending on the device technology,” says Dr. Shirazi. “Look for an FDA-cleared device with adequate cooling mechanism to reduce risk of burns.”
One thing that’s important to remember: IPL devices are “safer in patients with light to medium skin tones and most effective in patients with dark coarse hair,” says Dr. Shirazi. It is not recommended for patients with sensitive skin, darker skin type, and lighter hairs, as it can cause irritation and skin damages without effectively reducing hair. “If you have more melanin rich skin or darker skin tone, it’s best to avoid or first do a test spot before treating a larger area of skin.”
Once you decide that IPL hair removal is right for you, the key is to choose the right device and setting to ensure a safe hair removal process, says Gunn. “Follow the usage guidelines for the device you’re using carefully. Always shave the area before using and device to avoid the hair on the surface from burning,” she advises. “As a rule, avoid flashing in the same area repeatedly to avoid a burn. And, never use IPL (or any other hair removal treatment) on broken or irritated skin, tattoos, infections, or burns.”
Using an IPL hair removal device may potentially come with side effects, such as irritation to your skin. “During the procedure it feels like a rubber band snapping sensation with potential adverse effects such as skin irritation, which presents as temporary redness and swelling,” explains Dr. Song. “More permanent adverse effects on the skin include pigmentary changes and blistering or crusting if the skin has been damaged.”
We consulted Teresa Song, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical; Azadeh Shirazi, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of AziMD; and Kristin Gunn, celebrity esthetician and owner of Halcyon Skincare and Beaux Medspa. We also combed through countless ratings, reviews, and product specs to narrow down the best IPL hair removal devices. Lastly, we referenced the Good Housekeeping Institute’s coverage of the best night creams to choose the Smooth Pure Fit, the Nood The Flasher 2.0, and the Braun Silk Expert Pro5.
For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.
Hannah Jeon is an Associate Commerce Editor at Prevention, where she covers expert-driven commerce content for all things health, beauty, and wellness. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Good Housekeeping, she earned her bachelor’s degree in creative writing and psychology from Johns Hopkins University. When she’s not on the hunt for all the best products online, you can often find her trying out new food spots in New York City or clicking away behind a camera.
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