Review: The Silk'n 7 IPL Hair Removal Device promises long-lasting hair reduction – does it deliver?

For anyone who's grown tired of the endless cycle of shaving, waxing and booking salon appointments, an at-home IPL device can be a worthwhile investment. Silk'n has been developing beauty technology for years, and its Silk'n 7 Hair Removal Device is one of the brand's most advanced options, promising long-lasting hair reduction from the comfort of home.

First impressions are excellent. The device feels reassuringly premium - as it should at a cost of £499 - without being too heavy, and everything has been thoughtfully packaged. Inside the box you'll find the IPL handset, three interchangeable treatment heads for different parts of the body, a razor and a smart storage case that keeps everything neatly together between sessions. The instructions are clear too, even if you’re new to IPLs, making the whole process feel far less daunting than you might expect.

This isn’t a budget buy - so what exactly do you get for your hard-earned £500? Well, what sets the Silk'n 7 apart is its combination of Intense Pulsed Light technology with the brand's patented galvanic energy. This is designed to help open the skin's pores slightly, allowing the light energy to reach the hair follicle more effectively.

And this bit’s clever, too - it features AutoAdapt technology, which continually assesses your skin tone and automatically selects the appropriate intensity level throughout your treatment. It takes away much of the guesswork and gives extra confidence that you're using the safest setting for your skin. This in itself, for me, is worth paying extra for.

I was surprised by just how comfortable it was to use. Rather than any sharp discomfort, each pulse produced a tiny flash and little more than a gentle warmth with the occasional mild tingling sensation. The rotating treatment head is one of those features that doesn't sound particularly exciting until you actually use it. It makes treating awkward areas such as underarms, knees, ankles and the bikini line much easier, allowing the handset to sit flat against the skin without constantly repositioning your wrist.

Another major advantage is the speed. Silk'n says a full-body treatment can take as little as seven minutes, and while that will vary depending on how thorough you are, it certainly feels far quicker than many earlier IPL devices I've tried. It's quick enough to slot into an evening routine rather than feeling like a lengthy beauty chore. In fact, now I’ve got used to swapping the treatment heads I can be done and dusted in around five minutes.

As with any IPL system, consistency is essential. You're unlikely to see dramatic changes after a single treatment, but after two weeks I began noticing hair growing back more slowly, with regrowth appearing finer, softer and much less noticeable. This means I’m reaching for the razor less frequently, which is exactly what I was hoping to achieve.

The Silk'n 7 isn't an impulse purchase, but when you compare the cost with years of razors, waxing appointments or professional laser hair removal sessions, it starts to represent very good value. Well designed, easy to use and genuinely comfortable, (with a lovely, long power cable) it's an impressive piece of beauty technology that delivers exactly what an at-home IPL device should: fewer hairs, less maintenance and smoother skin with continued use.

This is the second Silk'n device I’ve tested in recent months and the brand is quickly establishing itself as one of my favourite beauty tech names. The Silk'n Dual LED Face Mask set the bar high, and the Silk'n 7 comfortably lives up to it.