For Three Years, We've Been Testing Laser Hair Removal Devices. These Are The 8 That Are Worth Your Money. (2024)

Meet Braun's newest laser hair removal device—one that the brand says is the only "smart" option in this category. What exactly does that mean? The beauty gadget connects to a compatible smartphone app via Bluetooth and WiFi technology to tailor your treatment to your personal needs. Our tester—associate fashion & commerce editor Lily Wohlner—says the app was easy to download and navigate. She was impressed with how well it assessed her skin tone and hair color for compatibility with the device, and liked that it even guides you through the entire process. "It told me exactly what head to use for different areas of my body," our tester told us. "I like this feature, because I generally don't use these extra precision heads to my advantage, since I never really know which one to pick." The app even analyzes how much coverage you got to help ensure you don't miss any spots. Lastly, the app has a built-in calendar, so you'll always remember when you're due for some zaps—something testers told us can be hard to keep track of, but is key for results.

Like other Braun laser hair removal devices we've tried, this one comes in a sturdy carrying case that keeps everything neatly organized under your vanity, or wherever you choose to store it. The unit doesn't call out any specific cooling technology, but Wohlner said her experience was largely pain-free. "I felt a little zippiness here and there, but nothing I could actually describe as painful—more like a super quick, tiny pinch."

As for the results, they were solid. "I have super coarse hair that typically requires a shave every time I shower, and the fact that I didn't have to shave my armpits for weeks after my first session is saying a lot," says Wohlner. "After three more sessions, I saw a pretty major payoff. There are definitely a few hairs still popping through, but they've grown back so slowly." Read Wohlner's full review of the Braun Skin i-expert to get the deets on her full experience.

Overall, this device is pricier than other picks, but for someone serious about tackling the hair on their body—whether armpits, legs, Brazilian, and beyond—we think it's worth every penny, especially if you feel like you could use a little help through the process.

Read more: Best Shampoos For Thinning Hair

If you can't stomach the price of Braun's latest and greatest IPL, the Silk Expert Pro 5 is hardly a downgrade. In our comprehensive test, contributor Brigitt Earley found the device, which is more than $100 cheaper, to be both easy to use and highly effective.

The brand claims you'll see results after just four weeks of use, removing all unwanted hair. "That's exactly what it did," says Earley. "I was so happy to say goodbye to my leg and armpit hair. As a working mom of four, anything that saves me time—and trust me, not having to shave is a huge time-saver—is something I'm 100% willing to invest in." The handle has a great ergonomic design, too. "It's a lot easier to hold than some of the other options designed more like hair dryers," says Earley. For larger areas of your body, you can also hold down the trigger for continuous flashes—a feature our tester says speeds things up immensely.

The tradeoff lies in the convenience features. The Silk Expert Pro 5 lacks extras like a compatible smartphone app that allows you to tailor your treatments and track coverage areas to make sure you don't miss any spots. It does, however, continuously and automatically read your skin tone and self-adjusts the energy setting for safety and efficacy just like its more expensive counterpart.

Overall, it's a worthy pick—as evidenced by its popularity both on Amazon and TikTok—if you're looking to spend a little bit less and don't mind sacrificing a few features.

We first began testing this laser hair removal device back in 2022, and still stand behind it as one of the best picks out there. In terms of price, it falls squarely in the middle of the pack, but it's packed with features that make it both easy and comfortable to use. Take the cooling feature, for example, which helps mitigate the any heat emitted from the laser that could make skin feel a touch prickly. Earley, who was nervous laser hair removal devices would hurt—especially on the more delicate areas of her body like her bikini—said this feature really helped. "I braced myself for that first flash," she told us. "But I can confirm that I felt absolutely nothing—yep, even 'down there.'" The manufacturer also includes eye protection. "I liked the fact that it came with aviator-style sunnies to protect my eyes—why not, right?!"

The results speak for themselves, too. "The brand says you'll see visible results within four weeks, but I honestly noticed a difference in how often I had to shave closer to three weeks," Earley says. "By about six weeks, I was tempted to forgo treatments, because results were so dramatic. Of course, that's not recommended for full results, so I went the whole 12 weeks. Now, I only see hair starting to pop up every four to six weeks."

At first glance, this laser hair removal device looks a lot like a travel hair dryer. It's comparable in size and weight—a bit heftier than other laser hair removal devices on the market. But what separates it from others is the fact that it's a diode laser, not the traditional IPL (intense pulsed light). "Diode has a slightly more concentrated method for emitting the energy and can occasionally be used for people with slightly darker skin," says Dr. Nazarian. It's important to note, however, CurrentBody's laser is not approved for use on the darkest of skin tones.

Earley, who has ivory skin and dark brown hair, found the device to be a good match for her. It's a little bit tricky to turn on at first, but has six intensity levels, the highest of which the brand deems most effective for fastest results. During evaluations Earley used the device on its highest level, and didn't report any pain—not even a tingling or prickling sensation. "Per the brand's recommendations, I used the laser three times per week for the first three weeks on both my armpits and legs," Earley says. "Within that timeframe, I noticed significantly diminished hair growth in both areas, and the hair that was present seemed much thinner. Overall, noticeable results came much faster with this device. Read Earley's in-depth review of the CurrentBody laser hair removal device to get the full story.

