Best IPL hair removal devices 2026, tried and tested

The best IPL hair removal devices can visibly reduce hair growth in a matter of weeks, while being comfortable and safe to use.

We've tested devices from Braun, Philips, Silk'n and more – asking a panel of testers with different skin tones to use them for eight weeks and record the results.

Anonymised 'before' and 'after' images are then rated by an independent panel to rubber-stamp the ratings and observations given by our testers. 

All agreed that our Best Buy recommendation had noticeably reduced hair regrowth by the end of the eight weeks, while the worst showed no obvious difference.

Our top pick will save you time and effort too – requiring fewer regular IPL sessions than some rivals for much better results.  

The IPL hair removal devices we tested

The biggest brands and the most popular six IPL hair removal devices are listed below.

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A selection of the IPL hair removal devices we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best IPL hair removal devices from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

Braun IPL Skin i·expert Pro 7

Auto skin type detection? Yes

Number of intensity levels 10

Brand's recommended routine Once per week for the first four to 12 weeks, then touch-up every one to two months to maintain long-term hair reduction

Accessories PL7221 tested set comes with two attachment heads (smart flex head, precision head), Gillette Venus razor and storage pouch

Need to know 250g, 2.97-metre cable, three modes: power, sensitive, extra sensitive. Continuous operation (press and hold). Bulb rated for 400,000 flashes, two-year warranty

Foreo Peach 2

Auto skin type detection? No

Number of intensity levels Five

Brand's recommended routine Once per week for 12 weeks, then touch up once a month to maintain results

Accessories Comes with a power cable with four plug adaptors and cleaning cloth

Need to know 248g, 1.5-metre cable, continuous mode. Bulb rated for 500,000 flashes, two-year warranty, other colours available

No!no! Plus

Auto skin type detection? No

Number of intensity levels Five

Brand's recommended routine Once every two weeks for the first three to four sessions, then every four weeks for sessions five to seven, then every four to eight weeks to maintain

Accessories Comes with two attachment heads, razor and eye protection

Need to know 240g, 1.45-metre cable, continuous mode, bulb rated for 300,000 flashes, one-year warranty

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Philips Lumea 8000 Series

Auto skin type detection? Yes

Number of intensity levels Five

Brand's recommended routine Once every two weeks for the first four uses, then touch up once a month to maintain results

Accessories BRI945/00 tested set comes with two attachment heads (body and face), storage pouch and cleaning cloth

Need to know 486g, 1.97-metre cable, continuous mode, bulb rated for 450,000 flashes, two-year warranty

Silk'n 7

Auto skin type detection? Yes

Number of intensity levels Five

Brand's recommended routine Once every two weeks for the first four uses, then every four weeks for treatments five to seven, then touch up as needed

Accessories Comes with three smaller attachment heads, EU and UK plug, razor and hard shell travel case

Need to know 520g, 2.88-metre cable, 360° rotatable head, modes: automatic, manual and continuous. Bulb rated for 600,000 flashes, one-year warranty

Ulike Air 10

Auto skin type detection? Yes

Number of intensity levels 10

Brand's recommended routine Three times per week, every other day, for the first four weeks, then once every two weeks or month, depending on your hair growth

Accessories Comes with eye protection and razor 

Need to know 410g, 2.6-metre cable, modes: fast, normal, high, SHR (maximum intensity for stubborn hair), continuous mode. Bulb rated for 300,000 flashes, two-year warranty

How we test IPL hair removal devices

We research and buy the bestselling IPL hair removal devices and put them through our tough user tests. We don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers.

We regularly revisit the IPL hair removal devices on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing and when we find them we do. Our testing includes:

• Hair growth reduction Each IPL device is used as instructed for eight weeks by multiple testers, with skin types ranging from 1 to 4 on the Fitzpatrick scale. Testers try the IPL on their legs and armpits, rating the reduction in hair growth, as well as ease of use. Once the trial is complete, we get a separate panel to assess anonymised 'before' and 'after' images of the treated areas and rate the reduction in hair growth. Both testers and the panel agreed on the best IPL devices for reducing hair growth. The worst IPL devices made almost no noticeable difference in eight weeks. 
• Skin irritation Testers rate how irritated their skin got after each session, including how quickly any discomfort fades. 
• Ease of use We assess each IPL device for how comfortable it is to hold and operate, how easy buttons are to press and how easy instructions are to follow. We also assess any accompanying smartphone apps.
• Safety We check that each IPL device can only be triggered if fully covered and in contact with skin. We've found devices that can flash when in contact with non-skin surfaces, or without the bulb fully covered. 

Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent

What is IPL hair removal?

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. An IPL device flashes pulses of light on the hair and skin. The energy from the light is absorbed and converted to heat, which destroys the hair follicle.

It produces longer-lasting hair removal results, with less hair growing back and at a slower rate, but it isn’t totally permanent. After the initial treatment period, you'll likely need occasional top-up treatments. 

Most devices recommend a top-up session every one or two months after the initial course is complete to maintain results (but you may find you need to do this less often).

Either way, with an effective model, you're likely to end up with a much lower rate of hair regrowth, and it's as near-permanent as a home treatment gets. Results do depend on skin tone and hair colour, though.

IPL vs laser hair removal: what's the difference?

The key difference between the two methods is the type of light. 

IPL light is made up of a broad spectrum of wavelengths, whereas laser is one wavelength. Both methods target the melanin in the hair follicle but laser treatment is more finely tuned, and therefore the very high energy will focus on the hair follicle rather than surrounding skin.

In general, you can expect faster results from laser treatment but both hair colour and skin tone play a part in how effective treatment is.

