The Rundown on Home Laser Hair Removal Devices

Let’s be real, salon appointments are time-consuming, expensive, and sometimes just… painful. That’s why home laser and IPL devices have become absolute game-changers. Whether you’re tired of shaving, waxing, or plucking, these devices promise long-term hair reduction from the comfort of your own home.

But with so many gadgets out there, all claiming to be the fastest, safest, and most effective, it can get overwhelming. That’s where this guide comes in. I’ve put together the top questions that you’re probably thinking, along with a table showing you the difference between the results and experience of a home device and salon treatment.

What’s the difference between laser and IPL hair removal?

Don’t get confused between laser and IPL hair removal, people often use ‘laser’ as the general term for permanent hair removal.

However, they really are two different things, and we’ve covered both types here. Their main difference is that they use different types of lights to target the hair.

IPL stands for Intense Pulse Light, the light that it uses gets scattered and targets a wider area, which means it doesn’t target it as precisely. Laser hair removal works with a light that targets a specific area, making it more precise.

The main difference between the two types of hair removal is the colours they work with. IPL is more effective if you have light skin and dark hair. This is because it needs contrast in colour to know where to target.

Laser hair removal is effective with lighter hair colour and darker skin too, as it targets the actual hair follicle.

Another difference between them is the level of pain they cause; IPL can be more painful than laser hair removal, and it is more likely to cause burns. Most hair removal machines for home use are IPL, however, there are a few laser ones too.

Is permanent hair removal really permanent?

What does permanent actually mean? This term can be confusing. In the case of hair removal, permanent does not mean forever. I asked an expert at Braun for her definition of permanent hair removal and this is what she said:

‘The definition of permanent hair removal is a long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs re-growing after a treatment regime. This reduction isn’t required to encompass 100% of hairs treated; just a certain percentage.

When used as directed, clinical trial participants showed, on average 44% less hair 6 months after their last treatment and 36% less hair 12 months after their last treatment, when compared to hair counts taken before treatment.

Results can vary from person to person, however, and ongoing maintenance treatments are needed.’

There, you have it. There is actually no such thing as permanent hair removal ever. It always going to be a work in progress. However, don’t lose hope, Using a machine once every few months sounds a lot better and easier than shaving every day!

What’s the difference between professional treatment and at-home treatment?

Knowing which treatment is the best one for you can be overwhelming. Especially when there is such a big choice to choose from. But, before you can decide on a treatment, you have to know the differences.

So what exactly is the difference between a professional salon treatment and an at-home do-it-yourself treatment?

Most home treatments are not effective for light hair and dark skin, if you use the machines you will burn yourself. In fact, there are only a few laser machines that can remove hair for darker skin and they are mostly for professional use.

To check if a machine is safe for your colouring we use the Fitzpatrick scale. There are 6 Fitzpatrick types, measured from type I to VI. Type I is the lightest skin and type VI is the darkest.

Most hair removal machines are safe for I to IV and there are a few that are safe for V and VI too. The best colour combination is light skin and dark hair. (I finally have an advantage to my lovely colouring;)

	Professional Machines	Home Machines
Cost	Professional treatment is far more expensive. Treatments are anywhere from £100-£1000 a session and you’ll need a minimum of 5 sessions for any single part of your body. Then you will need top-ups every so often too. This all adds up a lot!	Home treatments cost from £100-£800. They can need some maintenance along the way, but the final price doesn’t come anywhere near professional treatment.
Skin tones	Most professional treatments have an option for dark skin tones and blonde hair.	Most home machines cannot be used on dark skin tones and light hair or they will burn the skin.
Safety	A reputable salon will follow the safety and legal requirements for hair removal. They will go through your medical history with you to decide on the best treatment and settings for the machine.	You will have to decide the settings on your own, however, the machines all come with guidelines according to your skin and hair colour. All the home machines are made less powerful, if they’re used in the wrong setting there is less chance of hurting yourself.
Ease of use	The trained specialist will know how to use the machine and which settings to use. You can close your eyes and relax.	Reaching some areas will be hard and the whole process can take a while.
Speed of treatment	Because the machines are more powerful, they take quickly to cover a large area.	Home treatments are not as powerful, therefore they take longer to achieve the same results.
Pain	There is more pain in professional machines because they are more powerful. However, this also gets the job done quicker.	Home machines are generally less painful as they are less powerful. However, if they are used incorrectly they can also be painful so make sure to triple-check the settings before use.
Results	Professional machines can remove hair permanently. Remember that permanent hair removal means long-term. Most people have to do top-ups.	Home machines are also made for permanent hair removal, which again means long-term. You will have to do top-ups.

To summarise, the main difference between professional hair removal and a home machine is that when using a home machine, each session takes longer and requires more patience.

You may have to top up more with a home machine than going to a professional; however, the sessions won’t be as painful as with the professional machines. A home machine will also work out to be a lot cheaper in the long run!

The reasons why I prefer a home machine more than going to a professional one are because of the cost (who doesn’t love that?!) and because of the privacy. I’m not so fond of strangers seeing my private parts!

I just want to add a small point that before you go and buy any machine make sure it has passed all health and safety regulations and is FDA-approved.

How can you choose which treatment to go for? you have to weigh the different options and decide what is the best one for you in terms of time, money and comfort!

What should you look out for before buying a device?

Check if the machine is laser or IPL
How many flashes does the device have? The more it has the longer its life.
How many energy levels and setting modes are there?
What parts of the body can it be used on?
What colour range of skin can it be used on?
Check your medical history to make sure its safe for you

How to use hair removal machines and how often?

Before using any hair removal device, you first have to shave the hair that you wish to remove. Do not wax because then the device will not be able to find any roots, since waxing pulls that hair out.

Most devices require wearing safety glasses when operating, it will come with the device if needed. Put your safety glasses on and use the device on the shaved areas. Switch off after use.

A normal hair cycle is 8-12 weeks. During this time, you should use the device 1-2 times a week, after which you should be hair-free. Make sure you read the instructions first because every machine operates slightly differently.

After about 2-3 months, you may notice some hair growing back in. This is normal; it simply means you need a top-up. Everyone’s hair is different and grows differently, so too everyone’s hair will react differently to hair removal. Some will need to do it for longer, and some for shorter.

Ready to invest in your own IPL device- check out my full review of the best ones on the market!

Hollie xx

About Hollie

Hi, I’m Hollie, and I’m passionate about everything beauty. Over the last decade and a half, I’ve tested thousands of products to bring you the best of the best! I also love bringing you fun and creative beauty looks. Learn more.

Beauty profile – 35, dry, aging skin, focused on aging well with a healthy glow and natural makeup look ✨