After going through the many pitfalls of shaving (ingrown hairs, redness, irritation, and speedy re-growth), we’re contemplating alternative hair removal methods this season. We understand that professional laser hair removal isn’t the most cost-effective option (initial sessions can cost you up to $600), we’re looking at the next best things: the best IPL hair removal devices you can use at home.
Though, we need to stress, before we go any further, that body hair is a completely natural, normal thing, and you should never feel compelled to remove it if you don’t want to—it’s a personal choice. However, if you’re into the idea of laser hair removal, and are over trying to find the best razors, waxing kits, or epilators, want to save time and money, but are freaked out about the idea of doing laser hair removal at home, we’ve got you covered.
Though this requires a bit of a splurge, we still consider the Braun IPL Silk Expert Pro 5 as one of the best IPL hair removal devices on the market. It comes with 10 customizable intensity levels, giving you the most bespoke experience possible. We are obsessed with the glide mode, which accelerates the process by delivering more flashes on larger body parts like your legs, while the stamp mode is suitable for smaller, more sensitive areas. The pack includes a handy razor so you can get started right away. All in all, we reckon this tool from Braun as a worthwhile investment.
IPL hair removal device with 2 treatment heads, 10 light intensities, 2 treatment modes, and a skin tone sensor.
Customizable settings
Features a glide mode for large body parts and stamp mode for small, sensitive body parts
Allows 40,000 flashes,
Includes a user's manual
Extremely pricey
This device from Silk’n Infinity aims to keep any discomfort at bay, covering the entire body in just 20 minutes. Like our pricier winner, there’s a built-in sensor to scan the skin and select a light setting appropriate for you, together with an app to keep on top of treatments. We love that it’s compact, featuring a precise head, and most importantly, isn’t too painful. Though it can’t be used wirelessly, it’s easy to get into hard-to-reach areas. You’ll notice a significant reduction in hair growth at the end of the recommended 12-week treatment.
IPL hair removal device with 5 intensities, skin tone sensor, compatible treatment plan on the mobile app.
Painless
Comes with unlimited flashes
Uses eHPL energy to facilitate long-term reduction of hair growth
Includes 5 customizable energy levels
Extremely pricey
Takes time to see results
Amongst the best IPL hair removal devices with a rotating head, you can customize the energy and comfort level of the JOVS Venus Pro thanks to its 6 function modes, 6 intensity levels for different parts of your body, along with 3 precision filters for trickier areas such as the bikini line and the upper lip on the face. If you’re worried about the pain element of hair removal, this device uses “ICE” technology, which helps to cool down skin and eliminate discomfort with a consistent temperature of 5°C.
At-home IPL hair removal device with 6 energy modes and a 330° rotating head.
Features an L-shaped ergonomic design
Has a built-in semiconductor refrigeration system to ensure painless hair removal experience
Releases 0.7 flashes per second
Pricey
Not suitable for darker skin tone
Ideal for all-over use, the cordless design on the Sensica Sensilight Pro is loaded with unlimited flashes. While the heads can be a little fiddly to attach at first, and some might find it a touch bulky, the useful ‘glide’ function makes it super easy and speedy to use. You’ll notice sparser hair in about 8 to 12 weeks. The choice of settings it comes with also makes the majority of users feel more comfortable.
Hair reduction device with 2 treatment heads, 6 intensities, 2 treatment modes, and a skin tone sensor.
Uses advanced RPL technology to prevent hair from growing
Offers unlimited amount of flashes
Equipped with a special safety sensor that detects your skin tone
Extremely pricey
Takes several treatments to work
If your schedule is often occupied, this sleek-looking device promises to do a full body treatment in just 10 minutes. It’s equipped with a built-in skin sensor, which scans your skin to pick the best light intensity for you. In terms of hair removal it’s fairly comfortable to use and you can manage to see visibly reduced hair by the end of the trial period. To provide you with a fuss-free application, there’s 3 settings for you to choose from, which can be used on both the face and the body.
IPL device with 3 skin type settings and a skin sensor.
Delivers bespoke at home hair removal treatment
Treats smaller areas more precisely
Safe for use around the eyes
Clinically proven to prevent hair regrowth
Takes weeks to see results
One of the best IPL hair removal devices that covers the whole body—this IPL device from Braun comes with a precision head for those hard-to-reach areas, including the face, underarms, and bikini line. It also comes with an adaptive sensor that’ll continuously read your skin tone—which can vary across your body—and adapts its flash intensity to yield optimal results, which you can expect to see from 12 weeks onwards.
Hair removal device with 3 intensity levels and a skin safety sensor.
