Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their dermatologist's guidance in regard to permanent hair removal.
Nood is a hair removal brand that describes itself as the “#1 Permanent Hair Removal Solution.” Their most popular device is called The Flasher 2.0, and it uses intense pulsed light (IPL) technology, and claims to be much cheaper than procedures like waxing or laser hair removal over time.
But is IPL actually proven in medical studies to be effective for hair removal, or are these just marketing claims? Does it cause side effects? How does it compare to the effectiveness of other hair removal methods like laser hair removal? And how do real users of Nood rate it and describe its effects?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review medical studies on IPL to give our take on whether or not it’s likely to be effective for permanent hair removal, and whether it causes side effects.
We’ll compare IPL to other forms of permanent hair removal like laser hair removal, and share real, unsponsored Nood customer reviews.
We'll also provide a cost comparison to show which retailer sells Nood for the best price.
Does IPL Work for Permanent Hair Removal?
The safety and efficacy of IPL has been studied in legitimate medical journals, and is approved by the FDA.
A clinical trial published in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology tested IPL for at-home hair removal. Trial participants used an IPL device six total times over the course of 16 weeks. The results were impressive.
95% of patients experienced some level of hair reduction by the end of the trial, and average hair reduction was 78% after one month.
A 2019 medical review on IPL for hair reduction analyzed data from various clinical trials on the topic, and documented an average hair reduction of 80% one year after the last treatment.
IPL may have secondary benefits to skin quality and skin rejuvenation as well. As we documented in our review of My Derma Dream, red light therapy is well established in medical studies to have rejuvenating effects on skin, so it's unsurprising that other wavelengths of light therapy may also benefit skin.
A 2016 medical review found that IPL can reduce hyperpigmentation, skin lesions and acne. The treatment was also found to be effective for rosacea in some patients.
IPL is not effective for everyone, and is less effective for those with very fair skin and very dark skin. Nood has a chart below that suggests the efficacy of their device based on skin color and hair color:
Overall we will conclude that IPL is highly effective for hair removal in most individuals, though it may not be the best option for those with very light skin or hair and very dark skin or hair.
We Tried Nood Ourselves
One of our product testers named Aly Goldstein used Nood. Here's her experience:
The product packaging was easy to open and use for storage.
This product doesn’t come with protective glasses. I was unclear about whether regular sunglasses should be used as protective glasses to shield the eyes from the light emitted by the device.
The directions to use this version of the Nood were relatively intense. Users are instructed to complete at least two safety sessions, which means that you test a very small area at increasing light intensities and then wait 48 hours before testing again.
I've used another model where you could start right away with treatment.
I did not make it past the first testing session with this Nood. I found the laser to be pretty uncomfortable, specifically in that it would get very hot. The other IPL device I tried had a cooling mechanism, which helped keep the entire experience fully tolerable and comfortable.
This occurred even at a very low setting for the laser.
Overall, I wouldn't purchase this product and I don't plan to use it again. I would rate Nood 0/10.
Is Nood Safe?
A medical review published in the Lasers in Surgery and Medicine journal evaluated the safety of IPL devices like Nood. The study authors analyzed results from various clinical trials on IPL for hair reduction and the side effects reported.
Side effects were uncommon and mild. Some patients experienced mild pain and others experienced hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation that faded over time. No serious side effects were reported.
The FAQ page on Nood's website states that the procedure is safe.
As we concluded in our review of another light therapy device called Capillus, the main factor in regard to the safety of light therapy devices is the power used. We can’t find any information about the power and wavelengths of light on Nood’s website, so we hope that the brand publishes these technical specifications in the future.
Overall, we consider Nood to be safe and unlikely to cause side effects, especially given that the device is cleared by the FDA.
Real People Try Nood
A YouTube creator named Jackie McRae reviewed Nood in a video that includes a live product demonstration and before-and-after images:
A YouTube creator named Kathy Santhouse shares an update after six weeks of no Nood treatments that explains if the hair loss was permanent or not:
Nood vs. Other Hair Removal Options
Both IPL and laser hair treatment use light to target melanin in skin and damage hair follicles so that new hair regrowth is stunted or eliminated.
Laser treatments are more focused and use a specific wavelength of light, and may be more appropriate for patients with darker skin according to a medical review published in the Dermatologic Surgery journal.
From a cost perspective, Nood is a superior option given that laser hair removal needs to be completed at a medical provider’s office, and is infrequently covered by health insurance because it’s a cosmetic procedure. According to GoodRx, laser hair removal costs around $400 per session, and many patients require multiple sessions.
An epilator is a hair removal device that works by pulling hair from the root. This type of device can be cheaper than Nood but may be more painful based on clinical research.
For cost-conscious consumers, Braun sells a popular Epilator for under $40 on Amazon (link to official product listing).
Shaving and waxing are also effective hair removal options, but are more time-intensive and are not long-term solutions. They also end up costing significantly more than Nood over time.
Overall we consider Nood to be the best hair removal option on the market.
Where to Get the Best Price
The Flasher 2.0 at a variety of online retailers. Here’s a price breakdown at the time of updating this article:
EveryMarket: $296 (link)
Brand website: $189 (link to official product page)
Amazon: $169 (link to official Amazon listing)
Nood is currently 11% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand's website.
Real Customers Review Nood
Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand's website in our opinion.
The Flasher 2.0 has an average review rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars with over 1,000 total reviews.
The top positive review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Hailey” who did a half-body hair test and claims that the device is effective:
“I was so skeptical that I decided to do only one side of my body so I can compare - so for the past 8 weeks I’ve been consistently doing my right side - legs, thighs, bikini, arm, underarm. I’m now at week 8 and my lower leg is almost completely hair free. My bikini hair is reduced but I’m going to keep going on it to see if I can eliminate the hair entirely. My arm is now hair-free. My under arm has reduced hair so I’m going to keep working on that one too.”
The top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Carly Canilagan” who claims that the product caused side effects:
“...it zapped me. This one actually hurts and made me scared to continue but I tried a couple more times and it zaps me again. I’m so scared to use it now and I’m sad cause it was an investment and I really really wanted it to work :(”
The Flasher 2.0 currently has an average review rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google.
Pros and Cons of Nood
Here are the pros and cons of Nood in our opinion:
Pros:
- Underlying technology has clinical backing
- Should have permanent effects
- Highly cost-effective over long periods of time
- Low risk of side effects
- May have skin-rejuvenating effects
Cons:
- Mediocre Amazon reviews
- More expensive than epilator
- Less effective in people with very fair and very dark skin
