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The options for at-home hair removal are countless. Whether your goal is smooth legs, underarms, or a full-on Brazilian, there are trimmers, razors, depilatory creams, and waxing kits for the job. Unfortunately, though, these solutions are all temporary, meaning your hair will grow back as soon as a few days later.
If you're on the hunt for more permanent results, try using an at-home laser hair removal machine. Though it can be admittedly a bit intimidating, Debra Jaliman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, says there are pros to this DIY option. For starters, it's less expensive than in-office treatments and can be done on your own time. "Though you'll get better results with a professional hair-removal laser machine at a physicians office, at-home devices definitely get the job done, though most folks will need to go over the areas several times," says Jaliman. They may also require follow-up maintenance if some stray strands return, she explains.
Our Top Picks
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Best for Permanent Results
Currentbody Skin Laser hair removal Device
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Best Cooling
Ulike Sapphire AIR+ Dark Green IPL hair removal Handset
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Best for Face and Body
SmoothSkin Bare Fit IPL hair removal System
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What to consider when choosing an at-home Laser hair removal device
Not everyone should jump to buy an at-home Laser hair removal machine, though. "The device is best suited for patients with dark hair and lighter skin tones," says Stacy Chimento, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami. "Tanned or dark skin runs the risk of hypo- or hyperpigmentation because the hair laser can mistake the darker skin pigment as the targetthe hair follicle."
It's always wise to do a spot test before going full steam ahead, particularly if you have darker skin, says Chimento. And never treat freshly tanned (even self-tanner!) or sunburned skin, she says. It's also important to exercise extreme caution with any potential skin irritants, such as retinoids, salicylic acid, or glycolic acid, before and after treatments. When in doubt, make sure to read the directions fully for each device before trying it out at home.
The experts:
- Debra Jaliman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
- Stacy Chimento, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami
$759 at CurrentBody
Credit: Currentbody
Why We Love It
- Offers permanent results
- Has a skin tone safety feature
What to Consider
- It's a splurge
Most at-home laser devices utilize IPL technology, meaning it works by delivering a broader spectrum of pulsed light, making it less powerful than in-office lasers. IPL is certainly effective, but it may take several passes to get smooth results. This device, however, is the closest you can get to a professional treatment because it's the only FDA-cleared hair removal device that combines the speed of IPL technology with the strength of in-office lasers for faster, better, and permanent results in just 15 minutes. It's still totally safe to use at home thanks to its skin tone sensor, which is a feature that ensures your skin tone matches the conditions for effective hair removal. So while it may be a splurge, it's worth it for the long-term results.
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$209 at AmazonShop at Walmart
Credit: Ulike
Why We Love It
- Offers cooling sensation
What to Consider
- It's priced high compared to other devices
One of the biggest concerns of laser hair removal (either at home or in the office) is discomfort. What's great about this device is it's designed to reduce the temperature during use to offer a soothing cooling sensation that also blocks harmful UV light. With consistent use, you'll notice a drastic difference in hair reduction in just four weeks. It's recommended to do three treatments a week for best results.
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Credit: SMOOTHSKIN
Why We Love It
- Easy to use
- Can use on face and body
What to Consider
- Doesn't work great on dark skin tones
Because this hair-removal device operates at an impressive 100 flashes per minute, you can treat your entire body (lower and upper legs, bikini line, and underarms) with the press of a single button in just 10 minutes. It's also safe to use on your face. You'll notice visible hair reduction in as little as four weeksand up to 97 percent hair reduction after 12 weeks.
$100 at Amazon$186 at Walmart
Credit: XSOUL
Why We Love It
- Good for sensitive skin types
What to Consider
- Some buyers say it takes a while to see results
Despite a comparatively modest price tag, this at-home laser has five settings for different skin sensitivities, plus a manual mode (single flash) for small areas like the bikini and underarms, and an automatic mode (continuous flashes) for larger spots like the legs and abdomen. Clinical tests show that after three to four treatments for a duration of eight weeks, users saw almost 90 percent hair growth reduction.
$299 at Amazon$299 at Walmart
Credit: Silk'n
Why We Love It
- Small and compact
What to Consider
- Some buyers say it isn't great for dark skin tones
Because this FDA-approved device is so compact and fits nicely in the palm of your hand, it's super easy to use. And as the name implies, it removes hair fast, emitting an impressive 150,000 pulses per minute. You can use it on your entire body, including sensitive areas like your upper lip and bikini area. There are five power settings to choose from so you can use what's best for your comfort levels.
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$349 at Walmart
Credit: Braun
Why We Love It
- Adjusts to your skin tone
What to Consider
- It's priced high compared to other devices
This is the at-home laser for anyone who likes the concept of setting it and forgetting it. It utilizes a special technology called SensoAdaptwhich adjusts the flash intensity for your skin tone as you're using it. There are also 10 settings so you can find the sweet spot for you. It's important to know that this device should not be used on the face, neck, or genital area.
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$300 at Amazon$299 at jovs.com
Credit: JOVS
Why We Love It
- Rotating head makes it easy to target hard-to-reach areas
What to Consider
- It's a splurge compared to other devices
What differentiates this device from others is the 180-degree rotating head. It makes it so much simpler to reach just about any area of your bodyface, arms, legs, bikini line, and more. Also nice: The LED power helps smooth wrinkles and fine lines. It also features a cooling technology, which can cool the light exit to 37F to help reduce potential pain caused by the pulsed light.
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$129 at roseskinco.com
Credit: Rose Skin Co.
Why We Love It
- Can use on all areas of body
What to Consider
- Some buyers have noticed hair thinning rather than complete removal
This is a compact and easy-to-use device that's designed to deliver long-term hair removal at a fraction of the price of in-office solutions. It's a very versatile machine, too, as it can be used on all areas of the body, including hard-to-reach places like the bikini (for that Brazilian!). Did we mention how cute it is? You can take a test on the website too to see if it's a good fit for you.
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Credit: Nood
Why We Love It
- Reasonably priced
- Can use anywhere there is hair growth
What to Consider
- It's a wired device
Become a real Nood-ist (get it?) with this device. It offers an easy, quick, and painless way to get soft, smooth, and hair-free skin. You can use it anywhere that hair grows, from your legs to face, and everywhere in between. Results are visible in just three weeks. It's recommended to use your Flasher twice per week for the first two months and then once every one to two months for sustained results.
How We Chose the Best At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices
We researched, tested, and consulted with experts to pick which devices are worth the buy. Dermatologists say these machines offer impressive before and afters, effectively leaving your skin silky, smooth, and, of course, hair-free.
Brigitt Earley
Contributing Writer
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
Genesis Rivas
Genesis Rivas is the Beauty Editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers hair, makeup, skin, nails, and more. Before joining the Oprah Daily team, she wrote for several publications, including InStyle, Real Simple, and Shape. When shes not testing, researching, and writing fun and educational beauty content, you can find her dancing and eating her way through New York City. Follow her on Instagram or TikTok
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