Once clinic-only treatments, IPL and laser hair removal can now be done in the comfort of your own home thanks to the raft of innovative new DIY devices that make long-lasting hair removal easier than ever.
For those of us who prefer a hair-free finish, finding the best hair removal method for you and your body can be a game of trial and error. Shaving is by far the most convenient method, but its results are short-lived, not to mention the in-grown hairs, razor burns and bloody nicks that go with it.
IPL and lasers do away with these side effects and offer a long-term solution to hair removal. The only drawback is that the devices are expensive, so there’s an initial outlay to consider. However, think of it as an investment as it will likely be modest in comparison to the decades of shaving, waxing appointments or even salon visits that you’ll save on. Not to mention far more convenient.
What is IPL hair removal?
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. In simple terms, these handheld devices send pulses of light that target melanin (the pigment that gives skin and hair its colour) in the hair follicle. The light energy converts to heat, disabling the hair and stimulating it into a resting phase. In turn, this stunts regrowth by breaking the hair cycle, so your body hair grows back finer, sparser and in some cases, not at all.
How to use IPL devices
IPL devices are safe to use all over the body, even the pubic area and some are suitable to use on parts of the face. For IPL to work effectively, you have to shave before use, if the hair is too long, it could burn, but equally do not wax or epilate as some hair needs to be there for the light to target it.
Generally, there are two methods to using an IPL device; gliding or stamping. Gliding the device over the skin as it emits light - similar to a camera flash - is best for larger areas of the body. For areas where precision is needed, stamping works better aka pressing the device onto the skin and pointing and shooting.
While each IPL device works slightly differently, consistency is key. Most require you to use it over multiple sessions, often weekly over 12 weeks, but each session takes minutes. You can expect to see a reduction in body hair the more you use it, but you will need to have top-up sessions for maintenance.
What is the difference between laser and IPL?
Both hair removal technologies use light wavelengths to target the melanin and break down the hair follicle. However, IPL uses a broad spectrum which diffuses the energy, while laser uses a single wavelength making it more powerful and resulting in longer-lasting, more permanent hair removal.
Who is IPL and laser suitable for?
Before investing in an IPL device, it’s vital to check on the brand’s website that the flashgun is suitable for you, as not all devices work on every hair and skin colour. IPL hair removal works well on dark blonde, brown and black body hair, as these contain a type of pigment known as melanin that absorbs the light from the machine. Blonde, grey, white or red body hair doesn’t contain enough melanin for the IPL to work.
While IPL works on most skin tones it is not suitable for use on darker skin tones. This is because dark skin is rich in melanin and the energy from the devices can cause discolouration and in severe cases burns.
Is IPL or laser painful?
It depends on your level of pain tolerance, at worst both treatments are likened to an elastic-band pinch that you quickly get used to, but for most, it’s more of a warm, tingling sensation.
How we tested
Our tester is an experienced beauty editor who has reviewed IPL and laser devices for many years and loves to get her hands on the latest launches as they happen.
To make the below round-up, we tested each for ease of set-up and use, and results. We also checked each for the number of light flashes indicating the lifespan of each device. For example, Braun’s 400,000 flashes are equivalent to 22 years of full-body treatments.
Best IPL and laser hair removal devices at a glance:
- Best overall: Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 IPL - £489.99, Boots
- Best for face and body IPL: Philips Lumea IPL 9900 - £539.99, Philips
- Best for darker skin tones: Silk’n 7 IPL Hair Removal Device - £499, Boots
- Best laser hair removal device: CurrentBody Laser Hair Removal Device - £579, CurrentBody
- Best travel-friendly IPL: Foreo Peach 2 Go IPL Device - £269, lookfantastic
- Best value IPL device: Bondi Body Laser @Home V2 - £299, Bondi Body
Shop the best IPL hair removal devices below
Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 IPL
Best: Overall
Teamed with smart tech, this state-of-the-art IPL at-home hair removal device may sound complicated to use but even technophobes will appreciate its ease. Simply scan the code that comes with it and download the app onto your phone. It will then guide you through use, walking you through a skin test and then providing you with your own personal treatment plan for the area of the body you wish to de-fuzz.
And here’s the clever bit, it takes you through your treatment automatically optimising the light energy to suit your skin and hairs, and recommends the best attachment to use – making the whole process virtually foolproof. If you do find any discomfort in more sensitive areas, there are three light intensity settings, so you can always power down from standard to sensitive or even extra sensitive.
Your treatment will be personalised to you and the area you are doing the hair removal, but you will need to use it once a week and anywhere between four to 12 weeks initially with monthly top-ups for maintenance. It’s fast, efficient, and very effective: we couldn’t believe how fine and sparse our leg hair looked after just three uses.
You’ll find it available with different accessories and up to four attachment heads, including the handy precision head for smaller areas. But all come with a must-have Gillette Venus razor, to remove hair growth before each use. Plus, don’t let the fact it’s not cordless put you off, the extra-long cord makes manoeuvrability easy and doesn’t affect performance.
- Cordless: No
- Light flashes: 400,000
- Attachment heads: Up to 4
- Accessories: Storage pouch or vanity case, razor
Buy now £489.99, Boots
Philips Lumea IPL 9900
Best for: Face and body IPL
There are many first-rate IPL devices in the Philips’ Lumea range, but this is the smartest from the trusted electrical brand. This model offers more of a personalised experience thanks to the Lumea IPL app that guides you through the hair removal process and the skin AI tech that helps analyse and track your progress.
