Hand Laser For Sale

Laser hair removal is a procedure that uses laser light to remove unwanted hair. It’s one of the most popular methods for removing hair, and it’s an effective way to reduce the amount of time you spend shaving, waxing or plucking.

Laser hair removal works by targeting dark pigmented hairs. The laser heats up these hairs and damages them so they stop growing back. The hair follicle is not damaged in the process, so you can get rid of one hair at a time instead of removing large patches of skin like with other methods like waxing or electrolysis.

The process takes time because each individual hair must be treated separately. This means that you need multiple sessions to get rid of all the unwanted hair on your face or body—the average number of sessions is between four and six depending on how much coverage you want from each session as well as how dense your hair growth pattern is.

This post discusses best laser hair removal at-home and how to use handheld laser hair removal.

Hand Laser For Sale

Some DIY beauty tricks are totally worth it. You can save time and money by dyeing your roots or plucking your brows in the comfort of your bathroom. But laser hair removal?

While the procedure used to only be available in the dermatologist’s office, these days you can buy small devices to zap away hair yourself.

But before you kiss your razor goodbye, find out what dermatologist Rachel Ward, MD, has to say about the safety and effectiveness of these devices.

Permanent hair removal

Laser hair removal devices work by killing the hair follicle. But hair grows in cycles, and the lasers only damage follicles during an active cycle of hair growth. So it takes multiple treatments, about a month apart, to completely stop hair from regrowing.

For some people, laser hair removal is not entirely permanent. You might need a maintenance treatment every year or so to keep stray hairs from cropping up.

The process doesn’t come cheap. Professional laser hair removal can cost a couple hundred bucks per treatment, and it might take half a dozen sessions (or more) to knock out every follicle. You could rack up more than a thousand dollars in pursuit of a bald bikini line.

Meanwhile, you can order an at-home hair removal laser for somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 or $500. At first glance, it seems like a better investment. But there are some important caveats, Dr. Ward says.

At-home laser hair removal: Pros and cons

There are two types of at-home devices for hair removal. One is a true laser, and the other uses intense pulsed light. Both types remove hair, and both are less powerful than the device you’ll find at the dermatologist’s office, Dr. Ward explains.

That’s good and bad. On the one hand, with less power comes less responsibility. These devices are safe for amateurs to use at home, so you don’t have to worry about singeing yourself in the name of smooth skin. (Still, make sure you follow the directions exactly — because laser.)

But with less power also comes less effectiveness: The at-home devices don’t work as well as the pro models.

More downsides: It’s hard to cover a lot of territory — like an entire leg — with the small at-home devices, Dr. Ward says. And they might not be strong enough to get completely hair-free. “Over multiple sessions, you’ll reduce the amount of hair you see — but it probably won’t be a home run,” she says.

Who should try at-home laser hair removal?

One of the biggest drawbacks to at-home laser hair removal? The tools only work on a narrow range of hair and skin colors. The lasers zero in on pigments in the hair follicle and are only effective when there’s a lot of contrast between skin and hair. That means the systems are recommended for people with light skin and dark hair.

In people with darker skin, there’s a risk of burns — though to prevent that, many at-home devices have sensors that block them from working on darker skin.

If you don’t have the pale-skin/dark-hair combo, professional lasers are the only option. “The lasers we use in the dermatology office are more sophisticated and can be used in patients with skin of any color,” Dr. Ward says.

Laser hair removal safety

If you have the right hair and skin tones, the devices are generally safe to try, Dr. Ward says. But it’s important to use them correctly.

DON’T use them:

• Near your eyes (though the upper lip is OK).
• Over tattoos or pigmented areas, including moles.
• In the genital area (but you can safely target the bikini line).

When doing the math, consider that at-home devices might have limited battery power or contain light cartridges that will need to be replaced, Dr. Ward says. And no matter how often you use them, you might never achieve total hairlessness.

“It depends on the person, but professional hair removal usually gives you a bigger bang for your buck,” she says.

Best Laser Hair Removal At-Home

If you’re someone who chooses to remove hair from someplace on your body, you’ll know what a royal pain it can be (time, money, ingrown hair…SMH). For those sick of shaving and who aren’t keen on waxing until the end of time, laser is by far one of the most popular (and effective) alternatives.

