It’s no surprise that home laser hair removal machines, as well as IPL devices, are often considered the most convenient – not to mention painless – method of removing unwanted hair. Sure, shaving takes the crown for its popularity and affordability, however, it also comes with its own set of problems, including ingrown hairs, itching, irritation, and dry skin.
Elsewhere, other hair removal methods such as waxing or waxing are known to fall short in the pain department. Trust me, as someone who used to wax my body for almost a decade, I always dreaded my appointments, often having to mentally prepare myself for the pain (especially when it involved my bikini area). That is, until I discovered IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) at home.
Sure, IPL devices often come at a high price, but they’re also equipped with the latest technology, long battery life, and user-friendly software, making the hair removal process much easier and worth the long-term investment.
So if you’re willing to ditch your trusty razor, hair removal kit or electric trimmer in favor of a compact IPL machine, but can’t decide between the huge number of options out there, we’re here to help and answer all your frequently asked questions. your burning questions. The GLAMOR team are seasoned reviewers who have tried dozens of at-home laser hair removal devices first-hand, so we’ve taken extra care to curate this edit while weighing in on all the pros and cons—no pun intended.
GO TO: What does IPL mean? | What is the difference between IPL and laser? | How laser hair removal works | Is home laser hair removal safe? | Does it work for everyone? | How can you prepare for a treatment? | The best at home laser hair removal devices.
The best laser hair removal machine at a glance – our top picks:
- The best laser hair removal machine overall: Exclusive Collection SmoothSkin Bare+ Ultrafast IPL Device, £149
- The best laser hair removal machine for sensitive skin: Philips Lumea Prestige IPL Epilator WAS £509.99 NOW £399.99
- The best wireless laser hair removal machine: Sensica Sensilight Pro with RPL technology for permanent hair reduction, £299
- The best laser hair removal machine for legs: Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 PL5124 Women’s IPL WAS £599.99 NOW £320
Meet the experts:
What does IPL mean?
IPL stands for intense pulsed light. IPL laser hair removal is arguably the most effective hair removal technique (even more so than your epilator) – precisely because it is permanent hair removal system for both legs and hard-to-reach areas.
Does laser hair removal hurt?
IPL is widely regarded as one of the most painless methods of hair removal, but this ultimately depends on you and the device you use. Today, many laser hair removal tools have built-in cooling technologies, which make these quick bursts of light as painless as possible. Of course, you should also always look at starting with the lowest possible settings to see how you react.
How we tested the best laser hair removal devices:
Each of the devices below scored highly when marked for ease of use, flexibility, pain of use, attachments, and how quickly we saw results on different skin types. In addition to testing the most popular IPL devices such as Silk N’ Infinity, Braun Silk Expert Pro 5, the Tria Laser Hair Removal 4X and JOVS Venus Pro Skin Rejuvenation and IPL hair removal device, we made a conscious effort to check the latest customer reviews and spoke to dermatology experts. Below, you’ll find the 11 products that made the cut. (Learn how we test here).
