best at home IPL hair removal devices 2022
The world pandemic brought on a cataclysmic shift in our beauty routines. Trips to cosmetic clinics and beauty salons were heavily restricted which led consumers to turn to at home treatment alternatives.
The market was flooded by at home laser hair removal devices claiming to deliver results comparable to those of professional treatments.
While we wouldn’t recommend replacing your aesthetician completely, there are some diy laser hair removal devices you can use at home to achieve similar results at a fraction of the cost.
That is why we decided to bring you this comprehensive review of the best at home ipl hair removal devices currently available on the market!
How We Review the Products?
- Test the products ourselves so we can provide a firsthand account of how the products deliver
- Spend hours going over thousands of authentic user reviews to give a more accurate picture of what you can expect when you buy.
- We have Dr Rosmy Barrios on our team, whose expertise in aesthetic medicine is a key factor to our product research process.
product comparison table
Best At Home IPL Hair Removal Devices
| Benefit | Product | Skin Tone/Hair Color | Lifetime in Flashes | Intensity Levels | Corded/Cordless | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall - Philips Lumea Prestige |   |  | 250,000 | 5 | Corded & Cordless | $$$$$$ |
| Best Technology - BoSidin |   |  | 500,000 | 5 | Corded | $$$ |
| Best Fast Treatment - Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 |   |  | 400,000 | 10 | Corded | $$$ |
| Best For All Skin Types - Silk'n Infinity |   |  | 500,000 | 5 | Corded | $$$$ |
| Best For Beginners - DEESS |  |  | Unlimited | 5 | Corded | $$ |
| Best Budget - IMENE |   |  | 500,000 | 5 | Corded | $$ |
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we may earn a small commission when readers purchase products through our links.
In Depth Product Reviews
#1.
Overview
The Philips Lumea Prestige is overall one of the best at home IPL hair removal device for face and body on the market right now. Designed by tech experts and dermatologists, the Lumea Prestige IPL promises 92% hair reduction after 3 treatments and 6 months of hair free skin after 12 treatments. Furthermore, clinical trials have proven it is safe and effective for home use.
4 smart attachments for precise treatment
- Face – flat with small window and an extra filter to gently treat your upper lip, chin or jawline.
- Body – curved in design with large window for faster treatment on larger areas like your legs, arms and stomach
- Bikini – curved design with medium size window and transparent filter for extra comfort while treating the sensitive bikini area
- Underarms – curved out design with medium size window to treat the hard to reach underarm area
Smart Skin Sensor
Lumea’s Smart Skin Sensor detects your skin tone and suggests one of the five light settings most suitable for your skin. What’s more, the device only lights up when in full contact with the skin and only when covered by skin, not any other material.
Philips Lumea IPL works effectively on dark blonde, brown and black hair and on very white to dark brown skin. However, it may not be as effective on white, grey, light blonde or red hair and on very dark skin.
Two Treatment Modes: “Stamp and Flash” and “Slide and Flash”
You can choose between the two modes depending on the area you are treating:
The “Slide and Flash” Mode allows you to press and hold the trigger of the device as you glide it down larger areas of your body like your legs.
On the other hand, the “Stamp and Flash” Mode lets you press and release the trigger for a single flash. This mode gives you more control and precision when treating smaller areas like your face or underarms.
The Philips Lumea Prestige BRI956/00 model can be used corded or cordless and comes with 250,000 flashes before the machine needs to be replaced (there are no replacement lamps available for purchase). To top it off, the Lumea IPL has developed a free APP that keeps track of your progress and helps you manage your home treatment schedule.
Pros
- 4 smart attachments to use anywhere on the body
- Smart Skin Sensor
- 2 treatment modes for better control
- Versatile use - corded and cordless
- Intuitive IPL app
Cons
- Machine can get uncomfortably hot during prolonged use
- Not applicable for dark skin and red, light blonde, white and grey hair
#2.
Editors’s Choice: Bosidin is our absolute favorite. It is a powerful device that is gentle enough for sensitive skin and its cooling feature makes the hair removal process literally painless. While no other IPL device can contend Bosidin’s medical grade technology, its Skin Rejuvenation Feature makes it the ultimate game changer for us!
Overview
BoSidin Permanet Hair Removal Device introduces the ground breaking Optimal Pulse Technology which places it in the top rankings of the best at home IPL hair removal devices. Optimal Pulse Technology (OPT) maximises the benefits of both laser and IPL technology with a perfect blend of energy level and wavelength. In collaboration with Stanford University BioADD Medical Laboratory, BoSidin’s leading technology is a product of 5 years of intensive research and has received FDA clearance for safe and effective hair removal at home use.
