9 Best At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices of 2024, Tested

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Our new bare essentials.

In This Article

InStyle

If you choose to remove body hair, it always comes at a price, whether it’s your time, money, or dignity (just kidding, kind of). While plenty hair removal options exist, like bikini trimmers, dermaplaning, and good ol’ razors, at-home laser hair removal devices offer a more long-term solution to ridding unwanted hair. They also help you avoid uncomfortable problems with razors and waxing kits, like razor bumps and in-grown hairs. According to board-certified dermatologist Paul Jarrod Frank, M.D., you can even use the tools to treat sun damage and rebuild collagen.

They might be an investment upfront, but they’re more cost-effective over time, and treatments are done in the sanctity of your own home. Of course, professional treatments are more effective, but these devices use a lower energy frequency known as IPL, which is safer for at-home use. “IPL stands for intense pulsed light—it’s not actually a laser; it’s a device that emits many wavelengths of visible light,” says Manhattan-based board-certified dermatologist Morgan Rabach, M.D. However, not every skin tone or hair color is an ideal candidate for at-home devices—those with red, blonde, and gray hair and deeper skin tones should avoid using one or consult a doctor first. To find the best at-home laser hair removal devices, we tested 20 popular options by incorporating them into our routines for six months. Then, we ranked each based on ease of use, pain level, and efficiency and chose the ones with the highest ratings.

INSTYLE / ABBY MILLIGAN

Why We Love It: While laser hair removal treatments may seem like a marathon (making slower, consistent efforts for an ultimately greater reward), it shouldn’t feel like one. Our tester experienced all gain, no pain, using the Ulike Air 3. In fact, she canceled her pricey professional treatment in favor of using this device as she got near-similar results. After around four weeks of testing, the hair on her knees and lower legs became finer and less coarse, and it also began growing back slower. While she was still shaving regularly, she reached for her razor only about once a week rather than every few days. If she used the highest setting, she occasionally experienced an uncomfortable sensation. Still, the built-in cooling tech provided “instant relief,” she said, and any lingering redness dissipated quickly.

Who It’s For: We love this one for people with coarse, dark hair who don’t have super sensitive skin. However, it’s not battery-operated and doesn’t come with a handy travel case, so it may not be best for on-the-go use.

Type of Energy: IPL | Results: 4 weeks | FDA Approved: Yes | Intensity Levels: 5 | Hair Type: Dark | Body Area: Face and body | Flashes: Unlimited

Allison, tester with dark brown hair: “The device is comfortable to grip and maneuver over skin. It even thoughtfully includes protective eyewear and a small razor.”

Why We Love It: Although the Nood 2.0's flashiest feature is its bright zaps, its no-frills design still removes hair quickly. In about 15 minutes, our tester, Samantha, finished zapping her dark but fine hair on both legs and moved onto her armpits, covering the area in around three strokes. Still, at the two-week mark, Samantha began to notice a difference in hair patterns—some areas had no hair while others had stubble—and loved how quickly she saw results. As a bonus, her leg scars lightened, too.

Who It’s For: With a wider-than-usual laser head, this device works best on larger body areas. Reaching tight precision spots can be a little tricky, but it isn’t really designed for that.

Type of Energy: IPL | Results: 2 weeks | FDA Approved: Yes | Intensity Levels: 7 | Hair Type: Dark | Body Area: Face and body | Flashes: 600k

Samantha, tester with fine, dark hair: “I did feel a burn every once in a while, but it was very minimal—there was no pain or discomfort overall.”

Why We Love It: We know we harp on the fact that laser hair removal requires saintly patience, but for those who really hate lingering, the Silk’n Motion Premium is a speedier option. Our tester lasered half her body in a fraction of the time it typically takes, and before she knew it, the treatment was over. She occasionally missed a spot where she went over a treatment area too fast, causing the device not to pulse. However, overall, the treatments significantly halted hair growth.

Who It’s For: If you want to get through laser hair removal as quickly and easily as possible, this one’s your guy. There aren’t even any buttons to fuss with—the intelligent device detects hair and lasers upon contact with your skin. It even automatically reduces the device's energy level to a lower, safer level if it detects the skin tone is too dark.

Type of Energy: HPL | Results: 4 weeks | FDA Approved: Yes | Intensity Levels: 5 | Hair Type: Light to dark hair | Body Area: Face and body | Flashes: 600K

Jaclyn, tester with dark brown hair: “I could stretch my legs about a week without shaving, which is something I was never able to say before. Plus, I can go from my toes to my hip in one motion.”

Why We Love It: Listen, we’ve done acrobatic stretches attempting to reach our legs while shaving. Thankfully, the CurrentBody laser hair removal device required no contortionist tricks, in part due to its large handle and lightweight design. Our tester could hold it for an extended time and easily maneuver it around her body without feeling fatigued. Additionally, the cord’s longer length allows you to reach every area of your body seamlessly without awkwardly twisting and turning.

