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Intense pulsed light (IPL) hair removal devices help permanently remove hair by damaging its root to stop hair from growing back. It gives noticeable results after 6 to 12 treatments. Using an IPL hair removal device is less painful than an epilator or waxing. It is also cheaper than using laser hair removal systems.
At-home IPL hair removal devices are becoming more and more popular because of their price and convenience. These devices use a bulb that flashes, targeting the melanin in the root of the hair. However, each bulb only lasts for a specific number of flashes.
To help you find the best IPL hair removal device for your needs, we've examined models available from various online retailers like Amazon, Harvey Norman and Shaver Shop. We considered customer ratings and reviews. We also evaluated key product features when picking IPL hair removal devices for each category.
Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 PL5137 IPL Hair Removal System is our pick for the best overall IPL hair removal device. On Amazon, customers gave it a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.
A handy IPL hair removal device, Braun's Silk Expert Pro 5 can be used from head to toe, including the upper lip, chin, underarm, legs and bikini area. The brand claims that it is skin-safe and clinically tested. It also continuously adapts to your skin tone, ensuring the best balance between efficacy and safety for visible results.
Customers praised the product's ease of use and durable build. It offers 40,000 flashes and 10 intensity levels to address any hair removal needs. Its SensorAdapt technology also reads the skin tone across the body to ensure that the process is safe. Users added that the precision head is easy to manoeuvre, allowing them to target hair in hard-to-reach areas. However, a few customers said removing facial hair using the device requires more than 6 sessions before you can see a noticeable difference.
When it comes to the best high-end model, we recommend the SmoothSkin Pure FIT Intelligent Ultrafast IPL Laser. This has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
SmoothSkin's Pure FIT features dual safe sensors to prevent accidental activation and check skin suitability before every flash. It also has a UV filter to protect your skin from harmful light. The device produces 100 flashes per minute to ensure all unwanted strands are targeted from the root. The brand also recommends using the device once a week for 12 weeks and once every 2–4 weeks for maintenance.
With a high-power output and 3 treatment modes, this IPL hair removal device is a versatile option. It can be used for the face and body, and comes with a precision head that follows the contour of your body. The brand claims that it offers unlimited flashes. However, this might not be suitable for darker skin tones.
With a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Shaver Shop, we chose the Braun Silk Expert Pro 3 as the best option for sensitive skin.
Braun's Silk Expert Pro 3 features SensoAdapt technology with UV protection that automatically and continuously adapt to your skin tone. According to the brand, it can treat both legs in just 9 minutes even at the lowest energy level. This device also offers up to 300,000 flashes and comes with a precision head, premium bag and a Venus Divine razor.
Numerous buyers were impressed by the device's versatility, user-friendliness and durable design. It's got a glide mode that triggers more flashes to tackle even the most stubborn hair. Additionally, it has 3 intensity levels that adapt to your skin tone. A few customers said it is relatively pain-free unless you accidentally zap a freckle or two.
Our pick for the best IPL hair removal device for beginners is Remington's i-Light Pro, which has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars on Shaver Shop.
Featuring ProPulse wavelength, the i-Light Pro deeply penetrates the skin to tackle the hair root. It also has flash windows with UV protection filters, ensuring your skin is protected from harmful lights. Additionally, it has a skin contact sensor, integrated skin tone sensor and a forced air-cooling system with a cool-down function. It has worldwide voltage as well.
The i-Light Pro is a user-friendly hair removal IPL device that offers unlimited flashes, thanks to its Infinity bulb. It has 5 energy levels and a continuous flash mode to suit all of your hair removal needs. It also has audible feedback and a corded operation. Customers said it effectively removes hair on their face and body with little to no pain at all. However, the design is quite bulky and not the most ideal for travel.
SmoothSkin's Bare Plus Ultrafast IPL Laser is our choice for the best option for facial hair. Amazon reviews gave this model a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Featuring 100 flashes per minute, SmoothSkin's Bare Plus is suitable for removing body and facial hair. It offers unlimited flashes, allowing you to treat the whole body in under 10 minutes. The brand also claims that it offers up to 97% reduction.
