If you're a hairy guy, this one is for you.
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EVEN MEN with full beards would probably say they wish some of their hair on the rest of their body would disappear. Body hair is completely natural and nothing to be embarrassed about, but if removing it (aka manscaping) would make you feel more confident in your skin, then you should do it. Luckily, technology exists that makes it possible to permanently get rid of any and all unwanted body hair.
When it comes to hair removal, you can either go into a laser hair removal clinic or do it yourself with an at-home laser hair removal device. Dr. Jaimie DeRosa of DeRosa Center Plastic Surgery & Med Spa explains how it works to permanently stop hair from growing where you don't want it to.
"Laser hair removal (or more correctly, laser hair reduction) works by damaging the hair follicle, thus preventing further hair growth," he said. "The lasers used for hair removal 'see' the dark pigment melanin within the hair follicle, which is why laser hair removal does not work on white or grey hair."
Laser hair removal clinics often requires multiple appointments over the span of 1 to 2 years before the hair is gone for good, which could end up costing you thousands of dollars in the long run. Even if stay on top of appointments and finish your course of treatments, you inevitably have to go back at least once a year for touch-up treatments to maintain your results.
If you don't have the time or money to commit to costly laser hair removal appointments, there are a number of at-home laser hair removal devices that tout in-office results from the comfort of your own home—and for a fraction of the cost. At-home laser hair removal devices for men are not as effective as the machines you can find at a laser clinic, but these devices can give you significant hair reduction for the same amount that it would cost you to get 1-2 treatments of laser hair removal at a local clinic. Most of the doctors that we spoke with recommend using at-home laser hair removal devices in between in-office laser hair removal appointments.
It's important to keep in mind that everyone's body hair is different, and your results may vary. Since at-home laser hair removal devices for men have a much lower energy output than most in-office machines, you can also use them more often, which means you can get rid of unwanted hair even faster, if you're consistent with it.
"Since the at-home laser hair removal devices are less powerful, it will take longer to see results but is still a great option for those who don’t want to go to an office for laser hair removal and also for those who want to maintain their results after a round of in-office laser hair removal," said Dr. DeRosa.
While plenty of men think a little extra hair is the epitome of manhood, others would rather see it gone for good. Easy, affordable at-home laser hair removal is easier and cheaper than you might think. Below, we've rounded up the best at-home laser hair removal devices for men to get rid of unwanted hair fast.
This device is everything you want it to be: It's fast, effective, and easy to use, which is why it's our number one overall pick. The IPL technology features a sensor sensor that tailors the flash intensity based on your skin tone, which makes it suitable for most skin tones. The FDA-approved device boasts a whopping 10 power settings, allowing you to adapt your treatment to your specific skin tone and pain threshold.
Testing Notes: Considering the steep price tag, we expected some serious results from this at-home laser, and it definitely delivered. After the second use, we noticed that hair growth had definitely slowed and the hair wasn't growing back as quickly. By the third and fourth treatment, we were pleasantly surprised to find that what little hair had grown back was growing in patchy, which indicates that some hair follicles are completely dormant and dead. It may take a few months, but we're confident that this device permanently removes any unwanted hair.
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Want to look better naked? Nood's The Flasher can help. It works everywhere that hair grows, including your groin, back, legs, and face. It takes eight weeks of consistent use to see results, but once you do, you'll be encouraged to keep using it until the hair stops growing completely.
Testing Notes: Some at-home laser devices are less painful than others, and we found that this one has a very noticeable sting. If you move quickly from one area to another, it makes it easier to tolerate, and you finish faster, too. While some people may see this as a negative, we think it's actually a good thing, since it indicates that it's actually working to get rid of the hair. We found that the skin is extra sensitive immediately after use, so make sure to stay indoors and use gentle, non-scented lotion to soothe any redness.
There's always going to be an element of discomfort when it comes to these at-home hair removal devices, but this device in particular tries to make the experience as pain-free as possible thanks to its ice-cooling panel. The precision head can rotate 180 degrees in both directions, making those difficult-to-reach places more accessible.
Testing Notes: The precision head is a game-changer and makes it so much easier to maneuver, but it's also very clunky. We found that it's also quite picky and if it’s not flat with your skin, it won’t flash and you will have to keep readjusting it until it flashes. We love the ice-cooling panel, which immediately lessens the stinging sensation and actually makes us want to keep using it.
This next generation IPL hair removal device is the first at-home tool to feature ice-cooling hair removal technology to reduce heat output and cool the skin on contact, protecting it from injuries. With traditional hair removal devices, the temperature of light can reach 158℉-212℉. Ulike’s Sapphire Ice-cooling technology cools the skin to 50℉-104℉, effectively avoiding burning and heat injuries. This type of technology is widely used in large salons for a comfortable, painless experience. It banishes hair at the root using multi-spectrum lights converting light energy to heat energy, permanently reducing hair regrowth over time.
Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, board-certified dermatologist and founder of AziMD Skincare, recommends using Ulike's IPL Device for in-between office laser hair removal appointments. "It has a large sapphire crystal hand piece with contact cooling to prevent burns as the laser energy passes from the device through the skin to selectively heat the hair root without injuring the skin," she says. "It's a powerful device. I recommend using it 2-3 times weekly for 4 weeks. Then monthly for maintenance thereafter.
Testing Notes: We didn't expect to love this one, but the cooling technology vastly improves the entire laser hair removal experience. It's virtually painless, which makes treating larger areas easier because you don't have to take a break to recover from the stings. We love that this device isn't as clunky and difficult to maneuver as other devices, which can be awkward to hold. Like any other at-home laser hair removal device, consistency is key, but this device makes it easy to put in the time and effort.
We love this adjustable device from Silk'N because of its small, portable size and powerful technology. It uses a quartz bulb and pulsed light technology to target the hair follicle, eliminating pigment in the hair shaft without damaging the delicate skin around it. It fits in the palm of your hand so you can take it with you on your next beach vacation for smooth skin all summer long.
Testing Notes: The small size of this device is the best and worst thing about it. On one hand, it's great to travel with because it doesn't take up much space. On the other hand, it's so small that it makes treating large areas like your legs and back almost impossible because it takes so long. We would recommend using this device if you want to treat just a few small areas. If you're trying to get rid of body hair from head to toe, you're better off with something that covers a wider surface area.
Laser hair removal devices typically work best on those with light skin tones and dark hair, but this device is one of the few FDA-cleared tools that's clinically proven to be effective on the widest range of hair colors, including blond, dark blond and red hair. The combination of IPL and radiofrequency allows almost anyone to benefit from the permanent hair reduction results. In a clinical trial, participants noted that 46% of all hair was removed in just two treatments, so you don't have to wait long to see results.
Testing Notes: We've been using this hair removal device for over five years with consistently great results. After around six months of regular use, any unwanted hair was completely gone without a trace. Since then, we use it once or twice a year to get rid of any stray hairs that might've grown back. It's surprisingly effective in a short amount of time, which makes it worth the price in our opinion.
This device proves that at-home hair removal doesn't have to be expensive. It's best for those with fair to olive skin tones with darker hair and features five energy levels to gently zap away unwanted hair. The higher the energy level, the better the permanent hair reduction results. The LCD screen tells you how many flashes are left (for a total of 300,000 flashes), and the ergonomic handle makes it easy to use on all those hard-to-reach places.
Testing Notes: While we love the under $200 price point, this device isn't made for everyone. If you have a light skin tone and dark hair, you're in luck, but if you have a darker skin tone or you're trying to get rid of blonde hair, this isn't the at-home laser device for you. The price also reflects the limited number of flashes, which is low compared to the other devices on this list.
For a full body at-home laser hair removal device, we love this gentle-yet-powerful device from Braun. It's made for men and gives you visible hair reduction in just four weeks. Select from the standard head for smaller areas or the larger head to tackle larger areas, like the back. The device emits up to 125 flashes per minute, leaving no hair behind.
Testing Notes: This device claims that you can treat both legs in five minutes, which is definitely a stretch. Even with the larger attachment and quick flashes, it'll take at least 10 minutes to treat the entirety of both legs. The device fits in the palm of your hand, which makes it easy to move around. Like most IPL devices, it's only meant to be used by those with dark hair and light skin. With patience and consistency, we saw great results.
Designed with a flat head, this device fits nicely in your hand and offers fast and effective hair reduction for coarse hair types. It works on both the body and the face, and comes with five power levels to customize your treatment. It uses galvanic energy to open your pores, penetrating stubborn hair follicles right at the root. Featuring a built-in skin sensor, it prevents any damage to your skin if your skin tone is too dark to treat.
Testing Notes: We were pleasantly surprised with how easy this one was to use. It's small but powerful, especially on the highest setting. While the built-in sensor is a great safety feature, it can be finicky sometimes and causes the device to stop flashing, even if you have a light skin tone. When that happens, it's best to turn it off and on again to let it reset itself.
With its slender shape and small round head, this device makes zapping unwanted hair on your body and face a breeze. It uses the safest, fastest and most advanced IPL technology to reduce hair in as little as four weeks. Plus, it has a safety sensor to measure your skin tone before each flash, only activating if it’s safe. Delivering up to 100 flashes per minute, each treatment of your desired area takes about 10 minutes to complete.
Testing Notes: This device only has one setting, which is great for beginners who are worried about burning themselves with a high-powered laser. However, we were disappointed to find that this laser isn't as powerful and effective as other lasers because it only has that one mode, which means it's going to take longer to see results. On the plus side, this device isn't as painful because of its low setting.