You can only get laser hair removal done by a professional, but there are home-use IPL machines.

Does IPL hair removal work?

Yes, IPL hair removal does work, but how effective it is depends on the product you're using and your individual skin tone/hair colour combination. 

Melanin, a pigment found in skin and hair, helps absorb the energy from the pulses of light. The darker the colour of each, the more melanin there is. 

Fairer skin and darker hair is the combination where IPL hair removal tends to work best, because of the contrast between hair and skin (more light is absorbed by the hair follicles vs the skin).

This is also why IPL machines aren't recommended for people with darker skin tones (dark brown to black). The higher levels of melanin in darker skin mean too much energy from the light is absorbed by the skin instead of hair, increasing the risk of burns and blisters.

It's also less effective on blonde, red or grey hair, as the melanin levels are too low.

Some newer IPL machines can be used on a broader range of skin types: always check the manufacturer recommendations. Generally, though, you'll need to stick to lower intensities if you have darker skin.

Does an IPL permanently remove hair?

No, you won't find any IPL claiming permanent hair removal. 

Studies show IPL can reduce hair, not remove it. In other words, you can achieve a substantial decrease in the amount of hair regrowing, but not complete removal of all hair. 

The British Institute for Lasers states: 'A successful course [of IPL] may leave substantially fewer hairs, and regrowth can be finer, lighter or slower. 

'Some follicles remain active, partially treated follicles may recover, and new hairs can appear later because of age, hormones or medication.'

Nevertheless, at-home IPL can provide highly effective, long-lasting hair reduction, depending on your skin/hair type.

Is IPL hair removal safe?

IPL is generally considered safe, but there are some people who should avoid using IPL for hair removal, and a few safety notes to be aware of:

• Some users report a mild snapping sensation (like an elastic band hitting the skin) when using IPL, but some feel nothing at all. If your machine gets hot during extended use, this can also cause discomfort. It's recommended to pause and let the machine cool down for a bit if this happens.
• Always shave before an IPL session. This makes sure the light targets the hair follicles. If you IPL with longer hair, you may experience more heat, irritation, and a strong burnt hair smell.
• People with dark brown/black skin should avoid using IPL. Higher levels of melanin mean too much energy from the light is absorbed, increasing the risk of burns and blisters.
• It's recommended that people with epilepsy, light-induced seizures or a history of skin cancer avoid using IPL. It's also generally advised that people with skin conditions such as eczema or skin pigmentation disorders avoid using IPL. If you have any concerns, consult a healthcare professional first.

Always check the manufacturer guidance for your specific model first to ensure it's safe for you to use.

Need a good shave to prep for IPL? See our reviews of the best women's razors and best men's razors

Do you need eye protection for home IPL?

Most IPLs use safety sensors to prevent you from activating the light flashes unless the machine is in good contact with your skin, so the risk of a blinding flash of light in your eyes is very small.  

But if contact isn't perfect, or you move the machine just after contact, it's possible to accidentally flash without full skin contact. You're advised to look away when the light goes off, and never use the IPL around your eyes; keep it strictly from the upper lip downwards.

You can also get protective glasses to wear during treatments. Some IPL machines come with glasses included, though in our opinion they vary in quality (some testers found they offered little to no light reduction). 

Other brands, including Philips and Braun, say it's not necessary, due to the skin-contact sensors.

To be on the safe side, we provided our testers with 3M 600 Welding glasses, which have a lens shade of three – the recommended level of protection for operating an IPL machine in a clinic. 

They are an extra cost (around £25), but if you prefer them, are accident-prone or are sensitive to bright light, we'd recommend them.

When is the best time of year to do IPL?

While you can do IPL at any time, autumn, winter or early spring are the optimal times if you want to complete the initial course of sessions.

This is because most brands advise avoiding sun exposure for around 48 hours after a treatment session, as your skin will be more sensitive.

This is generally easier to achieve in cooler months when your skin is less likely to be exposed to the sun.

How often should you use an at-home IPL device?

You should follow the schedule recommended by the manufacturer. We found this can vary considerably – from three times a week to once a fortnight. 

It's worth checking, as we also found the claimed time taken to do a full body treatment was somewhat optimistic. Some claim 10 minutes, but in our experience it was at least double that.

Broadly speaking, every IPL course has two distinct phases:

• Initial phase Usually lasts between one to three months, where you use the IPL more frequently. This can vary a lot between devices. We've tested some that say to use it three times a week, others once a week or once a fortnight.
• Maintenance phase After the initial phase is complete, it's then recommended to use the IPL device once every one or two months to 'maintain' the results.

Our tests found the best IPL machines don't necessarily require more frequent sessions. 

Best home epilators – not sure IPL is for you? An epilator could be a good hair removal alternative. See our top-rated picks

Do IPL machines get less effective over time?

Jessica Carson, Which? health and wellbeing editor has used IPL devices for years, and knows the telltale signs:

'The bulbs used in IPL devices are usually rated for 'number of flashes' – a proxy for their useful lifetime. Most range between 300,000 to 600,000 flashes.

'Some also give an estimate of how long the bulb will last based on this, though we've found this varies wildly between brands – anything from "up to 10 years" to a "lifetime".

'I'd take this with a pinch of salt. It gives a guide to the lifetime of the machine, but actual lifetime will depend on many factors, including how often you use it, how much surface area you're covering and more.

'I found this when using my old IPL device. After I'd had it for about seven years (of intermittent use), it started to get sluggish during sessions, with longer gaps between flashes. It also got hot more quickly, and my skin got more irritated than before. 

'So, if yours is a bit older and you notice it getting less effective, slower or hotter, it's probably time for an upgrade.'