Best At-Home IPL Hair Removal Devicesfor Beginners
Updated
Brands can't pay to be here. Picks come from specs, ratings and buyer reviews. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Short answer
This page is for first-timers who want to try IPL at home and are nervous about the zap. My pick is the Ulike Air 10: its ice-cooling window holds 65°F against the skin, sessions take about 10 minutes, and it's the cheapest of the three. The Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 is the pick for a long warranty, and the Philips Lumea 9000 for the most attachments.
The three
Ulike
Ulike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal Device
- Ice-cooling window at 65°F for comfort
- 4 modes, including a fast mode for touch-ups
- Skin sensor adjusts output and blocks flashes on too-dark skin
- Ulike doesn't publish a flash count
- Comfort feature
- Ice-cooling window, 65°F
- Heads
- 1 window
- Flashes
- Not published
- Price
- $$$
Braun
Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 IPL PL5137
- 400,000 flashes
- 10 intensity levels and 3 modes, including extra sensitive
- Face precision head and Venus razor in the box
- Corded, so you're tied to an outlet
- Comfort feature
- Sensitive and extra sensitive modes
- Heads
- Standard cap, face precision head
- Flashes
- 400,000
- Price
- $$$
Philips
Philips Lumea 9000 Series IPL BRI984/03
- 4 curved attachments for face, body, underarms and bikini
- 450,000-flash bulb
- Corded or cordless use
- The priciest of the three by a wide margin
- Comfort feature
- 5 intensity settings
- Heads
- 4 curved attachments
- Flashes
- 450,000
- Price
- $$$
Ratings from the source shown, checked October 26, 2026. Price tiers compare the three; Amazon shows today's price.
Side by side
Swipe to compare →
| Best for beginnersUlike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal Device | Best warrantyBraun Silk-expert Pro 5 IPL PL5137 | Most attachmentsPhilips Lumea 9000 Series IPL BRI984/03 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | People worried about discomfort | Face and body use with a precision head and a long warranty | Treating face, underarms, bikini and body with fitted heads |
| Comfort feature | Ice-cooling window, 65°F | Sensitive and extra sensitive modes | 5 intensity settings |
| Heads | 1 window | Standard cap, face precision head | 4 curved attachments |
| Flashes | Not published | 400,000 | 450,000 |
| Power | Not listed on brand page | Corded | Corded or cordless |
| Warranty | 2 years + 100-day guarantee | Up to 5 years | 2 years |
| Common complaint | Price changes often | Cord, bright flash | Price, weight |
| Price | $$$ | $$$ | $$$ |
The fine print
Watch out for
The most common catch with each, from reviews and specs.
- Ulike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal DeviceUlike doesn't publish a flash count
- Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 IPL PL5137Corded, so you're tied to an outlet
- Philips Lumea 9000 Series IPL BRI984/03The priciest of the three by a wide margin
Skip it if
Who each one is wrong for
Saves you a return.
- Ulike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal DeviceYour body hair is light blonde, red or gray. IPL needs dark pigment in the hair.
- Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 IPL PL5137You want to treat your legs on the couch without a cord.
- Philips Lumea 9000 Series IPL BRI984/03You mainly want legs done fast. A full-body session took about 40 minutes in one test.
The details
-
What separates them
Ulike is built around comfort. The cooling window is the main reason beginners pick it. Braun is built around control, with 10 levels and an extra sensitive mode. Philips is built around coverage, with a fitted head for each body area.
Ulike and Philips list a skin sensor, and Braun says its light adapts as you go. That matters because IPL can burn skin that is too dark for it.
-
Who should skip all three
IPL works by heating dark pigment in the hair. It doesn't work on light blonde, red, gray or white hair.
It also isn't for the deepest skin tones. One review notes the Philips is rated for Fitzpatrick skin types I to V, not VI. Check each brand's skin tone chart before you buy.
-
What buyers complain about
Braun's Walmart reviews mention a very bright flash and times when it stops flashing, which is usually the sensor. Philips reviewers mention the weight and price.
Ulike's main issue is pricing. Its own site showed 2 different prices on 2 pages, so compare before you check out.
So which is yours?
Ulike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal Device
Pick it if you want: people worried about discomfort.
Skip it if your body hair is light blonde, red or gray. IPL needs dark pigment in the hair.
Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 IPL PL5137
Pick it if you want: face and body use with a precision head and a long warranty.
Skip it if you want to treat your legs on the couch without a cord.
Philips Lumea 9000 Series IPL BRI984/03
Pick it if you want: treating face, underarms, bikini and body with fitted heads.
Skip it if you mainly want legs done fast. A full-body session took about 40 minutes in one test.
My pick
Ulike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal Device
Sapphire ice cooling keeps the window at 65°F, with 4 power modes and a skin sensor that stops flashing on skin that's too dark.
Also considered
Good options that didn't make the top three.
How I compared
- Checked specs and prices on Ulike, Braun, Philips and Walmart pages on 2026-10-26.
- Used a price tracker for the Philips Amazon price and list price.
- Read a hands-on Philips Lumea 9000 review for session times and battery life.
- Read Walmart reviews for repeated Braun complaints.
Sources: Ulike Air 10 (Ulike) · Silk-expert Pro 5 IPL PL5137 (Braun) · Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 PL5137 (Walmart) · Lumea IPL 9000 Series BRI984/03 (Philips) · Philips Lumea 9000 price history (Buyhatke) · Philips Lumea 9000 series review (We Are Body Beautiful)
Questions
Does at-home IPL hurt?
Most people describe a warm snap. Start on the lowest setting. Ulike's cooling window and Braun's extra sensitive mode are made for this.
How long until I see less hair?
Plan on several weeks of regular sessions, then touch-ups. Philips claims a visible change after 2 sessions.
Can I use IPL on my face?
Braun includes a face precision head and Philips has a face attachment. Avoid the eye area on any device.
Is an IPL device a good gift?
Only if the person asked for one. Hair color and skin tone decide whether it works, so check that first.