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Remove unwanted fuzz in a flash with one of these at-home devices.

You don't need us to tell you that body hair is an entirely personal choice. For those who love and embrace theirs, we say carry on living your best life – but it's also just as valid to feel inclined to prune, shape or remove what you naturally have.

Anyone who does remove their body hair on a regular basis will know that shaving and waxing can be itchy, time-consuming and expensive. Enter the IPL. The what, now? The IPL! Otherwise known as an intense pulsed light hair removal device. Let us bring you up to speed...

IPL hair removal devices are hand-held machines that get rid of pesky fuzz by directing a powerful beam of light at the hair follicle, damaging its root and stunting regrowth (sometimes permanently). They can be glided over bigger areas of the body, like your legs, or stamped onto more precise patches: think your bikini line or top lip.

The best at-home IPL devices can be pricey – expect to pay around £200 – but they’re also an investment that’ll save you money over time (and stop you throwing so many rusty razors into the bin).

For effective results, shave before using your IPL hair removal device, but don’t wax or epilate. Some hair needs to be present in order for the light to target it, but leave your hair too long and it'll be harder for the light to reach its destination: the follicle.

The biggest downside to IPL hair removal devices is that they're only effective on hair that is a contrasting colour to the skin. People with pale to medium skin tones and dark hair will see the best results. Sadly, if you have dark skin, light hair or tattoos, IPL isn’t for you.

IPL hair removal should also be avoided during pregnancy and by anybody undergoing certain medical treatments.

Most brands suggest using your IPL device regularly over the course of three months, followed by additional top-up sessions. With consistent use, hair should start growing back more slowly and finely, before stopping altogether.

IPL hair removal is safe, so long as you use a device from a trusted brand and follow the instructions carefully. The procedure is quick and shouldn’t hurt, but it may feel hot and tingly (kind of like a quick elastic-band snap).

Side effects including redness and slight discomfort aren’t unusual and shouldn’t last, but blisters and burns are rare. Always see a doctor if you suffer an adverse reaction after using an IPL device.

IPL is not the same as laser hair removal, which uses a different, more powerful light source to target a concentrated area of body hair and permanently stop regrowth after four to eight treatments.

IPL can be done at home but laser hair removal can only be performed by a trained professional. As you'd likely expect, an at-home device will require more consistent use – and plenty of patience – to achieve equivalent results.

We asked 140 testers to try out a range of the best IPL devices over six to 12 weeks, noting how effective they were at removing hair on the legs, underarms, upper lip and bikini line. They also assessed how long it took for regrowth to appear, how easy the device was to control, and how comfortable it felt to use.

We've tested the best IPL gadgets out there to see which ones are really worth spending your money on.

This cordless IPL device was our panel’s favourite, thanks to tailored treatments and speedy results. The majority of our testers reported a major reduction in hair growth after just one month of use – and almost none after the full 12-week course.

Simply click one of three attachment heads – body, face or bikini – onto the device and it’ll switch to a tailored programme for that zone, using either the stamp or slide treatment mode.

Its in-built sensor identifies the most comfortable of five light settings for your skin tone. This smart, if a little bulky, machine also has an accompanying free app that lets you create a bespoke treatment schedule.

If you’re anxious about feeling pain, let this professional IPL device reassure you. It has 10 intensity settings – double that of most of its rivals – and a skin tone sensor to ensure peak comfort during use. It’s rapid too, treating both legs in under five minutes at its lowest setting!

Our testers were wholly satisfied after completing the three-month course and liked that this machine came with a complementary razor for touch-ups. It has enough flashes to last for 22 years, so you’ll be in good hands for ages.

Founder, Trish Coulton, set out to create a device that could achieve the same results as her London salon at home – and, judging by our results, it’s safe to say she’s done a good job.

Don’t be fooled by its slim, lightweight frame, this is a seriously powerful IPL tool, with eight settings boasting full-body versatility (and, better yet, no need to switch heads for different areas).

Despite it being a corded model, our panelists found the device intuitive, comfortable and easy to use; even IPL beginners were able to precisely target hard to reach areas in minutes. They appreciated the auto-function, too, which meant they could undergo treatment while watching TV or listening to a podcast (yes, it’s that quiet!).

After the 12 weeks were up, testers reported visibly reduced hair growth, and said that they intended to continue using the product post-trial.

The second entry from Philips in our line-up, this IPL device includes some of the same swanky features as our winner but at a more affordable price point.

Our panel found it made a real difference in reducing not only regrowth but also thickness of hair, on the body and face, in just four weeks.

The included precision attachment made it easier to target smaller areas, while the wider heads were great at covering larger spaces. After 12 weeks, all noticed a visible reduction in hair, and there were no reports of pain or irritation.

The automatic glide function on this cordless IPL device eliminates the need to hold down a button while you de-fuzz your legs, speeding the process up. It’s pain-free to use on both the face and body, thanks to a skin tone sensor that selects the most comfortable of its six intensity settings.

It comes with two attachments for targeting specific body areas with greater precision. Our testers noticed their regrowth become sparser over the first month before fully halting after three. Success!

We've got pretty high standards when it comes to investing in beauty devices, which is why this multipurpose tool impressed. The 2-in-1 device features a separate LED attachment, so you're left hair-free and with great-looking skin.

A standout feature when it came to hair removal was its ICE tech, which cools skin down as you zap, to help keep pain to a minimum. Another is its unique rotating head, so you never miss a patch, and our testers found it got into pretty much every nook and cranny.

To sum up, all loved this luxe, high-quality device and were pleased with its hair-removal powers after just six weeks.

If you’re not sure where to start on your IPL journey, this is the best beginner-friendly device. Keeping things simple, it only has three settings (meaning it’s not as overwhelming as some of the others) and testers found the process completely fuss-free.

It can be used on both the face and body, and it was effective at reducing hair regrowth after eight weeks of use. It’s not the speediest but it isn’t as eye-wateringly expensive as others on our list either, and still delivers the goods.

Last minute getaway? No problem. This newest offering from Philips proved to be their fastest yet at nipping hair in the bud. Our testers were pleased to see results in as little as three weeks, with everyone satisfied at the lack of regrowth.

It was a great all-rounder too, proving to be effective on facial and body hair, with many testers saying it was also a game-changer around the bikini line. One tester raved: 'hair regrowth has become less frequent after use, and it's even less dark and thinner than before.'

The compact size of this neat little machine helps you reach trickier areas like behind the knees. It isn’t cordless, but it won’t take up much space in your bathroom. Those of you with sensitive skin will appreciate the built-in skin sensor that matches your skin tone to its optimum light setting.

This is another device that boasts its own app – simply connect to it via Bluetooth and set up a personalised treatment plan. Our panel recommend using it for the full 12 weeks as guided, but they began noticing finer hair after the first four. It’s simple, but effective.

This lightweight, smartly designed device is easy to set up. It has a decent range of power levels, an automatic skin tone sensor and a face applicator for improved accuracy on smaller, more delicate areas. It successfully slowed down hair growth and the majority of our testers plan to continue using it at home.

It wasn’t the fastest on test, even across larger regions like the legs, but it did access harder-to-reach zones with ease. The instructions could be clearer though.