Braun IPL Silk Expert Pro 5, Visible Permanent Hair Removal
Braun IPL Silk Expert Pro 5, Visible Permanent Hair Removal For Women and Men, Venus Razor, Alternative For Laser Hair Removal, Gifts for Women, PL5137, White/Gold, Pack of 1
BRAUN IPL PL5137
| Brand: | Braun |
| Origin: | United Kingdom |
Girl just get i
This saved me so much money instead of going to the salon. I’ve been to clinics, and salon for years but this is actually better AND way cheaper! I saw the result from the 2nd treatment, so just got to be a bit patient.
Omg it works! My preferred method was shaving for over 20 years so really was not hoping for any results on my legs! I mostly got this so I can sort out those little persistent facial hairs that I knew would only become bigger issue as I grew older! They are all gone – face, legs, underarms.. i have been using this every week for over 2 months and then every second week and I did it. The only thing I find a bit annoying is that I was skipping areas- there is no way to tell where you have already treated or not, so after first couple of treatments I had areas completely hairless and hairs that grew back in between – so it worked even after first use but I had to repeat every week as I was skipping parts all in all it is amazing and would strongly recommend it!
So I wanted to give this a fair shot before I review to hopefully help some of you that are interested in buying this IPL.
I bought it back in October 22 and started using it once a week as per the instructions. It’s June now so it’s been a good 9 months.
I used to have to shave every single day as when I shave in the morning by the end of the day I could already feel the hairs growing back. I suffered with loads of ingrown hairs especially on the back of my thighs that I’d always pick and squeeze and it just wasn’t a nice look in summer when wearing a short dress or a skirt. My bikini area was also full of really painful and awful looking ingrown hairs.
So about 4-5 weeks into using the IPL I started to notice that the hairs are growing back slower, thinner and in patches. The instructions say that after 10-12 weeks of weekly use you can start using it once every 2-3 weeks and eventually only use it once every 1-2 months as a top up. I do however quite like my weekly routine so decided to stick with that as I know myself and if I don’t stick to a routine then I’ll completely forget to use it at all.
What I do is I get in the shower first, shave, scrub, moisturise and when I get out I do both legs, full brazilian, underarms and half arms and it takes me no longer than 20 mins.
I can definitely see hairs growing back during the week but they’re so fine and so short at this point that they’re barely noticeable. Shaving before the treatment also takes me about 5 mins now because they’re so short whereas back when I used to shave every day it was taking me at least 10-20 mins.
I do still occasionally get the odd ingrown hair but nothing compared to what it used to be with just shaving.
I am absolutely in love with this little gadget and will continue using it.
It is an investment but is totally worth it!
One thing to consider is that you can’t use it over tattoos so bear in mind if you have any tattoos you won’t be able to use it over that area. I have a big thigh tattoo and I just shave it but don’t treat it with the IPL.
I would like to also say that before I made the purchase I did loads of research on this IPL and the Philips one and even though they’re almost completely the same in terms of power and efficiency I decided to go with this one as it’s significantly smaller in size than the Philips one so would be good for travel and it comes in a case as well. It’s a little big bigger than a standard epilator.
Hope this review helps anyone who’s thinking about getting into IPL treatments!
Ready for the summer!
I live this product. It could be expensive but it gives you the perfect result if use regularly (at the begging once a week) then once a month. But the result is real! Please check first the color of your hair (for light hair maybe doesn’t work properly!)
I have olive skin and brown hair and been using for a couple of months weekly without a break, now there is a difference (i think) but not very noticeable. Ive been using on the highest setting
Honestly did so much research and eventually decided on this for a black Friday deal! SO happy I did, its already made a massive difference, so impressed! Went from shaving legs every day to every week after only 4 uses and the growth is minimal compared to usual. Only issue is the face, not being able to pluck/wax in-between treatments! But discovered cuticle clippers and dermaplanning razors! But it is working, will get there just need to persevere! I have light skin and dark hair so it’s been perfect for me!
Expensive
Expensive but it’s made easier with 4 equal payments. Easy to handle and use just starting to see the difference after 4 weeks of use. Facial hair on my chin is definitely getting less frequent not plucking it as much.
Amazing!
What a fantastic product! Use this weekly the results are incredible.
The reviews are very mixed- but it’s amazing! But, you have to use weekly, do not stop j because you have noticed a difference as they will come back. I use on my top lip, armpits, let’s and bikini line, fantastic results on every area. A must buy!
I was worried this may be painful, however I found it to be fine! Easy to use and get to grips with. Fast treatment time have only used twice so yet to see results. Only thing to mention is the flash is extremely bright sunglasses or protective glasses will make it more comfortable.
I’ve only used 3 times but I have less and slower hair growth already. Easy to use and quicker to use than I expected.
I will update once I have used more.
Excellent produc
Over all this product is tactile well shaped and easy to use. Bought as Xmas pressie for my wife who is very pleased with it. Fast delivery time and well packaged. A pleasing transaction.
Stew!
Amazing stuff. The only issue is can’t use it on upper lips so have to call yeh company to ask as it only works on the side of the upper lips not the middle part. Overall great produc
I honestly cannot believe how I spend the last 20 years of my life waxing! This is hands down THE BEST beauty product I have ever bought. I couldn’t live without it. At first it seemed like my hair was growing back really quickly, but after using (not that regularly) I can now go 2-3 months without shaving or doing anything to my legs. My hair is very dark and strong, and this home laser has honestly changed my life!
Very good 👍
It’s a good device and I’m satisfied, but it should have been delivered to me with three screws, and when I opened the box, I saw that there weren’t more than two screws, unfortunately.
This is honestly the best thing I have ever bought! At 31 years of age, I have been conscious of my dark fast growing body hair since 11 years old and have forever been frustated at the process of shaving, being left with a shaving rash and unsettled skin, for my hair to grow back honestly 12 later! Rarely did I get my legs out in the sunshine due to hating my rashy, spiky legs! I have tried epilators, creams and other things over the years and nothing has worked. I’ve been for 2 consultations for laser hair removal at clinics but could never justify the cost. I did once pay for just under arms and never did I get the results in 12 weeks than I have with this little wonderful machine after just 3 weeks! After just 2 sessions I noticied hair growing back signicalty finer, softer and much less of it with patches of hair not growing back! I am now 5/6 sessions in and I am astounded with the results! I can not shave for a week and feel amazing – it may not be a big thing for someone people but for my legs to still be smooth after 7 days is a dream!! It is so incredibly easy to use, and fast. I am so excited to see my results in another 6 weeks! This has honestly changed my life and I couldn’t be happier. Perfect find before my wedding in 7 months time where I will be hair free and confident!
I’ve been using this for around 2 months now on my legs and underarms and the difference is amazing – I run a razor over them occasionally in the shower (takes about 30 seconds) but there’s almost no need, the hair has pretty much disappeared. I can’t believe how ‘easy’ it has been.
About 10 years ago I tried a different IPL (Boots own brand, I think) but it was a massive hassle – you had to apply a liquid to conduct the laser, and wait for it to recharge in between each pulse of light – it took ages and was messy and fiddly. It did make a difference to hair regrowth, but the process was such a faff that I quickly fell out of the habit of it.
This is so much quicker and easier to use – it takes me around 20 minutes to do the entirety of both legs and underarms, and that’s at a fairly leisurely pace whilst reading a book. It is no more hassle than shaving (although less easy to see where you’ve been!) and although it sometimes gets a bit hot, it doesn’t hurt at all (if it gets hot, I just leave it for a couple of minutes to cool down).
I’ve been doing it weekly for a couple of months and could probably shift down but it really isn’t a hassle so I’ll probably keep up the habit for a bit longer, and then step down over winter. I’ve not tried it on facial hair yet but that’s the next plan.
I’ve been using it for about a month or so, and very pleased with the results. It took about four or five weeks with one treatment per week to almost completely stop hair growth, but has worked a lot better for me than removal creams or shaving as you don’t get razor burn or ingrown hairs as they continue to grow back. I have pretty fair skin and auburn/ginger hair so wasn’t sure it’d work that well for me, but it has. Doesn’t really hurt even in highest setting.
Pretty easy to use, only minor complaints are that the skin tone and contact sensor can be a bit fussy and you need to give it some time to cool down if you’re covering a lot of area at the same time. I’ve also found that dead hairs take a while to come out leaving a little visible dark hair, sometimes a gentle tweezing to coax them out is needed.
