Best At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices, According to Dermatologists

Fun fact: According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, laser hair removal is one of the most common cosmetic procedures in the United States.

But going to a med spa or plastic surgeon may be out of reach for many people, especially when each session can cost hundreds of dollars.

That’s where the best at-home laser hair removal devices come in. To create this list, we analyzed dozens of at-home options, crossing off devices that aren’t backed by scientific research or cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Additionally, we consulted with doctors and dermatologists to get their take on at-home laser hair removal.

Before we dive into our findings, it’s important to know the difference between the three common types of laser devices: intense pulsed light (IPL), diode, and Nd:YAG.

According to the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, IPL emits multiple wavelengths of light that target the melanin in skin. The melanin then heats up the follicle, which slows down hair growth.

“IPL devices are generally not recommended for darker skin tones due to the risk of burns and hyperpigmentation,” explains Harikiran Chekuri, MBBS, a plastic surgeon in Hyderabad, India.

Diode lasers also target melanin but in a more precise, single beam of light. Although some brands claim both IPL and diode lasers can be used on darker skin tones sparingly, the dermatologists we spoke to did not agree.

Nd:YAG lasers are for professional use only. These lasers are more powerful and emit a longer wavelength of light, which goes much deeper in the skin.

“Brown or dark-skinned people should look for hair reduction devices that use Nd:YAG lasers,” says Jose Diego Mier, MD, the founder of the Heliotherapy Research Institute. “They are the safest and most effective for dark-skin-tone hair reduction. However, no at-home devices possess this type of laser. [They’re used] only in professional equipment in clinics.”

If you have light to medium skin and dark hair (think brown or black), you may be able to safely use IPL or diode lasers at home or in an office. But it's best to talk to a board-certified dermatologist or doctor before getting started.

The Tria Laser Hair Removal 4X is the only diode laser on our list. It’s FDA-cleared as a product that’s safe for use on most skin, but we always recommend doing a small spot test first. The dermatologists we spoke to mentioned this device as a good at-home option.

“My preference leans toward the Tria Hair Removal 4X,” Dr. Chekuri says. “Its diode laser technology is very effective for hair reduction, and it's the closest technology available for at-home use that mimics professional in-clinic laser hair removal.”

If you’re worried that it will be painful, don’t be. Testers found the Tria to be relatively painless, minus a quick zap as the laser targets the hair follicles.

The Tria has a skin sensor that can help you determine if the device will work for you. Simply place the device against the skin of the area you want to treat; the laser will unlock if your skin and hair are within the safe range.

You should test the device as soon as you get it to make sure you can use it on your particular skin tone. If you can’t use it, Amazon offers free returns within 30 days for a refund. The Tria website offers a 60-day refund for lasers.

At-home hair removal devices can be cumbersome and difficult to use on small areas like your upper lip or chin. Enter the Rose Skin Lumi: compact and easy to use.

There are three modes: stamp, glide, and auto. For the face, we like the stamp feature, which allows the user to precisely target the desired area without overdoing it.

“It’s super easy and very convenient, and it doesn’t hurt at all,” says Che Mosley, a customer.

The Lumi is also FDA-cleared and, according to the company, has 900,000 lifetime flashes. But Lumi doesn’t have a cooling feature to help reduce pain, which other options on the market do. If you have more sensitive skin, it’s something to keep in mind.

Coarse hair is no match for the Ulike Air 3. After using it for a month, we were impressed by the reduction of coarse hair growth in places like the bikini line.

The company claims you'll see 90 percent reduction in hair growth with four weeks of consistent use.

Plus, each device comes with a razor and safety goggles so you’ll have everything you need to get started ASAP.

“After using this device about four times a week, I have seen drastic results after about three consecutive months,” customer Catrina Foreman wrote on Amazon. “I very rarely get any hairs under my chin and the scarring has healed and my skin looks healthy. I'm actually very impressed.”

It’s worth noting that some reviewers found the top intensity setting painful, especially around more sensitive areas like the face and bikini area. Additionally, the Air 3 shouldn’t be used on tattooed skin or areas with moles, as it can cause unnecessary skin damage — the device will target the pigment in your tattoo or mole.

The lightweight Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 features three modes for people with sensitive skin (extra gentle, gentle, and standard) to ensure that there will be no tears while zapping your hair follicles into oblivion.

The Silk Expert Pro 5 has glide and stamp options, similar to the Lumi. In glide, you use it like you would a razor, gliding over larger areas, while you can use the stamp option for smaller areas.