6 modes of customised skincare
BoSidin hair removal device features 6 modes of customised treatments, each of which is designed to accurately treat different areas of the body – face, underarms, arms, legs, bikini line and skin rejuvenation. To further tailor the treatment, you can adjust the intensity knob to one of six energy levels based on the treated area and your own sensitivity. Furthermore, Bosidin’s 180 degree rotating head gives you better precision and allows easy access to those difficult to reach areas such as the knees, elbows and underarms. This IPL hair removal device comes with 500,000 flashes to last well over 20 years and it boasts it can deliver full body treatment in as fast as 15 minutes.
Continuous Pulse technology
Traditional IPL devices emit light at a single high powered frequency, damaging tissue and allowing less light to reach each follicle. In contrast, BoSidin’s continuous pulse technology divides light into short, lower intensity pulses which cause heat to gradually build up in each follicle. This makes the hair removal process more effective and minimises injury to adjacent tissue.
Dynamic Cooling Device
The dynamic cooling device feature creates a cooling sensation on the skin immediately before pulsed light is emitted. Not only does this make the hair removal process completely painless, but it also makes it safe to use in even the most sensitive areas. Finally, the cooling feature obsoletes the need for any gels, creams or ice packs.
Advanced Skin Rejuvenation
BoSidin incorporates photo rejuvenation technology into its sixth innovative Skin Rejuvenation (SR) mode. Just click the detachable SR beauty head onto the device, switch to photo rejuvenation mode and let the device work its magic to activate collagen, reduce wrinkles and restore your skin’s elasticity.
It’s no surprise the BoSidin device won the 2020 German Red Dot Design Award with its luxury appearance and high quality design.
Pros
- OPT technology brings medical grade hair removal at home
- 6 modes of customised skin care
- 180 Degree rotating head makes treatment easier and flexible
- Dynamic cooling device makes hair removal completely painless
- Single device with double function - permanent hair removal and skin rejuvenation
Cons
- Not as effective on white, grey , light blond, red hair and very dark skin
#3.
Overview
Fast treatment time and quick results place the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 among the best at home IPL hair removal devices. You will need less than 5 minutes to treat both legs and a full body hair removal treatment won’t even take an hour. Furthermore, this IPL hair remover is equipped with 400,000 flashes of light which equals 22 years of treatments so no need to worry about replacing it sometime soon.
SensoAdapt Technology
The Silk Expert Pro 5 is one of the safest IPL hair removal devices thanks to its SensoAdapt technology. Skin tone changes across a persons body, so the SensoAdapt sensor continuously reads the skin tone and automatically adjusts the flash intensity according to the treated area. There are ten intensity levels to optimally match every skin tone. What’s more, this same technology also makes the IPL device effective on those with skin pigmentations.
3 comfort settings and 2 application modes
You can customise the treatment with three comfort settings – normal, gentle and extra gentle. The three settings allow you to reduce the energy levels especially when going over sensitive areas or you are a beginner. Furthermore, you can customise the treatment with two application modes. On one hand, the gliding mode triggers more flashes for a fast treatment of large body areas. On the other, the stamp mode provides a more precise treatment on smaller and sensitive areas.
Finally, the Silk Expert Pro 5 comes with a precision head for treating small and hard to reach areas such as the face, underarms and bikini area. It also includes a Venus extra smooth swirl razor for shaving before treatment and a beautifully printed pouch for storage between uses.
Pros
- Fast treatment time
- SensoAdapt technology to adapt flash intensity to the skin tone
- 3 comfort settings
- 2 treatment modes to accommodate large and small areas
- 400,000 flash capacity
Cons
- Not portable, needs to be plugged
- Does not work well on white, grey, red or dark blonde hair
#4.
Overview
Silk’n Infinity introduces a revolutionary new technique in hair removal, eHPL™, which places it in the top ranks of the best at home IPL hair removal devices currently on the market. The enhanced Home Pulsed Light technology for the first time allows at home treatment of all skin colours, including the darkest skin tones and nearly all hair colours. What’s more, both women and men can safely use the ipl device on their faces and bodies and a full body treatment takes less than 20 minutes. If you would like to learn more about the best home ipl for dark skin, please refer to our buying guide here: Best Home IPL Device for Dark Skin.
Galvanic Energy and Optimal Light
eHPL™ uses a potent combination of Galvanic Energy and Optical light energy to safely and efficiently reduce hair growth.
The Galvanic energy opens up the skin pores and allows the Optical Energy to penetrate deeper into the hair follicles and thus damage them more effectively. As a result, hair follicles are disabled for the long term.
Skin Colour Sensor
Silk’n Infinity comes with a built in skin colour sensor designed to measure the skin tone and enable one out of five energy levels suitable for that skin complexion. To protect the skin further, the treatment window is recessed inside the device, which doesn’t allow direct contact between the two. In addition, to protect the eyes, the ipl device will not emit any light pulses unless the treatment window is firmly pressed against the skin.