Well, this is great. You’ll save yourself a fortune in laser treatments. Having never had laser hair removal, I was sceptical about how effective a DIY device would be, but it certainly works.
The only thing I wash was clear in the instructions is how fast to move the device. I was doing it too quickly initially and seeing minimal results. I suspect this is why other reviews have said it doesn’t work.
I now move it at less than 1cm a second and it works a treat. I usually laser twice, travelling at 90 degrees on the second go to ensure full coverage.
The other thing I’d recommend is not to use it immediately after wet shaving the area. I was doing that initially and getting quite a few spots from ingrowing hairs. Now I wet shave the area, leave it a couple of days, then laser it – problem solved.
On some areas I use clippers to get the hairs short, then laser straight away.
If you’re still debating whether to get this, go for it and enjoy the feel of smooth skin with no unsightly hairs.
It’s work
I use for bikini line
I keep to use it every week for 6 months
Most of the hairs can remove
But you need keep use it (but no need to use every week) because some of the hairs are difficult to remove them , they still growth so need to keep to use
Amazing - wish I had got one years ago
I am delighted with the Braun IPL. I was hopeful but cynical that it would have such positive results but within 3 weeks my hair growth slowed. I am now on week 10 and my face and legs now have no growth. I will keep on doing it weekly until 12 weeks have passed to be sure the hair stays away longer. I will be delighted if I then only need to ipl every 4 weeks. Even just using the device once a week is better than waxing or shaving every other day. It does feel like an elastic band snapping on your skin but nothing too painful and well worth the discomfort for no ( or much less) hair in the long term.
Love it. So easy to use
Ive been using this since June and it’s made a massive difference to my legs especially on my bikini line. This will only work on your hair if it’s dark. I had regularly got laser hair removal at a clinic and although that is a much quicker this is a lot cheaper so totally worth it.
Happy happy
I am very pleased with my purchase – I have just only started to use this – its my third week – so very early days, but I am already seeing results – cant wait after the 12 weeks treatment! Exciting to be hairless and in the summer to not be thinking about waxing and shaving all the time! Go for it! I wished this for a long time and treated myself this Xmas finally.
It works for me
I’ve had this IPL for a year now and I am quite happy with the results. I used it regularly during 3-4 months last spring (I stopped as I was getting tanned). And now I can really see the results, most of the hair in my legs has disappeared which is amazing! It hasn’t been as effective in other areas, but when I do use it the hair takes a lot longer to grow, and I will keep using it to see if it works as well in other areas that are harder to beat!
Fantastic
Very happy with this. I’ve done 5 sessions so far with great results. Using it on the upper lip, armpits, legs all areas are much less hairy already. Results visible within 3 uses
Its working
Its working but not straight away so don’t expect magic after 6 weeks I can tell much less hair but they still growing but I see progress. Lets see how my legs will look like after 12 weeks. Very happy from that product.
WOW
I couldn’t believe that an IPL can be such a useful. when I ordered that, I thought it would be good. but now I think it’s perfect. actually so far my results have been positive.
I feel a little pain with standard mode but I think it’s ok.
Positive review
With consistent and regular use, this actually works. There is barely any pain when using, and I started to see results after 1 month. It is probably best to continue use after this period to maintain minimal hair growth.
Just amazing
So great, especially when you can get it at a discounted rate. So worth getting and you’ll save lots of money on hair removal products. I’ve got dark, coarse hair and fair skin so it works very well for me, I know for others it might not be as great. But I’d definitely recommend. You have to do it every week for 12 weeks without fail and then as and when you have to remove your hair, although I’d recommend keeping it going every 2 weeks for a while so your body doesn’t forget the treatment. Clean after every use and look after it. Be careful with the settings too, for sensitive areas only use the 1st/2nd setting, everywhere else the 3rd one is fine but it shouldn’t hurt or burn so if it keeps hurting then lower the setting.
Be patient, it does work
Have been using for about 10 weeks now and I have noticed a huge reduction in hair growth. I still get hair growing but it’s a lot thinner and it has completely stopped growing in some patches. I’m still using it once a week and will continue to until I’m happy to start using once a month. It’s really quick to do full body, takes maybe 6-7 mins for me personally.
It can burn a bit, so in some areas I tend to stick with a medium setting rather than high setting. I would also recommend to start on the lowest setting and work your way up to high as it can take a while to get used to it. Also don’t flash the same spot more than once as it can really burn!!
I wanted to wait a while before leaving a review to see how well this product worked. I can honestly say it’s amazing!! I am Indian and have medium brown skin colour. I had laser at the salon before covid and had 6 sessions on my legs underarms and bikini area. The results were not as good as expected ( maybe one third of my hair stopped growing back) so I thought I would try this to save some money. So glad I did!!! Used it every week for 5 weeks and after the 4th week saw a massive difference, I basically had 2 hairs on my legs and a couple on my underarms. I then didn’t shave for two weeks and nothing grew back. For the price I usually pay for laser (45 for underarms, 45 for bikini and 120 for legs) this product is well worth it and because you do a session every week you see the results very quickly. To do both legs (full legs), underarms, bikini area and upper lip it takes about 25minutes. Even if I need to do top ups later down the line it’s much cheaper and quicker than ever going to the salon. Very highly recommend!
Laxury and well made
I only have this machine for little over a week and used it only once, so can’t say if the technology is working on my hair yet, so l will come back with the update after the 12 weeks pass.
But, it came in well packed. Pauch is good quality. Machine itself in light, easy to hold and maneuver. Looks stylish.
My only comment would be regarding the removable head, as it is stright and not curved so you need to work on positioning slightly harder as it will not flash unless both sensors have contact with the skin. For example around the ankle.
Overall product is beautiful, looks expensive and l am happy so far.
I bought this to replace a cheap ebay ipl that i tried. The ebay was weak and sooo slow like a flash every 4 seconds and you needed like 3 flashes before it hurt. Took forever. This one is really fast and powerful. I dont like the auto level feature because it often flashes too weakly and its hard to get the sensors to flash in smaller areas, so I just put a beige bandaid over the sensors so it will let me flash max power anywhere, and then I lower the power with the feather button for darker or more sensitive areas. Flash twice in a row if needed. Elsewhere I just use max power. At max power you can still flash once per second or so and one flash seems like enough. It hurts just like laser so I think its going to work pretty well. It smells burnt hair a lot when I use it.
I will report in a while but im pretty sure its going to work well with the max power setting mod.
Wear dark sunglasses because the flashes are really powerful. I might even buy the eye surgery superdark glasses because even one pair or dark sunglasses is not enough.
One issue, i bought it from amazon.co.uk because it was backorder in canada and usa, but the uk machine does not come with a can/usa plug. I used another plug I had around and its fine… or I could have bought an adapter.
Best purchase eve
I love this product! After 4 weeks I can barely see hair growth on my legs. I was sceptical in the beginning but it actually works ! On other areas where my skin is a bit darker I can also see skin reduction but it takes a bit more treatments- in any case it says 4-12 weeks treatments every week so it’s completely fine!
Much easier to hold due to its ergonomic shape compared to Lumea. I tried Lumea too but I had to send it back as It was a bit heavy and not so easy to use in specific body areas. I am on week 2 and can see results already (face, underarms, bikini, legs). I need to mention that I had laser sessions in a salon for the past years so I am on the “maintenance” phase. However, I had to find a temporary solution during lockdown. I hope I will not have to book appointments at a salon anymore.
Magic!
Works like a charm, I had switched from my Phillips lumea so I was a bit sceptical about how good it would be, but damn. So much easier to use (no charging needed in the sessions) – glad to be a customer.
I love love love my Pro 5! It’s seriously changed my life….I’m around 8 treatments in and I can already tell a huge difference. I suffer from pcos and I’m naturally a ‘hairy Mary’ so trying to stay fuzz free takes some serious dedication.
I personally don’t find it to be painful to use, I have heard from a couple of friends who have said otherwise. The only place where I find it stings a bit is on the bikini line but even then it’s not unbearable. I have used it on my under arms, legs, bikini line and my chin and upper lip.
