How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost – and Is There a Better Option?

It’s pretty obvious why people would want to get laser hair removal.

It’s easy, permanent, and worry-free. No more last-minute surprises when you realize you forgot to shave your legs before date night.

• Smooth skin, every day
• No more shaving or waxing
• Plus that “I woke up like this” confidence

On average, you could save about 20 minutes a week. (That’s like getting an extra 17 hours of free time every year.)

Unfortunately, it can also be expensive, too, and a lot of people simply can’t afford it.

Good news: there’s a great alternative that you can do at home, and you might have already heard about it: IPL hair removal devices.

But how does laser hair removal work? Is it safe? And what about the IPLs?

Let’s dive into the research and find out.

This is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor before changing your self-care routine.

How Much Is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal typically costs about $200 to $1,000 per session.

Since you need to go back 6-8 times, the total cost could easily be $1,600 to $8,000 or more.

Of course, you could also save a lot of money on waxing sessions, razors, and shaving cream over the course of your life… but paying thousands of dollars upfront isn’t exactly easy for most people.

But don’t get fooled into thinking it’s permanent.

Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?

Sorry, but no.

Even after you drop $8,000 on your laser hair removal, you won’t get permanent results. It can clear up most of the hair for a few years, but it will start to grow back eventually.

That means you could have to spend thousands of dollars for treatments again and again.

Bummed? Yeah, us too.

BUT there is a way to get similar results at home for about $200 or less. It’s called an IPL, or “intense pulsed light” device.

Is There Any At Home Laser Hair Removal Device?

For hair removal at home, you can use something called an IPL (intense pulsed light) device.

Technically, lasers are not the same as "intense pulsed light” therapy. Laser hair removal devices are only for professionals, but you can get an IPL for an at home laser hair removal alternative.

What’s the difference?

Lasers use only a specific color of light (red), while IPLs use a broad spectrum of light that’s more intense than normal, targeting your hair follicles in short bursts (hence the name “intense pulsed light”).

Is Laser Hair Removal Safe?

Both laser hair removal and IPL devices are generally considered safe.

Although lasers may cause temporary redness, swelling, or irritation, you’re unlikely to have any long-term side effects.

For people with sensitive skin, IPLs are considered safer than laser hair removal.

The light is less intense, and since you keep the device in your home, you can use it in your free time and space out your sessions.

How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost Compared to an IPL?

Even a premium IPL, like the LuminiPro, usually costs less than a single session of laser hair removal.

And with an IPL, you still get the cost savings from not having to shave and wax all the time (plus no more cuts and painful waxing strips).

Okay, so IPLs are awesome, right? But which one do you get?

Best At Home Laser Hair Removal Devices

We did some testing and checked out some of the most popular IPLs.

The most important things were:

• Safety (of course)
• Price
• Value
• Effectiveness

1. LuminiPro IPL - $139

The LuminiPro IPL was our favorite by far.

A lot of the devices we tried out were flimsy and cheap. One of them even fell apart while we were using it.

This one feels sturdy, but it’s still lightweight and easy to use.

It also has a lot of 5-star reviews from real customers, and the company that sells it has a great reputation. (It’s from Swissker USA. They also make a whitening toothpaste called ShineFoam that I love.)

2. Braun Smart IPL - $599

This is the ultimate modern IPL with a cool way to personalize your laser treatment.

But there are some serious problems, so keep reading before you spend $600 on it.

Part of the reason this IPL is so expensive is that it comes with an app for your phone. The downside? A lot of people on Amazon said that the app didn’t work for them.

Oh, and it doesn’t work unless you have wifi, which means it may not work if you’re traveling.

One person even gave it The Worst Product of 2024 Award. Ouch.

Ultimately, it’s a cool device, and it does work for some people, but for such a high price tag, we’d expect it to work for everyone (even if you don’t have wifi).

3. Ulike Laser Hair Removal - $399

More affordable than the Braun and with no glitchy app. We expected the Ulike to come in second (or maybe in first) because it seemed so promising.

They advertise results in just 2 weeks, compared to 8 to 12 weeks for the LuminiPro.

But people who reviewed it said the results weren’t that great. Some people have been using it longer than 2 weeks and didn’t really notice a difference.

It’s possible that the device just works better for some people, but again, with such a big price tag, we expected a little more.

Ultimately, the LuminiPro wins because of value. The price is less than half of the others, and the results are about the same.

Do At Home Laser Hair Removal Devices Really Work?

Yes! But there is a catch…

They don’t work for every color of skin or hair. IPL devices target hair follicles, and in order to do that, they need contrast.

People with light or medium skin with dark or brown hair usually get the best results.

For most people of color, professional laser hair removal is most likely necessary.

Where to Get the LuminiPro with the Best Deal

If you decide to get the LuminiPro, we recommend going directly to their website. There are deals on bundle packs that aren’t available on Amazon.

(If you want to get your Christmas shopping done a little early, it might be a good option!)