At-home laser hair removal has long been a bit of an enigma for those interested in at-home IPL. Now we'd like to clear one thing up before we start to myth-bust at-home laser hair removal. Body hair is a beautiful thing, we're not saying everyone should want to get rid of it. The way we own our body hair is just as personal as the way we cut, style and colour the hair on our head.
Some of us may want to let it grow free, some may be 100% satisfied with shaving areas, some may be passionate advocates of epilators and some are likely bemoaning the loss of their regular wax during lockdown. We celebrate every body hair preference going and in this story, get to the bottom of the at-home laser hair removal conundrum for those who are curious. Keep scrolling for the best at-home laser hair removal devices, plus all your burning FAQs.
SHOP: The Best At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices To Buy Now
This top-rated IPL device from Phillips is the real MVP when it comes to at-home laser hair removal - it's also the one that most likely pops into your head when you think of at-home laser hair removal. Offering up to six months of hair-free smoothness, it comes with three attachments for body, face and precision hair removal. Complete with a SmartSkin Sensor that will indicate the most comfortable setting for your skin tone, it promises up to 92 per cent hair reduction after just three treatments and is super easy to use.
- 300k flashes
- FDA approved
- Five energy levels
- Skin sensor
- Suitable for upper lip, arm, armpit, back and bikini
www.cultbeauty.co.uk
The FOREO Peach 2 is a powerful at-home IPL device that means business. Painless and quick, the extra-large treatment window means you can cover large areas really quickly. With 120 flashes per minute and two modes to choose from, it bends naturally with the curves of your body for a comfortable hair removal experience. It's suitable for all hair below the cheekline and works best on naturally black or brown hair. It may not be as effective on white, grey, blonde or red hair. With the cooling gel, built-in skin cooling system and smart app, it's a top-tier product.
www.lookfantastic.com
The lightweight, ergonomic Sensica Sensilight Yang is easy to use and can be used on Fitzpatrick skin tones I-V, working best on dark hair on light skin. Sensica's patented RPL™ technology produces one flash every three seconds for quick, effective results. It works well on larger body areas as well as more precise ones. It feels great in the hand, isn't painful to use and you can tackle your whole leg in a matter of minutes.
Braun's Silk Expert IPL device is clinically tested and dermatologically accredited, and is ideal for every part of the body. It cleverly reads your skin tone and adapts each flash accordingly, to provide safe, effective hair removal within just four weeks.
- Recommended by Skin Health Alliance
- Smart IPL with SensorAdaptTM skin sensor
- 10 intensity levels
- Suitable for men and women
- Results in four weeks
- Suitable for light to medium skin tones
- Suitable for natural blonde to dark brown or black hair
www.currentbody.com
Looking for the be-all-and-end-all of at-home laser hair removal? This is the first clinic-level IPL treatment for home use, delivering serious results from the very first treatment. You'll only need to treat your body once every 6-8 weeks, with full results after 10-12 treatments. It can be used all over the body and will work on most hair colours, but isn't suitable for very deep skin tones, or white, grey and red hairs.
- Large cartridge window for quicker treatments
- Protective eyewear and special gel included
- 3,000 powerful flashes
- Six power levels
- Permanent and immediate results
www.currentbody.com
The SmoothSkin Bare+ will give you one of the quickest treatment times - it flashes 100 times a minute and with unlimited flashes, it means you could do your whole body in just 10 minutes. It can be used almost anywhere on the body and has built-in skin sensors and UV protection to keep you safe. As with most IPL devices, it works best on light skin tones with dark hair, and results are noticeable within four weeks.
FAQs
How does laser hair removal work?
Whether the laser removal process occurs at a laser hair removal clinic (outside of lockdown of course) or at home, the process is the same. The laser hair removal device emits a light that targets the hair. The light is absorbed by the pigment of each hair, that's why the laser goes straight to the hair and doesn't have any effect on the skin surrounding it. Once absorbed by the hair the light is converted into heat, which damages the hair follicle. The hair follicle is the part of your skin responsible for producing the hair, and when it is damaged, especially repeatedly (ie. with multiple laser hair removal sessions) it ceases to produce the hair any longer. That's how permanent hair removal occurs. The difference between in-clinic laser hair removal and at-home laser hair removal is in the strength of the laser. At-home laser hair removal devices have a weaker laser, but the plus point is that you have the ability to use it multiple times.
How do you use a laser hair removal device at home?
Your first port of call should always be the instruction manual of your IPL device. How devices work vary, you need to know what the display means, what each button does, how to charge it up, and how to control the strength of the laser. Follow your device instructions to the letter. In general you need to shave the area you are targetting before you use your IPL device on it. This is important because the laser homes in on the pigment of the hair and you want it to focus on the root, where the follicle is, not anywhere above it. If you shave the area first you ensure that the power of the laser is directed to the hair follicle. This will make for much more efficient results. It's also quite convenient right? No need for a regrowth period between sessions like waxing requires.
Will at-home hair removal work on my hair colour and skin tone?
Yes, your skin tone and hair colour does make a difference when it comes to the effectiveness of at-home laser hair removal. Remember that the focus of the laser is directed to the root of the hair because of the colour of the hair. The greater the difference between your skin colour and your hair colour the more effective at-home laser hair removal will be for you.
Does at-home laser hair removal hurt?
When we're talking about the weaker lasers used in at-home laser hair removal devices you're likely to feel a slight warming sensation but nothing more. The sensation is stronger during in-clinic laser hair removal sessions because the laser is stronger, but they're never going to rival waxing or epilation in the pain stakes.