As I said I’m only 8 treatments in but when I used to have to shave every other day I’m finding I can go a week or longer at this point without the hair starting to come back. It also comes back a lot softer and more fine. I’m confident that I will get to a stage where I only need to use it once a month after I have finished all the treatments, definitely a thumbs up from me!
Changed my life
i bought it in june but I was scared and I wasn’t too sure because i never tried ipl. After tortures, itchings and rednesses finally i found something make my skin perfect. I definitely gonna buy it again again.
Absolutely happy with the progress
My daughter has been using it for 4 months now and we get rid of almost all of the hair underarm and full legs. Initially (2 months) we used that every week, then once every 15 days. And done. All gone. My daughter has a very white skin tone. It would have helped the fast results. Definitely suggest this product.
I have always had a problem with too much hair. In recent years I started growing some darker hair on my belly too. I’ve been struggling with ingrown hair on bikini line for years now and I have some scarring/discolouration there. All of this has made me very insecure and I become more stressed about this during summer time too – the time when you should enjoy yourself and your body and be able to swim, move around, wear lighter clothes!
I honestly thought that there is no hope for me and that I will have to go to a beautician and have a very expensive laser sessions (not IPL – stronger and more effective laser that truly gets rid of most of the hair for a long time, i suggest you read about it!). I haven’t mentioned it, but my hair grows super fast also and just haven’t to shave my legs every day is such a pain! Truly – if i shave today, I cannot go out in shorts the next day, I’m not over exaggerating.
Anyways, my mum has bought the Philips home laser and was pleased with it, so I wanted to try this one to have a comparison.
I’ve done 4 sessions so far and I cannot tell you how immensely happy I am with the result. NO, this is not the end and I absolutely do not mind having my weekly little laser sessions for a next year even, as long as the results are this good. I believe that next year I will have no problems with my hair anymore, maybe some slight shave here and there, but nothing compared to what I have been going through.
After only 4 sessions the hair under my bellybutton and my bikini line are almost gone. They grow back very slowly and they are now way more fair and thin then before. I can see a difference with my hair on my armpits – they still grow back, but I can see the progress. I love the difference on my legs as well – it takes a few days for them to be visible, they become patchy and fair, thin. I’m sure that if that’s what happened after a few quick sessions, in few months I will be over the moon with the results! Also – around my bikini line – I don’t get ingrown hair anymore and I can see that any old discolouration and scarring is slowly fading away.
I have bought this product for 300 – apparently it’s half priced, but seeing the results, I wouldn’t mind paying 500 or maybe even more..It’s truly life changing for me, I can see the difference in the way I feel about myself, this is no joke. If this is sth you struggle with – I believe that this is def a needed investment. We spend so much on shaving products all the time anyway. also I think that the younger you are when you do it, the more happy will you be and glad that you invested in yourself – my mum is 55 and I know how much this was an insecurity for her her whole life!
I have tried the Philips Lumea (there are many different versions! mine was a cheaper one, I’m sure the Prestige ones are rly good) and I have to say that I am way more pleased with this device. What Braun is really good with is the fact that you can GLIDE the device on your skin, which makes it so easy and almost an effortless process! I just put some podcasts on and do it, even if it’s painful, I kind of distract myself with Netflix, music or podcasts etc. Also – i don’t mind the pain at all (it’s not even consistent pain – more like ‘pinching’), but there are 3 settings and I always use the most powerful one. You can use the other ones, which are very easy on the skin and not painful at all.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE – i would say make sure that the device (and the version!) you’re buying has the gliding effect, otherwise you keep on pressing the device to the skin and pulling it away, and again and again a million times….This Braun one is lighter and not as heavy as Philips Lumea and I have also read that it zapps quicker (true!), which makes the whole gliding process super easy comparing to other devices. In case of strength, they are all kind of the same, I’m sure the effect will be similar, but since it does take many sessions to do this, make sure that you buy a device that will be easy to use and won’t get you frustrated.
Oh one more thing – Philips Lumea Prestige comes without a cord, whereas this one has a cord. It does not make a huge difference to me, but I know it may for some people – I actually don’t have a socket in my bathroom, so I do the sessions on my sofa in the living room nowadays. Plus, I used to live with my boyfriend and I really wouldn’t like to do this in front of him, It’s sth you do need privacy for, so If we were still together, I would have really wanted the cordless device more. On the other hand, that’s why Lumea is so bulky, because it doesn’t have the cord and the battery must be bigger inside.
I’ve gone through countless reviews and opinions so wanted to quickly add my few cents (sorry I know this is not my best literary work :d)
If you’d like to ask more questions, you can write to me at izabelabaq @ g m a i l . c o m
Honestly I wouldn’t mind helping you pick the device, since it rly wasn’t easy picking one for me too…
Wow! Just wow!
Bought it on a Black Friday sale.
I was a bit sceptical as used some other IPL devices in the past.
I’m a week after my 3rd treatment and all I can say is wow! My legs, after a week since shaving, feel like they were shaved yesterday. I can’t wait to see the results after few more treatments.
In terms of a pain, I wouldn’t really call it like that. For me it feels more like stinging and it’s not with every flash, just every so often.
Highly recommend!
Not all skins types are equal!!!
Bought this for my sister on a half price sale and she loves it. There were a lot of negative reviews which confused me before buying. However, I would say for a product like this you shouldn’t take everyones reviews to heart since everyone has different skin types and some may get a different reaction compared to others. But for my sister she says the results are really good therfore I can reccomend this product only if you think that your skin would be OK with this product.
4 weeks in and so far so good!
Purchased this a month ago as it was reduced in price. Seems to be up there with the lumea in terms of reputation so took a chance. It’s really easy to use and the instructions are simple and clear. The recommended usage is once per week for 12 weeks and you do need to shave beforehand. I have now finished week 4 and can see a significant difference already in the underarm area (regrowth minimal). Legs are slightly patchy (probably spots I missed) but definitely see a reduction here as well. I can zap full legs and underarms in 20 mins. I do plan to do the full 12 weeks as recommended but may not need to at this rate as it’s going so well so far. The only bits that are slightly painful to zap are the inner thigh area but the rest is fine and perfectly manageable. Certainly less painful than a wax! One thing I love about this is the fact that it continuously zaps if you hold the button down so you just glide across the skin. So far so good. Time will tell but initial results are excellent. I have dark hair and light olive skin.
Very good piece of equipme
Works a treat. My legs are near hair free & also my fourarms. Under arms %50 hair loss. I think it’s due to the shape of the skin. I have been using it for 2 months.
Sooooo worth it!!!
Great product. I was very sceptical to say at first. I’ve used the product according to the instructions and I have to say I’m impressed. It’s pricey but now I don’t have to shave!!! Love i
Pain free excellent results after 6 weeks use!
Amazing!! I have thick dark Asian hair and after following the instructions and using once a week on legs and underarms for the last six week the regrowth is very minimal. Before I would need to shave every two days to maintain smoothness but since using this I am shaving once every two weeks or so and even then the hair is so much finer. No pain at all…although I did try bikini area which was a little painful so have just stuck to legs and underarms for now. 100 % recommend
Great product quick and easy to use
Bought this for my wife. Easy to use. (You need to wear sunglasses) as flash is bright. Fantastic product worth every penny.
Only down side is she now expects me to laser her legs for her.
After just 3 weeks of once a week treatment she can now drop back to once every two weeks.
The Interval between each treatment will get longer so I will only be Doing for her once every 2 months soon
So impressed I bought my daughter the set also
It only takes 5 min per leg
Little painful
Was skeptical about the efficiency, but indeed after 2 or 3 sessions my hairs didn’t grow back as before. Can see clearly the difference. Lighter the skin region, best it will work. Might be a little painful but soon the amount of hair start to fade between sessions, becomes better.
Easy to use
Straightforward instructions make this a simple to use device. Not the cheapest out there but not point in getting something which only half does the job. Now a couple of months in we can say it has worked well on spider veins and the odd thick errant hai
Amazing results!
Simply amazing. I spent 900 a couple of years ago to do full bikini with this pulsed light treatment at a beauty salon. It was expensive, annoying to go every two month, deal with the booking and she wouldn’t do all the way up toward the butt… This is way cheaper and convenient and works as well and you can do the whole body way faster. It can be quite long the first times but the results are quite fast and way better than I expected! Now it just takes me 15/25min for legs, bikini and armpit.
