At-home laser hair removal does work... ...but that doesn't mean it's always permanent. You'll likely need touch-ups every so often after you've reached your desired results — and you may end up getting an in-office treatment anyway. "Remember, IPL is not true laser technology," says Dr. Haecker.

There are two kinds of hair removal tools you can use at home. One is a real laser, while the other uses short bursts of very bright light. Both types of devices remove hair, but neither is as strong as the tool you'd find at a dermatologist's office. On the one hand, less power means less responsibility.

Short answer: yes. “At-home laser hair removal is typically safe as long—if you follow directions and use caution to avoid burning,” says Dr. King. However, it's also important to note that at-home laser hair removal isn't for everyone.