When it comes to body hair, the litany of grooming options read a bit like a game of Bop It: Tweeze it! Grow it! Wax it! Shave it! Laser it! Unlike the childhood game, body-hair havers (read: everyone) tend to pick one or two options and stick to them (or to do nothing at all, which is cool, too). I’m all about that silky-smooth feeling, and my method of choice is laser hair removal. And while you can certainly make the trek to those costly treatments at the dermatologist every few months, at-home laser hair removal devices offer a slightly less effective, albeit much more cost-effective, alternative. 

Today’s at-home laser hair removal devices are less painful, easier to use, and more advanced than ever. We spoke to board-certified dermatologists Geeta Yadav, MD,  Ranella Hirsch, MD, and James Kilgour, MD, to break down everything you need to know about them and how to find the best devices to invest your time and money in.

Our 9 top picks for at-home laser hair removal devices, at a glance

• Best overall: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 IPL, $380
• Best splurge: CurrentBody Skin Laser Hair Removal, $759
• Best budget: Nood the Flasher 2.0, $169
• Best for most skin tones: Iluminage Touch 4Ever Home Permanent Hair Removal IPL & Radio Frequency System, $449
• Best diode laser: Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X, $499
• Best for sensitive skin: Silk’n Flash&Go Pro Hair Removal Device, $227
• Best mobility: Jovs Venus Pro II, $299
• Best cooling: Ulike Air+, $289
• Best for travel: RoseSkinCo. Lumi Permanent Hair Removal Device, $169

Shop the best at-home laser hair removal devices

Best overall: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 IPL — $380.00

There’s a lot to love about the Braun Silk-Expert: It comes with a number of comfort modes; features several precision adapters for more focused, precise treatments; treats legs in just five minutes; and even includes a razor and handy storage pouch. Dr. Kilgour is particularly fond of its SensoAdapt technology. “The handpiece has a pigment sensor that allows it to calibrate the correct intensity of light based on the area of skin, preventing it from being over-used in areas of darker skin tone while ensuring correct skin contact,” he says.

Results: 4 weeks | Intensity Levels: 3 | Flashes: 400,000 | FDA-approved: Yes

Pros:

• Multiple comfort modes for painless treatment
• Several caps to better target particular body areas
• Automatically adapts with your skin tone

Cons:

• Incredibly bright flash can hurt the eyes

Best splurge: CurrentBody Skin Laser Hair Removal — $759.00

Though pricier than its competitors, this device uses diode technology to target the hair, which, according to Dr. Yadav, makes its results far closer to that of a professional device. The diode technology delivers a direct, concentrated beam deep into the follicle, and with a large head and strong pulse, it allows you to treat a greater surface area more effectively than traditional at-home devices. It also features ice cooling technology to ensure comfortable treatment, as well as a skin tone sensor that ensures your skin tone matches the conditions for effective hair removal.

Results: 4 weeks | Intensity Levels: 6 | Flashes: N/A | FDA-approved: Yes

Pros:

• More powerful than traditional at-home devices
• Large treatment surface area 
• Ice cooling technology ensures comfortable treatment

Cons:

• Most expensive options by several hundred dollars

Best budget: Nood the Flasher 2.0 — $179.00

Let’s get one thing straight: The Flasher 2.0 is easily the cutest at-home laser hair removal device we’ve ever seen. With a compact design and three colorways to choose from, it’s a great option for IPL on the go. And its features align with that goal: The large laser area and continuous glide mode make for quick, easy sessions, and as far as at-home devices go, it’s just about painless. While IPL definitely takes some time and dedication to see results, Dr. Yadav says it’ll be effective for most, making it a great option for those looking to go hairless on the low.

Results: 3 weeks | Intensity Levels: 3 | Flashes: 600,000 | FDA-approved: Yes

Pros:

• Easy and fast to use
• Lifetime guarantee
• Pain-free experience

Cons:

• Not ideal for reaching tight precision spots

Best for most skin tones: Iluminage Touch 4Ever Home Permanent Hair Removal IPL & Radio Frequency System — $449.00

Dr. Yadav is a big fan of the Iluminage Touch 4Ever Permanent Hair Reduction System. Using both IPL and radiofrequency to address body hair, it’s compatible with nearly all hair colors on nearly all skin tones, making it a great option for both those with lighter hair and those with darker skin tones—a real rarity when it comes to at-home laser hair removal devices. We appreciate the several heads it comes with for customized, precise treatments, as well as its unlimited-pulse capabilities, meaning you’ll never need to replace it.

