With our winter social calendars packed with plans and parties to attend, some of us have little time for our less glamorous beauty regimens, such as hair removal. Although waxing kits are convenient and quick, the best laser hair removal technologies provide a long-term solution to unwanted hair. They help to prevent unwanted side effects from other treatments, such as razor pimples and ingrown hairs. FDA-approved at-home laser hair removal uses IPL, a lower energy frequency that is safer to use at home. “IPL stands for intense pulsed light,” explains board-certified dermatologist Morgan Rabach, M.D. “It’s not actually a laser—it’s a device that emits many wavelengths of visible light.”
While at-home laser hair removal can produce professional-level results, the technology is primarily geared to eliminate darker hair. Individuals with red, blonde, or gray hair, as well as those with darker skin tones, should either avoid it or seek medical advice before using it. To determine the finest home laser hair removal devices, we included the most popular options into our daily routines for 12 weeks, ranking them based on ease of use, features, comfort, and efficiency.
Why We Love It: The SmoothSkin Pure Adapt is a real-life get-rich-quick scam. The device blew InStyle tester Joanna’s expectations out of the water, visibly reducing hair in only two uses. Joanna has dark hair and very light skin, so it’s obvious where she missed a place when shaving. However, this technology caused her to appear fully hairless, especially under her arms, for the first time…ever. Another advantage is that the automatic light sensors identify the contrast between hair and skin before sending a pulse, so protecting the eyes and skin.
Who It’s For: The larger device is quite huge and difficult to grip with small hands. Furthermore, the power intensity option is quite forceful (read: a little unpleasant). Nonetheless, our tester grew acclimated to the sensation over time and never reported any redness or discomfort following treatments.
Worth noting: The painless laser hair removal gadget worked wonders everywhere except for the most resistant places. Expect to go over these spots again with your razor.
Joanna, the tester, has black hair: “After two uses, I noticed that there were already patches that had barely grown even after a few days went by, and week after week, the number of patches and length of new growth showed so much improvement.”
Why We Love It: The Nood 2.0’s no-frills design effectively eliminates hair, despite its flashy bright zaps. In around 15 minutes, our tester had finished zapping her dark but fine hair on both legs and went on to her armpits, covering the region with three strokes. Still, after two weeks, she saw a difference in her hair patterns—some regions had no hair, while others had stubble—and was pleased with how soon she observed results. As a bonus, her leg scars lightened.
Who It’s For: Because of its larger-than-average laser head, this gadget is best suited for larger body areas with black hair.
Worth noting: Because the laser head is designed for wider parts of the body, reaching tight precision locations, like as the bikini area, can be difficult.
Samantha, a tester with fine, dark hair: “I felt a burn every now and then, but it was very minor—there was no pain or discomfort overall.”
Why We Love It: As unappealing as hair removal may sound, the Ulike Air IPL is a beautifully designed gadget that improves the entire treatment procedure. Aside from its stunning appearance, the rapid, skin-smoothing results make using it even more enjoyable. Maggie, an InStyle tester, noticed her hair grow back finer and lighter.
Who It’s For: Anyone with sensitive skin will benefit from this gentle instrument. The brand includes a cooling setting as well as moderate strength levels—even at the highest setting, Maggie’s skin remained delicate.
It is worth noting that this gadget involves a time commitment—it must be used every other day to produce effects, and it takes around 20 minutes to laser both legs. Maggie agrees that despite the effort, the payoff is worth it.
Maggie, tester with dark brown hair: “I couldn’t believe how much this treatment delayed my hair growth and changed the texture of my hair. My hair now grows significantly lighter, and I can go more than a week without feeling stubble.