Better than going into a laser clinic
I’ve been to three different laser clinics and unfortunately all three were a waste of time and money. If you want to see genuine results in a few weeks I’d recommend investing in this instead. In my experience my results have been better than any professional laser clinic I’ve been to, my legs are flawless! This is a device I will have for the next 10-15 years depending on my usage. I can also use it on my face which is a massive + for me. I can also use it even whilst i’m darker during summer which I believe no laser clinic offers.
Delivered as advertised. Have been using it for 12 weeks now and have seen great results. Hair growth has considerably diminished and/or slowed down. I also bought safety goggles and cosmetic gel with the product. Goggles are handy, however not necessary if you don’t stare at the light directly. Don’t feel anything when I put on the gel, so haven’t been using it. There hasn’t been any side effects, such as burned or irritated skin. Overall I think it was a money well spent. Will save lot on salon treatments.
Love this product!
It gets the job done. Its the first IPL that I tried after professional laser treatments and it works amazingly. It is easy to use and within the first 3 uses I saw results that I didn’t see with professional laser treatments. Amazing product. It barely hearts but laser glasses would be a good idea to make the experience even easier.
Great little device and NOT painful!
Was worried about it being painful based on the reviews but have used on highest setting and find it actually quite pleasant. Just like holding something warm/hot against leg and isn’t painful. I’m prone to migraines and too clumsy to look away and get the right areas so use sunglasses and it’s fine.
Just make sure not to go over the same area twice as it can sting then but haven’t had the sting last longer than the second itself.
It’s easy enough to use after reading the instructions. Does take a little practice getting the timing right for the glide but took me less than 30 minutes for legs, arms and bikini line.
I’ve only used it twice but have noticed some patches are much slower growing in already! I have pale skin and dark thick hair that grows very quickly so normally I need to shave legs daily. I’m five days in since last shave and some patches with no hair at all and smooth.
The razor it comes with is also nice. Very happy!
Definitely worth the investme
Started seeing some results from first use, slight reduction in hair growth. Then real results from 3/4th treatment, hair definitely grew back more sparse, finer and slower (I’m pale with brown hair).
Easy to use and saves time compared to epilating. I do not feel any pain when using, but have been epilating for 15+ years, so am used to a certain level of pain. I can feel a small amount of heat in certain more sensitive areas like armpits and back of knees. But the sensation is not painful at all.
Saving me so much time compared to epilating. Would 100% recommend and think it’s definitely worth the money.
It does really works.
On my 6th week now of using braun IPL and there are no thick hairs on my legs and underarm. Like, no more hairs. Bearable pain using 3 soft touch light on legs and underarm. I use number 1 on bikini area. So pleased with the result. 100% recommended. Expensive but worth it.
I would give this laser 6 stars if I could! It is absolutely amazing!!!! After suffering with PCOS for so many years and spending thousands in a clinic for laser hair removal… the only regret I have is not finding this device sooner!!!
I’m on week 4 and the hair growth has almost disappeared. The last two sessions have had no regrowth there to trim before the procedure which is such a rewarding feeling.
The best purchase I have ever ever made, by far!
I wanted to give this a fair shot before reviewing. I have now done my 4th weekly session a few days ago and I couldn’t be happier.
I always struggled with thick hair in my bikini area and dark hair pretty much everywhere else. I have tried shaving, waxing and epilating and all options had their downfalls. I also get painful ingrown hairs, especially on my bikini line.
I bought this as a birthday present to myself, as I was at my wits end trying to deal with my body hair. Now, just 4 sessions in and my bikini line is almost completely clean. Other areas seem to be taking a little longer, but my legs are already quite patchy, with hair growing back finner and thinner and a few bald patches having started to appear.
I will say it hasn’t worked that great on my peach fuzz or tummy where the hair is finner, but as I’ve only just done my 4th session and the full programme is 4 to 12 weekly sessions, im still holding out hope that these areas will also clear up.
If you’re on the fence about this, I’d say get it! One of the best purchases I ever made.
Easy to use and works excellently
Used for 4 weeks now and a huge improvement in hair growth – much less thick, takes a lot longer to grow back. So easy to use – can do full bikini and legs in 5 mins. Would highly recommend! Same price as 5 visits to waxing salon and no more pain!
It works on legs, armpits and the lady area! I have a light medium skin colour and dark hair. The only problem is with armpits; a few stubborn hairs are taking longer than the rest. I think this is due to being unable to stretch the skin in the nook, so I’ll have to ask my hubby to help, poor chap.
I’ve had the machine for almost 5 months, and it has started to develop a rickety motoring noise. For the price I paid, I hope it doesn’t conk out after its being well maintained. It has also started to burn more than it did initially, again something I hope won’t get worse.
Overall, it works.
Amazing
Best thing I ever bought! I used it 3 times and I already have so many spots hairless. If you want to get rid of your unwanted hair give it a try, it’s amazing!
Easy to use quality item for long term hair removal
Got this for my wife, so thanks to her for the following review:
This device really does bring getting rid of hair conveniently into the home.
I’ve been shaving my underarm, legs and thighs for ten years. While this works, it can cause hair spurting and blocked follicles – it was time to make a change but the cost of treatments on the high street add up fast. While this item is a fairly significant outlay up front, it soon pays for itself.
The pack comes with a razor, the IPL machine itself, charging USB and a separate precision nozzle to give flexibility of use, in a handy bag to carry it all. The precision nozzle as it is called, is to help get more irregular surfaces where it is not so easy to glide over the skin — the precision nozzle acts to ‘stamp the areas instead, which takes longer, but makes sure you can access everywhere. Having first done a test patch, and noting no reaction (as per the advice) I went ahead and tried it in earnest. On first use, it took about 30 minutes, but subsequent goes were about twenty minutes once you get the hang of it.
The device itself is easy to use and although it does not appear as intense as the one used in spas, seems to work as well. It has a sensor which automatically adjusts the light to your skin. As suggested, I used it after the shower and having dried the skin, to help open the pores. Then, on starting use, I found that although painless IPL is promised there is a slight sensation — a bit like an elastic band hitting the skin, but this passes. If you have an area with more follicles, there was a faint aroma of burning hair. Although goggles are not necessary the light is pretty bright and care needs to be taken — I used sunglasses when doing underarms.
So what are the effects? Well, it’s not just about having hair removal — which you can start to notice about 4 weeks in to the initial 12 week course.. the hair actually gets thinner, too, which is almost worth it by itself — and the growth speed is reduced. After the initial 12 weeks, it is just top ups every couple of months that are required.
So it takes a bit of patience to do, but well worth it, and even at the price tag, it’s still value for money when compared to spa prices. I cant compare to other models, having not used them — but this one felt like a quality items and came well presented with adequate easy to use instructions. It is compact and light for travelling, in case you need this while on the move, on vacation for example.
I have been using this gadget for a few months now. It is quick and easy to use without the hassle of too many settings. The fact that it automatically detects your skin tone is a great new design idea. It has worked really well on my arms which after only a few treatments I can now continue with monthly rather than weekly treatments. Where the hair is slightly thicker it’s taking a little longer but even here I can see patches. Don’t be put off shaving as this does work! I like that you can continually stamp using the product on big areas such as legs without too much hassle. It can be a bit of a guessing game as to where you have already treated an area though. That’s my only negative with this product. Other than that, I can treat 5 areas within approx 15-30mins. It can hurt, pain is exactly as described (an elastic band ping), you soon get used to this. The product can get warm and can sometimes leave a burnt hair smell. So pleased with my purchase & results achieved so far!
Fantastic: Highly effective.
I wish I’d bought this years ago. After using for a month I’m already seeing fantastic results. Would definitely recommend for ladies suffering from PCOS. It’s a life changer. A bit painful the first time you use it in any area but gets rapidly easier over the weeks.
Brilliant bit of ki
Brilliant. Followed the instructions and it does work… it’s cleared a vast amount of hair and stopped it growing back!! At 280 it’s great value for money and would highly recommend.
Great item quick to use hair reduction by 95% in two sittings, not even stubbly hair. I guess it depends which part of the body you use it on as legs seem more hardy and taking bit longer to see results. Overall would recommend
I’m a PCOS sufferer and bought this to help with hair on my face and stomach, as well as my legs and underarms. Before trying on my face I did my legs as I have very sensitive skin. I’ve had no adverse reactions at all, and the treatment takes around five minutes on each leg. The feeling is akin to snapping a hair elastic on your skin, but milder! I’m three treatments in (my hair is dark and coarse) and I’m definitely seeing results. Hair isn’t as thick, nor is it growing back as quickly. You do have to be committed to doing the treatments weekly or there is no point in starting it. I’m delighted I took the plunge and bought this for myself and I’m a big advocate for the using of it already.