If you don't want to spend all day removing unwanted hair from your body, this device gets the job done fast. Each treatment takes just minutes: 8 minutes for the leg, 6 minutes for the back, and 1 minute for the face. Powered by patented hair removal technology, it allows for unlimited treatments and work on all skin tones, even on blondes and redheads.
Testing Notes: We love the sleek look of this device, which makes us want to use it regularly. Blondes and redheads are regularly told that laser hair removal won't work for their hair type, which we were happy to learn isn't the case with this device. Finally, blondes and redheads have a way to get rid of their unwanted hair from home! While the process isn't fast, we found that is fairly effective and nearly pain-free. In just three uses, we saw a major reduction in hair loss. After eight uses, the hair had completely vanished.
With 10 energy settings, three different comfort modes (power, speed, and gentle), and two operating settings (stamp and glide), you can confidently operate this at-home device to your exact specifications, depending on the area and level of discomfort you're willing to endure. It's extremely precise to get into all the nooks and crannies of the different curves on your body and has a built in skin sensor that selects the right intensity for your skin tone, preventing accidental activation.
Testing Notes: We felt like professionals using this high-powered device. It's completely customizable, which allows you to get the results you want without risking injury or too much discomfort. We wish the the head was bigger, which would allow us to treat larger areas quicker, but the various settings and modes more than make up for the lack of a larger head. We would recommend this device to someone who is familiar with laser hair removal devices and wants the ability to be in complete control of their hair removal experience.
Before you start shopping, it's important to understand how at-home laser hair removal devices work in order to find the one that suits your skin tone and hair color. Laser hair removal devices use light to find and heat the hair follicle, burning it at the root and preventing it from growing more hair during the next hair cycle. Some lasers have difficulty telling the difference between dark hair and melanated skin, which is why those with dark skin tones should seek our IPL hair removal devices. These devices use multiple wavelengths to detect the hair follicle, whereas laser uses one wavelength. IPL devices are generally safer for those with deeper skin tones who want to remove unwanted hair. Likewise, those with fair skin and lightly pigmented body hair should also seek out an IPL hair removal device, as some other devices may not be able to register the hair follicle since they're generally more attracted to dark pigment.
Expect to drop a decent amount of cash on a laser hair removal device, says celebrity aesthetician and dermatological nurse Natalie Aguilar. "Really good at-home hair removal devices are on the costlier side for a reason. Most of them have been tried and tested for safety and efficacy. I do not recommend shopping for replicas or counterfeits. Just because a laser might look similar doesn't mean it's the same thing!"
Depending on which technology being used, there are some small differences, but the basics of it is all the same. "The laser light is attracted to the pigment of the hair follicles," says Dr. Akhavan, celebrity dermatologist and founder of The Dermatology and Laser Group in New York City . "The darker the hair follicle, and the more difference there is between the hair follicle and the normal skin, more and more energy can be focused on the base of that root of the hair follicle and burn it so it doesn’t grow back."
It's a procedure that's becoming more and more popular for men. Dr. Akhavan notes that while the most popular places are chest and back, he still gets requests all the time for laser hair removal on every body part.
Spoiler alert: Unlike in-office treatments, their at-home counterparts don't actually use "lasers," but pulsed light devices similar to an IPL. "They target melanin in the root of hair follicles converting it into heat permanently destroying the hair follicle," says Dr. Shirazi. "Laser is more powerful using monochromatic wavelength of light whereas IPL which uses broadband pulsed light."
That's why at-home laser devices requires a lot more treatments than a session with a doctor, which is why doctors like Shirazi recommend doing an in-office appointment for faster results. However, at-home devices are "helpful for maintenance treatments after you have a series of professional sessions," Dr. Shirazi says.
At-home laser hair removal devices are not for everyone. Some devices only work if you have light skin and dark hair, so make sure you have the appropriate skin tone and hair color for the laser hair removal device that you're looking to buy.
Laser hair removal devices are great for those who don't want to spend the time and money to go in-person for laser hair removal treatments. These treatments can be costly and add up over time.
If you aren't consistent with your appointments, you might find that the hair grows back and all progress you might've made in the past is lost. The cost of an at-home device is less than the cost of multiple in-office treatments, which is what it would take to completely get rid of unwanted hair. Plus, you can continue to use the at-home devices for touch ups years down the line. At-home laser hair removal devices allow you the freedom to squeeze in a treatment whenever you have a few minutes of downtime, whether that's before bed or while you're watching TV.
For the past two years, we consulted with Men's Health's Grooming editors and writers on the top at-home laser hair removal devices for men. Experts including our Grooming Editor, Garrett Munce, tried many different devices and evaluated their effectiveness, cost, and pain level of every treatment. We also considered top-reviewed at-home laser hair removal devices that had at least 100 five-star customer ratings on e-commerce websites that we trust.
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Cristina Montemayor is a freelance writer and journalist living in Austin, Texas, covering beauty, grooming, style, and culture. Her work has appeared in Very Good Light, BRIDES, Elite Daily, among others.
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