From the research I've done on the net the salon devices cost around
$20,000 but you can buy small home appliances for home laser hair
removal for around $270. The Epila Laser is the only model i've found
(eg epilalaser.com) on ebay, but for so little money for something
which "can't be bought in shops" I'm sceptical as to whether or not
they work, so I'm looking for some trustworthy reviews or websites
with info on whether they're worth getting.

Hey there,

I just received my Epila laser today from an eBay merchant for my
girlfriend.  She hasn't tried it yet but I will let you know as soon
as she tries it whether it works.

If you have a answer, please inform me too. I did try the home
electrolisis (with bad results!), and I would like to know what I am
buying, because it is no fun spending money on products that are not
working.
Thank you.

Hello! I am also thinking about buying a laser. Bad results? On dark
hair too? I have read it only works on light skin with dark hair...

Yes! Hello! Help! I want to know toooo! I was just about to purchase
the Epila Laser however I thought I should so some homework first. It
appears that the Epila treats a very small area and/or only one hair
at a time. THis would mean it would be inappropriate for the problem
areas I need to treat (legs, arms, bikini). Guys, there must be an
answer! What is going on? I can't understand  that the medical
magicians have not found a way to simply stop hair from growing in the
areas we don't want hair! It is so frustrating! Gillette keeps the
researchers quiet, and the western world hairy.

uh... as annoying as this is i don't know if it works either >.< but
i'd like to know before i go and spend £100 on it.
I'm mixed so i'm a bit iffy about using one cos I read that it works
best for someone with dark hair and light skin because it targets
melanin. I really don't wanna end up looking like a brown dalmation or
something.
Please! I need to know!
SOMEONE! ANYONE! IF YOU KNOW PLEASE TELL US!!!

I asked a friend who is a professional aesthetician (a specialist in
facial skin care) for her opinion on home laser hair removal
appliances. My friend's view is that these devices are a waste of
money.

I bought the Epila off of Ebay a couple weeks ago absolutely thrilled
at the possibility I would not have to deal with the unwanted hair
issue anymore...Well here is my answer to your ????  and the answer is
DO NOT BUY IT! It literally put holes in my skin and DID NOT! kill the
hair follicles! It was even worse on my face! Your hair follicles run
deep this device DOES NOT get down into the skin and zap the follicle
it burns the top of the hair which actually starts a little fire and
stinks to high heaven! on your face or body and burns your skin around
the area of the hair! So you are left with these perfect round scabs
on your face and when the scab comes off there again is the hair. Also
it is WAY to easy to hit the "on" side button which turns the laser on
when holding the device which could result easily in retina damage if
you were not paying attention to where it is directed.I would never
leave this device on around kids either! Don't waste your money
people! go have it done professionally!

I would suggest researching (eg. reading reviews) about ANY product
before you buy anything from Ebay. YOU CAN'T TRUST THE ADDS. I tried
the Verseo Epen, thinking it would be great, but it is very painful
and leaves holes in your skin. It makes it look so horrible... you
would rather have shaving cuts on your legs. It is a complete waste of
money and a total scam. But I also bought a "magic hair removal
powder" at ebay from America, and it works SO WELL. I would strongly
reccommend it to all, the hair just slides off. It's not permanent but
it's the closest you can get to completely smooth and beautiful skin.
Plus it's cheap- and cheap is good.

hi all, 
I have stumbled over this forum while searching for the same answer
before buying the Rio laser hair removal system.  I was very
determined at the beginning and wanted to rewared myself next week for
certain carer achievment, but there is nothing worse than spending
money to reward yourself and finding it was just a waste.  so I wanted
to do my homework as well.  and I was sad to find no answer online any
where.