Results: 2 weeks | Intensity Levels: 3 | Flashes: Unlimited lifetime flashes | FDA-approved: Yes

Pros:

• Works on a wide range of hair and skin tones
• Addresses body hair with both IPL and radiofrequency

Cons:

• It’s huge, so it may be harder to store

Best diode laser: Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X — $499.00

Like the CurrentBody device, Tria also uses diode technology, making it one of the most effective at-home treatment options out there, says Dr. Yadav—according to the manufacturer, it delivers up to four times more hair-eliminating energy than alternative at-home hair removal devices. With an easy-to-read screen and five different energy levels, it’s easy to use, even for beginners. Plus, it’s cordless, which can be particularly convenient for hard-to-reach areas and on-the-go treatment. And with a smaller laser cap, it’s ideal for precision work.

Results: 4 weeks | Intensity Levels: 5 | Flashes: 90,000 | FDA-approved: Yes

Pros:

• Cordless
• Easy to use and beginner-friendly
• More powerful and effective than most other options thanks to diode technology

Cons:

• Small laser cap takes a long time to cover large areas of the body

Best for sensitive skin: Silk’n Flash&Go Pro Hair Removal Device — $227.00

While most at-home devices use IPL technology to remove unwanted hair, The Silk’n Flash&Go Hair Removal Device uses home pulsed laser (HPL), which is, in essence, a safer, lower-energy version derived from IPL technology. Even with lower-energy light pulses, it provides equally effective hair reduction benefits, making it a great option for those with sensitive skin or a lower pain tolerance. It also features a triggerless feature to reduce time spent on each treatment as well as a built-in safety sensor that stops the device from emitting HPL if it comes across skin at risk of damage.

Results: 6-8 weeks | Intensity Levels: 5 | Flashes: 500,000 | FDA-approved: Yes

Pros:

• Gentler, safer technology than IPL
• Built-in skin color sensor
• Triggerless feature allows for quick sessions

Best mobility: Jovs Venus Pro II — $297.00

With a 360-degree rotating head and designated modes for each area of the body, no other at-home device is better suited for reaching every nook and cranny. We also love the cool setting, perfect for soothing and reducing irritation post-treatment. The device utilizes optimal pulse technology (OPL) which is essentially an enhanced version of IPL, using a narrower spectrum of light pulse to improve hair removal results and reduce treatment cycles. And, it comes with safety goggles and a razor for use between treatments.

Results: 3 weeks | Intensity Levels: 6 | Flashes: Unlimited | FDA-approved: Yes

Pros:

• Whole body treatment in as quickly as seven minutes
• Rotating head makes for easy access, no matter the body area
• Cooling setting minimizes discomfort and irritation

Cons:

• Not ideal for lighter hair colors or darker skin tones

Best cooling: Ulike Air+ — $289.00

Ulike’s patented Sapphire Ice-Cooling technology provides a cool sensation throughout the entire treatment, rather than post-treatment, without diminishing efficacy. The result is a powerful treatment that’s surprisingly comfortable. The fast flash speed makes for a quick full body treatment in just 10 minutes, and the five intensity levels correspond with different body areas and amounts of treatment time, allowing users to easily and effectively treat the entire body. The svelte design means it’s easier to store than other bulky machines—and made even easier thanks to the leather travel case that comes with the purchase.

Results: 4 weeks | Intensity Levels: 5 | Flashes: N/A | FDA-approved: Yes

Pros:

• Comes with a razor, glasses, and a travel case
• Intensity levels correspond with body areas for easy use, even for beginners
• Cooling feature makes for more comfortable treatments

Cons:

• Requires more frequent treatments than other devices at first

Best for travel: RoseSkinCo. Lumi Permanent Hair Removal Device — $169.00

Remember how we said the Nood Flasher 2.0 is the cutest at-home laser hair removal device? With its rose gold detailing and itty-bitty size, Lumi certainly gives it a run for its money. Though tiny, the Lumi offers six different intensity levels that work on any part of the body for pain-free, gentle hair removal at an impressively affordable price. Well + Good contributor Zoe Weiner is downright passionate about this handy little device, noting that her hair appeared to be thinning within just days of use. “I’ve spent decades knuckling through expensive, painful, and ineffective treatments for the sake of getting rid of my facial hair,” she shares. “It makes me almost emotional to think that I’ve finally found something that doesn’t just *not* suck, but is actually pretty dang amazing.”