Women's Health beauty director Brian Underwood has also tested this new-to-market device and agrees that it's completely pain-free (he used it on his shoulders and back) with just the slightest of warming sensations during the treatment. "I found it pretty intuitive to use—I barely read the directions," he says. "I've had professional laser hair removal treatments done in the past, and have always had to go back to my dermatologist for a touch-up every few months. I'd say this one has saved me an additional month of time before I had to go back in to see a pro."

Overall, we're impressed by the technology this option offers—it's the first at-home laser of its kind. And once you figure out how to turn it on and toggle the settings, it's easy to use and painless. An exciting advancement in the field.

Smoothskin's system is great for anyone who wants something that's easy to use and doesn't require a lot of manual work or tinkering with buttons or various features. It measures your skin before each flash and automatically selects the light best suited to your skin tone. This helps speed up the whole process, so full-body treatments take just about 10 minutes. It also comes with a precision head, which is ideal for effectively making contact with skin on smaller areas of the body—like the bikini line or even the upper lip or chin.

Like other great laser hair removal devices on the market, this one promises visible hair reduction in as little as four weeks and complete results by 12 weeks. Some say it works so well that they noticed a difference after just one use, which is a true testament to this laser's power. It is on the pricey side, but justified by the fact that it offers unlimited flashes. Overall, an excellent value over its lengthy lifetime.

This hair removal device cools the skin as it glides to decrease—or even eliminate—pain as you zap away hair. Even if you have a high pain tolerance, the cooling feature feels super soothing. You can use manual mode to treat smaller areas like your lips, armpits, and bikini line. For larger areas such as your arms, legs, and back, switch over to auto mode. Plus, it has nine energy levels—a feature our testers appreciate. They also love that this device sells for only $80, which is a good price for its value.

With a max limit of 999,999 flashes, this device has enough life to help slow hair growth across your entire body, including legs and arms. That said, some of our users say even at the highest level they still didn't notice a change in the rate of their hair growth.

You've probably seen this popular laser hair removal device on your social media feeds. The company is known for their cheeky advertisements, but anyone who's tried the device say it really does deliver on the brand's promise: an ouch-free and long-lasting way to effectively tackle unwanted body hair.

Like other laser hair removal devices, the handheld machine works everywhere that hair grows, so feel free to treat your bikini, underarms, legs, arms, and face. The large flash window is better suited for larger areas of the body, though, like the legs. It's hard to target smaller areas, like the upper lip, but on the upside you can polish off your legs in record time.

We also love the large digital display on this model. It makes it very easy to toggle through the seven different intensity levels, and it's always clear which one you're working on. The price is friendlier than some other options, plus the brand offers a 90-day money back guarantee, which makes this device a great option for anyone on the fence about at-home laser hair removal.

Due to its ergonomic design, the Roseskinco IPL device is perfect for achieving hair-free pits and legs. For $150, it's one of the more affordable options on this list. It also claims to reduce hair growth in as little as four 45-minute treatments. If you're looking to remove unwanted hair fast, this one's for you.

The brand claims that you may notice a major difference in your hair growth patterns after just four uses. After 12 treatments, you may notice full results. If your results aren't top-notch, they offer a one-year warranty, so you can return the device for a full refund at any time.

Are at-home laser hair removal devices effective on dark skin?

Truthfully, they're not optimal for people with sensitive skin, or dark hair, but anyone else can still give them a try (but be warned, it may take a bit longer to see results). The problem: Many at-home devices cannot distinguish between darker skin and dark hair, says dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD. And, just as is the case with salon laser hair removal, it's important to practice patience—this isn't a "one and done" situation.

Are at-home laser hair removal devices safe?

At-home laser hair removal devices are generally safe and effective, says Dr. Nazarian, who points to a paper published on the topic in 2019.

The biggest challenge with many at-home devices comes down to their inability to differentiate between dark skin and dark hair due to their pigmentation. "People who have melanin-rich skin, or darker skin types, are at higher risk of having their skin absorb the laser energy, and therefore higher risk for burning," says Dr. Nazarian. If you have darker hair or skin, see your dermatologist for a recommendation on the best laser hair removal treatments and devices for you.

It's also a good idea to do a patch test, says Dr. Shirazi."Start with a test spot, do not expose the treated area to sunlight for at least seven days, do not use the laser if you have a tan, and do not use the device on skin that's open, tattooed, or has moles or birthmarks."

Meet Our Experts

• Corey L. Hartman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama.
• Bertha Baum, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon in Boca Raton, Florida.
• Jeanine Downie, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Montclair, New Jersey.
• Azadeh Shirazi MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in La Jolla, California.
• Dendy Engelman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
• Dr. Rachel Nazarian, MD., F.A.A.D., is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
• Melanie Kingsley, MD, is a Indiana-based board-certified dermatologist.

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