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And since the melanin in light-colored hair is lower, laser hair removal will not work well on blonde, white, gray, or red hair. Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims. The brand claims that you may notice a major difference in your hair growth patterns after just four uses. 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.
Best Cooling
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp, M.D., describes intense pulsed light (IPL) as a hair removal treatment similar to a laser. "It emits a wide range of wavelengths, whereas a laser releases a single wavelength of light. IPL targets melanin pigment in the hair follicle, which heats it, destroys the follicle, and prevents hair regrowth," he says. Worried about the warm or tingling sensations that certain at-home laser hair removal devices emit? It features five intensity levels, and only on the fifth, most intense level did we experience slight discomfort akin to snapping a rubber band against our skin. “IPL works by emitting scattered wavelengths of light, unlike laser treatments which emit a specific wavelength,” Dr. Baum explains. Both are effective treatment options, however, there are pros and cons to both.
Best Laser Hair Removal Devices
Using a precise beam of monochromatic light, laser-hair-removal systems target the melanin in hair follicles. Laser light is coherent, meaning that all the waves within the light are in sync, on the same wavelength and parallel, making for a stronger effect. "I followed the advice of others and used it every few days the first two weeks or so," a reviewer commented.
JOVS Venus Pro Skin Rejuvenation and IPL Hair Removal Device
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The exfoliating brush helps to smooth and prep skin for the removal process, and the callous smoother helps to achieve a softer overall result. The initial setup can feel a bit overwhelming when there are so many attachments in the box, but once you get a hang of it, it’s pretty easy to use. Choosing the right epilator is key and there are quite a few options out there. The GH Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab is comprised of beauty pros and chemists who routinely test the latest skincare products for safety, efficacy and ease of use.
How we test IPL devices
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With so many different IPL hair removal devices on the market, you'll want to choose one that'll give you the best and safest results. The IPL hair removal devices on this list are all FDA-cleared and include favorites tested by Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists as well as recommendations from dermatologists. Now that you have your preferred laser hair removal device, you’ll want to prepare before use. Make sure the device is fully charged and read the safety instructions. Plus, if the device is not held flush against your skin, it won't flash, making it safe and easy to use.
Butler liked that while the treatment head is bigger than the other IPLs she reviewed, it still conforms to smaller areas like the ankles quite well. "However, on a very small area like the chin, I think some light will escape," she says. "It felt very comfortable to use on my legs, and I never experienced discomfort, even at the highest setting."
Best Laser Hair Removal Device Overall
It’s also designed to work for those with lighter hair, which is nearly impossible to find in the world of at-home hair removal — most blondes and redheads need to visit an office for a professional treatment. While we weren’t overly impressed by these extra bells and whistles, since we found we got a closer shave with our traditional razor, and struggled with attaching the epilator — we were impressed by the hair removal device itself. The flashes are incredibly bright, so we recommend wearing goggles, or even sunglasses (not included), for eye protection. The device boasts a patented elōs technology which combines IPL and Radio Frequency (RF) for a smoother, pain-free treatment that works on all hair colors. It took about six sessions before we noticed that hair was growing back slower and patchier, and with continued use, we’d expect to see worthwhile results that paid off on this investment. Not only is this laser hair removal device the only one of its caliber that's FDA-cleared for every hair color and skin tone, but its smaller size—it fits right in the palm of your hand!
How does the laser hair removal process work?
It’s equipped with an LED screen to track how many light pulses have beamed onto each area—though you may need to wear safety goggles (which are included) while operating. Each lamp comes programmed with enough pulses to last for up to five years. When it runs out, you can order a replacement cartridge and keep the handle. If your pain tolerance is somewhat low, you may want to reach for this device with cooling technology that reduces laser heat and inflammation.
"Tell your doctor your ethnicity so they can recommend the right laser for your skin type," Downie says. "You want to receive the right treatment that does not harm your skin." It’s a good idea to keep your desired treatment area in mind when selecting an at-home laser hair removal device, especially if you want to cover larger parts on the body.
If you have darker skin, not only will Nood probably not work, but it may leave scaring. I used it for 3 months and it wasn’t until around 60 days that I started to notice a decrease in hair growth And now, my under arm hair isn’t totally gone but it’s a whole lot thinner and doesn’t grow back nearly as quickly. I especially like this for when I’m traveling, as I hate to pack a razor with me.
Several users note that the device is painless or nearly pain-free, especially with its cooling technology. It even boasts a mode to help shield you from the burning intensity of the light flashes. That price is similar to the cost of a one-time investment in an at-home laser hair removal device, which will run you anywhere from $190 to $430 on average. Most of the devices on this list include unlimited flashes, meaning they’ll last you indefinitely. Lumi), but that the device’s price will ultimately still be comparable to one professional session. Luckily, laser hair removal devices have come a long way over the years and are now available in dozens of varieties to meet any budget, pain threshold, and treatment area, while offering results on par with in-office treatments.
"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," our tester said. When buying a hair removal device, it's always a good idea to select the device based on the area you want treated. Some may be more efficient on large areas and others may be better suited for smaller areas, like the Yachyee device. “Any device purchased for home usage should be FDA-approved or cleared,” says Shamban. This information should be indicated or marked on the device’s packaging or instructions. It’s also important to pay attention to the list of usages, as some versions are only safe to use on certain areas.
And Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering, she also has a professional certificate in sustainability management from Columbia University. She has also written for WomensHealthMag.com, Elle.com and HealthCentral.com. "Lasers and IPL are both very powerful technologies that can be dangerous when used incorrectly, but for the most part these devices are safe," says Tavernise. At-home devices are made with significantly less power and the light is less concentrated than you will find in a professional setting. "This does not mean that there is zero chance that something can go wrong, but the odds of something happening are very low," she says.
It also boasts an auto flash mode that flashes as soon as the device makes contact with the skin so you don’t have to manually activate the flash for each area. We found each of these features helped to simplify the at-home hair removal process making it ideal for first-time IPL-users. It also features an ICE cooling head made from ultra-thin sapphire that cools skin on contact to help counteract and ease any discomfort or sting that comes from treatment. We also love the cordless charging dock that disinfects and cleans the device while it’s not in use. Since there are several ways to remove hair at the follicle, different devices (and light wavelengths) are used.
The price of this device is roughly the same price as one clinical visit for a treatment. That makes the near-infinite uses you get out of this a great value. To test IPL devices, we reviewed the device manuals from five tools to compare specs including expected service lifetime and maximum energy output, as well as features like automatic skin tone sensing. We tried the skin contact sensor on each tested model to check that it would only flash when in contact with skin. We also checked each device’s cord length, which can impact ease of use. Laser hair removal results are more predictable when done by a dermatologist.
