Which hair removal device is right for you?

Nina26 APRIL 2026

Content

In short: hair removal devices
Which hair removal devices are there?
Are there also hair removal devices for men?
Comparing different hair removal devices
Our advice on choosing the right hair removal device
Frequently asked questions

Woman with beauty items: hair dryer, wax strips, epilator, wax stick, razor, and cactus with flower.

If you want to remove unwanted hair effectively, so you can wear shorts or a skirt with confidence in warm weather and always be ready for a day at the beach, this article will help you choose the best hair removal device for your body. We discuss different devices, such as a lady shaver and an IPL device, and their unique features, so you can easily make the right choice.

In short: hair removal devices

A man shaves his face with an electric razor in front of a mirror.

An IPL device offers long-lasting results, is painless and easy to use at home, but it isn’t suitable for every hair and skin tone.
An epilator delivers visible results after just one treatment and, with long-term use, may lead to finer regrowth, but it can be painful and takes longer than shaving on areas such as the legs.
A lady shaver provides quick and painless hair removal by trimming hairs just above the skin. As a result, the finish is less smooth than with epilating or shaving, and the hairs grow back more quickly.
A body groomer trims hair short across the whole body and often comes with a shaving attachment, allowing you to shave as well. It’s especially useful for men.

Most hair removal devices can be used on several areas of the body, such as the legs, arms, underarms, stomach and bikini line. Always avoid intimate areas and sensitive spots.

Which hair removal devices are there?

There are different types of hair removal devices, each with their own benefits and uses. For women, IPL devices, epilators and lady shavers are commonly used options. Men often choose a body groomer or a traditional electric shaver for hair removal. Whether you’re looking for a painless hair removal method or a device designed specifically for a certain part of the body, there’s a suitable option for everyone.

A person in a pink top sits on a white bed, using a white electronic device on their leg.

IPL devices

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. The device emits painless flashes of light that send heat through the hair pigment to the hair follicles. This damages the follicles, so hair grows back more slowly or may stop growing altogether. IPL only works on hairs in the growth phase. That’s why you usually need 6 to 8 treatments for good results. IPL works best on light to dark brown skin and dark blonde to black hair. On white, grey, light blonde or red hair, the technology works less well or not at all, because these hairs contain too little melanin to absorb the light properly.

IPL is especially suitable for larger areas of the body, such as the legs, underarms, arms, stomach, bikini line and chin. Don’t use it on sensitive areas, such as intimate zones, nipples, ears, eyes, eyebrows, or the skin around piercings or tattoos. Men should also avoid using it on the beard area, neck and face.

Pros and cons of IPL devices
+ Long-lasting results.
+ Painless and safe for your skin.
+ Easy and quick to use at home.
- Not suitable for every hair and skin tone.
- Not suitable for every part of the body, especially sensitive areas.

View the best IPL devices

A woman is using a lilac epilator to remove hair from her legs while sitting on a wooden chair in a cosy bathroom at home.

Epilators

An epilator removes hairs from the root. This keeps your skin smooth and means hairs grow back slower, often for up to about 4 weeks. Compared with waxing, epilating is easy to do at home. It also works on short hairs, from around half a millimetre. If you epilate regularly, hairs may become finer and lighter over time and may sometimes stop growing back altogether. Epilating can be painful and usually takes longer than shaving, because you need to move the device slowly across the skin. An epilator can be used on the following areas of the body: legs, arms, underarms, bikini line, upper lip and chin.

Pros and cons of epilators
+ Visible results after just one treatment.
+ With long-term use, hairs may become finer and may sometimes stop growing back altogether.
- Epilating can be painful and may leave redness or irritation.
- Treating areas such as the legs takes longer than shaving.

Which epilator should you choose?

A person using a white electric device on their leg while seated on a wooden chair, wearing a white shirt.

