Laser Hair Removal Device Popularity Grows

The popularity and availability of laser hair removal device options continues to grow for both home and clinic-grade products.

Acumen Research and Consulting reports that by 2026 the global laser hair removal device market will reach $3.4 billion with a compound annual growth rate of 15% during this period.

Laser Hair Removal Device Popularity

The research also shows that North America will continue to dominate the market due to growth in the US:

North America emerged dominant in 2018, due to accessibility of technologically progressive products and high consciousness concerning physical grooming. Surge in the usage of laser hair removal devices in U.S. for fast and effective results is one of the important factors contributing to the nation’s dominance.

Acumen Research and Consulting

The research also suggested that Europe will also experience growth as will Asia due to increased disposable incomes and desire for hair removal choices.

A second research report covering the exact same timeframe has even loftier expectations for the market. Grandview Research suggests that market growth will be 15.9% compounded annually.

This same research company projects that hair removal products in general will grow by 14.9% until 2025 largely driven by home-based products and an increasing desire for people to look good and take care of their appearance.

At Home Laser Hair Removal Products

Expect this segment to grow for the foreseeable future for several reasons.

Firstly, the overall growth – as shown above – in the desire and need for hair removal continues to increase amongst both men and women on a global basis. As long term hair removal popularity grows, the desire for any option will most likely remain popular especially home laser (or Intense Pulsed Light) hair removal options that for $200-$400 may be the same as the cost of 1 single laser hair removal treatment in a clinic.

Secondly, with COVID a concern for at least the imminent future more and more people will turn to home-based options in general not only for hair removal but other things as well. Anything to avoid going to a store or other retail outlet especially during times of lockdowns when you simply can’t.

So while the popularity of home-based lasers and light-based hair removal systems continues to grow and are fairly cost effective at $200-$400 (generally) which is similar to the average cost of one laser hair removal treatment, are these home-based options any good?

Do they actually work?

Are Home-Based Laser Hair Removal Products Worth It?

Here are some things to ponder if you’re considering a home-based laser hair removal product.

What power level do they have?

Professional clinics might spend $15,000 and up for a high end, professional-grade laser or IPL hair removal machine with numerous settings. They then have to train their staff on how to use it, carry liability insurance, etc to offer the best service while protecting themselves if a customer gets hurt.

You on the other hand buy a $200 home laser and start using it without training. Your home laser generally uses lower power than a clinic laser. That’s why they’re cheaper and can be used by a layman like you or I.

You can easily find the wavelength of pro laser machines because the manufacturers advertise it and because the four types of lasers each have specific wavelength ranges. Home laser products on the other hand often talk about wattage similar to a home video game or coffee maker. They don’t necessarily want you to know what the power level is.

Should you really expect to receive the same results from cheap home products as with a higher-powered clinic-grade laser?

Do you give up easily?

Do you tend to give up on things that don’t work or offer quick results? Laser hair removal at a clinic doesn’t work overnight. You typically need multiple treatments spread out on a schedule that is made to hit most of your hairs in the anagen or growth phase because that’s where laser hair removal works.

You on the other hand buy a $200 home laser and start zapping away every day for a week. That’s what we do with new products, right? Use them like crazy when they’re new but then when we tire of them or don’t notice results soon enough, we toss the machine in the closet with the rest of the stuff we bought in the past that also didn’t work quickly enough for our liking.

Laser hair removal takes time, repeated use, and needs to be performed during the anagen phase. Your professional hair removal advisor should know this, even if you don’t.

How much time do you have?

Hair removal takes time, effort and skill. Professional laser hair removal practitioners have in all likelihood received training and unless they’re brand new to the industry, have experience with hair removal. You don’t. They (should) know how to schedule appointments at the right interval and can effectively plan each treatment session, too.

They can also find it easier to treat your body than you can. Can you imagine yourself zapping your own back or shoulders? Unless you’re double-jointed and can spin your head 180 degrees, there are some body parts that simply can’t be done on our own.

You can spend a great deal of time and effort doing hair removal yourself and you might end up with little to show for it except disappointment and a product you toss in the closet.

Are you even a candidate?

Laser and IPL hair removal options have traditionally been available for those with light skin and dark hair. Newer clinic-grade laser machines can now treat all skin tones successfully.

But even these expensive machines used in clinics and doctors’ offices still can’t treat those with blonde, light, red and gray hair. And if you have very fine or thin hair, laser and IPL won’t work either.

So if you have any of these hair colors or types, don’t even bother buying a home laser because it won’t work. Even the $15,000+ pro machines can’t do it. A $200 machine used at work won’t either.