10 best IPL machines and laser hair-removal devices to use at home

{{#items}} {{#image}} {{#imgUrl}} {{/imgUrl}}{{^imgUrl}} {{/imgUrl}} {{/image}} {{title}} {{#starRating}} {{/starRating}} {{prettyPrice}} Buy now{{#isExternal}} {{/isExternal}} {{/items}} Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for insider tips and product reviews from our shopping experts Sign up for our free IndyBest email Hair removal is just one of those time-consuming, and often painful, experiences that many of us undergo to get our desired look. But if you’re tired of having to shave everyday , making monthly appointments to get waxed or battling with hair removal creams , it might be time to consider investing in laser hair removal or intense pulsed light technology (IPL). Laser hair removal and IPL work by destroying hair roots, via energy produced by light waves. Continued use has proven to reduce hair and stop it from regrowing almost entirely, however it’s long been known as a more costly method of removing body hair, with machines costing upwards of £150. The option of laser also works to remove the pigment in your existing hair follicles over time. If you are choosing to embark upon this method, be aware that using IPL and laser hair-removal devices will require a course of treatment – 12 weeks is usually recommended, plus top ups – to banish those hairs. Each session can be conducted within minutes. An issue commonly faced with opting for a laser hair removal or IPL programme is that you have to go to a salon to receive the treatment and this can be time consuming as well as invasive, should you not wish to involve another person in your hair-removal plans. The benefit of doing the treatment yourself at home, is that you can deal with the experience yourself and fit it in around your daily routine. If you’re considering investing in a device to use at home but are struggling to know where to start, we’ve done the work for you and tested the best on the market to find out which ones successfully removed and reduced hair and its regrowth – and with as little pain inflicted as possible. How we tested At-home laser hair removal or IPL can appear very daunting to those less familiar with the process, so we started off by assessing how easy it was to set up and use each device. We also measured each machine by how painful the treatment was, how quickly we saw results and the rate of regrowth. The best IPL and laser devices for 2023 are: Best IPL machine overall – Philips lumea IPL 9000 series: £467, Amazon.co.uk Best corded IPL machine – Braun silk expert pro 5 IPL machine: £370, Argos.co.uk Best cordless IPL machine – Sensica sensilight pro IPL hair-removal device: £375, Boots.com Best IPL machine for all areas – Philips lumea IPL 8000 series prestige: £430.99, Philips.co.uk Best IPL machine for fast results – SmoothSkin pure fit IPL hair-removal device: £269, Currentbody.co.uk Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Already subscribed? It’s one of the pricier models on the market but the Philips Lumea IPL 9000 series comes with a range of detachable heads designed for the face and body, and for precision – so you can focus on different areas, as needed. It’s also a larger device than some others but can be neatly stored at home in the quilted carry bag that’s included as part of the set. Despite being sizeable, the device is not heavy and can be handled with ease. It also works both corded and cordless, so you can use it whichever way is easier for you. We tried both and found that the flashes were faster (therefore making the hair removal treatment more efficient) when corded but that the cordless was ideal for those harder-to-reach areas. As newbies to at-home IPL and laser hair removal, we really enjoyed the skin tone sensor feature, as it helped recommend the best intensity (out of the five available) based on skin tone. It only took a few sessions before we saw lighter and sparser hairs growing back. We also found the Lumea app handy for reminding us about our treatment schedule. Continue reading… {{#hasItems}} {{#items}} {{merchant}} {{price}} Buy now {{/items}} {{/hasItems}} Unlike many other corded devices, this IPL machine from Braun comes with a lengthy cable (measuring 2m long), so you’re not restricted on where you conduct your treatment or when moving the device to target certain areas. What many people don’t realise is, for IPL and laser hair removal, it’s better if your skin is smooth before your treatment – and this Braun machine comes with a Gillette Venus razor, which is a thoughtful touch. The device itself has three settings and is easy to use, working across the body very quickly, making it one of the more efficient IPL machines we tested. The precision head was also handy, for focusing on smaller areas, such as armpits or bikini line (it’s easy to switch heads by simply clicking them off and on). We saw finer and sparser hair regrowth after about four uses and really enjoyed using this device – marking it down purely as it was a little noisy when in use and the cord sometimes got in the way. It, too, comes with a neat pouch to contain all elements of the device when not in use. Continue reading… {{#hasItems}} {{#items}} {{merchant}} {{price}} Buy now {{/items}} {{/hasItems}} Sensica’s sensilight pro features a skin-tone detection feature and six energy settings, with two heads to choose from, so you’re all set whether you want to focus on your legs or your underarms. Slightly larger than the other IPL deviches we tested, it wasn’t overly heavy to use, however, and is fully cordless, which makes it easier to start the treatment. It took about five treatments to see slower hair regrowth and we did notice that it came back finer. We did find the machine head had to lie flat against the skin for the most effective course of treatment but the pulse and glide mode the device features means you don’t have to continuously press the button – a game changer if you are planning on a full body hair removal. There’s also the stamp motion feature, which is perfect for smaller areas, such as your underarms or bikini area – or even if you’re just getting to grips with the machine. Continue reading… {{#hasItems}} {{#items}} {{merchant}} {{price}} Buy now {{/items}} {{/hasItems}} We were first drawn to this IPL device due to its attachments – while many of the machines we tested had one precision tool, the Lumea 8000 prestige has four detatchable heads to cater