Having been using the Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 for 14 weeks, I thought it was time to share a review. This is something I’m really excited to share. Because wow, it’s a real game changer!
UPDATE: Since I’ve been using this IPL device for a year, I’ve posted a one-year update at the end of this article to let you know how it is after 12 months of use.
This is a quick, easy and almost painless way to get rid of unwanted hair. I really wish I had this when I was backpacking. I think it would have been great for long trips where I would be wearing shorts and a bikini every day.
Let’s start at the very beginning…
What is the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 and what’s an IPL device?
The IPL device is a “hair reduction device.” The hair will eventually grow back, so I wouldn’t call it a “permanent hair removal device.
Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 removes unwanted hair for up to 6 months. This means you can stay hair-free all summer without having to think about waxing appointments or shaving.
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light, which uses heat and light to target the hair follicles to prevent hair regrowth.
Simply put, IPL puts the hair follicles to sleep for about 6 weeks. Laser hair removal completely kills the hair follicles, while IPL puts them to sleep.
When you hold the device against your skin and press a button, a bright, hot light shines onto the roots of your hair. This causes the hair follicle to go into a ‘telogen phase’ and not grow again for up to six months.
Does the Braun Silk Expert IPL hurt?
Main questions I was asked!
I hardly feel it on my legs or bikini line, but I do feel it in my armpits. I wouldn’t say it hurts, but it’s just a brief moment of discomfort. However, if you are used to waxing, this will not be the case. It feels like a hot bun that lasts about 0.5 seconds!
How do you use it?
Because IPL targets the hair follicles, you will need to wax or shave before each treatment.
Use once a week for 12 weeks and the hair should be gone. After that, you may need to shave regularly and use a device monthly to maintain your condition.
In addition to your weekly beauty regimen, gently move the device against your skin after shaving.
Turn it on and press the feather button once, twice, or three times. There’s a light to show you which settings are on. One light is the lightest setting and three lights is the strongest setting. I’m on her third setting and use that setting all the time, but if you have particularly sensitive skin, you might want to start with the lighter setting.
There are two ways to use it:
- If you hold down the button and hold it against your skin continuously (like a razor), it will zap you continuously
- Press the button every time you need a zap
It has two heads, a large and a small, so you can work on small or large areas with ease.
This big button is the “zapping” button. You can use it continuously by holding it down.
Continuous treatment
One of the reasons I chose the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 over other competing models is because it has a continuous feature that is very quick and easy to use.
If you’re using it on a tricky area (like your knees) you’ll need to control the timing of the zap, but if you’re using a larger area (like your legs) it’s much easier to hold down the button. Masu.
Sensoadapt
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 has a “SensoAdapt” feature that automatically adjusts the intensity of the treatment (between 1 and 10) depending on your skin type and hair color. This all happens automatically so you don’t have to do anything so you don’t have to worry about it, but basically it prevents your skin from burning by using settings that are too high for your skin type.
What areas can you use an IPL device?
Brown IPL can be used all over the body, including legs, armpits, arms, bikini line, and face. It can be used by both men and women in exactly the same way. I couldn’t use it near my eyebrows because I couldn’t use it near my eyes.
Who can use it?
It’s important to note that IPL devices are not suitable for all skin tones. Ideal for people with fair skin and dark hair. It has to do with the contrast between hair color and skin color. If there is not much contrast, the device will not be able to detect hair follicles. It won’t work if you have dark skin tones, or fair skin and very white/grey/red hair.
I have fair skin and dark hair, so I’m a perfect candidate for an IPL device.
What’s the difference between IPL and laser hair removal?
Simply put, laser hair removal should be permanent, but IPL is not.
Laser hair removal destroys the hair follicle, while IPL causes the hair follicle to become dormant.
For this reason, laser hair removal is expensive and must be done by a professional.
IPL machines currently cost around £300 and can be done at home.
My experience using the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5
Week 1 – My first use with the Braun Silk-expert Pro 5
Well, the first use didn’t go very well. I thought I was well prepared after watching some YouTube videos and reading the instructions, but it wasn’t what I expected. What I didn’t expect is that this device produces an incredibly bright flash with each zap. Since I was using it in a dimly lit room, the flash seemed brighter. Coupled with this bright flash, there was a slight burning smell that made me worry that the device was malfunctioning and I was scared that my skin would burn!
Because of this, I wasn’t sure if I was using it properly the first time I used it and just gave it a quick spritz on some areas of my skin.
A bright flash is normal for first time use. There is usually a slight burning smell and the sensation of being lightly popped with a rubber band. It gets pretty hot too! It sounds gross and may be painful, but it’s not.
Results – No noticeable results
Week 2 – Getting the hang of the IPL
That’s right, now that I know the bright flashes are part of the treatment, I’m much more comfortable using Braun IPL and feel like I’ve had a successful second treatment.
