HAIR removal can be a tedious task, and if you’ve grown tired of shaving or waxing, it may be time to switch to IPL.
The popular home device is designed to deliver salon-worthy results with long-lasting effects, and we’ve tested some of the best IPL hair removal devices on the market.
IPL stands for Intense Pulse Light, which works to target and remove the hair from the follicle, causing the hair to grow back slower and finer than before.
Before investing in the at-home laser treatment, it’s important to find out whether it will work effectively for you.
It’s advised that those with light hair or dark skin tones avoid using the laser machines, as the effectiveness and safety can be impacted.
For IPL to work as desired, there should be a contrast between the user’s skin and hair colour, as it targets the melanin in the hair follicle.
It’s worth checking each machine’s safety chart to determine whether it’s the best hair removal option for you.
Skin Therapist Selma Van Asselt, Silk’n Technician the founder of DermXper, has also shared some of her knowledge on the at-home machines.
Beauty tech tools rarely come cheap, but if you’re looking to get long-lasting results that will save you from seeking out salon treatments, read on to find out which ones are truly worth the money.
Best IPL hair removal machines at a glance
- Best overall: Silk’n 7 IPL Hair Removal Device, £499
- Best value for money: Keskine IPL Removal Handset, £199.99
- Best cordless: Philips Lumea IPL 9900 Series, £449.99 (was £549.99)
- Best for beginners: Bondi Body Laser V2, £299
How I tested
I’ve tested my fair share of beauty tools over the years, from practical essentials like the best razors and shampoos, to trending gadgets like the best LED masks and the Dyson Airwrap I.D.
All of the IPL machines included have been tested across multiple sessions to determine the quality, ease of use, value for money, and most importantly, how effectively they remove hair.
Most of the devices have unique features, from attachments for different parts of the body to cordless and rotating designs.
There’s no need for hair removal to be painful these days, and all of the devices included have been praised for results without discomfort.
Silk’n 7 IPL Hair Removal Device
Silk’n 7 IPL Hair Removal Device, £499
Pros: Rotating head for hard-to-reach areas, three attachments for different areas, seven minute sessions, comes with travel case
Cons: Very expensive, quite heavy for travelling
Rating: 9/10
As an IPL beginner, I have to admit that I was slightly terrified of the Silk’n laser device at first.
It comes with three attachments for using on different body parts, a razor for prepping the skin before use, multiple adapters and a storage case for keeping everything together.
I already felt more at ease after unboxing, as the device itself and everything with it felt luxurious.
Considering I had no idea how the beauty gadgets worked prior to using the device, it was easy to get to grips with, and before long I was into my first session (after spot testing my skin a couple of days prior).
The handle made it easy to control where I was moving the device, and the experience was completely painless (although it took me a second to get used to the pulsing noise).
The beauty tech tool’s star feature has to be the rotating head, which makes it so much easier to access hard-to-reach areas with precision.
It’s not as compact as some of its competitors, so I’m not sure if it’s one that I’d travel with, but that’s to be expected due to the adjustable head.
It also uses sensor technology to read the skin tone before each flash to prevent any damage, and I like that the Silk’n website clearly lays out which skin and hair types are suitable for the method.
Highlight: Rotating head, Modes: Two, Cordless: No
Philips Lumea IPL 9900 Series
Philips Lumea IPL 9900 Series, £449.99 (was £549.99)
Pros: Fast results, fewer treatments, app for keeping track of treatment days, cordless and plugs into mains, suitable for most skin tones and hair colours, four attachments for precision, SmartSkin sensor makes it comfortable to use, travel pouch included
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 9/10
The Philips Lumea requires half as many treatments as other brands to see results, which is ideal if you’re a little lazy or forgetful.
You start by doing a treatment once every two weeks for the first four sessions to see significant hair reduction.
After the fourth round, you only need to repeat the treatment eight more times — once every four weeks. How low maintenance is that?
To get the best results, you have to be consistent and can’t forget treatment days.
Saving beauty fans from marking their calendars, Philips has a Lumea app for noting treatment dates and send a notification when it’s treatment day.
The device comes with a pouch for easy storage and packing away, and it works both cordless and plugged into mains.
It comes with four attachments for different parts of your body, so you can use it on your body, face, bikini line and underarms.
The curved design also helps follow the contours of your body, meaning that no hair is left behind in every pesky nook and cranny – so no more patchy shaves. Rejoice!
It’s a little more uncomfortable on your bikini line, upper lip and areas where your skin is more sensitive, but it’s definitely not painful.
The Philips Lumea only flashes when it is in full contact with the skin and the integrated UV filter makes sure that only your hairs are targeted — not the skin.
Highlight: Automatic sensor matches setting with skin tone, Modes: Five, Cordless: Both
Keskine IPL Removal Handset
Keskine IPL Removal Handset, £199.99
Pros: Built-in cooling technology, good for travel, value for money compared to salon laser treatments, works on a range of skin and hair types
Cons: Expensive, have to remain consistent with your sessions, slightly noisy (although worth it for the cooling option)
Rating: 8/10
While I’ve always been sceptical about at-home treatments that imitate salon visits, I put the Keskine Handset to the test.
Setting up is easy, all you need to do is clean your chosen treatment area and shave off any hair using the razor provided, before patting the area completely dry.
The device itself is extremely lightweight and compact, so the travel-friendly design means you never mean to miss a session.