Customers said it adapts to their skin tone and is relatively painless. However, they noted that it leaves a bit of redness after several flashes. It has a Smart Skin sensor that checks the skin tone and will only activate if it's safe. Additionally, it has stamp and glide modes for an effective hair removal process.
With a rating of 5 out of 5 stars on Shaver Shop, we recommend the Go Bare IPL Hair Removal Handset as the best cheap option.
This IPL hair removal handset offers 600,000 flashes for long-term use. It also has 7 intensity levels. Levels 1–2 are recommended for sensitive areas like the face, while levels 3–7 are recommended for areas with coarse hair. Apart from an integrated safety system, this device has a manual mode for sensitive and small areas, and an automatic mode for faster treatments of larger areas.
Customers gave positive feedback on the device's ease of use, efficacy and reasonable price point. It has an ergonomic shape for easy handling and a precision head to ensure you can remove hair from hard-to-reach areas. The LCD panel also lets you monitor the intensity level and lifetime of your device. The brand recommends this product for naturally dark blonde, brown and black coloured hair, but they said it might not work on very dark skin tone.
Philips' Lumea Prestige IPL Hair Removal Device is our pick for the best cordless option. It has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Harvey Norman.
This user-friendly hair removal IPL device offers up to 6 months of hair-free smoothness. It is designed to follow the contours of the body for an easy hair removal experience at home. According to the brand, this device is suitable for a wide range of hair and skin types. You can also use it cordless or corded for added convenience.
The Lumea Prestige comes with useful intelligent attachments that adapt the treatment for each area. It features a SmartSkin sensor and a mobile app that guides you through the hair removal process, suitable for beginners. It's quite expensive at $699, but users said its durability and versatility are well worth it.
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We examined hundreds of IPL hair removals available from different retailers like Amazon, Harvey Norman and Shaver Shop. We evaluated models from the following brands:
AthenaLab
Beurer
Braun
Go Bare
Happy Skin Co
Homedics
JOVS
Phillips
Remington
Silk n' Flash
SmoothSkin
Zarlbol
We narrowed down our choices based on customer ratings and reviews (as of May 2022). We also considered each device's key product features, like price, included accessories, how long the device can be used and whether it is corded or wireless. We came up with what we believe are the 7 best IPL hair removal devices you can get right now in Australia.
We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners and why you can trust our guides.
What is IPL?
Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a hair removal method that damages the root of the hair, which stops the hair from growing back. While IPL hair removal and laser hair removal are sometimes used interchangeably, they are actually two different methods of hair removal.
IPL is most effective on those with dark hair and lighter skin. While the results of IPL are permanent, multiple treatments will be required to get rid of all the hair in a desired area.
Pros
Removes hair permanently
Less painful than waxing, epilating and other hair removal methods
Works quickly to destroy the hair at the root
Typically cheaper than laser hair removal
Cons
Not as effective on those with darker skin tones
Not effective on light blonde, light red, grey or white hair
Can cause pain and redness
Professional treatments can be expensive
How long does IPL take?
The amount of time it will take to get rid of unwanted hair depends on your hair growth cycle, which could last anywhere from a year to 18 months or more. Generally, treatments start out every few weeks and then as less hair grows, you can space the treatments out more. After around 6–12 treatments, most people only need periodic maintenance treatments every few months.
How does IPL work?
IPL uses a broad-spectrum visible light that targets the melanin pigment in hair. This light creates heat that is absorbed by the hair, which causes damage to the follicle and stops the hair from growing. The same type of broad-spectrum light can also be used in the treatment of spider veins.
Why doesn't IPL work on dark skin or light hair?
The light used by IPL is attracted to dark pigment. This means it works best on dark hair and light skin. IPL can actually be damaging to dark skin, as the light will target the melanin in the skin instead of the hair.
Is IPL hair removal safe?
While IPL is generally considered safe, some people do experience side effects from IPL treatments.