“The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 is a home laser hair removal device that uses IPL to remove hair in as little as three months,” explains Michele Green, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in private practice in New York City. “The device contains a SensoAdapt sensor with UV radiation to scan skin tone and adapt intensity during treatment.”

This device is also accredited by the Skin Health Alliance.

The instructions recommend using the device every week for about 12 weeks to see results. Although some users reported they still had some hair regrowth after this time, it was far less than what they started with.

Get $50 off by copying the coupon code on the Jovs Venus Pro II product page and applying it at checkout.

If you’re looking to eliminate hair all over your body, the Jovs Venus Pro II might be a good option for you. We were impressed with the swivel head, which rotates 330 degrees to help users contour the device to their bodies.

Additionally, you can choose from six intensity levels and six modes: face, arms, armpits, legs, bikini area, and skin rejuvenation.

For best results, testers found that consistently using the Venus Pro II for eight weeks was the sweet spot to see a real difference in hair growth.

“The cooling technology ensures a comfortable and virtually painless hair removal experience,” reviewer Nick Kubinski wrote on Amazon. “I really found this feature beneficial, as it significantly minimized the discomfort during the process. The six different modes it has was also very helpful. I tried out all the modes and figured out which modes were best on the different parts of my body. The 330-degree rotation function is a game changer; it allows for easy and precise targeting of hair in hard-to-reach places.”

Although the brand claims you can do large areas of your body in just 15 minutes, we didn’t find that to be the case.

“Laser hair removal devices work by damaging hair follicles during their active growth cycle,” Michele Green, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City, says. “The light from the laser is absorbed by the melanin in the hair and converted into heat to destroy the follicle.”

For best results, the experts we spoke to recommended that users shave the area of the body they intend to treat the day before using a device. That’s because hair removal devices target the root of the hair, and leaving unshaven hair may result in a burning smell and increased pain.

It’s also important to wear eye protection. Most of the options on this list come with goggles, but if they don’t, they’re worth purchasing. Lasers of any kind can damage your eyes without proper protection.

As far as how often you need to use it, every device varies slightly. Some brands recommend using the device multiple times per week for the first month, while others say once every two weeks. We recommend checking your specific device’s instructions for proper guidance.

Not sure what you should look for in a good at-home laser hair removal device? Here are the top things to keep in mind before adding one to your cart.

As we mentioned earlier, there are three common types of lasers:

“You should always check to make sure that the device is FDA-approved,” Green says. “FDA approval ensures that the device has met quality standards, has been properly classified in terms of potential risk, and has been checked for any side effects or complications associated with usage.”

To determine if you’re a good fit for at-home laser hair removal, check out the Fitzpatrick classification of skin types. The Fitzpatrick skin types break down six common skin tones and how easily they burn or tan.

With at-home laser hair removal, most devices can’t handle skin types 4 through 6 (and sometimes the lightest, 1) since the melanin in the skin is targeted to zap the hair follicles. If there isn’t enough contrast between the hair color and the skin, the device won’t be able to laser the hair and could damage your skin in the process.

We take recommending products very seriously and create detailed methodologies to help us score and evaluate each product.

Before testing any device, we whittled down the overarching list to exclude options without FDA clearance. For us, a lack of FDA clearance is a nonstarter, so we didn’t include any product without one.

Next, we spoke to a variety of medical professionals, including dermatologists, for their comprehensive insight into the world of at-home laser hair removal. We took into account their opinions on the best options on the market and consulted with them about aftercare, longevity, skin tone and hair color safety, and more.

After chatting with the pros, it was time to get our hands dirty. We tested some of the most popular options, making sure to give each product enough time to show its efficacy.

We evaluated each device based on its safety features, settings, portability, and lifetime flashes before we made a final call on this list.

Yes, but with some caveats. First, it’s important to look for an at-home hair removal device that is cleared by the FDA as safe for use.

Second, make sure your skin tone and hair color are within the bounds of safe usage for the product. Check the specs of your device, but most at-home options generally shouldn’t be used on darker skin or on those with light hair. We recommend consulting with a dermatologist or other licensed medical professional if you have additional questions.

“Nd: YAG laser technology is safer for darker skin tones because it has a longer wavelength that directly bypasses the epidermis and targets the hair follicle, minimizing the risk of skin damage,” says Chekuri.

It’s worth noting that Nd: YAG lasers are only operated by professionals, meaning you won’t be able to snag an at-home device using this type of laser.

According to Mayo Clinic, you can ice the treated area to reduce redness and skin irritation. It’s also recommended that you stay out of bright sunlight to further protect your skin as it heals.

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