Uses SensoAdapt technology
Suitable for both men and women
Able to treat areas in minutes
Reduces hair growth
Takes a long time to see results
Not suitable for users with darker skin tones
There are many five star reviews on Amazon for this device that promise to break that pesky cycle of hair regrowth—with 95% depilated growth over the course of 12 weeks. It includes 5 energy levels to accommodate different skin sensitivities, as well as a versatile replaceable attachment design that allows for a personalized treatment on each body area.
Corded IPL device with 5 energy levels and 2 flash modes.
Ensures a painless hair removal experience
Comes with 500,000 flashes per lamp
Suitable for both men and women
Equipped with a security mechanism to protect the eyes
Not suitable for dark brown and black skin tone
Not suitable for light blonde, red, and grey hair color
Here, loyal readers, is an editor pick that wouldn’t be right not to include in our list of the best IPL hair removal devices. This shiny rose gold device from MiSMON is slightly inexpensive compared to its counterparts. Thanks to the LCD screen, you’re able to monitor the number of flashes on your skin so you’ll never go overboard, which is best if you’re a beginner.
Sleek, rose gold IPL hair removal device with an LCD screen.
Comes with protective glasses
Features an LCD screen for precise use
Has 300000 flashes per lamp
A little too bulky
Not suitable for use on the face
This FDA-cleared laser hair removal device is a compact-sized tool that’s great for removing hair—fast. It glides over your skin with 150,000 pulses per minute, making it easy to target one hairy spot. This latest compact version is designed with light-based technology, which is cleared by the FDA for permanent hair reduction for the entire face and body. On top of that, it also features a new cutting-edge applicator which allows you to properly target and zone in on harder-to-reach spots such as the upper lip, arms, and bikini area. To yield long-lasting results, we suggest you use this device every other week for two months.
Compact-sized IPL hair removal device that releases 150,000 pulses per minute.
FDA-cleared
Dermatologist-recommended
Portable
Great for targeted hair removal
Pricey
Not suitable for dark or tanned skin
This device by Illuminate combines IPL with radio frequency waves to reduce hair growth permanently, and unlike many other options, it’s designed to be safe for every skin tone. It’s also hailed as one of the best IPL hair removal devices for tougher-to-manuever areas like the face. It comes with a hair reduction head, a shaver head for trimming down treatment areas before treating, together with a precision adapter for targeting smaller areas. Though the device is on the pricier end, it features unlimited pulses, so you can use it for years without needing to replace it.
Portable IPL hair removal devices with unlimited pulses.
Suitable for every skin tone
Able to reach smaller areas
Comes with multiple heads for targeted hair removal
Carries unlimited pulses
Extremely pricey
One of the best hair removal devices available—the BoSidin model boasts a one-of-a-kind design with a rotating precision head to address hard-to-reach spots (i.e., your bikini line). It also offers six intensity levels and a built-in function that cools your skin before treatment to reduce pain and sensitivity. You’ll appreciate its ergonomic design that makes it much easier to hold onto for a long period of time. However, the symbols for each treatment mode may be confusing for a first timer, so pay attention when pressing.
IPL hair removal device with an advanced cooling technology, rotating head, and six energy levels.
Uses cooling technology to reduce pain
Ergonomic
Suitable for hard-to-reach spots
The symbols for the treatment modes may confuse first timers
Amongst the many IPL hair removal devices out there, this pick from Ulike comes equipped with cooling technology to help address discomfort during the hair removal process. The cooling feature comes on as soon as the device is switched on and lowers the surface temperature of the skin to about 50 degrees when it comes into contact with it to make the subsequent light flashes as painless as possible. If you’re a beginner of IPL, look no further than this device. It also fits easily into the palm of your hand, making it easy to maneuver during treatment.
Though it lacks an automatic color sensor, it does come with well-described power levels and timing to address various areas on the face and body. You’ll appreciate that the device cord has ample length, about seven feet, to provide users with more freedom when choosing their desired area of treatment. To treat your facial skin, you may put on the included pair of foldable goggles to prevent excess light from hurting your eyes.
IPL laser hair removal handset with cooling technology, five customizable energy levels, goggles, skin sensor, and a mini razor.
Uses cooling technology to accommodate sensitive skin
Less painful flashes
Brand guarantees significant results after just four weeks
No built-in skin color sensor
Releasing 100 flashes per minute, the Bare+ prides itself as the fastest IPL device on the market delivering results in as little as four weeks, and reducing hair growth by up to 97%. Featuring a built-in Smart Skin Sensor, you can count on this device to provide you with a safe at-home hair removal experience—it checks your skin tone before each flash, and will only activate if it’s safe to do so.
Clinically proven IPL hair removal device that promises to reduce up to 97% of body hair in just 12 weeks.
