These Are the Best Laser Hair Removal Devices We Tested (2024)

Lightweight, easy-to-use, noticeably effective at reducing hair thickness and suitable for both your body and face — these are just a few of the reasons Silk’n Infinity Hair Removal Device earned our top recommendation. This dermatologist-approved, dual-voltage device is super easy to set up and to maneuver, even for those of us with small hands. We love that it arrived ready to use and with detailed instructions — although we ultimately found that watching a YouTube tutorial about the device was a faster, more helpful way to feel confident using it than reading through the instructions. It was a breeze to use on both the pulsing and gliding setting, with the former targeting smaller areas and the latter offering a quick and painless way to cover large areas like our legs in just 15 minutes. We felt no pain on any of the five settings — which you should work your way up through according to your own pain tolerance and skin tone — although the fifth setting, which is the most intense, did produce a mild heat (although this normal and expected, but worth noting for those with sensitive skin). After just five weeks of using this every other week, we started noticing hair reduction, and by the end of our testing period, our hair was growing back thinner.

While this device is on the higher end of the price range of those that we tested, it equals out to roughly the cost of one session of professional laser hair removal. When you consider that this offers endless at-home convenience — it’s designed to provide a lifetime’s worth of treatments without ever requiring a refill cartridge — it’s easy to see why it’s a worthwhile investment, and why we’ll be relying on this instead of monthly trips to the waxing salon.

Intensity Levels: 5 | Flashes: Unlimited | Suitable For: Full body and face

Ingrown hairs and stubble-induced shadows are a thing of the past since we’ve been hooked onNood The Flasher 2.0. With seven intensity levels and a fully digital display, it’s easy and painless to use over large areas and even on sensitive skin or on hormonal-based hair growth, like PCOS. The new and improved model features a wider treatment window and a higher intensity bulb, meaning we were able to achieve rapid body treatments in just 10 minutes with fewer flashes (our armpits only took five minutes!).

While the larger size felt a bit bulky in our hands and the brighter flash visually startled us at first (and may be triggering for those with epilepsy), it was still comfortable to use and was worth it for how much faster we could run through treatments — it’s a dream for those of us who are always rushing out the door. Costing around $200, it’s also the most budget-friendly option on our list, and while you’ll get fewer features, we’d highly recommend it as an effective and affordable alternative to the other picks on this list.

Intensity Levels: 7 | Flashes: 600,000 | Suitable For: Full body and face

Worried about the warm or tingling sensations that certain at-home laser hair removal devices emit? This handset from Ulike has got you covered. Available in dark green and white, this remote-shaped wand boasts proprietary Sapphire Ice Cooling Technology, which we found kept the glass window ice-cold to the touch and greatly helped to minimize discomfort by cooling down the skin as we used it. 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.

We love that this comes with plenty of extras like a razor, a case for the razor, protective glasses to wear during use (to help reduce the possibility of migraines from the light flashes), and a travel case. We found the lightweight device easy to hold and maneuver, but noted that it’s a bit thick for smaller hands, and since it’s not handheld, the wire occasionally had to be moved out of the way. Overall, this rarely impacted the smoothness of our ability to use this wand all around our body and on the lower half of our face.

Intensity Levels: 5 | Flashes: Unlimited | Suitable For: Full body and face

At-home devices, like trusty epilators, that are actually effective and approved for use with light or red hair are few and far between. We found this model from Iluminage to be the strongest contender, as we tested it on light hair and noticed our hair growing back slower and sparser after just six sessions of weekly use.

There’s no need to charge the device before use —you can just plug the base into the wall and attach it to either the epilator cartridge or precision adapter and go. We found the epilator, which is recommended for removal of light hair before treatment, to be difficult to use even after reading the instructions, but that didn’t affect the efficacy of the device on the whole. We just may caution it may not be the best option for those new to these types of tools. On the other hand, we found that the precision adaptor was great for targeting smaller areas and underarms. While the device is easy to grip and maneuver, we wish the wall plug-in was longer; you’ll have to post up somewhere very close to an outlet in order for this to work.

This is the most expensive pick on our list, but for those with light hair or particularly fair skin tones, it may be worth the investment: It’s been clinically proven, it's the only FDA-approved option, and it is still significantly less of an investment of time and money than in-office treatment.

Intensity Levels: 3 | Flashes: 300,000 | Suitable For: Full body (except bikini area) and face

Lumi makes at-home laser hair removal more straightforward than any other option we tried: Just plug it in, press the power button, and select which of the three modes (stamp, glide, or auto) you’d like to use, based on which body part you’re targeting. We found stamp mode, which delivers a pulse every time you click, to be super effective in more precise areas, like our bikini line and armpits. Glide and auto don’t require repeated clicks, so those were our go-to for larger areas, like our arms and legs (which are the two places we saw the most noticeable dip in hair growth). The compact device easily fit in our palms, but we wish there were ridges or indents for an easier grip, as the rounded shape proved difficult to hold at times.

