The Celliara category guide

At-home hair removal devices

Handheld IPL and laser devices for reducing hair at home. Celliara has reviewed nine: eight IPL devices and one diode laser. Which skin tones and hair colours a device is made for, the areas it covers and the routine it asks of you decide most of the choice.

What actually separates these devices

Use these to choose between any at-home IPL or laser devices, including ones we have not reviewed.

IPL or diode laser

The eight IPL devices flash broadband light through a wider window. Tria 4X fires a single 810 nm diode laser through a small spot: precise on underarms, the bikini line and other defined zones, slow on full legs. Celliara's evidence record does not show either technology beating the other on results.

Who the device is made for

Compatibility is set per model. Tria states its laser is not for Fitzpatrick V–VI skin and cannot work on blonde, red, grey or white hair; Ulike does not recommend the Air 10 for dark brown skin or for red, light blonde, white or grey hair; Braun and Philips publish their own charts. Read the chart for the exact model before you buy.

Automatic or chosen intensity

Braun's SensoAdapt and Ulike Air 10's SkinSensor set flash energy for you, Philips' SenseIQ proposes a setting, and JOVS adapts intensity to skin tone. On Ulike Air 4, Silk'n Infinity Fast, EvenSkyn Pulsar and Tria 4X you choose the level; Silk'n, EvenSkyn and Tria also require a skin-sensor reading before the device fires. Automatic sensing is a convenience, not a replacement for the maker's chart.

Cooling and comfort

Ulike Air 4, Ulike Air 10 and JOVS Venus Pro II press a cooled sapphire window against the skin; Silk'n Infinity Fast and EvenSkyn Pulsar use a cooling fan. Cooling changes how a session feels, not what the device can achieve.

Heads and permitted areas

Philips Lumea 8000 has three heads, including a face attachment, and Braun's kit adds a face precision head. Philips does not permit facial use of the Lumea 7000, and JOVS adds a rotating head for awkward areas. Which areas are permitted varies by model, so check before you treat the face or bikini line.

Speed, power and ownership

AutoGlide on the Ulike Air 10 and glide mode on Silk'n Infinity Fast keep flashing as you move over legs and arms; Silk'n needs a mains socket every session, while Tria 4X is cordless and needs charging breaks on large areas. None of these devices uses cartridges: Braun rates its lamp at 400,000 flashes, Silk'n at 600,000 pulses, and Philips gives the Lumea 7000 a five-year rated service life.

The devices Celliara has reviewed

All nine at-home hair removal devices Celliara has reviewed, grouped by technology and listed alphabetically. This is our coverage, not a ranking; for recommendations, see our best picks.

IPL devices

Broadband light through a wider window.

Diode laser

A single 810 nm wavelength through a small spot.

Want a recommendation?

Our best at-home laser and IPL hair removal page ranks the shortlist, names the buyer each device suits and spells out the tradeoffs. Here is who it recommends for what.

See the best laser and IPL hair removal devices
Best Value
Ulike Air 4
Best for Cooling + Automatic Power
Ulike Air 10
Best for Face, Body and Bikini Line
Philips Lumea 8000 Series
Best for Laser Precision on Small Areas
Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X

Decide between two devices

Each comparison weighs the differences that actually change the choice.

At-home hair removal questions, answered

What does an at-home hair removal device do?

It uses light, either broadband IPL or a single-wavelength laser, to reduce hair growth over a course of sessions. Celliara reviews these devices for hair reduction, which builds gradually and needs maintenance.

Is a laser better than IPL?

Not by itself. A laser like Tria 4X is precise on small areas and slow on large ones, while the IPL devices here flash through wider windows. Celliara's evidence record does not show either technology beating the other on results.

Will it work on my skin tone and hair colour?

It depends on the exact model. Each maker publishes its own skin-tone and hair-colour chart, the charts differ, and some hair colours cannot be treated by some devices at all. Check the chart for the model you are considering.

How long does it take?

Each maker sets its own schedule. Philips, for example, sets four treatments two weeks apart and then one every four weeks. Expect a course of sessions before maintenance.

Can anyone use an at-home hair removal device?

No. Each maker sets who should not use its device and where it may be used. Celliara's reviews summarise the information available to Celliara, which may not include every exact-model restriction, so read the exact model's current manufacturer instructions before you buy or use one, and contact the manufacturer if anything is unclear.