Patented Smart Skin Sensing technology
One-touch operation
Protects the eyes when treating facial hair using 4-point skin contact sensors
Low power hence longer time is required to remove hairs
If you’ve been researching IPL devices for a while now, you’ve probably heard of or seen this affordable, buzzy device all over social media—and with good reason. This tool uses a multi-spectrum bulb to zap and permanently remove hair, which makes the process less painful compared to laser devices. Because of this alone, we love it for the sensitive skin around the bikini areas. It also features an extra wide window, making treating this intimate area easy. Cleared by the FDA, the brand promises permanent results within eight weeks.
FDA-approved IPL device with a multi-spectrum bulb for permanent hair removal.
Fully digital display
90-day money back guarantee
Wide window for faster treatments
Produces fewer flashes
FDA is responsible for regulating the safety and efficacy of products on the market. When an IPL hair removal device is cleared by the FDA, it means that the agency has evaluated it and determined that it’s safe and effective for regular consumer use. To put it simply, the device lives up to its claims, and will not cause harm if used as instructed.
Flashes refer to the quick bursts of light that lamp in an IPL hair removal device products to treat an area of the skin. Similar to standard light bulbs you use around the house, these lamps can burn out. In some IPL devices, the lamp can only produce a limited number of flashes until it completely burns out, at which point you would need to replace the cartridge or the device itself. Therefore, the more flashes, the better. However, many of the newer IPL devices feature unlimited flashes, which means you need not worry about the lamp burning out while you can enjoy long-lasting, silky smooth skin.
Say you’re nervous about trying out IPL hair removal, shop for devices that automatically detect your skin tone and adjust the light intensity level. Otherwise, you’ll have to manually figure out what level suits you best by deciphering a skin tone chart in the instructions or by starting at the lowest level and gradually working your way up.
Some IPL hair removal devices are equipped with built-in sensors that won’t flash if your skin tone is too dark or if the device isn’t held properly against your skin. On top of that, IPL is a broad spectrum light, meaning it consists of a range of wavelengths which may include UV wavelengths that can cause skin damage. Most IPL devices come with a filter that blocks out the UV light, but always check before you buy it.
Consider where you are looking to remove hair on your body. Opt for a device that comes with attachments to cover smaller, bony, curved areas, including the upper lip, finger, toes, and chin.
Whether you’re a beginner to IPL or an experienced user, you should always go through the instructions before operating the device. Look for a product that has an instruction booklet. Alternatively, you can often find the instructions online or watch a video tutorial before you make your purchase.
Make sure the IPL device has a sufficiently long cord to allow for a flexible user experience. We highly recommend choosing a cordless device for maximum versatility.
If you’re new to IPL and aren’t sure if it’s the right path for you, try a brand that offers customers a money-back guarantee. If you aren’t satisfied with or aren’t yielding the desired results, you can return the device for a refund.
IPL transfers light energy to the hair shaft. Once absorbed, this light energy is then converted to heat, which prevents further hair growth. As our hair grows in cycles, you’ll need to repeat the treatments until you eventually catch each phase of growth, resulting in a significant reduction in hair over time.
Laser hair removal is a treatment whereby a laser is used to permanently destroy the hair follicle and remove the hair. A laser is a beam of light of a single wavelength that’s absorbed by a specific target in the skin. In the case of hair removal, the light is absorbed by pigment within the hair follicle itself. As the laser destroys the follicle, it’ll not grow back, delivering a permanent effect. This is true whether you’re getting a professional or an at-home treatment.
Though used interchangeably by the majority, IPL devices work slightly differently from lasers. IPL progressively reduces hair regrowth by applying gentle pulses of broad-spectrum light and heat to the root whereas the laser only uses a single, concentrated beam of light. Meaning that larger areas of skin can be treated with IPL, while lasers only work point by point.
No, the results of the IPL aren’t permanent. However, your hair will grow back finer and more slowly. Having said that, some people will find that their hair doesn’t grow back at all. What IPL does offer is permanent hair reduction, depending on its color, density, and texture.
To see visible results, you need to perform regular at-home treatments for at least 8 weeks, followed up by tons of top-up sessions to maintain the results. Keep in mind that hair can grow back due to hormonal changes like childbirth and menopause, but having a device at home means not forking out for further salon sessions.
The IPL hair removal devices should be used regularly for 4 to 12 weeks to ensure all hair has been treated. Usually, body hair requires treatment every 2 weeks for the first 4 weeks, then once every 4 weeks afterward. Then, top-up sessions can be done wherever and whenever there’s regrowth.
The glide mode on this device accelerates hair removal by delivering more flashes on larger body parts like your legs, while the stamp mode is suitable for smaller, more sensitive areas. The pack includes a handy razor so you can get started right away.
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