We also love that there’s a quick and handy quiz on their website to figure out if Lumi will be effective for you (TL;DR: It is better suited for light skin to medium brown skin, and dark blonde to black hair; it isn’t great for super fair or dark skin, or hair that’s light, red, or gray.) This is another wallet-friendly option that showed us promising results after twice-weekly use over three months.

Intensity Levels: 6 | Flashes: 900,000 | Suitable For: Full body and face

From the first moment we laid eyes on the JOVS Venus Pros II Hair Remover, we could tell that it was different. Unlike the majority of remote or egg-shaped devices on the market, this comes in an ergonomic L-shaped design, with a 330-degree rotating head to help you find the perfect angle —a detail that came in ultra handy for us when testing this on our backs. It’s loaded up with features that we found useful, like a cooling system that provided a refreshing sensation and minimized discomfort during application, a skin rejuvenation mode to lighten hyperpigmentation, and an auto-flash mode that allowed us to cover large areas in a shorter period of time.

At over $400, this is more of an investment purchase than most of the others on this list, but we found that the additional features (plus the included razor and safety glasses) were worth it. Plus, you can occasionally find it on sale, so it's worth grabbing when you do.

Intensity Levels: 6 | Flashes: Unlimited | Suitable For: Full body and face

We loved how easy this model was to set up and how quickly we were able to zip through treating our legs (in just six minutes!) by using the convenient glide method, which auto-flashes as you steadily move the device along your legs. This is going to be a mainstay in our carry-on thanks to the handy velvet traveling pouch that you can store everything in — plus, it’s a convenient handheld size that takes up minimal packing room, even with the power adapter and cord.

We appreciated that there’s built-in UV protection thanks to a 3-millimeter glass filter, plus there’s a Gentle Mode for sensitive skin, although we found it comfortable and pain-free to use on Power Mode, which operates at a higher intensity level. The precision head was also handy for covering smaller areas, like our upper lip. After five sessions of weekly use, we noticed much less hair coming in along our legs, although our hair thickness remained about the same. Note that if you’re planning to travel abroad with this, you’ll want to check the voltage converter and adapter you have to make sure it’s safe to use where you’re headed.

Intensity Levels: 2 | Flashes: Unlimited | Suitable For: Full body and face

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are at-home laser hair removal devices safe?

  “Laser hair removal is safe to perform on all skin types,” explains Dr. Nichols, who explains that it’s important to look for devices that have already performed clinical trials and to consult before and after photos. Generally speaking, most at-home laser-hair removal devices are not meant for use with darker skin tones or very light hair colors, as they can’t pick up on the contrast in pigmentation and could cause hyperpigmentation or scarring. Be sure to consult your dermatologist before using a new product if you fall into one of these categories — you may be better off considering a professional session, which has access to more advanced and sensitive lasers.

  While the at-home devices are safe, Dr. Nichols warns of taking your time as you learn to use them, noting that since there’s no physician oversight at home to prevent burns or other negative side effects, it’s crucial to proceed with caution as you get comfortable with the device.

• Does hair grow back after using an at-home laser hair remover?

  Yes, just like with the use of a dermaplaning device, an epilating device, an at-home wax, or a hair removal cream, the hair will continue to grow back after using at-home laser hair removal devices. It’s important to note that these aren’t get-hairless-quick schemes. The devices will only work if you use them as often and as consistently as directed, and even then, they won’t leave you permanently hairless. They are designed to minimize the amount and size of hair follicles, which in turn reduces the amount of hair that grows and the rate at which it fills in.

• Are at-home laser hair removal devices worth it?

  If you’re looking to reduce the amount of hair you have or make it finer, then at-home laser hair removal devices are worth it. They’re significantly more affordable than professional sessions and can be performed in a matter of minutes, making them much less of a time commitment.

  “However, those with lighter hair (white, blonde, and red tones), may not receive as effective a treatment,” warns Dr. Nichols (this goes for those with darker skin as well). This is because of how laser hair removal works, she explains, elaborating that lasers function by emitting a light that is attracted to the melanin pigment in hair and then destroys the follicle. “Without pigmentation, the laser can't easily find the hair follicle,” she says.

  While newer devices are increasingly able to accommodate a wider range of skin tones and hair colors, they traditionally have required a strong contrast between skin and hair color in order to pick up on the pigmentation.

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