2 application modes
Furthermore, you can tailor the treatment with two application modes. A glide application mode significantly shortens the treatment time as you simply glide the device over large body areas. For smaller areas, the pulse mode emits individual light pulses at specific intervals for more precise treatment.
Smart App
Silkn Infinity comes with 500,000 flashes per devices to last a lifetime of treatments. To make things even easier, the device includes a smart Silk’n App to remind you of your next at home appointment
Pros
- Works effectively on all skin tones and nearly all hair colours
- Suitable for both men and women
- Skin color sensor to protect the skin
- Safe to use after sun exposure at a lower energy level
- Smart Silk'n App
Cons
- May cause a slight sensation of heat and tingling during treatment
#5.
Overview
Established in 2009, DEESS has been delivering at home beauty products for over a decade. It has several IPL hair removal devices, the most powerful of them being DEESS ice cool IPL 3-in-1.
As one of the best at home IPL hair removal devices, it is beginner friendly and promises up to 95% hair reduction in 6 to 12 weeks.
DEESS collaborates with international experts, dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons to design products for professional use so rest assured this at home hair removal device is powerful.
Ice cool technology
DEESS hair removal system is one of the few devices that features a built in cooling technology to reduces the heat during IPL Hair Removal treatments.
DEESS Laser Hair Removal Device effectively impedes hair growth while keeping the surface of your skin cool at a temperature between 3℃ and 8℃ (∼37.4°F and 46.4°F). What’s more the cooling feature not only soothes the skin but prevents burns and irritations.
3-in-1 Beauty and Hair Removal System
DEESS IPL hair removal device comes with two additional lamps, Skin Rejuvenation (SR) and Acne Clearance (AC). The SR lamp offers skin rejuvenation, increasing collagen production and boosting skin elasticity. The AC lamp provides acne clearance by improving microcirculation.
Testing these lamps proved them effective in improving the overall skin quality. However, if your main concerns are skin related, remember that DEESS IPL is primarily a hair removal device and that is where the product shines.
Pros
- Effective skin cooling system
- Up to 95% reduction in hair
- Acne reduction and skin rejuvenation lamps
- 0.9-second flash rate
Cons
- 3.1 cm spot size
- Slow customer support
#6.
Overview
With its ice compress function and a budget friendly price, the IMENE IPL device ranks among the best at home IPL hair removal devices out on the market right now. The IMENE tool has a pistol shape which makes it easy to handle and control whatever part of the body you are working on.
2 treatment modes and 2 caps
In addition, two treatment modes and 2 caps allow you to customise every treatment. The auto mode with 3.6cm2 cap works great on large areas like arms, legs, chest and back. Whereas, the manual mode with 2.0cm2 cap give you better precision for sensitive areas like bikini, underarms, upper lip, chin and fingers.
5 energy levels
Furthermore, the IMENE IPL device has five energy levels that you can adjust depending on the area being treated. While the cartridge cannot be replaced, the device can emit up to 500,000 flashes which is more than enough for life long full body treatments.
Ice Cooling Function
An ice cooling function sets this device apart from many other at home IPL hair removal devices. The ice compress function keeps the skin temperature between 32°F and 41°F during treatment to ensure painless and comfortable experience. Furthermore, it also reduces the chances of redness and swelling post treatment.
Pros
- Ice Cool feature for comfort
- 500,000 flashes to last a lifetime of treatments
- Works well even on very small areas
- Comes with safety goggles
- Easy to handle
Cons
- No UV rays protection
- A bit on the heavy side
The Ultimate Buying Guide: How to Choose The Best At Home IPL Hair Removal Device
Choosing the best at home IPL hair removal device for your needs is not a decision you should take lightly. You need to carefully examine the device features and determine whether laser hair removal is suitable for you in the first place. With this in mind, let’s get into some of the details you will need to consider when buying your at home laser hair removal device.
The Importance of Skin Tone and Hair Color
Both IPL and Laser Hair Removal Devices target the pigment in the hair with light. Light is normally absorbed by dark colors and reflected by light colors. Furthermore, only the distinct CONTRAST between light skin and dark hair allows the laser light to focus on the pigment easily and thus achieve the best results.
The most important thing to consider when buying an at home IPL or laser hair removal device is the color of your hair and skin:
- SKIN TONE – The Fitzpatrick scale categorizes skin colors into six types depending on the amount of pigment present. The lightest skin category is type I and the darkest – type VI.
IPL/Laser hair removal suits people 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. On the other hand, darker skin tones (V and VI), can also absorb light easily which in turn may cause skin burns.
