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Our only gripe is that it isn’t suitable for dark skin tones, so we’d suggest going with another option if you have more melanin in your skin. The Iluminage Touch is a laser for the the face and body that uses intense pulsed light (IPL) and radio frequency (RF) to gently zap away unwanted hair. It’s this combination that makes this pick safe for darker shades of skin—in fact, it’s the first at-home laser that’s cleared by the FDA to use on all skin tones. The device features three energy levels that can be used on a wide range of hair colors, and it comes with a precision adaptor and an epilator attachment to optimize treatments. At-home laser hair removal devices is a booming market with dozens of options to choose from. We did painstaking research to find the devices that had intriguing features, reviews, or a lot of hype to test ourselves.
Philips Lumea IPL 9900 Series
That way, the follicles won’t be able to produce new hairs for up to several weeks. Removing hair from any part of your body can be a royal pain—in terms of time, money, and well, actual physical pain. For those sick of waxing kits or are keen on a more permanent solution than razors, laser hair removal is by far one of the most popular (and effective) alternatives. For years, our GH Beauty Lab experts have regularly tested all kinds of hair removal products, from waxing kits, razors and dermaplaning tools to depilatory creams and epilators. This hair removal device cools the skin as it glides to decrease—or even eliminate—pain as you zap away hair.
Best for Lighter Hair
Overall, this rarely impacted the smoothness of our ability to use this wand all around our body and on the lower half of our face. IPL does pretty much the same thing, but uses a pulsed light source to get the job done. And while a laser uses monochromatic light, IPL uses many different colors, but it is not coherent light and covers a broader area than laser, making it less effective in hair removal. It's closer to natural light and can take on an orange-red glow, which looks kind of like a camera flash. For some, the word laser conjures up visions of a cartoonish, megalomaniacal villain fiendishly planning your demise. Laser hair removal is neither of these, at least when it comes to hair removal.
How we test IPL hair removal devices
10 Best At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices for a Smooth 2024 - Glamour
10 Best At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices for a Smooth 2024.
Posted: Mon, 29 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The newly launched Silk'n 7 boasts neat technology, such as optical and galvanic energy for a more effective treatment, a rotatable head for hard to reach areas, and three additional attachments for precision. A smaller version of Foreo's fan-favorite Peach2, the Peach 2 Go offers a larger treatment window, faster flash, and built-in skin cooling system to ensure a comfortable experience. Coarse hair is no match for Nood's Flasher 2.0, which eliminates unwanted hair without the razor burn or ingrowns caused by traditional removal methods.
Best for Coarse Hair: Mismon IPL At-Home Hair Removal Machine
I think the problem with Nood is that, despite being FDA approved and a small wee little device you can use in your bathroom, it’s still a laser. Even small handheld wands emitting red light like the SolaWave can do harm to some people. It’s recommended to flash each patch of skin 3 times before moving on, so it can be tedious since the laser area is quite small. It’s also helpful to do two passes on the area for better results, so if you are trying to never shave your legs again, this is a long, LONG process. Most devices have a range of heat settings to make the process more comfortable too, especially in areas that are more sensitive.
For this story, Sophie did a deep dive into the results of our at-home laser hair removal device test and used her expertise as a commerce and lifestyle writer to research the top-ranked products. She also received advice from Dr. Kim Nichols, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of NicholsM, on the key features to keep in mind when shopping for at-home laser hair removal devices. The device was lightweight and handles well, sitting comfortably in our hands with one finger on the back of it to trigger the base electrode. It comes with both a pulsing setting to activate a single galvanic circulation when working on smaller areas, and gliding setting, when you hold in the button to activate a constant galvanic circulation pulse every 1.5 seconds. This gliding feature is a must for time efficiency, so you can move around an area without having to stop and start every second.
Dr. Sobel has been a pioneer of the union between dermatology & cosmetic surgery. Over the years, Dr. Sobel has not only been known for his expertise in all aesthetic treatments, but as one of the best botox and fillers doctors in New York City. His ability to provide an exceptional outcome never fails, and patients are not only thrilled with their results, but also feel younger and rejuvenated after treatment.
According to cosmetic chemist and beauty educator Michelle Wong, laser hair removal works on the premise that dark colors (your hair) absorb light (the laser). The light from the laser then heats the hair follicle to a point where it becomes damaged, resulting in no growth at all, or hair that’s much finer. The results are semi-permanent and only require maintenance once or twice a year after initial treatments. Braun's latest IPL device is both the first Smart IPL and the brand's fastest tool, claiming to permanently reduce hair in just three weeks. It's Wi-Fi enabled and connects to an app which helps you keep track of your treatments and your hair reduction progress. You can track treatments for each body area, and the app reminds you when it’s time for another treatment.
Braun’s Silk Expert Pro 5 has several features that will help you get rid of unwanted hair more efficiently. It features a gliding mode for quickly treating large areas like the legs, a stamping mode for hard-to-reach areas like the bikini line and SensoAdapt technology, which automatically adjusts the flash intensity for safe use on skin. Helpful accessories include a precision cap that gives you more control over hard-to-reach areas and a Venus razor for touch-ups. IPL is widely considered to be one of the most pain-free hair removal methods, but this ultimately depends on you and the device you're using. Nowadays, many laser hair removal tools has built-in cooling technologies, which makes those quick bursts of light as painless as possible.
The handheld device targets unwanted hairs at the root, leading the way to smoother skin on your ‘pits, legs, face, and bikini area starting after a couple of weeks (though the brand says three to four). No matter which of the 6 intensity levels you choose, a full-body treatment should take no more than 30 minutes. Depending on the body part you're targeting, in-office hair removal appointments can get pricey (BTW, they can run you up to $500, or even more).
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Your budget is another consideration, but you may not want to be too frugal or else you’ll miss out on important features. But you don’t want to overuse the device, which can lead to skin irritation and hyperpigmentation. Paul also notes that a true laser is usually only administered in a clinical setting because of many safety issues, making it harder for a patient to buy one. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. He is an award-winning journalist with more than 15 years of experience covering beauty and lifestyle for several national media outlets and previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily.
“I’m a fan of this device because it has high energy levels and it’s super easy to use,” says Dr. Nazarian. Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Since waxing is her preferred method of hair removal, she relied on expert input, consumer reviews, and her past experience covering epilators to compile this list. As for the additional features, they’re nice to have, especially when you have time for a full skincare and hair removal routine.
This shouldn't be a problem for most people — but if you have any qualms about at-home IPL hair removal or wondering if you're an ideal candidate for using a device at home then consult with your local board-certified dermatologist. According to our testing, these are the best at-home laser hair removal devices on the market. “It has an automatic and manual mode and is best for on-the-go hair removal. Dr. Zeichner says that while the “best hair and skin combination for laser hair removal in general is dark hair and light skin,” there have been advancements that allow them to work on a wider range of tones. “Unfortunately, no matter what device you are using, we cannot use lasers to get rid of light blonde or white hair because the lasers need the pigment in the hair itself to act as a target,” Dr. Zeichner adds. If you're searching for longevity, look no further than the Braun Silk Expert 5.