The sizable IPL device is surprisingly lightweight and can be used both corded and cordless, making getting to those hard-to-reach areas effortless. It comes with four attachment heads specially designed to fit the shape of the area you are using it on, be it the bikini area, underarms, face or body for further accurate precision when needed.
It feels like less of a commitment with this IPL device, as it is designed to be used every two weeks to start with, and the results are still speedy as you can expect to see hair reduction in hair after just three sessions. For those looking to remove facial hairs, this is also a top choice as it comes with a special tool for removing peach fuzz, ready for IPL.
- Product type: IPL
- Cordless: Yes
- Intensity settings: 5
- Light flashes: 450,000
- Attachment heads: 4
- Accessories: Philips Facial hair remover, storage pouch
Buy now £539.99, Philips
Silk’n 7 IPL Hair Removal Device
Best for: Darker skin tones
Combining professional salon tech with devices fit for home use, Silk’n has this stand-out IPL hair removal device in its vast collection of beauty tools. What sets this IPL device apart from the crowd is that it’s been clinically proven to be effective and safe for all skin tones - including darker (but still not white or grey hairs).
Another huge plus is its innovative design. It has a rotatable head, with six adjustable angles so you can treat your body from head to toe with ease, even the tricky bikini line. It also comes with three attachments in different sizes to cater for all areas. Notably, the largest covers 5.1 cm², which is the biggest spot size on the market – meaning you can cover more area in one go.
Alongside this, it uses two energies for optimum performance. First, it uses galvanic energy that opens the pores to allow for the second optical (light) energy to target the roots of the hairs. Fast, efficient and easy to use with a handy app for guidance and a 3m extension cord, this is everything a first-rate IPL hair removal device should be.
- Product type: IPL
- Cordless: No
- Light pulses: 600,000
- Attachment heads: 3
- Accessories: Storage case, razor, 3m extension cord
Buy now £499.00, Boots
CurrentBody Laser Hair Removal Device
Best: Laser hair removal device
Beauty tech innovator, CurrentBody prides itself on being able to combine clinically proven technologies into safe-to-use at-home tools, so it’s no surprise the label has this first-of-a-kind at-home laser in its collection. And if you’ve been considering laser hair removal in a clinic, it’s only a fraction of the price.
It couldn’t be easier to use, you simply stamp and release over the area of the body you want to use it on. It’s fast, only taking around 15 minutes if you want to cover all your body. You must be consistent with use, so you do have to use it three times a week during the first three weeks and then drop down to once per week after.
The powerful laser emits 16 beams per pulse, but it’s teamed with ice-cooling technology to keep the temperature low and pain-free – you’ll experience mild discomfort at worst. Plus, you can manually turn the intensity up and down to best suit your needs.
You can expect to see results faster than IPL devices, with hair thinning and becoming sparser with every treatment. Plus, the brand promises you’ll need fewer top-ups to keep the results going.
- Cordless: No
- Light flashes: Unlimited
- Attachment heads: None
- Accessories: None
Buy now £579.00, CurrentBody
Foreo Peach 2 Go IPL Device
Best: Travel-friendly IPL
If you’re looking for an IPL device that’s easy to use on the go - ensuring you don’t need to miss a session when travelling - look no further. Innovative Swedish self-care brand Foreo has just added this light and compact flashgun to its line-up that handily also comes with four plug adaptors for use when abroad.
Small and mighty sums up this handheld IPL machine - its huge 9cm² treatment window covers three times more skin than most competitors. Coupled with an ultra-fast flash speed that allows for up to 120 flashes per minute, treatments are quick and convenient too.
It’s also a top choice for those on the sensitive side thanks to a built-in cooling system that blows comforting air onto the skin and an easy-to-control dial to turn it up or down.
Just like all the brand’s products, it also has the brand’s T-sonic pulsations that help dilate pores, so the hair follicle becomes easier to reach. Additionally, it wouldn’t be Foreo without a stylish design and there are fun colours to choose from, be it lavender, peach or arctic blue as well as from velvety silicone feel.
- Cordless: No
- Light flashes: 500,000
- Intensity levels: 5
- Attachment heads: None
- Accessories: 4 plug adaptors
Buy now £269.00, lookfantastic
Bondi Body Laser @Home V2
Best: Value IPL device
Known as the ‘hair removal queen’, Trish Coulton founder of Bondi Body has this award-winning IPL device in her range suitable for the whole body (except for around the eyes). It is straightforward to use with automatic and manual settings, and a good range of intensity levels to turn up or down depending on your sensitivity to the device.
It’s a fuss-free option with no attachments to swap over, but as long as you keep the device head flat on the skin it still works on all the tricky areas with ease. Interestingly, the frequency of use is higher with this one as you’re allowed to use it twice a week on legs, forearms and underarms, but you still need to complete the 12-week course to see the best results.
- Cordless: Yes
- Light flashes: 300,000
- Intensity levels: 8
- Attachment heads: None
- Accessories: Pouch, EU adaptor and safety glasses
Buy now £299.00, Bondi Body
Verdict
The Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 IPL Device goes the extra beauty mile for us. It’s effortless to set up and offers clear guidance on use thanks to its easy-to-navigate app that times your usage and reminds you when the next session is due. The results are top notch too, with finer and less hair seen after just a few passes.