Results: 3 weeks | Intensity Levels: 6 | Flashes: 900,000 | FDA-approved: Yes

Pros:

• Small device makes it easy to keep up with treatments wherever you go
  
• Gentle, pain-free hair removal
• Results can be seen quickly

Cons:

• Full body treatment takes longer than most at around 30 minute

What is at-home laser hair removal?

Dr. Yadav s at-home laser hair removal is a weaker form of professional laser hair removal. In fact, it’s a bit of a misnomer, says Dr. Hirsch, since the majority of these at-home devices aren’t lasers at all but actually intense pulsed light (IPL) machines. More on that below.

How does at-home laser hair removal work?

Most at-home laser hair removal devices are actually IPL machines, which use high-intensity visible light to heat the melanin, or pigment, within the hair and damage the follicle to permanently reduce growth, explains Dr. Kilgour. It’s important to note that at-home devices usually only use one form of technology to destroy the hair follicle (usually IPL but occasionally diode lasers as well), whereas in-office laser hair removal treatments use a range of different technologies, including IPL and diode lasers, resulting in more efficient and effective results. That being said, at-home laser hair removal devices can still be successful in reducing and controlling hair growth; they simply require more frequent treatments.

Does laser hair removal hurt?

We’ll be honest: Laser hair removal certainly doesn’t feel good, but the sensation should be more uncomfortable than painful (but of course, everyone’s pain tolerance is different). And since at-home laser hair removal isn’t as strong as in-office treatments, it’s also a slightly less intense feeling on the skin. Dr. Yadav likens it to the snap of a rubber band against the skin.

Is at-home laser hair removal safe?

For the most part, at-home laser hair removal is perfectly safe—but not necessarily for everyone. Because laser hair removal targets melanin, it’s not really ideal for darker skin tones, especially Fitzpatrick V and VI, Dr. Yadav says. As Dr. Kilgour explains, the melanin within the hair that needs to be heated to destroy the follicle is the same melanin giving the skin its pigments, which puts darker skin tones at significant risk of developing hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) or hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin) in areas treated with laser hair removal. Beyond that, because at-home laser hair removal devices are significantly weaker than professional alternatives, overall risks are significantly reduced—just be sure you’re using an FDA-cleared device to cover all your bases.

Is at-home laser hair removal permanent?

Laser hair removal doesn’t permanently remove hair but rather permanently reduces hair—an important difference to note. “Once a hair follicle is fully destroyed, it cannot grow hair again,” Dr. Yadav explains. “Hair removal devices can certainly destroy hair follicles to the point that they will not produce hair. However, with both at-home and professional laser hair removal, you’ll find that some of the hair follicles are just weakened and damaged. Those can produce hair again, either immediately or at some point down the road.”

Can you shave between at-home laser hair removal sessions?

You’re more than just allowed to shave between at-home laser hair removal sessions; Dr. Hirsch says it’s recommended. When hair is shaved down, the only pigment the device can “see” is the follicle beneath the skin. If hair is longer, the energy will be confused (and ultimately wasted) on hair that’s already come to the skin’s surface rather than concentrated on the follicle.

What to know about laser hair removal aftercare

Because at-home laser hair removal devices are so much gentler than professional devices, many people find they don’t need much aftercare outside of SPF. Though your skin may not feel compromised, light-based treatments increase your photosensitivity and, according to Dr. Yadav, going unprotected could result in a sunburn or hyperpigmentation. If skin feels tender or inflamed post-treatment (which, again, is fairly rare), she suggests using hydrocortisone cream or taking an anti-inflammatory OTC medication.

Final takeaway

While at-home laser hair removal can certainly help reduce hair growth over time, it’s important to do your research to be sure you’re picking a device suitable for your skin so you don’t cause any harm. Ultimately, it is a bit more work than a quick shave or wax and will require more frequent treatment. However, if you’re playing the long game for hair removal and want to save on regular trips to a professional’s office, it’s definitely an option that’s worth the investment.