The secret to Forever
Smooth Skin!
Say GOODBYE to expensive laser clinics! We help you choose the BEST laser hair removal device from the comfort of your own home!
The secret to Forever
Laser Hair Removal Devices generate a single concentrated light beam that targets the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The darker the hair, the more light it will absorb. The focused light beam then travels deep beneath the skin, converts into heat and damages the hair follicle (not the surrounding tissue) to inhibit or delay future hair regrowth. Learn More
IPL or Intense Pulsed Light devices produce a broad spectrum of visible light (very similar to a light bulb) to heat and destroy hair follicles. The wide range of wavelengths gets absorbed at a variety of depths within the skin which means that only some of them will effectively reach the hair follicle.
Electrolysis hair removal is a process that involves inserting a small needle-like probe into the hair follicle and sending an electric current through to the follicle to permanently damage it. Electrolysis is the only FDA approved method for permanent hair removal and it is suitable for any skin tone, hair colour and area body. Learn more
Does at home laser hair removal really work ?
Laser Hair removal is one of the most effective ways for permanent hair removal.
Who would have thought we would be able to use the same laser technology dermatologists use to zap unwanted hair from the comfort of our own homes?
There is no doubt that professional treatments will give you the longest lasting hair reduction results in fewer sessions. But did you know that you can achieve similar results with laser hair removal devices at home?
In recent years , DIY laser hair removal has gained increasing popularity among women and men of all ages for its ease of use, convenience and affordability.
- Lower Energy Level – Compared to in office equipment, at home laser hair removal machines are less powerful and require more frequent sessions over a longer period of time to reach the best results. The reason these devices are designed to operate at lower energy levels and with inbuilt safety mechanisms is to ensure they’re safe for at home use and in the hands of amateurs.
- Convenience – DIY laser hair removal can be done in the comfort and privacy of one’s own home but it will require commitment, consistency and patience.
- Cost – At home laser hair removal machines are much more affordable than professional treatments. In office sessions can vary between $200-$1500 depending on the area treated. A home device will cost you as much as one or two professional sessions. Bear in mind, there will be no additional cost for any top ups. To keep the ongoing cost low, many people invest in home devices for touch ups in between professional treatments.
To save you time and money, we have researched and selected the best devices for permanent hair removal at home that actually work!
the Six Best At Home Permanent Hair Removal devices 2021
Most Powerful and Precise Device
- Diode Laser Hair Removal Device
- Suitable for white to light brown skin tone (I toIV)
- Works effectively on light brown to black hair colour
Best Overall device
- IPL Hair Removal Device
- Suitable for white to dark brown skin tone (I to V)
- Works effectively on dark blonde to black hair colour
Best Fast Treatment Device
- IPL Hair Removal Device
- Suitable for white to dark brown skin tone (I to V)
- Works effectively on dark blonde to black hair colour
Best Device For All Skin Types
- IPL Hair Removal Device
- Suitable for all skin tones (I to VI)
- Works effectively on all hair colours except white
Best Budget device
- IPL Hair Removal Device
- Suitable for white to light brown skin tone (I to IV)
- Works effectively on dark blonde to black hair colour
Best NON LASER Device
- Electrolysis Hair Removal Device
- Suitable for all skin tones (I to VI)
- Works effectively on all hair colours
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our medical team. If you make a purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you, learn more.
Is At home laser hair removal safe?
The first and most important step before purchasing a device for at home laser hair removal is to make sure it is cleared by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration in USA).
The FDA requires that all at home devices operate at a lower intensity as they are meant to be used by anyone, not only medically-trained professionals. To gain official approval , at home devices should demonstrate built in safety mechanisms to protect the user’s skin and eyes. Most devices have UV filters to protect the skin. Furthermore to protect the eyes, they have contact sensors to flash only when in full contact with the skin.
Essentially, the responsibility for your safety lies with you!
You must read the user manual carefully as it will give you in depth information on the frequency of use, suitable body areas, care with tattoos, pigmented areas, moles, sun exposure, tanning etc. The device manuals recommend you start with a patch test on a smaller area and wait a few days before proceeding with visible skin. This way you can test your sensitivity and adjust the right intensity level for you.
Some devices have in built skin tone sensors that lock them if the treated skin is too dark.
Other devices clearly advise they are NOT suitable for darker skin tones as they are not able to differentiate between the dark hair and the dark skin tone and can potentially burn you. Therefore, it is very important to read the instructions beforehand to avoid skin injury .
Who Is a good candidate for laser hair removal?
Before we go into any further detail, we need to clarify that the industry refers to the majority of the at home devices as “home lasers”.
However, there is only one clinically-proven device that actually uses the same diode laser technology that dermatologists use in a professional setting (The Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser 4 x). The rest of the home devices utilise Intense Pulse Light technology.
The Ideal Candidate for laser hair removal is someone with light skin and dark hair.
Both IPL and Laser hair removal devices target PIGMENT with light energy. Light gets absorbed by dark objects and reflected by light coloured objects. Therefore, the key to successful laser/IPL hair removal is the distinct CONTRAST between light skin and dark hair that allows the pigment in the hair to be easily targeted.
Whether you are a good candidate for laser hair removal will greatly depend on the SKIN TONE and the HAIR COLOUR you have.
- SKIN TONE – The Fitzpatrick scale is a commonly used numerical system to describe human skin types in terms of their response to UV light. The scale classifies the human skin tones into six categories depending on the amount of pigment present in the skin. Category I belongs to people with pale white skin that contains less pigment whereas category VI belongs to people with dark brown/black skin that contains much more pigment.
Good candidates for laser hair removal are those with lighter skin (I to IV) as the laser light is more likely to be absorbed by the pigment in the hair as opposed to the pigment in the skin. If your skin is too dark (V and VI) , the pigment in your skin will also absorb light which may cause skin burns.
- HAIR COLOUR – The darker and coarser the hair (more pigment) , the more energy it will absorb, which will cause greater damage to the hair follicle. Therefore, people with blonde, gray or red hair (little to no pigment) will not see great results from laser hair removal.
What is the best laser hair removal for DARK SKIN candidates?
For many years , laser hair removal for people with dark skin simply didn’t exist. The devices weren’t sophisticated enough to distinguish well between the pigment in dark skin and dark hair, meaning that they could potentially cause burns and even scarring in the tissue surrounding the hair follicle.
With advancements in technology, people with dark skin can nowadays safely and effectively use laser hair removal machines at home.
The bad news is that there is no laser device that works effectively on dark skin at home . (The Tria beauty device is designed to work effectively on light to medium brown skin types.)
The good news is that there are now at home IPL hair removal devices that can be used safely on the darker skin colours. Please refer to our buying guide to find the Best Home IPL Device for Dark Skin.
What about candidates with BLONDE, RED and GRAY HAIR?
Long before laser was introduced, the only accepted method for permanent hair removal was ELECTROLYSIS.
Electrolysis is a hair removal technique that uses small electrical currents to permanently destroy hair follicles. It is the only recognized method that permanently prevents hair from growing back.
Furthermore, electrolysis is extremely versatile. As there is no light involved, electrolysis is suitable for all skin tones and hair colours. Electrolysis may also be used anywhere on the body, including the eyebrows, ears and nose.
Originally, electrolysis was only performed by certified electrologists in a professional setting. Advancement in technology has now allowed us to use electrolysis hair removal from the comfort of our own home. Please refer to our buying guide to find the Best Home Electrolysis Machines.
