3 Dermatologists I Spoke to Recommended This Laser-Hair-Removal Device

Three of the dermatologists I spoke to recommended Braun, making it our best overall at-home laser-hair-removal device. “This is one of the most user-friendly options for most people because it has a skin-tone sensor that adjusts the energy automatically, which helps reduce user error and improves safety in real-world home use. It is also fast for larger areas like legs,” says Badreshia-Bansal. We also have put this model to the test, thanks toStrategist contributor Leah Finnegan. “I have the kind of leg hair that grows back as I’m shaving it. It’s best described as … assertive: dark, coarse, and abundant. I have long wanted to be free from the itchy, messy, time-consuming undertaking of leg-hair removal, but the numbers to get rid of it have never added up,” she writes. “I was immediately impressed by the results: After one — one! — session, my belligerent leg hair started to retreat. I’m now five weekly sessions into the recommended 12 and my leg hair, when it grows back, is softer and finer; there are patches of my leg that are totally hair-free.” However, the Braun Pro 5 is not suitable for darker skin tones, which is why we have a second-best overall pick down below.

It can be very tricky to treat darker skin tones — which fall on the Fitzpatrick scale as types five and six — at home. “People with very deep skin tones need to be selective, because the device can have trouble distinguishing pigment in the skin from pigment in the hair, which increases burn and hyperpigmentation risk,” says Badreshia-Bansal, who adds that she has treated patients who have had complications in the past. “If someone has a deeper tone, history of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or recently tanned skin, I recommend extreme caution and often prefer an in-office laser where we can choose the safest wavelength and parameters for that skin type.”

Dr. Kseniya Kobets, director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care, notes that while there are some newer IPL systems that are marketed for use up to Fitzpatrick four or occasionally five at lower settings, you still want to proceed with caution. “Although not guaranteed to be much safer, I would prefer diode lasers, because they emit a single, more targeted wavelength that penetrates deeper and is more selectively absorbed by follicular melanin relative to epidermal melanin.” Though she notes that clinical guidelines and reviews emphasize that professional long-wavelength lasers still remain as the top choice for deeply pigmented skin.

If you still want to try one at home,Dr. Lauren Moypointed us to theEpilaser 980 laser-hair-removal device, which is an FDA-cleared diode laser that has been designed specifically for skin tones ranging from medium brown to dark brown with medium brown, dark brown, and black hair. And while this is good advice for everyone using a laser at home, it is especially important for those with darker skin tones: “Do a patch test and wait 24 to 48 hours before committing to a full area. If you blister or get a burn, stop,” says Badreshia-Bansal.

While an at-home laser is cheaper than multiple in-office sessions, these devices are by no means cheap, which is why Moy recommends the RoseSkinCo. device that is both “budget friendly and has an ergonomic design.” At just $169, it’s roughly a quarter of the price of our best overall pick above.

Two of the dermatologists we spoke to specifically name-checked Philips. “Overall, Braun and Philips seem to be among the best studied and most widely used. Devices that are FDA cleared, use safety features like skin-tone sensors, operate within lower energy parameters, and demonstrate favorable safety profiles in postmarketing surveillance and systematic reviews are the ones to use,” explains Kobets. Badreshia-Bansal specifically recommends the Philips Lumea IPL model. “A solid choice for people who want guided use and consistency support, since it is designed with an app and was developed with dermatologists and tested in large user groups,” she explains. “It is a good fit for someone who needs structure to stay on schedule, which is what determines results with home devices,” especially beginners.

The Tria 4X is a diode laser device rather than IPL, so it can be a good choice for small, stubborn areas where you want more targeted treatment, explains Badreshia-Bansal, like the bikini line or underarms. “It includes a skin-sensor lockout feature, which is important because it will not fire if the device reads your skin tone as unsafe,” she adds.

For parts of the body with a larger surface area like the legs, Badreshia-Bansal prefers the SmoothSkin Pure Series IPL, which has a larger, more contoured head than the Tria above. And, like the Tria, it also has built-in skin sensing for safety.

If you’re looking for a device that can adapt to multiple areas of the body, the Silk’n 7 is a good option. It comes with three different attachments: one for the upper lip and sideburns, one for underarms and bikini lines, and one for the arms, legs, and back. “The three interchangeable attachments — including the largest on the IPL market — mean you can treat everything from large body areas to delicate facial zones with confidence and ease,” says Dr.Maryam Safaee, a board-certified dermatologist.

If you have sensitive skin, Moy pointed us to the full-body Ulike Air 10. “The cooling system limits discomfort and can cover large areas quickly,” she notes. It maintains a cool 65 degrees Fahrenheit temperature to prevent burning and irritation.