Buying guide · 4 picks compared

Best IPL hair removal UK 2026

Braun IPL Silk·expert Pro 5 is the best pick for most people, because Braun says both lower legs take under 5 minutes and it has 400,000 flashes.

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For a corded device with a pen trimmer, choose the Philips Lumea IPL 7000 Series, which Argos lists with a Satin compact pen trimmer in the box.

By Bez, Editor✓ Updated 26 October 2026

★ Our top pickBraun IPL Silk·expert Pro 5 (PL5124)Image: BraunSee it on Amazon

Which one is for you?

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Which pick suits which need
Ifyou want the fastest sessions and the lowest RRP here	Braun IPL Silk·expert Pro 5 (PL5124)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want a corded Philips with three attachments and a pen trimmer	Philips Lumea IPL 7000 Series (BRI923/00)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want four attachments and the SkinAI app features	Philips Lumea IPL 9900 Series with SenseIQ and SkinAI (BRI951/01)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou have a darker skin tone and want a maker that says all skin colours	Silk'n 7 IPL Hair Removal Device with rotatable head	See it on Amazon

The 4 picks compared

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1★ Top pick
Braun
Braun IPL Silk·expert Pro 5 (PL5124)Best for fast sessions
Smooth lower legs in under five minutes, says Braun
See it on Amazon
2
Philips
Philips Lumea IPL 7000 Series (BRI923/00)Best for corded with pen trimmer
Smoother skin with three attachments and a pen trimmer
See it on Amazon
3
Philips
Philips Lumea IPL 9900 Series with SenseIQ and SkinAI (BRI951/01)Best for SkinAI app, four attachments
Smooth skin across the body, face, bikini and underarms
See it on Amazon
4
Silk'n
Silk'n 7 IPL Hair Removal Device with rotatable headBest for all skin tones claim
Tackle unwanted hair with 600K light pulses and a 360-degree head
See it on Amazon

Side by side

From the makers' and retailers' published factsAffiliate

The picks side by side
Pick	Best for	Price	The fact that sets it apart	Where to buy
Braun IPL Silk·expert Pro 5 (PL5124)	fast sessions	£349.99	Braun says both lower legs can be treated in under 5 minutes, and a full-body session averages about 10 minutes per week.	See it on Amazon
Philips Lumea IPL 7000 Series (BRI923/00)	corded with pen trimmer	£389.99	It has three attachments: body (4 cm²), face (2 cm², with an extra filter) and bikini (2 cm²).	See it on Amazon
Philips Lumea IPL 9900 Series with SenseIQ and SkinAI (BRI951/01)	SkinAI app, four attachments	£599.99	It has four attachments: body (4.1 cm²), face (2 cm²), bikini (3 cm²) and underarm (3 cm²).	See it on Amazon
Silk'n 7 IPL Hair Removal Device with rotatable head	all skin tones claim	£499	Silk'n says the Silk'n 7 is suitable for all skin colours and almost all hair colours.	See it on Amazon

Prices from the maker or retailer named on each pick below, checked 26 October 2026. A dash means the price changes too often to quote: tap through for today's.

Get smoother skin at home with IPL (intense pulsed light), on your own schedule. This guide is for UK shoppers weighing up at-home use against salon visits. Three things decide the choice: your skin tone and hair colour, the attachments you need, and how long each session takes.

Our picks in detail

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1★ Top pickBest for fast sessions

Braun IPL Silk·expert Pro 5 (PL5124)

Smooth lower legs in under five minutes, says Braun.

What it is: The Silk·expert Pro 5 has 400,000 flashes on tap, and Braun says a full-body session averages about 10 minutes a week.
Perfect for: This suits you if you want fast sessions above all else.
Why we picked it: The SkinPro 2.0 sensor reads your skin 80 times per second and adjusts each flash as it goes. You also get 10 intensity levels plus normal, gentle and extra gentle modes to choose from. The box adds a precision head, a Gillette Venus razor and a pouch, and the warranty runs 2 years, or 5 years with BraunCare+ registration.
Price: £349.99 (braunshop.co.uk, checked 26 October 2026)

Braun says both lower legs can be treated in under 5 minutes, and a full-body session averages about 10 minutes per week.
It has 10 intensity levels plus normal, gentle and extra gentle modes, and 400,000 flashes.
The SkinPro 2.0 sensor reads the skin 80 times per second to adjust each flash.
The box includes a precision head, a Gillette Venus razor and a pouch, and the warranty is 2 years or 5 years with BraunCare+ registration.

The catch: It suits light to medium-dark skin tones and is least effective on very blonde, red, grey or white hair.

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2Best for corded with pen trimmer

Philips Lumea IPL 7000 Series (BRI923/00)

Smoother skin with three attachments and a pen trimmer.