Who It’s For: Less graceful shavers will appreciate how easy this device is to use, but you may need to use it more often if you have coarser hair like our tester. She used the device more frequently than recommended, staying consistent with twice-a-week sessions as she neared the end of the 12-week testing period.

Type of Energy: Diode laser | Results: 4 weeks | FDA Approved: Yes | Intensity Levels: 6 | Hair Type: Light brown to black | Body Area: Face and body | Flashes: Unlimited

Paige, tester with coarse, dark hair: “My hair feels more even, and grows back much thinner.”

Why We Love It: Precision is absolutely essential especially around the face. The thoughtfully designed Foreo Peach 2 quashed our hesitations about using the device in sensitive areas. InStyle News and Deals Senior Beauty Writer Tamim Alnuweiri said it is “one of the more ergonomic devices” she’s ever used (For reference, she tests hundreds of beauty products a month!). By the end of the testing, Tamim was shaving less frequently and saw less hair growth overall, noting that the results were on par with those of her sisters, who received professional treatments.

Who It’s For: Anyone looking to target smaller surfaces, including facial hair. It even works on people with light-colored hair. Our second tester Elena, who has light blond hair, saw her hair stop growing back around two months into treatment, which is pretty significant considering most of these devices only work on pigmented strands.

Type of Energy: IPL | Results: 4 weeks | FDA Approved: Yes | Intensity Levels: 5 | Hair Type: Dark | Body Area: Face and body | Flashes: 120 per minute

Tamim Alnuweiri, senior beauty writer with dark hair: “The material’s flexibility allows you to reach those difficult bends and nonuniform parts of the body with ease.” Tamim partly attributes this to its joystick-like handle, which “makes it easy to maneuver around different parts of the body while maintaining a firm grip.”

Why We Love It: The Ulike Sapphire Handset has all the accouterments to ensure an easy, stress-free (or at least as low as possible) experience. Protective glasses, a leather case for storage and travel, a mini razor, and a power adapter were all included. Lighter than a 16-ounce plastic water bottle, this remote control-sized laser was also easy to hold. InStyle tester Emma found its uncomplicated setup—“there are only a few buttons,” she says—intuitive to use with precision. This made her treatments go by quickly so that she made it to the finish line without skipping a session and beheld real results.

Who It’s For: Emma was a little intimidated by the process because she has sensitive skin, but it turned out to be great for first-timers. Her skin “Looked and reacted the same as if I had just shaved.” Another helpful feature is the built-in fan, which cooled down Emma’s skin and soothed minimal redness.

Type of Energy: IPL | Results: 4 weeks | FDA Approved: Yes | Intensity Levels: 5 | Hair Type: Dark | Body Area: Face and body | Flashes: 300k

InStyle

Emma, tester with dark brown hair: “The thickness of my hair has changed from being coarse to a more feathery texture.”

Why We Love It: Since lasers target the melanin within dark strands to slow hair growth, we were skeptical that Iluminage Touch could do much to remove blonde hair. But it proved InStyle Associate Editorial Director Shannon Bauer wrong, and she began seeing results at six weeks. Another delightful surprise: No pain. Despite the super bright flashes (some included safety goggles, which would’ve been a nice touch), Shannon didn’t feel even one spicy zap on her skin.

Who It’s For: While the majority of devices are only effective on dark hair, this is the device to go for if you have red or blond hair. One of the more tech-savvy devices on our list, it didn’t require much charging initially—Shannon was able to just plug it in and get zapping. The slim, remote-control design was easy for her to hold and made it simple to careen around her body.

Type of Energy: IPL and radio frequency | Results: 6 weeks | FDA Approved: Yes | Intensity Levels: 3 | Hair Type: All | Body Area: Face and body | Flashes: 300k

Shannon Bauer, associate editorial director with light hair: “I noticed that my hair was growing back slower and a little patchier,” she says, adding that her skin tolerated the highest intensity level and used the device once a week. “At the end of the test, I can say the thickness and overall amount of hair on my legs has been reduced.”

Why We Love It: Our tester, who experiences rapid hair growth because she has PCOS, appreciated how quickly she could complete the treatment. This is partly thanks to the three features available—stamp, glide, and auto—and six intensity settings, which allowed her to tailor the treatment to a specific body part. Where the “stamp” mode delivers pulses with each click, InStyle tester Daniela particularly liked the auto and glide settings. She used the full intensity on her legs without any discomfort. At 12 weeks, the hair growth on her arms had slowed considerably. Although she didn’t see exactly the same results on her legs as she did with her arms, she’s hopeful that, with continued use, the hair density and overall growth on her legs will ease.