Lady shavers

If you don’t like epilating, a lady shaver is a quick and easy way to remove hair. A lady shaver trims the hairs short, just above the skin. You can use a lady shaver wet or dry, for example with shaving gel or foam, or simply for a quick touch-up without anything extra. One major advantage is that there’s less risk of cuts and skin irritation. A lady shaver doesn’t shave quite as closely as a razor, because it doesn’t work as close to the skin. However, this also makes it gentler on the skin, especially on sensitive areas such as the pubic area. You can use a lady shaver on the legs, arms, underarms, face and bikini line.

Pros and cons of lady shavers
+ Painless.
+ Quick and convenient to use both wet and dry.
- Less smooth finish.
- Hair grows back quickly.

Check out the best lady shavers

A man is using an electric trimmer to neatly and precisely groom his sideburns and chest hair in warm light.

Body groomers

With a body groomer, you can trim hair very short across your whole body. It often comes with a shaving attachment as well, allowing you to shave the skin smooth. You can use a body groomer wet or dry, although wet shaving with shaving gel or foam is often the most comfortable option. You can use a body groomer on the whole body, but for the face, an electric shaver or razor is often a better choice. The advantage of a body groomer is that it’s gentler on the skin than a razor. This means there’s less chance of skin irritation and cuts.

Pros and cons of body groomers
+ Less chance of skin irritation and cuts.
+ Can be used wet and dry.
- Less smooth finish.

Are there also hair removal devices for men?

A man uses an electric body groomer to trim underarm and stomach hair carefully, smoothly and comfortably.

Men often have different needs when it comes to hair removal. That’s why there are specific devices that are more powerful and better suited to thicker hair. A body groomer is a good choice for different parts of the body, such as the chest, back and underarms. There are also many shaving devices available for both the face and body. You can choose an electric shaver, a traditional razor for your beard, or a hybrid trimmer for both your face and body.

Comparing different hair removal devices

In the overview below, you can see the main similarities and differences between the various hair removal devices at a glance.

Property name	IPL devices	Epilators	Lady shavers	Body groomers
Suitable for	Not suitable for very dark skin tones or very light blonde, grey, white or red hair	All skin types and hair colours	All skin types and hair colours	Mainly men
Result	Smooth	Smooth	Not completely smooth	Not completely smooth
How long results last	Weeks to months	A few weeks	A few days	A few days
Number of treatments	Several treatments needed for visible results	Visible results after 1 treatment	Visible results after 1 treatment	Visible results after 1 treatment
Technique and sensation	Painless	More painful than shaving	Painless	Painless
Biggest advantage	Long-lasting results	Finer hair after long-term use	Painless and quick to use	Less chance of skin irritation and cuts
Biggest disadvantage	Not suitable for every body area, hair colour or skin tone	Takes longer than shaving on areas such as the legs	Hair grows back quickly and the result is less smooth	Less smooth finish

With any hair removal device, avoid using it on sensitive areas and intimate zones. Always read the instructions for your device to check which areas can be treated safely.

Our advice on choosing the right hair removal device

The image displays four grooming tools on a split pink and blue background. There is a black trimmer, a white clipper, a silver nose trimmer, and a blue electric shaver.

Choosing the best hair removal device depends on your personal preferences and the specific needs of your skin and hair. Not every device is suitable for everyone or for every part of the body.

Choose an IPL device if you want long-lasting hair reduction and have light to dark brown skin with dark blonde to black hair. Keep in mind that you will need multiple treatments and that IPL isn’t suitable for all areas of the body.
Choose an epilator if you want a smooth result that lasts longer than shaving and you have a slightly higher pain tolerance.
Choose a lady shaver if you want quick, easy and gentle hair removal, especially if you have sensitive skin. A lady shaver is ideal if you want less risk of cuts and irritation.
Choose a body groomer if you want to trim body hair short or shave it smooth with less chance of skin irritation than with a razor. This is especially a good choice for larger body areas and often for men as well.

Every hair removal device has its own pros and cons. That’s why it’s important to consider what matters most to you, how sensitive your skin is, and which parts of the body you want to treat.