My wife decided to wait for a whole year before reviewing this Braun IPL Silk Expert Pro 5 PL5137 permanent hair removal so that she could talk about long-term effects.
First of all, this is a big improvement from the old Lumia – a big scanning gun machine which was heavy and quite awkward to handle. This, in comparison, it handles more like an epilator. It is very ergonomic, light and really easy to handle. The flashes have also increased to 400,000, making it more long lasting. After a year of use, it is still going strong.
In terms of results, this provides excellent results. It does take time though. You have to be very consistent with applying the treatment, otherwise you will go back to square one quite quickly, especially if stop skip some treatments in the first stage. Once you get passed the weekly treatment, you only need to do it every 3 weeks or so to maintain the results. Legs feel smooth to the touch and while there is some hair left, it is so fine that it is barely noticeable.
My wife has tried all sorts for hair removal from shaving and waxing to epilation and this is, by far, the most convenient, long-lasting, less painful treatment that she’s ever had.
Purchased as a gift and the recepient is very happy!
I read several reviews for these home IPL machines before choosing this Braun IPL Silk expert Pro 5 PL5137.
The auto level sensing of this machine makes it really easy to use and by all accounts the recipient is very pleased with the results after only a few sessions of use.
I have completed 3 treatments on my underarms and bikini line so far. I’m seeing a slowing/reduction in hair growth. The machine is really easy to use and quite quick to complete a treatment.
Outstanding. Wish I bought it two years ago instead of going to my local beauty salon to get numerous IPL sessions (which took 18 months in total for one area). I would recommend getting this product with the precision head for underarms and shins especially. I have been using this product for over 2 months and the hair growth is significantly slower and I have virtually no under arm hair growth now. I don’t normally write reviews! For reference I have medium to dark brown hair growth.
I was sceptical about this working at first but after 10 weeks use (once a week) I’m pleased to say I rarely need to shave my legs. I’ll continue to use once a week to cover patches I’ve missed. Really easy to use and not remotely painful.
So I wanted to try this for atleast 6 weeks or so before I gave my honest opinion on this, and it definitely works, I have light skin with black hair and on all the areas where I have used it regularly, as advised and treated once a week, the hair growth has significantly decreased and in a patch where normally there would be 10 hairs, theres now 3/4 growing back after 2-3 weeks. I feel as though the effectiveness of the item was best shown in my arms as after just two uses I saw a significant decrease in hair growth. On the face it’s taken longer to see a fair decrease in growth due to peach fuzz still being fairly present weekly.
On the face the gentle setting is the only setting I’ve been able to use as any higher really burns. Even taking too long moving this along can burn on a higher setting on legs and arms.
How this works it seems is, that on the gentle setting you have more continuous flashes in a minute, as you raise the setting to the medium intensity and then the highest intensity, the number of flashes decrease per minute but I suppose the flashes are stronger or more intense. I prefer to go all over with the gentle setting as it is fastest, and then with the more stubborn areas go over it again with a higher setting.
I couldnt rate this 5 stars as the flashing lights can cause a bit of a headache after a certain length of use and I feel maybe some sort of special goggles or something should have been provided to counteract this, also the design is a little less easier to handle than the Philip’s lumea design which I felt was more ergonomic to use in areas such as the legs.
I’ve previously had both laser and IPL hair removal treatments in salons and had great results. Both were around 10 years ago and while I’ve not seen permanent hair loss I’ve seen great reductions in hair thickness (thick coarse stubble after 12 hours before and fine (but dark) hairs that take a few days to appear) so I was pleased to be offered the chance to try out this Braun IPL device from the comfort of my home.
Out of the box it’s quite a chunky device which runs from the mains rather than being cordless. It detects your skin tone but you select the intensity (it feels a bit like an elastic band twang on your skin). You can select between slide mode where it automatically flashes as you move it along a larger area or the press and the stamp option which is good for underarms but you have to make sure all of the sensors are pressed down for it to flash. I am able to fully cover both full legs within 10 minutes so it’s quick to use and I’ve found that as long as you use it regularly there has been a definite slow down in growth, particularly on my underarms.
I am hoping the results continue to cause the hair growth to slow down further.
Fantastic and worth the money
This product is fantastic and will save you money in the long run when you consider how much a treatment would cost on the high street. The build quality and feel of it is perfect and looks like its built to last unlike other brands in the past that I have tried, Its not too heavy and is easy to use.
You really do need to read the manual before use as there is a lot to learn before using mainly regarding safety and how to use it.
On the instrucions it says “DO NOT look directly into the glass filter or attempt to activate the device toward the eyes.” this is mainly important when you use it around the face and it best to look away when you use it around the mouth.
After the initial treatment and following ones you need to keep to a maintenance schedule of once a month or once every 2 months depends on how your hair reacts/grows.
Overall this is a great device and will save you money if you regally have this sort of treatment.
I am 31, have PCOS and Endo, Mediterranean skin tone and thick dark hairs. I have used this 3 times so far and can see vast improvements in legs, bikini, underarms and fine facial hair! I was very wary of shaving my face and would usually pluck the thicker hairs and bleach the fine hairs. The fine hairs have completely gone! The thicker hairs on the face have not changed at all and I have plucked them out today as the 5 oclock shadow is embarrassing and it seemed to only get worse. The only other complaint would be that due to my skin getting darker closer the further in you go on the bikini line the machine would seem it no longer safe. However it is less then a cm on each side that it wont work on which is not bad considering! Bikini ingrown hair issues seem to be almost completely resolved which is another massive bonus and means I wont need a cover up this summer on the beach!
Worth the reduced price!
When I first received this item for review, it was listed at the original price of 610. I’m pleased to see that the price has been reduced, at the time of writing, to 339.99. I feel that, however good it is, the original price was not realistic for a home user.
It arrived well packaged in an attractive box. Unpacked it has a good feel of a well-made product. It is comfortable in the hand and is wired. Wireless can be tedious if you are trying to look after the product without risking too much charging when not fully discharged. Wired is reliable. The cable is a good length, so appropriate for the circumstances.
Do read the instructions to ensure you get the best results. Hair is removed most effectively after shaving hair to a uniform length of 2 to 3 mm.
If you haven’t used IPL before, you should know that the long term effect takes a while to achieve. Repeat the treatment regularly, say once a week for several weeks. The colour of your hair indicates different hair removal effectiveness. Fair hair takes longer to achieve a result than dark hair. My hair is somewhere between the two and I could see a difference in about 3 weeks. After 7 weeks, there is very little sign of hair regrowth at all. I believe that full removable and regrowth prevention can take up to 12 months but then you will rarely if ever, need to repeat the treatment.
A great advancement in technology
We have had a Philips IPL for 2 -3 years and we have found it great and we have seen some great results that made it worth the purchase and it was well worth the 5 star review.
Using this Braun IPL 3 years on it has address all the minor issues that we hadn’t really notice before with the Philips, its all in the statistics :
* It automatically adjusts to your skin tone, this is ideal if more than one person is going to use it and it gives peace of mind.
* Faster, ‘Treat both legs in less than 5 minutes’, well this is a bit optimistic but it’s certainly discharges the light pulses much faster than the Philips we have, under 10 minutes is more realistic but I guess it depends how long your legs are.
* Compact design 15 percent smaller and 25 percent lighter. (Its probably 50% smaller than the Philips)
* Lastly 400,000 flashes, with this sort of price tag you want it to last.
After a few weeks of use we have found it really simple to handle and use, my wife hadn’t used our previous IPL on her legs so this offered a blank canvas so to speak. Two treatments in the results are great but the best bit is the time taken in use is significantly reduced, technology has clearly moved on.
The rose gold and white make for a simple but elegant design, the pouch it comes with makes it compact and easy to store away.
Yes it is a big investment but I genuinely think its worth it for no more armpit hair, leg hair, back hairetc. (The back hair was me, not the missus).
If you are using for the first time you may feel a little discomfort but nothing like using an epilator.