According to cosmetic chemist and beauty educator Michelle Wong, laser hair removal works on the premise that dark colors (your hair) absorb light (the laser). The light from the laser then heats the hair follicle to a point where it becomes damaged, resulting in no growth at all or hair that’s much finer. The results are semi-permanent, and after initial treatments only require maintenance once or twice a year.

Laser hair removal is traditionally administered by a professional in-clinic, but these treatments don’t come cheap and require multiple sessions to see a semi-permanent reduction, making for a costly and exhaustive process. Thankfully, there are plenty of effective, easy, cost-efficient at-home laser devices on the market. While these won’t measure up to that of a trained, qualified professional, if you’re looking to save time and a few Benjamins, they may do just the trick. We did our research and read through countless reviews to find the top-rated and most effective devices that money can buy.

Best Overall: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5

What We Like

• Recommended by the Skin Health Alliance
• SensoAdapt technology adjusts intensity to skin tone
• Ten power settings

What We Don’t Like

• Expensive

Who else recommends it? Good Housekeeping, Glamour, and Healthline all picked the Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5.

What do buyers say? 86% of 3,700+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

We consider our number one pick the Rolls Royce of at-home hair removal devices. The Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 is fast, effective, and delightful to use. Recommended by the Skin Health Alliance and cleared by the FDA, it utilizes a technology called SensoAdapt that adjusts the flash intensity for your skin tone as you’re using it—making it suitable for use on most skin tones. The device also boasts 10 different power settings, allowing you to tailor treatment to your skin tone and pain threshold. Needless to say, it may be pricey (as most of these devices are), but it sure is impressive.

Type: IPL | Flashes: 300,000

Best Drugstore: MiSMON IPL At-Home Hair Removal Machine

What We Like

• Affordable
• Ergonomic grip
• LCD screen

What We Don’t Like

• Doesn’t have unlimited flashes

This laser device from MiSMON is surprisingly affordable for what it is. Featuring a range of energy levels, and a screen that tells you how many flashes are left (it comes pre-loaded with 300,000 flashes), it’s easy to customize to your needs. The easy hand-held grip makes it a cinch to use on legs, arms, armpits, butt, and the bikini area as well.

Type: IPL | Flashes: 300,000

Best for Medium Skin: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 3

What We Like

• Precision head allows for easy treatment on small areas
• Said to work on medium to deep skin tones

What We Don’t Like

• Doesn’t have unlimited flashes

Braun is one of the most highly regarded brands in the at-home permanent hair removal game, and the Silk Expert lives up to the hype. Pre-loaded with 300,000 flashes, it’s one of the few devices on the market that is said to work on medium to deep skin tones (level V on the Fitzpatrick scale). The included precision head is also useful when treating small areas like the bikini or face.

Type: IPL | Flashes: 300,000

Best for Sensitive Skin: Silk’n Infinity Hair Removal Device

What We Like

• Syncs with a reminder app
• Five power settings
• Can be adjusted to cater to sensitive skin

What We Don’t Like

• Expensive

Bad at sticking to a routine? This device comes with a handy app to remind you of your next appointment because when it comes to at-home laser hair removal, consistency is key. The five power settings mean you can tailor intensity as well (a nice feature for sensitive skin types or those with a low pain threshold).

Type: IPL | Flashes: Unlimited

Most Comfortable: DEESS GP590 Permanent Hair Removal System

What We Like

• Features soothing cool technology
• Rechargeable with unlimited flashes
• Includes three different heads

What We Don’t Lke

• Cord could be longer

Those who are bad with pain (even something minimal like permanent hair removal) will take comfort in the fact this DEESS device comes kitted out with cool technology to soothe the skin after treatment. It’s rechargeable and comes with unlimited flashes, so in theory, it should last a really long time. There are also three heads—some of which are for skin rejuvenation, but our advice is to stick to it for hair removal only.