Since I was using it during bright daylight, I didn’t notice the flash and it didn’t bother me as much as it did last week.
It’s getting hot, so I finished moving my legs and took a little break.
It doesn’t hurt. I’ve read reviews that say it feels like a rubber band against your skin, and I agree that it’s similar to a rubber band, but not as painful as a rubber band.
Results – No noticeable results
Week 3 – Focusing on not missing patches
By the third time I used Braun Silk Expert, I felt really comfortable and the treatment went by much faster. This time around, I’ve started focusing on making sure I don’t miss any patches, which I’m finding a bit difficult.
Unlike when shaving, you won’t be able to see or touch the removed hair. There is no noticeable change in your skin after using the IPL device, so you cannot tell where it was treated. I don’t think it’s a problem for him to go to the same area twice, but I recommend using it when there are no distractions so he doesn’t forget where he’s already been.
Results – No noticeable results
Week 4 – Is your growth slowing down?
This is the first time I’ve spent so much time analyzing my leg hair. Is growth slowing down? I don’t really understand. I’m starting to get a little impatient and I read that you can use it 2-3 times a week, so I wanted to start using it more than once a week.
Week 5 – Patchy regrowth!
It’s working! It definitely works. The biggest difference is in the bikini line. Hair is still growing, but it’s very sparse. If this continues, the hair will disappear in about 5 weeks.
Weeks 6-8 – Losing motivation every week
I know I need to use the device once a week for best results, but I am surprised at myself for losing motivation, but I end up forgetting or procrastinating.
Week 9 – No more hair in my bikini line!
It went well! The first areas I noticed the effects were my bikini line and armpits. Obviously, it works best for coarser, darker hair. My bikini line and armpits are completely hairless and have not grown back even after 2 weeks.
Week 12 – No more hair on my legs!
By week 12, my legs had finally caught up and I was hairless. I’m 14 weeks now and I don’t have to shave my legs at all.
I don’t know if the time it took to treat my feet was because the treatment was less precise (honestly, I got bored of it!) or because it works best on dark hair. Either way, it ultimately worked for my feet.
Peach fuzz
I’ve been using Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 on my legs, underarms, bikini line, and peach fuzz on my cheeks.
I can’t comment yet on whether it is effective for this fine hair. The hair here grows slowly, so I’m not sure if it’s working or not.
Final thoughts on the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5
it works. 100% effective on legs, armpits and bikini line, amazing. I don’t know yet how long it will last, but I’d be happy if it lasted about 2-3 months.
I plan to continue using it every 4 to 6 weeks. It’s quick, easy, and almost painless, so he’s perfectly happy using it once a month.
Unlike laser hair removal, it does not mean that once you undergo the treatment, you will never have to think about your hair again. It still requires maintenance, but it doesn’t need to be done as often as shaving or waxing.
I’m very happy with my purchase and would 100% recommend it.
The Braun IPL I own is available on Amazon. I paid £300 but prices go up and down!
My one year update after using the Braun IPL for one year
OK, it’s been a complete game changer. If you’re not sure whether to buy it or not, just buy it and thank me later! To be honest, I absolutely loved it and it really made a difference in my life.
I still feel it works best on my bikini line. I don’t know if it’s because my hair is thicker and thicker, or if it’s because I have a better bikini line. Probably a little bit of both. But this summer has been amazing. I wear super high leg bikinis and swimsuits and am confident that I will feel smoother and free of stubble and hair loss.
It also had an effect on the peach fuzz on my face! Due to the slow growth, it took me a while to notice a noticeable difference, but now I can see a big difference.
To be honest, I’m a little lazy to use it on my feet. It’s time-consuming, it’s boring, and I don’t really care about shaving my legs (I don’t suffer from shaving rash or anything), so it’s just a hassle to use an IPL device there. It’s not that it doesn’t work, it just doesn’t really bother me. Leg training takes him 10-15 minutes, so be careful. I often forget what parts I’ve done and what parts I haven’t done, and I end up with spots, so I have to scrape them off anyway. I use it on my legs probably once a month, so it slows down the growth, but the hair grows back in weird spots.
I didn’t use it for probably 3-4 months because it was a bit of a pain to use over the winter. However, during that time, the hair in my bikini line did not fully grow back, so when I started using it again in the spring, it quickly returned to its original state and the hair disappeared.
Once the hair is gone, use it probably every 3-4 weeks to maintain hair regrowth.
£300 may seem like a lot of money to spend on an epilator, but it honestly works and for me was money well spent. If you go for a full leg wax, bikini wax, underarm wax and top lip wax every two months, you’ll 100% be spending over £300 a year. Not only does this IPL device last over a year, it is completely pain-free. Needless to say, you can do it yourself at home to avoid embarrassment and at a time that suits you.
If you have any questions about using Braun IPL, let us know in the comments section below!