Given that no one in my family has every used an IPL hair removal device before, this review is by a complete novice. Accordingly, whilst I many not be familiar with all the appropriate terminology, I hope that it will be helpful to other like novices who are interested in trying an IPL hair removal device.
In summary, an IPL hair removal device is designed to prevent hair regrowth, rather than simply removing existing hair (but by treating the roots, it makes the existing hair fall out). Accordingly, to the extent that it is used effectively, it should significantly reduce the amount of time which needs to be spent in removing unwanted hair. Clearly, the key is to only use it is areas where hair is problematic and so don’t use it on your head (unless you want to be bald…) and defiantly don’t use it anywhere near your eyes as the light beam could cause blindness if it penetrates your eye.
One thing I was slightly surprised about what that this IPL device (and possibly other IPL devices, I’m not sure on this point) is only suitable for certain skin tones and hair colours. From a skin tone perspective, this appears to be quite flexible, with a suitable range being from pure white (a snowman!) to a medium brown skin tone (maybe a Malay skin tone). However, the hair colour is a bit less flexible, with it only apparently being suitable for black and brown hair colours (and specifically not white, blonde or red/ginger tones).
One thing that is important to note is that your are very unlikely to notice instant results and therefore, don’t be tempted to keep on using it continuously in the hope that you will notice an immediate difference – if you do, you risk damaging your skin. To give an indication as to how long this IPL device should be used for at a single time, the documentation suggests that 5 minutes is sufficient for both legs and this should be done on a weekly basis, until the hair begins to fall out. After this, it should be used on a 1-2 month basis, to maintain the ultimate smooth, hair free finish.
One aspect that is quite concerning is the price (over 600 at the time of writing) and particularly in the context that the light source has a limited lifespan. However, I don’t believe that this should be a significant concern as the light source is rated at 400,000 flashes and on the basis that it is designed to be used for 5-10 minutes a week (for an initial 4-12 weeks period and 1-2 monthly thereafter), with up to 125 flashes per minutes, this would suggest that in a worst case scenario, it should last for up to 320 separate uses (effectively, many years).
Subject to you having a suitable skin tone and hair colour, the results do seem to be impressive however, I would reiterate that instant results cannot be expected. You will need to persevere with the product for up to 3 months to determine whether it is proving to be a resounding success however, I wouldn’t necessarily let this put you off, on the basis that I understand that Braun will refund if, within 100 days, it becomes apparent that it is not effective on your skin tone or hair colour. Accordingly, there doesn’t appear to be much which should prevent you from having a try!
I handed this to my mother in law, so this is her (paraphrased) view – first results seem to be very good, after using this for 3 weeks, there is a definite improvement and new hair doesnt appear to be growing. Its easy to use, although do read the instructions first. Perhaps this is best suited to those who have tried this type of treatment before and decided that it is for them, because it does appear from reading about this that it isnt for everyone, and given the price, you’d need to be sure that you would benefit from this before committing to that level of expenditure.
This is a pricey little gadget that does exactly what it says and over a few weeks, pays for itself (that is if you were planning to go to a salon to have it done)
I read the book before I started and it’s worth doing that because of all the safety instructions. Because it’s used at home, it can be easy to forget it can be dangerous.
You use it once a week and I started on my legs. Oddly enough you have to shave them first – most likely you have a razor already but they provide one in the box. I was going to do more than just my legs but it’s quite time-consuming so I’ll stick to the legs. I’ve been using it for about six weeks now and I’m pleased with the results. There is still hair growing but it markedly reduced and I think two more treatments should do it and then I’ll start on another area.
I have medium skin with dark, greying hair. But the greys are all on my head and not my body so I figured it would be okay to use – and it was.
The product description gives details on the skin colours that it’s suitable for – it’s also worth going to the Braun website itself to read up about the product since there is a lot more information there. Definitely go to the website if you have any health conditions because this machine is not to be used with some.
I think it’s very good value for money – it feels like a quality build and I’ve had no issues in all the weeks I’ve been using it. It is so simple to get the hang of it. I don’t really like going to a salon and having the ability to do this at home suits me much better.
Excellent, efficient and very fast machine ...
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 PL5137 is a top of the range hair removal system. It’s expensive but in my (and my daughter in law’s) opinion it is the best of its kind.
It is a good looking machine in white with gold accents, it is ergonomically designed making it comfortable to hold and use. It’s perfect for the face, arms, legs, chest and bikini line.
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 PL5137 will give you 400,000 flashes which should be enough for at least 250 full body treatments (legs, face, arms and bikini line). Working on the premise that initially you will need just four weekly uses to stop hair growth then continue monthly to keep it at bay that’ll give you about twelve years of use, which is as expected for a top of the range machine.
This machine has smart IPL with SensoAdapt skin sensor which automatically adapts to your skin tone and changes strength if your skin tone changes. This is a very important safety feature.
This particular machine which is the Pro 5 PL5137 comes complete with the precision head, premium pouch/bag and the Venus razor. It is also twice as fast as the previous Braun Silk Expert 5.
I gave this particular machine to my daughter in law to use and she found this machine quite easy to use on her legs using the following instructions:
** First she shaved, cleansed and dried each leg.
** She then plugged the machine in using an extension lead which meant she could sit comfortably on her couch and use the machine there.
** The machine is ready to use as soon as it is plugged in.
** My daughter in law then pressed the head firmly against her skin and pressed the flash button. That’s it, simple. It took about 7 minutes to finish both of her legs … which as you can see is very, very fast.
Interestingly there is also a Braun Silk Expert Pro App that you can download to keep track of your treatments. My daughter in law didn’t bother with this so I cannot give an opinion on the apps use.
The machine goes into standby after about ten minutes of no use and turns of altogether after around an hour.
My daughter in law has been using the Pro 5 for a full month and already she can see that the hair on her legs has virtually stopped growing, so she will be going onto the maintenance phase next week.
All in all my daughter in law is really happy with this Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 and feel the result speaks for itself.
I’m a massive fan of IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatments and have in the past had salon treatments and used 7 different brands and models of home use devices. If you’re pale skinned and hairy, this will be life changing for you, as it was for me. It also works for brown skin, but not very dark or black skin, and also won’t work if you have blond, red or grey hair. This is because the pulsed light works on the melanin in your hair follicle which blond, red and grey hair doesn’t have, and also because darker skin has the melanin as well as the hair follicle and it would just burn your skin rather than the hair follicle. I would urge you to read as much about IPL and whether it’s right for you before plunging into such an expensive purchase. A chat at a salon could also be helpful.
This Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 machine is by far the best and most pleasant one I’ve used. Yes, it’s expensive but thinking back to my first salon package, I spent more at the salon than the price of this machine and I can use this device when I want, where I want and will last years. It comes well presented in a sturdy box containing the device itself, a facial attachment, a charging cable (in two parts) and a nice pink ladies razor for first removing the hair. There is a an instruction booklet too which you really should read before proceeding.
In use: after plugging the two cables together, inserting into the electric socket and the device, the power/on/off button can be pressed, and with repeated pressing will go through 1, 2 or 3 power options. For the first time and if you are pale skinned, give it a go on setting 2, if you are darker skinned use option 1. You can move up a level if you feel no warmth or pain (there is no pain). I am white skinned, almost olive skinned, and I use setting 3 for legs and under-arms and setting 2 for face and bikini line.
As well as the power setting the device has it’s own very clever sensor of 1 to 10 for your skin colour. This makes it so much easier and safer to use instead of guessing how the colour of your skin changes from calves to thighs, inner thigh, under-arms etc. Staying on one power option the sensor will flash at level 10 for the palest parts of your body and maybe 5 or 4 if you have a more tanned area or if you have freckles.
The device itself is very comfortable to hold and manoeuvre around the body. I haven’t liked previous wired devices that I’ve used, mainly because they have shortish wires and/or the devices have not been comfortable to handle. This one has a good length cord but you will still need to be fairly close to an electric socket. Once set up to start zapping you can either press the flash button for each individual flash you want to use or hold it down for a continuous flash, flash, flash, and move quickly in a line down a leg, for example. The continuous flash mode is very quick, less than a second to move from one area to the next. I’d finished the whole of one leg (except back of thigh) in about 15 minutes. It really is a pleasure to use at this speed.
