If you read my other post about laser hair removal then you know I’m a big fan. In my opinion, laser hair removal is a gosh darn blessing from above. Seriously! In my other post, I wrote about in-office laser treatments, whether they “work” and how treatments impacted my self-esteem. For this post, I’m putting at-home laser hair removal front and center.
In-office laser treatments were amazing. So amazing in fact, that it truly boosted my confidence levels. I would have loved to do more professional treatments beyond just underarms. But financially, it wasn’t in the cards for me. In-office treatments can be pricey and it was hard for me to justify that kind of spending. But I still yearned for the freedom laser treatments gave me.
At-Home vs In-Office Laser Hair Removal
Over the years, I’ve found that any DIY project from the comfort of your home can be a good way to save money if you’re resourceful. But you have to make educated decisions. It’s also important to be aware that a DIY project involves a lot more time spent with whatever you’re trying to do.
Another difference is the type of “laser” being used. In-office treatments use lasers that are well, professional. Therefore they’re much more powerful. But there is also a difference between a normal laser and IPL. To keep it simple, the difference comes in the type of light that is used, but both are effective. Once I learned of an at-home option, I knew I would be attempting to do it myself someday soon. Here’s what I learned along the way.
At Home Laser Hair Removal Devices
Once I decided to pull the trigger and see what at-home laser hair removal was all about I started Googling.
- Does it work?
- How much will it cost me?
- Does it last?
- Is it safe?
- How much time will it take?
- Which device works the best?
You’ll no doubt find a ton of different information scattered across the web on all things laser hair removal. But I’ll share my experience about those as best I can.
Does it Work?
Yes. It works. But I want to be transparent about defining what that means. If you want to know whether or not at-home laser hair removal will 100% get rid of your body hair in 3 months, then the answer from my experience is no. If you want to know whether laser hair removal will put a massive dent in visible, dark, coarse body hair that shows up as a five o’clock shadow, then hell yes, it works.
Is it Safe?
Yes. Laser hair removal is safe, IF YOU READ AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS. I want to make sure there is no confusion that these devices still contain LASERS and there’s a reason safety glasses are provided in some cases. Aside from directing a laser straight to the eye, keep in mind that certain treatment areas are more sensitive. I personally have a few tattoos that I thought I could just zap right over. Wrong. Depending on the power of the laser, it can hurt like a mother f’r, burn the ink, and thus, your skin.
This leads me to another safety point… Laser hair removal works best on specific skin tones and hair colors. Someone like myself with dark brown hair and fairly light skin is the perfect candidate. It allows the laser to recognize the hair follicle and zap it. But if you don’t have that contrast, your skin is darker or you happen to go over a tattoo, your laser will be confused. Laser confusion is not a good thing my friends.
How Long Does it Take?
Unfortunately, there is not a single answer to this question. It varies greatly on the laser being used, the frequency at which you do it, how much hair you have, and the stages of hair growth. What I will say is this. I personally noticed results really quickly after being consistent with it for a month or two. When I say results, I don’t mean the hair was totally gone. I mean a great reduction, a light at the end of the tunnel for the girl who had always been a slave to daily shaving. That, for me, was more than enough motivation to keep the laser train moving.
That train can feel like a slow-moving choo choo when you’re lasering a large area like your legs. So the sessions themselves can feel time-consuming. As a wife and mother of two kids, it’s harder than I thought it would be to make the time to do it. If you’re focusing on your underarms or bikini line, then that takes much less time. I recommend having a beauty day, where you can do all your little pampering treatments at once. A self-care, YOU day that annihilates body hair. 🤣
Does it Last?
Yes. Once I put a dent in hair growth on my body, it had a barely-there feel, and could go days without shaving. Even when I do shave, it might be an amount that some people wouldn’t be bothered by. Although I was super consistent in the beginning, mainly because I was so motivated by body insecurities, I did flake after the fact and don’t do it as often. I consider it a maintenance, like maybe once a month I’ll go in and remind the hair to stay away, but that’s it! If I buckled down and did it more regularly, I bet I could say goodbye to it forever.
Side note, this doesn’t mean that hormones can’t jump in and shake it up a bit. Thankfully, mine have not in the hair growth department but I know it’s possible.
Which DIY Laser Hair Removal Device Works the Best?
There’s a lot of info out there comparing and recommends specific devices, so do your research. At first, I started with one called BoSidin Facial & Body Painless Permanent Hair Removal for Women. It’s no longer available on Amazon otherwise I’d link it. I believe they replaced it with a different model but it did its job and got me hooked!
I liked the design of it, it allowed me to hold it like a gun. It was just more comfortable to use with my carpal tunnel issues. It also came with an attachment to make the laser area smaller. Nice for very specific, small areas like between the brows.
Upgrading the Device
After a while, I needed an upgrade. If you want hair removal on small areas only, then you’d be perfectly fine sticking with one like that. But I wanted to do legs and arms too. The original one made it a slow-moving process. It was taking way too much time, making it hard to be as consistent as I’d hoped which led me to this device instead.
What I love about the SmothSkin Pure device is that it fires quickly rather than having a few-second delay before allowing you to press the button. That may seem minimal but it makes a huge difference. There’s also different modes that can go even quicker, with a less intense flash. It’s convenient once you’re in maintenance mode to have options like that.
There’s also an unlimited amount of flashes. The first one I had only came with a certain amount of flashes. I never got anywhere near the limit, but if you’re going to invest in something, you want it without limitations. It has a four-point sensor, meaning if the device doesn’t detect all four sensors being covered, it will not flash. This is great for safety, the need for goggles, etc.
Lastly, it automatically does what it’s supposed to when it comes to customizing your treatment. Some devices require you to choose settings for your skin tone. That isn’t needed with this technology and it’s lovely!
Taking the Plunge
I highly recommend investing the time and money into yourself if you’ve suffered from feeling insecure about body hair. I know many men and women aren’t crazy about what they’ve got. Like anything else in life, DIY laser hair removal requires a bit of consistency and effort in order to be successful.
I hope this helps you decide if it’s a good fit for you and reach out if you have any questions!
Remember friends, just as the great Ice Cube once said… Chickity Check yo’ self before you wreck yo’ self.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.