There is, perhaps, no self-maintenance trend more common than the deliberate removal of body hair. According to one survey, an estimated 99% of women opt to remove some body hair, with more than 85% doing so on a regular or daily basis. Some removal methods, like shaving and plucking, require constant upkeep, while others, like waxing, require growing out your hair over several weeks. It’s with those frustrations in mind that many people have turned to laser hair removal in recent years, in hopes of eliminating the hair permanently—or, at the very least, significantly reducing its growth. But there are plenty of reasons—price, inconvenience, COVID-19—that one might opt to do their sessions at home rather than in the office. Fortunately, with these dermatologist-recommended laser hair removal devices, that can be a safe and an effective solution.
Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser 4X ($449)
The Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser 4X is among the most popular at-home devices and one that many dermatologists recommend. “Laser hair removal treatments emit light of a wavelength that is absorbed by melanin in the root of the hair, and the light energy is converted to heat—which permanently damages and destroys hair follicles,” explains Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “At-home devices use similar lasers, at lower energy settings, so that they are safe to use on your own, and the Tria device uses a diode laser, the same type that many dermatologists use in their offices, to target the root of the hair.” She likes the laser because the handpiece is small enough to accommodate skin contours, such as under the arms, in the bikini area, and on the upper lip.
The Tria device is the first-ever FDA-approved product for at-home laser hair removal, but it’s important to note that it’s only safe to use on light to medium skin tones with darker hair. “Because these devices target melanin, the pigment in our skin and hair, the best candidates will be those with light skin and dark hair,” Dr. King says. “Dark skin will increase the risk of burning, and lighter hair can decrease the effectiveness.” She also encourages users to read the instructions thoroughly and act with caution. “Burns can happen, and treating an area twice, for example, won’t give you faster results,” she warns.
LumaRx Full Body IPL Skin Beauty System ($449)
Another great at-home option is the FDA-cleared LumaRx Full Body System. “Rather than a true laser, this device uses intense pulsed light (IPL), another technology commonly used to target hair follicles,” says Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “This device has a large handpiece, making it more useful if you are treating large body-surface areas, like the legs.” Users can expect to see results after just three treatments, which the brand recommends spreading across one month; after that, only light maintenance and touch-ups should be required.
Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 ($330)
Similarly powered by IPL technology, the Braun Silk-Expert Pro is also a popular choice for at-home hair removal. “It’s definitely not as powerful, in terms of energy, as the non-IPL laser I use in office, which can treat larger areas much faster and more efficiently,” says Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, a board-certified dermatologist in Westport, Connecticut. “But the treatment-window size is small enough to make treating areas such as the bikini and underarms easy.” The device has been clinically tested and boasts 10 intensity levels, to ensure the light intensity is appropriate for your skin tone. You should see visible hair reduction in just four weeks of use, and “it also comes with 400,000 flashes, enough for [22] years of treatments,” adds Dr. Mraz Robinson.
Iluminage TOUCH Permanent Hair Reduction System ($449)
The Iluminage TOUCH system is FDA-cleared for all skin tones, making it a great option for those with dark skin or light hair. “It works for a range of lighter hair and skin combinations, with the ability to target fair blonde and red hair follicles, which is more difficult to achieve,” notes Dr. Ava Shamban, a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills, California. The device combines IPL and radiofrequency technologies, allowing for smooth, hair-free skin without the usual pain, and it offers three energy levels, to adapt to your removal needs. “The technology uses 120,000 pulses,” says Dr. Shamban, and it delivers up to 94% hair reduction after just one series of seven treatments over a six-week period.
Remington iLight Elite Face & Body Hair Removal System ($549)
Dr. Shamban is also a big fan of the Remington iLight Hair Removal System, which can notably be used on the face. “This at-home, FDA-cleared IPL device has the benefit of being able to treat both areas on the face and body, with both separate cap tops for each and five adjustable power levels,” she says. The iLight delivers 16 joules per flash, with 6,000 total flashes, and it’s ideal for zapping hair on the chin, upper lip, neck, and sideburn area. The device is, unfortunately, not very effective on lighter hair colors, which is often the case for facial hair and peach fuzz, but if you have darker hair, this might just be the laser for you. “While I always recommend you consult your board-certified dermatologist before starting any new protocol, routine, treatment, or technology—in person or as a virtual telederm appointment—this has the added bonus of a built-in ‘skin tone tester,’ indicating if the device and treatment are compatible with your specific skin-tone and hair-color combination,” she notes.
Tria Hair Removal Laser Precision ($329)
Like its larger alternative, the Tria Precision laser is an appealing device because of its use of diode laser. “The Tria line of hair removal devices is truly laser-based—in this case, diode-based, similar to in-office treatments,” says Dr. Nikhil Dhingra, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “This differs from IPL-based treatments and can often be more effective, though anyone with more than a hint of pigment in their skin is better off speaking to a trained professional.” The precision device is ideal for smaller, hard-to-reach areas, like the bikini area, underarm, and face, and its compact size makes it easy to take with you, including while traveling, so you never have to miss a treatment. It also offers five energy levels, so you can start low and work your way up to a higher setting, and most users will see a visible reduction in hair after just eight treatments. But Dr. Dhingra urges extreme caution: “My biggest warning, again, is that anyone with a hint of color in their skin stay away from home devices, even if the devices claim safety for skin of color,” he says. “The target of all laser hair devices is melanin, and even in the most trained hands, lasering hair on someone melanin-blessed can be riskier. Always avoid treatments if you’re at all tanned—and moisturize with something like Aquaphor or Vaseline after your treatment, to soothe the area.”