If you’ve not used IPL before you will have to be patient and wait around 10 to 16 days for the hairs to fall out. The device is gentle enough to be used weekly (but not more than once a week as it can make your skin sensitive to light) and after three uses you should notice a big difference. By four weeks hair will be falling out and the continuous use will be stopping new hairs from growing. For summer use, start using early in the year, February or March, and you will be hair free for the first warm sunshine. Once you feel fairly hair-free, drop its use to every three weeks or so, increase if necessary or longer if you remain hair-free.
I have regularly been using IPL for ten years and I am pretty much hair-free after a couple of uses for the whole of the summer. I do keep doing my under-arms every three weeks or so as they do seem to keep growing back. I am very enthusiastic about this particular Braun device and keep telling my friends about it. I would fully recommend this model if you are either upgrading or starting out for the first time with home IPL.
The epilator comes with a really nice washable case with partitions that contains the epilator with two heads: A 2 pin and 3 pin plug that fits onto a transformer attached to the epilator: 1 Venus hand held razor with one Gillette blade: Instruction booklet.
I’ve only ever used the ‘NoNo’ prior to having the chance to try this product. The price tag makes your eyes water but as anyone knows, paying salon prices is even more eyewatering and a touch embarrassing if you are shy like me.
Never having used one before, I read the instruction about a dozen times but still didn’t know if I was using it correctly. You have to shave the area to be treated (my chin and legs) and then use the epilator on the setting suitable for your skin and hair colour. I’m blonde with pale complexion but have sensitive skin so I used the ‘extra gentle’ by pressing the feather icon button on the front of the machine, which is just above the ‘on’ button. I used the small head on my chin and neck with a gliding motion and my eyes closed and had no problems at all so I tried the machine on my legs. The large head seemed to be too big to have full contact with my leg so I changed back to the smaller one. I held down the button and slid it up my legs and noticed it was flashing as it said it would. There was heat coming from the machine and I felt tingling all along the route I had taken. I completed both legs but then both legs started itching uncomfortably and tingling which lasted for a full week but my face was alright, I thought any sensitivity would have shown on my face rather than my legs so I’m not sure I worked it correctly on my face.
I re-read the instructions and after two weeks I felt brave enough to try it again and found out what I had done wrong. I chose the setting using the feather icon button and slid the machine up my leg, got to the top and released the ‘on’ button and started at the bottom of my leg again. The machine didn’t start flashing despite pressing the button but I tried again and it started working but that same tingling feeling I experienced the first time I used it started again. I immediately lifted the machine off my leg and looked at it. I found that when I had taken it back to the bottom of my leg, my finger had moved to the sensitivity feather icon button and I had changed the setting to the highest. That is what I must have done the previous occasion and used too high a setting for my skin type.
I therefore have a suggestion for Braun: If you are thinking of re-designing this product, please move the sensitivity button away from the ‘On’ button.
I have used the machine once per week since and made sure to keep on the correct setting. I am pleasantly surprised that this really does work and now that I am happy with my legs and chin I will try more delicate areas such as my bikini line. Very pleased with the results.
A great handheld IPL that is so easy to use
These Braun IPL hair remover devices are getting smaller and smaller, ideal for being more portable and less bulky to use.
The latest, this Silk*expert Pro 5 PL5137, is now a proper handheld device that looks like something from Star Trek and is certainly out-of-this-world to use.
My wife has used many of these devices since the started becoming popular. While IPL devices do eventually remove hair without it regrowing, it takes a lot of time and also the first ones were for larger areas only. This smaller device can be used on the face easily as well as bikini line and under arms,
We found this was so easy to use on the face, using the small head with a smaller lens on. There is a larger lens for the main body, though this was slightly smaller than past devices and meant that it took a little longer on larger areas than the bigger, bulkier Philips and Braun IPL devices from the past. This also seemed more powerful and my wife remarked that it was slightly more painful on the skin once she’s pressed the button to emit the laser light on her hair, but she could also see it working.
While the initial outlay for this device seems a lot, it lasts for 400,000 flashes of the laser, which works out at quite a few years. Bear in mind that after even a few years of using this, some of your unwanted hair won’t grow back with luck anyway, so it does work out well in the end.
I am very impressed by this IPL. I have Polycystic Ovearian Syndrome and i have been using Philips IPL devices for years.
This is a lot smaller and lighter than my other devices, and a bit more user friendly. It has an app where you can follow your treatments which is fantastic because it gives you reminders of when to do your next one, which has been great.
The package is impressive, i like the fact that it comes with a razor to get you started, plus a great sturdy pouch to keep everything in. The product also comes with a 2-3 pin continental/uk plug, thank you Braun, This means that not only could i use it straight away, i can also take it on holiday with me.
So in use.
So far my results have been positive, i have PCOS which is Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome to those who have never heard of it and that means that i suffer with excessive facial hair.
This has been the bane of my existence for the last 23 years. When i found out i was getting this to try for free i actually burst into tears as i thought if it works it could literally change my life, you may think thats dramatic but it really isnt.
I have thick dark coarse hair on my upper lip, cheeks, chin and neck, in fact i have an almost full on beard. I tried waxing but that made it worse, the ingrowing hairs alone were painful beyond words and i tried shaving but it was endless torture and redness and the stubble was horrific, and so i resorted to tweezing it out. I would do this for up to an hour every single day, sometimes more, i hated it and the reason im sharing this with you is to make you aware of my issues before i used it.
As usual you have to shave the area to be treated 1st and you are ready to go. The following may make you laugh or you may find it crass if that’s the case i apologise in advance.
There was no pain, just a little sting at 1st but then i didnt notice it.
I used mine whilst facing a mirror so i could see what i was doing, i have to admit though that the smell of burning hair was a little shocking at 1st, but the most disconcerting thing for me was seeing the smoke come off your face haha its like my face was on fire, im just joking it wasnt that bad, but there were very visible tendrils of smoke coming from my face, i just thought cool, its working.
Anyway, the day after, i was surprised and relieved to discover i had no redness or itchiness and so i proceeded to do my armpits, again this was simple and easy to do, you must must shave 1st, it says 1 minute per underarm, but i definitely did more than that, at least 2 minutes each side, but like i said im hairy.
Anyway 2 weeks after 1st treatment i can see visible results, i was shocked actually, dont get me wrong its only about 20% of the hair but what has happened for me is that i have found that instead of plucking out the hairs and having them be tugged out like they were stuck in concrete, i can literally pull them out with my fingertips with no resistance, however like i said, its not every hair but about 20%
It hasnt slowed down my growth in any way and so on i went with my 2nd treatment. This time i was a little more aggressive with my applications to my face and spent a good 10 minutes flashing away. Now this is not recommended but im just being honest about what i did.
As i was in the zone, i also did my fingers and toes.
2 weeks after that treatment i am up to around 30% effectiveness, but only on my lip, chin and neck, and some of the hair just fell out by itself when it had grown to a mm. I still pluck every day but this is now down to about 20 minutes, on that alone its been amazing.
I have not noticed any difference so far in the armpit area but as that is so thick and coarse i imagine it is going to take months to see visible results.
Lets be frank, the groin area isn’t the easiest place to put a razor let alone a bigish IPL device and im going to be honest i found it really difficult.
The top of the vaginal area was pretty easy as you can just stand in front of a mirror pull the groin skin tight and flash away, the problem comes when you need to go down to the vaginal opening and further back. It is absolutely impossible to be able to do this yourself, there is just no way , unless you are double jointed or a contortionist anyway. I tried lying down on the floor with my legs up as far as i could get them and face the mirror but i just couldn’t do it, i had to ask my other half if he would help me, and he flat out refused to do it, he said it was totally gross lol
I tried for an hour but i just cant do it, so the only place i could get to use it was in the crease line between the vagina and the groin. For gods sake whatever you do, dont make the mistake i did and think you can do it on the inside flap of the labia because you might cry, or swear a lot, i cannot tell you the words that came out of my mouth, so don’t try it, not advisable.
Overall i am extremely impressed with this, it does show visible results, but you do have to do it every 2 weeks to maintain it and stop the hair growing back.
I’ve used a Philips IPL hair remover in the past and it completely eradicated my underarm hair and I was very pleased with the results. I decided to test this Braun hair remover on my legs, a much more labour intensive area to treat.