Don’t be alarmed by the loud whirring noise that comes from the device; that’s just an indication that the cooling capabilities are working.
My hair has definitely become much finer and completely disappeared in places since I started using Keskine.
When speaking to friends who go for professional laser removal treatments in a salon, I found out that our results were very similar at the four-week and six-week mark.
I saw most results at six weeks, but noticed that even at the four-week mark, after using the device appropriately and consistently, there were areas where the hair had disappeared, and surrounding areas were extremely wispy where it once was coarse.
I will say that this product is best suited if you already have body hair on the finer side and definitely on the darker side.
Economically, they are great; they take away the need to visit a physical salon, and they are extremely easy to use.
Read our full Keskine IPL machine review.
Highlight: Cooling technology, Modes: Five, Cordless: No
Bondi Body Laser V2 @ Home
Bondi Body Laser V2 @ Home, £199 (was £299)
Pros: Easy to use, noticeable results after four sessions, safety glasses included, fast treatment time, skin feels smoother
Cons: Only one head size
Rating: 8/10
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from an at-home hair removal machine, and I was worried it’d be a bit complicated to get to grips with.
But thankfully, the V2 is simple even for a novice like me.
It comes with just a pair of protective sunglasses so there’s not much to set up, other than plug the device in and power up.
One of the best features is the eight intensity levels, so I was able to start low and see how I got on with my skin’s sensitivity.
Epilation is usually my preferred mode of hair removal if I want longer-lasting results, as I just can’t be bothered with the effort of keeping up wax appointments.
So with that as my pain ‘reference’, I was pleasantly surprised by how gentle the V2 is.
I’ve mainly been using it on my legs and underarms and have found that even at the higher levels, it’s completely painless: there’s just a slight warmth on the skin.
Results-wise, I started noticing less hair growth after just a few sessions, and my skin feels smoother and looks better overall
I’ve since discovered that it can reduce pigmentation, sun spots and broken capillary veins so I might try it on some sun spots on my face next.
Overall, I’m super happy with the Bondi Body V2. It promises permanent hair reduction, and I can tell that even after a few weeks, I’m well on my way to needing to use it less and less.
Highlight: Eight intensity settings Modes: Two, Cordless: No
Where to buy IPL hair removal machines in the UK
The hair removal machines are available to buy from many specialist brands and are also stocked by many retailers on the high street and online.
We had the chance to try out several models in our reviews above, which you can read for a more in-depth look at pros, cons and performance. However, if you’re after a quick rundown of places to shop, we recommend the following:
How much do IPL hair removal machines cost?
On average, quality laser hair removal machines are likely to cost around £150-£400.
However, there are a few cheaper options starting from around £50, which still have good reviews too.
In our round-up above, we really rated the Philips Lumea BRI958/00 9000 Series Cordless IPL which is priced at £499.99 – making it the most expensive of our picks, but definitely worth the investment in our opinion.
What is IPL hair removal?
IPL stands for Intense Pulse Light, a treatment that uses broad spectrum light to remove hair and other skin concerns.
While laser uses a single wavelength of light to target hairs, IPL is done with a range of wavelengths.
The multiple wavelengths are better for targeting larger areas, while laser is more precise.
It’s a non-invasive treatment (which is why it can be done at home, which heats and destroys the hair follicles, causing it to fall out and grow back at a slower rate.
As the hair is being destroyed during its growth phase, it causes hair reduction in the long term, and hair that does grow back is finer.
How do IPLs work?
The broad-spectrum light pulses are absorbed by the melanin in the hair and skin pigmentation, which is what causes the light energy to become heat.
Melanin and the surrounding tissue is damaged by the heat, which then destroys the hair and minimises future growth.
The device can be used for hair removal and various skin concerns like broken capillaries and discolouration.
The treatment then causes what is referred to as a resting phase, which comes after the hair being damaged, and causes the hair to fall out long-term.
Do at home laser hair removal systems work?
Skin expert Selma said: “Yes, at-home IPL has become the go-to solution for achieving silky-smooth skin with long-lasting results.
Devices like Silk’n 7 combine power, safety, and ease of use to deliver professional-grade outcomes at home.”
She added: “Modern IPL devices are designed with safety features like Skin Colour AutoAdapt, which automatically adjusts the settings to your skin tone before each flash.
This ensures optimal results and safety across a wide range of skin tones and hair colours.”
Is the hair loss permanent?
While hair loss from the laser treatment isn’t completely permanent, the treatment does slow re-growth down.
Selma said: “IPL offers long-term reduction rather than permanent removal.
Regular sessions are needed to maintain smooth results, as hair can grow back slower and finer over time.”
“Results can last weeks to months depending on your hair growth cycle, but with repeated use, regrowth slows significantly, leading to less frequent maintenance,” she added.
“Many users find this reduces the need for shaving or waxing altogether.”
Are IPL machines safe?
It’s important to do your research before purchasing a hair removal machine, as they can cause irritation if not used correctly.
Unlike salon laser hair removal, at-home IPL devices spread heat across multiple areas which does not target the hair follicles enough to permanently destroy them.
That can leave the fine hair that grows back slightly stubborn when it comes to hair removal treatments.
Of course, there is also the risk of missing out on patches and giving yourself an uneven finish (it can be tricky to master), but in terms of general health and safety, you can rely on well-known brands to give you a full rundown.
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