Potential IPL side effects include:
Mild to moderate pain at the time of treatment
Redness lasting a few hours
Damage to the eyes if protective eyewear is not worn
Burns if used incorrectly
Skin discolouration
At-home vs professional
There are 2 main types of IPL hair removal: at-home IPL devices and professional treatments.
At-home. Home devices typically cost from $150 to $1,000, depending on the power of the device and the number of included attachments for specific body parts such as bikini, face and underarms. These devices are less powerful than professional equipment and usually require more treatments to completely get rid of unwanted hair. Home IPL devices use a bulb that flashes to target the melanin in the root of your hair. Each bulb will only last for a specific number of flashes and will then have to be replaced. Home IPL devices can be either battery powered or corded.
Professional. Professional IPL treatment is more powerful and more effective than home treatment and usually requires fewer sessions to target all unwanted hair. However, professional treatment is much more expensive. The total cost of professional hair removal depends on the areas you want to treat. If you just want to remove hair on your upper lip or underarms, costs typically range from $40 to $100, while full legs and bikini area can cost $150 to $250 per session or more. Between 6 and 12 sessions may be required based on your colouring, the areas you want to target and individual circumstances.
Pros
Cons
At-home
More affordable
Convenience of being able to use it at any time
Privacy
Less painful due to less powerful device
Usually only works on lighter skin types
Can be complicated to use
Time-consuming and labour intensive to go over large areas
It's up to you to research options and follow directions to ensure safety
Some areas can be difficult to reach by yourself
Professional
Higher intensity/more effective
Can treat more skin types
Fewer treatments are usually required
Performed by a qualified professional
Often includes consultation and aftercare tips
Sessions are quicker because the coverage area is larger
More personalised experience
Expensive
Appointments are required
Can be more painful
Less privacy
Alternative hair removal methods
If IPL doesn't sound like it will work for you, there are several alternative hair removal methods you could try including laser hair removal, epilators, shavers and trimmers.
Laser hair removal
Laser hair removal uses a similar method to IPL to damage the root of the hair and stop it from growing back. However, instead of using a broad-spectrum light source, laser hair removal uses laser technology to target the hair. Laser hair removal is performed in a professional clinic or salon and is usually more expensive than IPL. Some people who are not suited for IPL, including those with darker skin tones, can be suitable for professional laser hair removal.
Epilators
Epilators are devices that pull hair out by the root. Epilators can be used just about anywhere on the body with the right attachments and some, like the Braun FaceSpa epilator we reviewed, are specifically designed to be used on the face, with results typically lasting from 1 to 2 weeks. Like tweezing and waxing, epilating can be painful, especially during your first few treatments.
Shavers and trimmers
Electric shavers and trimmers are quicker to use than traditional blade razors and can often be used less frequently. Basic electric shavers can cost as little as $20 but more sophisticated models with several attachment options can cost hundreds of dollars. For more information, check out our guide to electric shavers.
Frequently asked questions
It depends. IPL is generally considered safe for use on the bikini line, but shouldn't be used on any genital areas where the skin has a darker colour. If you are unsure which areas are suitable for IPL, check with an IPL hair removal professional.
Most IPL devices are suitable for use on the lip, chin and jawline areas. IPL shouldn't be used near your eyes. Before using any IPL device on your face, read the instructions carefully or talk to a professional.
As IPL works most effectively on lighter skin tones, most professionals advise avoiding sun exposure before treatments.
After IPL, your skin may be more sensitive to the sun and susceptible to burning. Apply sunscreen or cover the treated area for at least a week after each IPL treatment.
No, it's generally not recommended to receive IPL or laser hair removal while pregnant. If you are unsure which hair removal method would be best for you when you're pregnant, check with your doctor.
Ericka Pingol is a writer for Finder specialising in best guides. Using tested methodology, Ericka has been helping Australians choose the right product across hundreds of categories since 2020. Ericka has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of the East, Manila. As well as being passionate about helping people save money when shopping for their latest purchases, Ericka has a background in writing about property investment, personal finance and health. When not writing best guides, you can find her lost in the pages of a good book or experimenting with watercolour painting.
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