The method is the same as other IPL hair removers. You shave the area first – don’t wax or epilate as this removes the hair completely and leaves nothing behind for the IPL to work on. Then position the device over the skin and press the button to emit the laser light. You then slide the device along to the next patch of skin. When I did my underarms a couple of years ago I only needed about 10 ‘flashes’ to cover each underarm so it was pretty quick. However with larger areas such as legs it takes a long time and requires a lot of dedication!
Results: I knew from my previous IPL experience that results take a couple of weeks to show as IPL works on hairs at certain stages of their growth cycle. After 3 weeks now the hair growth on my legs has diminished considerably. I’ll continue to zap away and am confident that it will all be gone in a few more weeks and I’ll then only need to do top-up treatments every couple of months to keep any rogue hairs at bay.
IPL is most effective on light to medium skin tones with hair ranging from natural blonde to dark brown or black. In order to work it needs to absorb melanin from the hair and therefore is not suitable for very blonde, red, grey or white hair. The instructions also list a number of medical scenarios where you shouldn’t use IPL including pregnancy, skin cancer, varicose veins, skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis and if your skin has recently been tanned or had a peel of some sort.
I’ve used IPL before so I’m familiar with the slightly stinging sensation, like you’ve been flicked with an elastic band. I can confirm that you definitely become used to/unaware of this as the treatment progresses.
The kit comes with goggles (which aren’t necessary if you’re just a casual user) and a razor to start you off. It’s a quality piece of kit, expensive to begin with but (if IPL works for you – and this is where you need to do your research before you buy) well worth the investment. The unit provides 400,000 flashes (enough for 24 years’ of treatment according to the Braun website) and I really liked the design of this compact unit as it’s smaller and lighter than my Phillips device and therefore much easier to use on areas such as legs where you’re having to hold it for a long time.
This Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 (PL5 5137) comes complete with an attractive storage case, precision head (for more detailed areas) and a Gillette Venus Razor. This is a mains powered rather rechargeable product which is supplied with a two pin bathroom type plug, eg. for shaver sockets etc. The product looks and feels well made fitting its premium status and price.
I am writing this review after having used this product for just under a month and will update it if necessary. My perception is that this a unisex rather than exclusively female product although I suspect the majority of users will be female.
The most important thing to check before you buy this product that it’s is suitable for your skin tone and body hair colour, and secondly, that you don’t have a medical condition which makes use of this device inappropriate. I think a bit more could be done on this product page and on the box to highlight this issue, especially as it might be a gift purchase for someone else.
There is an accompanying Android/IOS Silk Expert pro App which is well designed and allows the user to track treatment frequency, plus, it also has some handy instructional videos.
The Silk-expert is plug and play — there are no network/Bluetooth connections to make and quite light and comfortable to hold whilst also being manoeuvrable. You can choose from up to 10 intensity levels and 3 comfort modes (normal, gentle and extra gentle). In addition, the device also has a sensor to “read” your skin and adjust the energy output for best effect whilst keeping it safe. The precision head is easy to fit and remove and really does help with more detailed/vulnerable areas.
In operation, you can feel a slight pulse on your skin from the device but it isn’t uncomfortable and you soon get used to it. The suggested method is to use a “stamp and/or glide motion “. One thing I do like is that unlike other electric epilator products I’ve used there doesn’t seem to be a smell produced.
The treatment process seems quite fast and by example, the literature suggests a pair of legs take around 5 minutes to do. So far the areas I treated about three weeks or so ago remain silky smooth, suggesting this is effective in inhibiting hair growth rather than just removing existing hairs.
Overall, this is an expensive but effective device providing it suits your skin and medical condition, the supporting app is also well thought through and, if used properly should save money on beauty salon visits.
Expensive but top of the range IPL
This is a sophisticated and powerful tool so it makes sense to read the instructions fully before using it. Braun make it clear that you should not use it if you have specific medical conditions or skin types (which they detail), nor near your eyes or in (specified) other parts of the body for safety reasons. That is good advice and no reason for not using the equipment.
That said, the main unit has two interchangeable heads – a small one for areas such as the mouth/lips and a larger one for the legs etc. This adds to the flexibility of the IPL. There is also an associated app that can be used to guide your treatment over time and according to your skin and hair type – very useful in the absence of a human expert. Good idea.
Braun say that this model is smaller and lighter than its predecessor but it is still a sophisticated piece of equipment given its complex technical components and should be used according to the instructions.
My wife finds it relatively easy to use and not too heavy. Once you have used the supplied wet razor (or your preferred razor) to remove longer hairs, the IPL is passed gently over the skin surface. For safety, it will not operate unless the head is in contact with the skin. From starting to use it the app advises on frequency and power levels over some days and then when to use again over a longer timescale to ‘top up’ control of your unwanted hair.
This is not cheap but when you set the cost against the price of commercial alternatives at a hair clinic it seems much more reasonable. Plus you can use it at your own convenience in your own home.
Overall, a sophisticated method of removing and controlling unwanted hair, not a toy, and worth the cost.
At first glance, this Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 IPL device might seem expensive, but with beauty salon prices at around 200 or more for 6 treatments just to do an upper lip (and that’s not even City centre prices), it suddenly seems rather reasonable.
The device looks and feels like a quality piece of kit, it sits comfortably in the hand, is not too heavy or awkward to hold, and the buttons are on the top and easy to reach when using it, whether you are left or right-handed. There is plenty of cable at approximately 288 cms (including the base station which joins either the 2 or 3 pin plugs that are both provided).
When I first opened the box, I just wanted to get started with the IPL quickly, but it really is advisable to read the 10-page manual first as there are some important safety points that should be noted (eg do not use it around the eyes, do a 48-hour patch test first, etc).
Unlike other IPL devices I have used, this one comes with an app to track my treatments. It also has separate heads – a Standard head for larger areas such as legs, and a Precision head for smaller areas. Cleverly, it also reads your skin tone and selects the appropriate light intensity. If you have a light skin tone, the device will flash with a high light intensity, whereas if you have a dark skin tone the device will flash with a low light intensity and a fast flash rate. If the device detects an invalid skin tone, or that the device is not in proper contact with the skin, the light will not flash. However, the light intensity can be adjusted with the push of a button from Standard (3) to Gentle (2) or Extra gentle (1).
I used it on my face first (close to my mouth — the manual advises pressing your lips together to protect them) and was rather startled with the sudden burst of heat, which although not burning was a surprise – I had used the ‘Standard’ intensity, but when I turned it down to ‘Gentle’ I felt nothing when it flashed.
There are also 2 treatment methods: Gliding with the Standard head (keep the button pressed and run the device over large areas such as legs — the light flashes on and off as you go), and Stamping with the Precision head (press the button once to flash the light, release it, and then move to the next area – for smaller areas such as the face, bikini line, under arms, knee, shin, and ankle).
Safety goggles are not necessary, but the flashes of light really are very bright, and I felt more comfortable looking away when I used it. The handbook advises looking away or closing your eyes when treating your face.
Although the box promises permanent hair removal, the start-up phase is 1 treatment per week over a period of 4-12 weeks to see results, and then a maintenance treatment eg every 1-2 months, depending on your personal hair growth cycle. I would find this treatment regime very easy to stick to.
As well as the areas noted in the Safety Warning section of the product details shown online, the manual that comes with the device states that the IPL is additionally not suitable:
* for pregnant or lactating women or teenagers (as it has not been tested with these individuals)
* for areas with varicose veins
* if you have a history of skin cancer or pre-cancerous lesions
* if your skin has recently been artificially or naturally tanned (as it may be sensitive following sun exposure)
* if you have a known sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity) or are taking medication that may make the skin more sensitive (eg Retin A, Accutane and/or other topical retinoids)
* if you have a chronic medical condition
* if you have a chronic skin disease (eg psoriasis or vitiligo) or damaged skin (eg sunburn, cuts, open wounds or active infections) in the areas you wish to treat
* if you have had a professional skin peel treatment on the area you wish to treat.
I like the little gold stripe zip-up case it comes in, which also includes a Venus razor as you must remove any hair on areas to be treated before using the device. There is a 2-year guarantee on the product, and a 100 day money back guarantee.
This device will save me a small fortune on beauty salon trips for IPL treatments and because it is quick and easy to use, I know I will stick to using it regularly and am looking forward to having smoother hair free skin without the mess and bother of regular shaving or depilatory creams, or the discomfort of epilators.