Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site.
If you're a hairy guy, this one is for you. Portable Facial Scanner Machine
MOST MEN (and women!) love a hairy chest, but some aren't as pleased with the hair on other parts of their body, like the back. And there's no shame in that. Body hair is nothing to be embarrassed about, but if removing it would make you feel more confident, then you absolutely should.
When it comes to hair removal, you can either go into a laser hair removal clinic or do it yourself with an at-home laser hair removal device. Dr. Jaimie DeRosa of DeRosa Center Plastic Surgery & Med Spa explains how it works to permanently stop hair from growing where you don't want it to.
"Laser hair removal (or more correctly, laser hair reduction) works by damaging the hair follicle, thus preventing further hair growth," he said. "The lasers used for hair removal 'see' the dark pigment melanin within the hair follicle, which is why laser hair removal does not work on white or grey hair."
Laser hair removal clinics often requires multiple appointments over the span of 1-2 years before the hair is gone for good, which could end up costing you thousands of dollars in the long run. Even if stay on top of appointments and finish your course of treatments, you inevitably have to go back at least once a year for touch-up treatments to maintain your results.
If you don't have the time or money to commit to costly laser hair removal appointments, there are a number of at-home laser hair removal devices that tout in-office results from the comfort of your own home—and for a fraction of the cost. It's important to keep in mind that everyone's body hair is different, and your results may vary, but these devices can give you significant hair reduction for the same amount that it would cost you to get 1-2 treatments of laser hair removal at a local clinic. Since the at-home devices have a much lower energy output than most in-office machines, you can also use them more often, which means you can get rid of unwanted hair even faster, if you're consistent with it.
"Since the at-home laser hair removal devices are less powerful, it will take longer to see results but is still a great option for those who don’t want to go to an office for laser hair removal and also for those who want to maintain their results after a round of in-office laser hair removal," said Dr. DeRosa.
While plenty of men think a little extra hair is the epitome of manhood, others would rather see it gone for good. Easy, affordable at-home laser hair removal is easier and cheaper than you might think. Below, we've rounded up the best at-home laser hair removal devices to get rid of unwanted hair fast.
This device is everything you want it to be: it's fast, effective, and easy to use, which is why it's our number one overall pick. The IPL technology features a sensor sensor that tailors the flash intensity based on your skin tone, which makes it suitable for most skin tones. The FDA-approved device boasts a whopping 10 power settings, allowing you to adapt your treatment to your specific skin tone and pain threshold.
Read more: Best Body Groomers for Men
We love this adjustable device from Silk'N because of its small, portable size and powerful technology. It uses a quartz bulb and pulsed light technology to target the hair follicle, eliminating pigment in the hair shaft without damaging the delicate skin around it. It fits in the palm of your hand so you can take it with you on your next beach vacation for smooth skin all summer long.
Laser hair removal devices typically work best on those with light skin tones and dark hair, but this device is one of the few FDA-cleared tools that's clinically proven to be effective on the widest range of hair colors, including blond, dark blond and red hair. The combination of IPL and radiofrequency allows almost anyone to benefit from the permanent hair reduction results. In a clinical trial, participants noted that 46% of all hair was removed in just two treatments, so you don't have to wait long to see results.
Type: IPL and radiofrequency | Flashes: 120,000
This device proves that at-home hair removal doesn't have to be expensive. It's best for those with fair to olive skin tones with darker hair and features five energy levels to gently zap away unwanted hair. The higher the energy level, the better the permanent hair reduction results. The LCD screen tells you how many flashes are left (for a total of 300,000 flashes), and the ergonomic handle makes it easy to use on all those hard-to-reach places.
This next generation IPL hair removal device is the first at-home tool to feature ice-cooling hair removal technology to reduce heat output and cool the skin on contact, protecting it from injuries. With traditional hair removal devices, the temperature of light can reach 158℉-212℉. Ulike’s Sapphire Ice-cooling technology cools the skin to 50℉-104℉, effectively avoiding burning and heat injuries. This type of technology is widely used in large salons for a comfortable, painless experience. It banishes hair at the root using multi-spectrum lights converting light energy to heat energy, permanently reducing hair regrowth over time.