- HAIR COLOUR – The darker the hair, the more pigment it will contain. The more pigment, the more light it will absorb to effectively damage the hair follicle. In contrast, people with blonde, gray and red hair (not enough pigment) will not benefit from laser hair removal.
IPL vs Laser Hair Removal: What is the difference?
IPL devices use a broad spectrum of light with different wavelengths to damage the hair follicle.
The pigment in the hair absorbs the light energy from the laser and lets it penetrate deep beneath the skin. The light then converts into heat that damages the hair bulb without impacting the surrounding tissue.
Laser hair removal devices utilize a powerful beam of concentrated light to damage the hair follicle
Intense Pulsed Light hair removal devices produce more scattered and less focused energy to damage the hair follicles. However, they can cover a larger treatment area in shorter time.
Which is better?
Laser technology is more powerful and precise than IPL and achieves longer lasting results, learn more.
Cordless vs Corded
You will find IPL and laser hair removal devices in one of two varieties – corded and cordless.
Battery operated devices come with obvious advantages. They are easy to use and allow you to treat those hard to reach areas without getting tangled up.
However, the battery may run out in the middle of your treatment which means the whole process will take longer.
That is why we prefer corded IPL devices. As you can see on our list, all our top picks for the best at home IPL hair removal devices are corded. They come with approximately 2 m/ 6.5 ft long cable which gives you plenty of room to move.
Philips Lumea is the only device that gives you the best of both worlds – you can use it cordless and corded.
Cartridges or Not
The next thing you will need to decide is whether you should go for an IPL hair removal device with or without replaceable cartridges.
The devices we have shortlisted in this article do not have replaceable cartridges but they come with more than enough pulses to last you a lifetime. On the other hand, ipl machines that have less pulses in their lifetime always offer the option to replace the cartridge.
You are safe either way.
IPL and Laser Hair Removal At Home - Tips, Tricks and Safety Advice
There are a few things you need to know before you embark on IPL or laser hair removal at home:
Read the user manual carefully and be aware of potential side effects.
To avoid any burns, crusting or hyperpigmentation you should start with a patch test and wait a few days to see how your skin will react. This way you can adjust the right energy level and proceed with a larger visible area.
Make sure you shave before treatment.
IPL and laser treatments are not effective on longer hair and can potentially cause burns. Be sure to shave the treated area prior to treatment.
Avoid tweezing and waxing six weeks prior to treatment.
Pulling the hair from the follicle can hinder the process as there will be nothing to convey the heat to the hair follicle.
Avoid perfumes, deodorants and lotions prior to treatment.
All of these can interfere with the effectiveness of the IPL or laser treatment. The skin should be clean and dry to allow full contact with the device.
Avoid sun exposure.
Experts recommend that you are free of tan, natural or fake, when you use IPL or laser hair removal at home. Laser hair removal machines work best when the contrast between skin and hair is greater. Therefore, you should avoid the sun 2 weeks prior to treatment to prevent any skin injury.
Be patient and consistent.
IPL and laser hair removal at home is only effective when the hair being treated is in its growing phase. Therefore, you will need to have a number of treatments over a period of several months in order to catch all hairs in their growing stage. So if you want to see results, you have to be patient and consistent.
Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?
One of the most frequent questions we get is whether IPL/laser hair removal hurts. It depends.
IPL hair removal can get uncomfortable, especially on the more sensitive skin around your upper lip, armpits or bikini line. It should feel warm and slightly uncomfortable but not painful. Most people describe it as a rubber band snapping against the skin.
If you start feeling pain, try a lower setting. If it persists, stop the treatment immediately – it is a sign that either your skin is too dark for the device or your hair is too light. What is actually happening is that the IPL hair removal device is targeting your skin instead of your hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
As long as you are using a high quality device that is suitable for your hair and skin color, it will work. At home IPL hair removal devices are not as powerful or as effective as professional lasers at salons, but they do eliminate unwanted hair efficiently.
At home IPL devices offer hair reduction but not permanent hair removal. Your hair will eventually grow back, although thinner and lighter and you may need a few touch up treatments to maintain the results.
There is not enough research to decisively conclude whether IPL hair removal devices are safe to use while pregnant. As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to stay on the safe side and avoid treatment during pregnancy.
The best at home IPL hair removal devices rely on ELOS technology to safely penetrate deeper into the skin and remove unwanted hair without causing burns or irritations on darker skin.
Conclusion
Choosing the best at home IPL hair removal device can be a challenge – there are so many different options and varieties.
Although our top pick is the Bosidin Permanent Hair Removal Device due to its powerful performance, excellent results and optimized features, every device on this list should meet your needs for silky smooth skin.
At Best At Home Laser Hair Remover, we work hard to thoroughly examine every device and offer our unbiased opinions on the safest and most efficient of them. This list was created after months of arduous testing and we hope it helps you choose a suitable device for your needs.