Who It’s for: If you’re one of the lucky among us whose hair grows fast and thick, you understand the time it takes to remove body hair and keep it off. This one truly stands up to the challenge, making hair removal quick and easy and slowing hair growth. And between its compact, travel-friendly size and sleek white and rosy pink colors, the device is just plain cute.

Type of Energy: IPL | Results: 12 weeks | FDA Approved: Yes | Intensity Levels: 6 | Hair Type: Dark | Body Area: Face and body | Flashes: 900k

Daniela, tester with dark and thick hair: “You don't have to constantly click the device to pulse… you can get through zapping your body quicker.”

Why We Love It: Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, a laser hair removal device sounds daunting, but the Smoothskin Pure Fit took it easy on our tester’s easily irritated skin. “I was surprised at how non-painful it was,” said Nicole, an InStyle tester. She felt a slight pinch from the laser, which she described as a series of “quick, hot flashes,” although the snap disappeared just as quickly as it came, within a second or two, even on the strongest setting.

Who It’s for: This device worked extremely well and fast on dark hair. As an added bonus, people with sensitive skin can go into this somewhat unnerving process with peace of mind. The intelligent tool includes an added safety feature where the laser won’t activate unless the head is fully on the skin’s surface.

Type of Energy IPL | Results: 4 weeks | FDA Approved: Yes | Intensity Levels: 3 | Hair Type: Dark, some shades of blonde | Body Area: Face and body | Flashes: Unlimited

Nicole, tester with dark brown hair: “There are definitely areas where the hair is hardly growing back. It has noticeably less hair, and it’s growing back slowly. I never felt the need to use the gentle setting, which is the lowest intensity setting of the three options.”

To thoroughly vet the best at-home laser hair removal devices, we required our testers to incorporate them into their routines for six months. After thoroughly prepping their desired area of skin, whether that was their legs, stomach, face, or arms, they began using the devices at the lowest level of intensity. From there, our testers worked up to their desired setting, noting any discomfort and calculating which intensity level gave the best results.

Our testers used their devices at least once per week (unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer's instructions). This helped us determine the effort required to see its effectiveness, which we calculated based on how well it slowed hair growth, thinned strands, and removed hair altogether. In addition to monitoring the overall results, we asked our testers how comfortable they felt holding the device and how easy or difficult it was to turn it on, maneuver around their bodies, and switch between settings. Importantly, our testers reported the time it took them to see various results, checking in with their progress reports at four-, eight-, 12-week, and 6-month intervals.

“The goal to permanently remove hair to 100 percent is usually unrealistic,” cautions Dr. Frank. “Most patients require four to seven in-office treatments to get 85 percent or greater hair reduction.”

It’s important to remember that at-home laser hair removal devices are “far less powerful than those used in a professional medical office,” says Dr. Shokeen. “That means it may take much longer to achieve the same results, and the results you see may not be as consistent.”

“I always recommend that patients with darker skin tones or those with skin that doesn’t tan naturally use any type of at-home device due to increased risk factors,” says Dr. Frank, who adds that because lasers target melanin, there’s a chance that melanin-rich skin can experience burning if extra precautions aren’t considered. Even sunburned skin, with the temporary difference in skin pigment, should wait until the discoloration has completely resolved before booking an appointment, says Dr. Rabach.

Anyone who uses an at-home laser hair removal device—regardless of skin tone—may feel a short-lived zapping (similar to a rubber band snap) or a light burning sensation, which is totally normal. “However, if a device is not used according to instructions, at-home lasers can be associated with redness, blisters, burns, and discoloration,” says NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, M.D., FAAD.

Always shave the treatment area before using the laser. “Hair sticking above the skin will absorb the laser's energy, making the treatment less effective and increasing the chances of skin burn,” says Dr. Camp. Aftercare is equally important, especially “keeping the treated area clean and hydrated after each use,” says Dr. Shokeen. “Avoid using harsh soaps or scrubs, as this can irritate the skin.”

Remember that your skin has just been repeatedly zapped at a high temperature and is particularly vulnerable, albeit temporarily. To keep your skin extra safe after use, Dr. Shokeen recommends avoiding direct sunlight.

Irene Richardson is a commerce writer at InStyle. To write this article, she dove deep into the testers' experiences, speaking with them individually for further insights, and delivered their findings into this article. Along with InStyle writer Bianca Kratky, she interviewed the following highly regarded board-certified dermatologists:

Ward WH, Lambreton F, Goel N, et al. Clinical Presentation and Staging of Melanoma. In: Ward WH, Farma JM, editors. Cutaneous Melanoma: Etiology and Therapy [Internet]. Brisbane (AU): Codon Publications; 2017 Dec 21. TABLE 1, Fitzpatrick Classification of Skin Types I through VI. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK481857/table/chapter6.t1/ doi: 10.15586/codon.cutaneousmelanoma.2017.ch6