Type: IPL | Flashes: Unlimited

Best for Dark Skin: Elos Me Me Sleek

What We Like

• FDA cleared for all skin tones
• Unlimited flashes
• Sleek design

What We Don’t Like

• Expensive

With unlimited treatments and FDA clearance to work on all skin tones, there’s a lot to love about this Me Sleek laser device. We love the luxe charging cradle as well.

Type: IPL and radiofrequency | Flashes: Unlimited

Best for Large Areas: ORA Iluminage Touch 4ever Home Permanent Hair Removal IPL & Radio Frequency System (FDA-Cleared)

What We Like

• Uses IPL and radiofrequency
• FDA cleared for all skin tones and hair colors
• Unlimited flashes

What We Don’t Like

• Very expensive

If you want to treat your arms, legs, or back, you need a device with a larger head, such as this one from ORA. The combination of IPL and radiofrequency used in this is actually patented by the brand—in fact, the technology was originally developed by scientists behind in-clinic machines, so you know you’re in good hands. It’s also one of the few FDA-cleared tools that are said to work on all skin tones and hair colors.

Type: IPL and radiofrequency | Flashes: Unlimited

Best with Cooling Technology: HappySkin Ice IPL Hair Removal Handset

What We Like

• Features cooling technology
• Great for sensitive skin
• Three different modes

What We Don’t Like

• May be too large for smaller areas

This handset from Happyskin is fitted out with cooling technology to mitigate any stinging or redness post-treatment, so it’s a nice choice for sensitive skin. With 999,000 flashes and three modes (including auto, glide, and manual), it’s not bad for the price point. Bonus points for its sleek appearance as well.

Type: IPL | Flashes: 999,000

How To Use Handheld Laser Hair Removal

Final Verdict

The Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 wins for us, hands down. It’s smart, effective, quick, and safe—all features that are really great value given the price point. Runner-up goes to the Elos Me Me Sleek because it’s great quality and one of the few FDA-cleared tools that can be used on dark skin tones.

MEET THE EXPERT

• Michelle Wong is a cosmetic chemist, beauty educator, and the founder of Lab Muffin.
• Rachel Ward, MD, is a dermatologist and a Cleveland Clinic practitioner.

What to Look For in an At-Home Laser Hair Removal Device

Laser vs IPL

According to Cleveland Clinic practitioner and dermatologist Rachel Ward, MD, there are two types of at-home hair removal methods: true laser and IPL. Both use light to heat the hair follicle, the only palpable difference is the light they actually use (laser uses one wavelength, whereas IPL uses multiple). 

Skin Tone and Hair Color

Ward touches on this elsewhere, but because the laser is attracted to dark pigment, it’s tricky territory for dark skin tones due to the possibility of the laser getting confused and heating the actual skin instead of the hair (and causing permanent damage). These days, technology has come far enough (and rightly so) so that people of color can reap the rewards of laser hair removal, but it’s important to seek out the right tool. If you’re really in doubt, hedge your bets and speak to a professional from the get-go. Even if you don’t commit to a series of treatments, you’ll at least have peace of mind and a better understanding of what you can and can’t do. 

Likewise, those with fair body hair should also consider their options because at-home devices might not be intelligent enough to pick up the hair follicle (remember, they’re attracted to dark pigment). 

FAQ

Are at-home laser removal devices safe?

Ward explains that if you use your device correctly, it’s generally safe but still advises to never run the light over pigmented areas (like moles), tattoos, or around the eyes and genitals. If you have dark skin, you’ll need to seek out a suitable device, otherwise, you can risk burning your skin or bringing on hyperpigmentation (this is due to the fact the laser light is not only attracted to the dark hair follicle but the melanin in your skin).

How do you use at-home laser removal devices?

This will depend on your device of choice, but most are to be used on shaved skin (free of all skincare) once a week. You should run your device over the entire treatment area before repeating the process several times (check your instructions for specifics).

How do the results of at-home laser removal devices compare to in-office treatments?

Ward explains that the main differences are that in-clinic machines are more powerful and often bigger, so they can cover a treatment area faster and do a better job at eradicating hair. They are generally more advanced, too, which is why those with light hair or a deep skin tone are often better off seeing a professional (given it’s in their means).