For a full body at-home laser hair removal device, we love this gentle yet powerful device from Braun. It's made for men and gives you visible hair reduction in just four weeks. Select from the standard head for smaller areas or the larger head to tackle larger areas, like the back. The device emits up to 125 flashes per minute, leaving no hair behind.
Designed with a flat head, this device fits nicely in your hand and offers fast and effective hair reduction for coarse hair types. It works on both the body and the face, and comes with five power levels to customize your treatment. It uses galvanic energy to open your pores, penetrating stubborn hair follicles right at the root. Featuring a built-in skin sensor, it prevent any damage to your skin if your skin tone is too dark to treat.
With its slender shape and small round head, this device makes zapping unwanted hair on your body and face a breeze. It uses the safest, fastest and most advanced IPL technology to reduce hair in as little as four weeks. Plus, it has a safety sensor to measure your skin tone before each flash, only activating if it’s safe. Delivering up to 100 flashes per minute, each treatment of your desired area takes about 10 minutes to complete.
With 10 energy setting, three different comfort modes (power, speed, and gentle), and two operating settings (stamp and glide), you can confidently operate this at-home device to your exact specifications, depending on the area and level of discomfort you're willing to endure. It's extremely precise to get into all the nooks and crannies of the different curves on your body and has a built in skin sensor that selects the right intensity for your skin tone, preventing accidental activation.
If you don't want to spend all day removing unwanted hair from your body, this device gets the job done fast. Each treatment takes just minutes - 8 minutes for the leg, 6 minutes for the back, and 1 minute for the face. Powered by patented hair removal technology, it allows for unlimited treatments and work on all skin tones, even on blondes and redheads.
Type: IPL and radiofrequency | Flashes: Unlimited
Before you start shopping, it's important to understand how at-home laser hair removal devices work in order to find the one that suits your skin tone and hair color. Laser hair removal devices use light to find and heat the hair follicle, burning it at the root and preventing it from growing more hair during the next hair cycle. Some lasers have difficulty telling the difference between dark hair and melanated skin, which is why those with dark skin tones should seek our IPL hair removal devices. These devices use multiple wavelengths to detect the hair follicle, whereas laser uses one wavelength. IPL devices are generally safer for those with deeper skin tones who want to remove unwanted hair. Likewise, those with fair skin and lightly pigmented body hair should also seek out an IPL hair removal device, as some other devices may not be able to register the hair follicle since they're generally more attracted to dark pigment.
Expect to drop a decent amount of cash on a laser hair removal device, says celebrity aesthetician and dermatological nurse Natalie Aguilar. "Really good at-home hair removal devices are on the costlier side for a reason. Most of them have been tried and tested for safety and efficacy. I do not recommend shopping for replicas or counterfeits. Just because a laser might look similar doesn't mean it's the same thing!"
Depending on which technology being used, there are some small differences, but the basics of it is all the same. "The laser light is attracted to the pigment of the hair follicles," says Dr. Akhavan, celebrity dermatologist and founder of The Dermatology and Laser Group in New York City . "The darker the hair follicle, and the more difference there is between the hair follicle and the normal skin, more and more energy can be focused on the base of that root of the hair follicle and burn it so it doesn’t grow back."
It's a procedure that's becoming more and more popular for men. Dr. Akhavan notes that while the most popular places are chest and back, he still gets requests all the time for laser hair removal on every body part.
Laser Hair Removal Buy For the past two years, we consulted with Men's Health's Grooming editors and writers on the top at-home laser hair removal devices for men. Experts including our Grooming Editor, Garrett Munce, tried many different devices and evaluated their effectiveness, cost, and pain level of every treatment. We also considered top-reviewed at-home laser hair removal devices that had at least 100 five-star customer ratings on e-commerce websites that we trust.