exactly for the area you want to target. We found this really handy, particularly as the device is corded, so having smaller heads for trickier-to-reach areas made such a difference. It does have only 250,000 flashes (compared with the Lumea 9000 model’s 450,000), and it did feel a little hotter than other devices we tested but we saw impressive results, with hair becoming sparser after just four treatments. The device uses Philips Lumea’s SmartSkin sensor to detect your skin tone and decide the most optimal light setting for you, and you can connect this device to the Lumea app to personalise your own treatment schedule. Continue reading… £430.99 Philips.co.uk Buy now {{#hasItems}} {{#items}} {{merchant}} {{price}} Buy now {{/items}} {{/hasItems}} This is definitely one of the more chic-looking and compact IPL machines we’ve seen and tested. The sleek black design is not only aesthetically pleasing but also neat and compact to handle and store after each use. With 10 power settings, this was the most efficient device we tried, enabling you to treat your entire body in 10 minutes, should you wish to. We also found this to be one of the least painful models we tried. The skin sensor checks your device is in optimal condition to remove hair and there are three modes to choose from, should you be new to using IPL machines or if you have sensitive skin. While there aren’t multiple interchangeable heads, it does come with a precision attachment. Quick to use and fast to achieve results, we saw our hair grow back thinner and sparser after just a few treatments, with even more of a noticeable difference a couple of weeks after that. Continue reading… £269 Currentbody.com Buy now {{#hasItems}} {{#items}} {{merchant}} {{price}} Buy now {{/items}} {{/hasItems}} It’s always handy learning from someone in the know – and that’s how we felt about this laser machine from Bondi Body, a brand created by hair-removal expert Trish Coulton. The device itself has eight settings, depending on the level of intensity you’re after. As long as you keep the head flat against the skin, you’re sure to zap away all your unwanted hairs. What made this particular machine stand out was that it was the only one we tested that came with a pair of protective glasses, which made us feel more at ease when testing this product. It took us about four weeks to see a difference in hair regrowth but it was definitely sparser and finer, particularly on our legs. While other brands recommend using their products once a week, Bondi Body suggests using their at-home IPL machine once to twice a week (you still need to complete a 12-week course). Need more of an excuse to buy this brilliant device? You can enjoy a further £30 off using the voucher code THIRTY. Bargain. Continue reading… £299 Bondibody.com Buy now {{#hasItems}} {{#items}} {{merchant}} {{price}} Buy now {{/items}} {{/hasItems}} This device is a bit of a game changer if you’re more interested in at-home laser hair removal than using an IPL machine. The difference? The former involves one wavelength of light on your skin, while the latter releases light of many different wavelengths. Laser is also a more focused hair-removal treatment, so it all depends on your preference. We found this machine from Tria quick and easy to set up and its cordless design made it very easy to use. Similarly to the IPL machines we tested, there was a range of intensity settings – five, in this case. It was a little more complex to use, as, instead of just placing the device against the skin and waiting for the flashes, the recommended method for this at-home laser hair-removal product was to place the head across the skin in overlapping circles. It required a little more patience and concentration (to avoid varying hair growth), which meant it didn’t fit as seamlessly into our routine. However, the LED display does keep track of what areas have been lasered, so you don’t have to focus on this as much. We found this at-home laser hair-removal device a lot more painful than the IPL machines we tested, even on a mid-level setting. The sting was less painful than waxing but far more noticeable than the other devices we tried out. It took us several treatments to see results – though our hairs did grow back noticeable finer and sparser. It’s also worth noting that, as with most laser treatments, a soothing gel is required to be used afterwards and, whether you choose Tria’s own product (£7.60, Currentbody.com ) or an alternative, this is an added expense to be aware of. Continue reading… {{#hasItems}} {{#items}} {{merchant}} {{price}} Buy now {{/items}} {{/hasItems}} The Silk’n infinity 400k hair removal device claims to be ideal for all skin tones and for both the face and body (despite no attachment feature). Emmitting up to 400,000 light pulses, the appliance seeks to target hair at the follicle to reduce regrowth. Using a combination of galvanic and eHPL (enhanced home pulsed light) energy, the hair removal tool aims to open pores before a pulse of light targets hair at the root. The device features a colour sensor to scan your skin, to determine the optimal energy setting. We found the device really easy to use, with the pulse and glide method helping to guide our treatment and an app to connect to for your treatment plan. In addition to a storage case (keeping things neat when not in use, and perfect when travelling), the device also includes a cleaning cloth for post-use. We noticed a difference in hair thickness and a lack of regrowth between weeks four and five, with the process being relatively painless, too. Although this is another corded device – and we must say we felt like we could manoeuvre better with a cordless model – Silk’n actually sells an extension cord, if you’re looking to move around more freely. Read our full review of the Silk’n permanent hair remover Continue reading… {{#hasItems}} {{#items}} {{merchant}} {{price}} Buy now {{/items}} {{/hasItems}} Philips is really on a roll with its IPL hair-removal devices, with a newly launched 99000 series on the market, too. The brand claims this is its smartest device yet, alledgedly providing up to 12 months hair-free, smooth skin. Of course, we had to put it to the test ourselves. In terms of results, we felt we saw similar to that of the 9000 series: the new model was easy and comfortable to handle; being both corded and cordless was really helpful, and we saw a difference to our hair regrowth (with it being finer)