Finally—an At-Home Laser Hair Removal Device Darker Skin Tones Can Actually Use

As a Brown woman, I was always a little bit hesitant to try at-home laser hair removal. Unfortunately, it turns out skincare, haircare, and other beauty items aren't the only spaces where Black skin is left out of the conversation. At-home IPL devices often aren't safe to use on darker skin tones. Many of them cater only to lighter skin tones because they rely on contrast between the hair and skin in order to work.

There's a new kid on the block, however, that set out to change that. Epilaser just released its 980 device for darker skin tones, and it's quick, painless, and super easy to use. I gave it a try and got a little more information about why at-home laser hair removal is so tough for us Black and Brown folks. If you've been looking for a solution, too, look no further. I'm sharing everything you need to know about at-home laser hair removal for dark skin tones below.

What Is an IPL Device and How Does It Work?

You may already be familiar with the laser hair removal process. While doing treatments in-office is great, it can definitely start to add up after a while if you're dealing with stubborn hair follicles. That's why a lot of folks opt for an at-home IPL device. Those can also be great and effective but, interestingly, I recently learned that they don't work for all skin tones.

Epilaser CMO Sindy Von Ziegesar explained a bit more about IPL and what exactly it does. "At-home IPL (intense pulsed light) devices use broad-spectrum light to target the melanin in hair follicles, heating them up to disrupt the hair growth cycle," she explains. "Over time, this helps reduce hair regrowth for smoother skin. Most devices recommend consistent use over several weeks to see visible results. While they may not always be as powerful as some in-office lasers, IPL can still be highly effective when used properly and consistently."

This sounds great in theory, but if you're a skin type five or six on the Fitzpatrick scale, some devices out there shouldn't be used. In fact, I've opened the box on an IPL device myself that warned not to use it if you fall into one of those two types. More on that below.

Why Are Some Laser Hair Removal Devices Unsafe for Dark Skin Tones?

It's definitely disappointing (and frustrating) that a lot of at-home laser devices aren't quite there yet for darker skin tones. Ziegasar says that most IPL devices rely on contrast between skin tone and hair color to target the follicles safely. "On darker skin tones, the device can’t easily distinguish between the pigment in the hair and the pigment in the skin, which can lead to the light being absorbed by the skin itself – causing irritations, burns, or discoloration," she explains. "Because of this, many traditional IPL devices exclude darker skin types from their recommended usage range."

My Review of the Epilaser 980

That's why I was incredibly excited to give Epilaser's new 980 model a go. Epilaser has changed the game by bringing a model to the market that's fully dedicated to Fitzpatrick skin types five and six. Even if you don't fall into these two categories, there's still another model available for light to medium skin tones—no one is left out.

Epilaser's 980 model is totally unique and Ziegesar shared why. "Unlike traditional IPL, Epilaser’s Smart Optic technology uses a built-in camera with intelligent optics to automatically scan and assess your skin in real time, ensuring the light targets only the hair follicle, not the surrounding skin," she says. "That means it’s safe and effective on a wider range of skin tones—including darker skin—without compromising on results or comfort."

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