 Laser in general works for me to some extent.  I had some salon
treatment back home, and they were quite successful in some area (with
coarse hair), no effect on others (mid coarse hair), and badly
affected in area with fine hair (face), it actually activated the
growth in some area which was very dissapointing.  ( I had a total of
four treatments, and five for the area not responding, still no
response), so I thought maybe more treatment is needed, coz this is
usually the case with the laser treatment.  However, as I am in the UK
now, and the prices is much higher than I can afford at the moment, I
was thinking of this alternative home therapy with Rio.  But I failed
to read any reviews about it nor even detailed describtion for the
item specification.  and the item is non refundable (from almost all
the stores I've seen selling this item).  I didn't see the Epila one,
but commenting on 'areba-ga' comments, it feels like you did not shave
the area before applying the laser.  I am not sure about how home
system works, but with the salon treatments you have to shave the area
completely (some shave it a couple of days before allowing the heads
to grow for careful targetting), but in general, you do not want any
hair on the surface coz this will burn your skin.  The laser penetrate
the skin and acts on the hair root and follicle so you do not need any
hair outside, usually it burns and burn the skin around it.  If you
had those scars despite shaving, please let us know.
I hope that was helpful. 
Thank you.

Hi,
I purchased a 'Rio' laser hair remover from Argos with high hopes.  It
said it works best on fair skin with dark hair which I have.  I
followed the instructions religiously for but not a single hair came
out after 3 weeks.  I did get a full refund from Argos without any
hassle but I wouldn't recommend buying it in the first place.

There was a reasonably favorable review of the Rio Lser on Ciao
http://www.ciao.co.uk/Rio_Laser_Hair_Removal__Review_5569559

I have had laser hair removal on my bikini line done professionally
and although it was expensive, it achieved great results.  I would
like to have a home appliance too but can't find any reliable
information on the Epila taht is selling on EBay.
Even having it done professionally you do get burns on the skin and it
does hurt but there was no permanent scarring and you do need to shave
the area before a treatment or else as areba commented you will create
small fires.

I was about to buy the rio system from Argos, I won't now!  Can I just
recommend Silkymit (about 99p for a three pack from superdrug,
although it is essentially sandpaper it is quick and leaves skin
smooth even if the hair is really coarse. I know its not permanent but
it is a lot less hassle than shaving, though I probably wouldn't use
it on my face.  Being smooth and hairless all the time would be great
but its a media driven fantasy we all succumb to, mind you I'm equally
a victim to that though I'm becoming more comfortable with the fact
that hairiness is natural and I'm in good health.

I bought epila laser last week from a very serious seller from UK, I
did'nt find any information about the product that made me regret
about buying it, and  I noticed that the original info about laser
epila was in english so I asumed that it was a "made in uk" product
but I was wrong!!  It's a "made in Korea" product.  It's a Laser...but
just so weak to "burn" one hair at the time!!  as a consecuence of its
weakness you need to shut the same area a lot of times damaging the
skin.  I searched for information about the manufacturer but didn't
find anything, In the epila box finally I found the web: 
WWW.BNBMEDICAL.CO.KR  The story ends with me going to a professional
laser to help me with the mess because my skin was burned and with the
hair I wasn't able to remove.

You must shave before doing the laser or you'll suffer a nasty burn.

I've had salon treatments totalling over $1000AUS. I had an initial 5
treatments every month. Now I only need treatment about every 3 months
so either you commit to staying on long term or you loose the inital
effort.

Its expensive.

for an effective hair removal, energy level as joule must be around 10.
second important factor is wavelenght. they say 800 nm. is it stable
or changing with the production?.
i've experienced alex which 755 nm and was very effective. 
normally hair absorbs the light just like fiber optic cable and carry
the light to deep of the hair and burns follicles, but not hair.
if it's burning hair above skin then there must be something wrong.
probably 'cause of low level energy they apply long pulses and this
burns the hair.
also you only feel very few pain during application.
so, as i understand those type of devices, i mean handy laser
apilators not essentially improved as yet.

Hey guys, check this out: 
http://reviews.ebay.com/Epila-Laser-Hair-Remover-Is-it-worth-it-4-1_W0QQugidZ10000000001241213

from the sound of it, 1 hair at a time and also high potential of
skin-burnt, i am voting out.