What it is: The Lumea IPL 7000 is an IPL hair remover with attachments for the body, face and bikini. One kit covers the big areas and the small ones.
Perfect for: This suits you if you want a pen trimmer in the box with your hair removal kit.
Why we picked it: Five manual light settings let you choose your level, and the Skin Tone Sensor stops you treating areas too dark for IPL. Argos lists a Satin compact pen trimmer with it, and 15 minutes covers both lower legs. Each bulb gives about 250,000 flashes, and Philips gives a 2-year global warranty plus 3 extra years if you register within 90 days.
Price: £389.99 (philips.co.uk, checked 26 October 2026)

It has three attachments: body (4 cm²), face (2 cm², with an extra filter) and bikini (2 cm²).
It has 5 manual light intensity settings and a Skin Tone Sensor that stops you treating areas too dark for IPL.
Argos lists a Satin compact pen trimmer in the box, about 250,000 flashes per bulb, and 15 minutes to cover both lower legs.
Philips gives a 2-year global warranty plus 3 extra years if you register within 90 days.

The catch: It is corded only and suits skin tones from fair to medium brown (I–IV).

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3Best for SkinAI app, four attachments

Philips Lumea IPL 9900 Series with SenseIQ and SkinAI (BRI951/01)

Smooth skin across the body, face, bikini and underarms.

What it is: The Lumea IPL 9900 is an IPL hair remover with four attachments for body, face, bikini and underarm. Its free SkinAI app analyses your body hair and tracks your hair reduction.
Perfect for: It suits you if you want one device for your body, face and bikini, plus a free SkinAI app to track progress.
Why we picked it: Philips says it suits skin tones from fair to dark brown (I–V) and naturally dark blonde, brown and black hair. Argos lists about 450,000 flashes per bulb, and covering both lower legs takes 8.5 minutes.
Price: £599.99 (philips.co.uk, checked 26 October 2026)

It has four attachments: body (4.1 cm²), face (2 cm²), bikini (3 cm²) and underarm (3 cm²).
The free app uses SkinAI technology to analyse body hair and track hair reduction.
Argos lists about 450,000 flashes per bulb and 8.5 minutes to cover both lower legs.
Philips says it suits skin tones from fair to dark brown (I–V) and naturally dark blonde, brown and black hair.

The catch: The Body Hair Analyser and AudioFlash Counter features sit in the Lumea IPL app, so you need a smartphone to use them.

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4Best for all skin tones claim

Silk'n 7 IPL Hair Removal Device with rotatable head

Tackle unwanted hair with 600K light pulses and a 360-degree head.

What it is: The Silk'n 7 is an IPL hair remover with 600,000 light pulses across five energy levels, so you can pick the level you want.
Perfect for: It suits households with a mix of skin tones because Silk'n says it works on all skin colours and almost all hair colours.
Why we picked it: The Silk'n 7 has a built-in safety sensor that stops the device emitting a light pulse. Its head rotates 360 degrees and comes with three attachments of 1 cm², 2.5 cm² and 5 cm². Silk'n also gives it a 2-year warranty.
Price: £499 (silkn.co.uk, checked 26 October 2026)

Silk'n says the Silk'n 7 is suitable for all skin colours and almost all hair colours.
It has five energy levels, a built-in safety sensor that stops the device emitting a light pulse, and 600K light pulses.
The head rotates 360 degrees and has three attachments of 1 cm², 2.5 cm² and 5 cm².
Silk'n gives a 2-year warranty.

The catch: It is corded only, and Silk'n's own FAQ says the darkest skin tone combined with white or grey hair is not suitable.

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How we chose

Our buying criteria

IPL devices work by light, so skin tone and hair colour decide whether a device suits you, and each maker states which hair colours its device suits. Skin tones are graded on the Fitzpatrick scale, from I (very fair) to VI (deepest). Every pick had to state which skin tones and hair colours it suits, a clear flash count (250,000 to 600,000 across our picks), its attachment sizes and a published warranty. We also weighed corded against cordless use for awkward areas. Each device's facts come from its maker's UK page or a UK retailer's listing, and each pick shows its catch.

Skin tone and hair colour: confirm the maker's stated range before you buy.
Power: the Lumea 7000 and Silk'n 7 are corded, so plan to treat within reach of a socket.
Flashes and attachments: compare flash counts and whether you get body, face, bikini or underarm heads.
Session time and guarantee: compare minutes per session and warranty length.

How we choose every pick

Your questions, answered

Does IPL hair removal work on dark skin?

Silk'n says the Silk'n 7 suits all skin colours, except the darkest skin tone with white or grey hair. Philips says the Lumea 7000 suits fair to medium brown skin (I–IV) and the Lumea 9900 fair to dark brown (I–V).

Which hair colours does IPL hair removal work on?

Braun says the Silk·expert Pro 5 suits natural blonde to black hair and is least effective on very blonde, red, grey or white hair. Philips says the Lumea 9900 suits naturally dark blonde, brown and black hair.

How often do I use an IPL device?

Usually weekly at the start, then less often as regrowth slows: follow your device's own plan. Braun plans the Silk·expert Pro 5 around a full-body session of about 10 minutes a week.

How many flashes does an IPL device have?

The Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 lists 400,000 flashes, the Philips Lumea 9900 lists 450,000 per bulb, and the Silk'n 7 lists 600,000 light pulses.

Can I use IPL on my face and bikini line?

Go for the Philips Lumea 7000: it comes with body, face and bikini attachments, so one device covers both areas. Smaller spots? The Braun Pro 5 comes with a precision head in the box.

Is IPL safe to use at home?

Yes, when you follow the instructions in the box. Do a patch test first, skip tattoos and dark moles, and check the maker's list of medicines and conditions, including pregnancy, that rule IPL out for now.