A course of professional laser hair removal costs £150 to £250 per session on average, and you need six to eight of them. Home-use IPL devices promise the same result for the price of a single session — but between the £70 models and the £670 ones, which ones actually deliver?
We bought 21 models anonymously, without contacting any brands, and recruited 50 female volunteers (aged 22-54, skin types I to V) for 16 weeks of testing — one session a week, on a control area, with standardised photos and blind measurements.
📋 Our full methodology: anonymous purchase, panel of 50 testers, 16-week protocol (click to expand)
OUR METHODOLOGY — FULL TRANSPARENCY
- Selection: 21 models chosen from the best-selling IPL hair removal devices on Amazon, Boots, Currys, Superdrug, brand websites and online pharmacies (January 2026).
- Purchase: 100% of the devices were bought anonymously using our own funds. No product was supplied by a brand.
- Panel: 50 unpaid female volunteers, aged 22-54, skin types I to V (all tones except very dark), light to dark brown body hair, recruited outside our immediate circle.
- Golden rule: each tester was assigned one device only for the entire duration of the test, to prevent results from being influenced by switching devices. The 50 testers were split into subgroups of 2 to 10 depending on the model (the 5 finalists were each tested by 10 testers; the 16 eliminated models by 2 to 5).
- Protocol: 16 weeks, 1 session per week, on the right calf (a consistent control area). Photos under standardised lighting every 2 weeks.
- Measurement: hair density assessed using a dermatoscope (Visiopore PT3) before and after the protocol, blind (the operator did not know which device had been used).
- Scoring: final score out of 10, calculated as a weighted average of 5 criteria (see the scoring grid below).
The scoring grid: 5 criteria, 100 points
The final score out of 10 is a weighted average of five criteria defined with an independent dermatologist:
effectiveness
& safety
for money
& support
& design
The verdict at a glance
Here is our final ranking of the top five models out of the 21 we tested.
Why the Loop scored highest
Honestly, the team wasn't expecting this result. When the Loop arrived at the lab, its understated packaging and relatively low price (£189.95 against £419.95 for the Braun) raised a few eyebrows. Several team members actually expected it to finish near the bottom of the ranking.
Then the weekly photos from the ten testers assigned to this model started coming in. By week three, regrowth had fallen by more than 60% on average (dermatoscope measurement). By the eighth session, skin was close to smooth for most of the sub-panel. By the twelfth, only a few fine downy hairs were left.
What makes the difference, according to the measurements taken with our dermatologist? A sufficiently high energy density, a light filter that blocks harmful UV, and above all a precision head compact enough for sensitive areas without constantly swapping attachments.
The Loop is made by a European brand, with a notably responsive customer service team: average reply time under 2 hours during the test.
✓ Strengths
- Measurable results from week 3
- Visible underarm results after 3–4 sessions
- 5 adjustable intensity levels
- Works on face, bikini line, legs and underarms
- Suitable for all skin types I-V
- Responsive customer service based in Europe
- 100-day money-back guarantee
- Free delivery
- Stated lifespan: ~12 years (500,000 flashes)
✕ Weaknesses
- Frequently out of stock
- Only available on the official website
- Counterfeits are common on Amazon/eBay
- Not recommended for skin type VI
The Silk·Expert Pro 5 is an excellent device — credit where it's due. Braun has been working with IPL technology for years, and it shows in the build quality. The built-in precision head means you never have to swap attachments, and the device can be used continuously while plugged in, which is useful for longer sessions.
In terms of effectiveness, the results measured with our dermatoscope are very close to the Loop's. The difference lies elsewhere: at £419.95, the Braun costs more than twice the Loop for similar performance. Several testers in the sub-panel also reported mild irritation on sensitive areas (bikini line, underarms).
✓ Strengths
- 3 intensity levels, SkinPro sensor
- Established and trusted brand
- Precision head included
- Skin Health Alliance approved
- Clear results after 4 weeks
✕ Weaknesses
- High price (£419.95)
- Irritation reported on bikini line/underarms
- Less ergonomic than the Loop
- Warranty limited to 2 years
The Lumea Prestige is probably the best-known model on the market, and it does the job. SenseIQ technology automatically adapts the intensity to your skin tone, which is reassuring for beginners. But at £669.95, it is noticeably more expensive than the Loop for a slower result (6 weeks versus 3 in our testing).
Another point the team picked up on: Philips advertises “92% less hair in 3 sessions”, but that result only appeared from the 6th session onwards under our protocol. That is a clear gap between the marketing claim and our measured results.
✓ Strengths
- Suitable for all skin types I-V
- Smart SenseIQ sensor
- 4 precision attachments
- Extremely well-known brand
✕ Weaknesses
- Very high price (£669.95)
- Slower results than advertised
- Maximum power insufficient for coarse hair
- Unintuitive mobile app
Silk'n had its moment in the sun, but its technology has barely evolved over the past five years. Results take longer to appear (at least eight sessions in our test) and several testers reported reliability issues after a few months of use. At £349.95, it isn't a bad choice, but for £160 less, the Loop performs considerably better.
✓ Strengths
- Easy to get to grips with
- Works on the whole body
- Widely available in shops
✕ Weaknesses
- Dated technology
- Declining quality according to user reviews
- Slow results (8+ sessions)
- Mixed reviews online
The cheapest model in our shortlist — and it shows. The Beurer IPL Pure does the bare minimum. It is compact, portable and simple, but its limited power means ten sessions or more for middling results. Several cases of skin irritation were reported by our panel. A reasonable choice for anyone on a tight budget who wants to try IPL.
✓ Strengths
- The cheapest in the comparison
- Compact and portable
- 3 intensity levels
- Rated for 600,000 flashes
✕ Weaknesses
- Average build quality
- Not dermatologically certified
- Irritation reported
- Slow results (10+ weeks)
Your questions about IPL hair removal devices
Our final verdict
Out of the 21 IPL hair removal devices tested over these 4 months, each of the five models in this ranking suits a different set of needs, priorities and budgets.
Whether you're after raw performance, a heritage brand, an all-rounder or a beginner-friendly introduction to IPL, each of the 5 finalists has its place. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your budget, your skin type and the area you want to treat.
