The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 is an at home laser hair removal device using IPL technology. In this review the performance of the hair removal device is graded based on several factors including Hair reduction, Safety, FDA clearance and Compatibility with different hair and skin types.
Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 review
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 has an overall score of 8.1 on a scale of 10. This score was calculated by grading the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 on how well it works in different areas such as: Hair reduction, Safety, FDA clearance, Skin tone compatibility, Hair type compatibility, Power, Treatment Area, Treatment time, Pain level, Convenience, Warranty, and Battery life.
| Attribute | Description | Grade |
| Hair Reduction | Up to 80% Hair removal in 8 weeks. | 8/10 |
| Safety | Safe. With UV-protection and IPL technology. | 9/10 |
| FDA Clearance | Yes. | 10/10 |
| Skin Tone Compatibility | Does not work on very dark skin. | 5/10 |
| Hair type Compatibility | Does not work on blonde and red hair. | 5/10 |
| Power | No intensity levels. Automatically adjusts for you. | 10/10 |
| Treatment Area | Everywhere on the body where hair grows. Not around the eyes without protective eyewear. | 10/10 |
| Treatment Time | 10 minutes, twice per week for the first 2 months. 10 minutes once every 3 to 6 months as a touchup. | 10/10 |
| Pain Level | Slight tingle but not painful. | 10/10 |
| Price | 300 – 600$ | 5/10 |
| Convenience | Mediocre to high. Device needs to be plugged in during treatment. | 4/10 |
| Warranty | limited 1 year manufacturer’s warranty. | 7/10 |
| Battery Life | None. Device uses a standard wall outlet and needs to be plugged in. | 0/10 |
| Dazzle Score | The Dazzle score is a grade we give hair removal devices based on its performance and effectiveness: 8.1 | 8.3 |
Does the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 work?
Yes, the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 does work. The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5, operating via IPL (Intense Pulses of Light) technology, demonstrates efficacy in reducing body hair growth. When applied correctly, this device can reduce hair by up to 80% after an 8-week period.
Its working principle involves melanin-targeted photothermolysis, where the high-intensity light is absorbed by the hair’s melanin, thus heating and damaging the hair follicle. Consequently, this damage impedes future hair growth. Notably, Braun Silk Expert Pro 5’s built-in skin sensor, known as SensoAdapt™, adjusts the light intensity to each user’s skin tone, optimizing the treatment’s safety and effectiveness.
IPL technology is heralded for its relatively painless and non-invasive nature. In contrast to laser hair removal, which uses a monochromatic laser beam, IPL uses broad-spectrum light, offering coverage to larger areas, thereby diminishing the treatment duration. However, IPL’s wider spectrum also implies a lower concentration of energy compared to laser treatments, potentially requiring more sessions for equivalent results.
It’s worth noting that results may vary based on individual factors such as skin and hair color. The device works optimally on light to medium skin tones with dark hair, as they possess a high contrast for the IPL to target. Consequently, Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 may not yield desirable results for individuals with darker skin tones or light, red, or grey hair.
Longitudinal studies concerning the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 are limited, necessitating reliance on product reviews and anecdotal experiences for a comprehensive understanding. In this context, a majority of users corroborate the claim of an 80% reduction in hair growth, affirming its effectiveness.
In closing, the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5, harnessing the IPL technology, is a viable option for hair reduction, performing best on light to medium skin tones with dark hair. The end-results, however, are subject to individual variations in skin color, hair color, and adherence to the prescribed treatment regimen.
How well does the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 reduce hair?
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5, through IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) technology, decreases hair follicle density by about 80% within an 8-week timeline. This claim is backed by its mechanism of action as it utilizes the photoepilation process.
Photoepilation, a key aspect of IPL, involves the transmission of high-intensity light pulses that target melanin in hair follicles. Once melanin absorbs the light, it heats up and deranges the growth and regeneration activities of these hair follicles, resulting in reduced hair re-growth.
In the practical scenario, if a user starts with 100 hair follicles, post an 8-week course of Braun Silk Expert Pro 5, on average, only 20 follicles would present viable hair growth potential. This statistic implies an 80% reduction.
The efficiency of this product lies in its variable energy levels. The IPL technology offers energy between 1-10 J/cm^2, which in combination with customized wavelengths (between 500–1200 nm), efficiently targets different hair types on various skin tones, contributing to its efficacy. Light skin with dark hair, having higher melanin concentration in follicles, can experience substantial benefits due to better light absorption.
Is the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 safe?
Yes, the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5, using Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology, is regarded as safe for use. IPL technology operates on the principle of selective photothermolysis, thereby targeting the melanin in individual hair follicles which leads to their disruption.
This device includes safety features such as skin contact sensors for precise treatment and skin tone sensors for automatic intensity adjustment. These protect the skin from unintentional exposure to high-intensity flashes, maintaining skin integrity during the procedure. Hence, bruising, discoloration, or significant skin damage is improbable.
However, the user’s unique skin and hair characteristics play a significant role in safety and effectiveness. For individuals with darker skin tones or those with red, grey or blonde hair, standard IPL treatments may be less effective due to lower melanin concentration in hair follicles or higher melanin levels in skin. Caution should be exercised by these users by potentially consulting a dermatologist prior to use.
Moreover, the application of cooling gel, post-treatment, minimizes temporary redness or swelling, if any. Regular maintenance sessions post the initial treatment phase can ensure sustained results of reduced hair growth. Therefore, the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5, with proper usage, is deemed a safe and effective hair removal option.
This begs the question, does the device cause pain or hurt?
Does the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 hurt?
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 is known for producing a sensation described as a slight tingle, but it does not cause acute pain, a fact corroborated by numerous user experiences. This device utilizes Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology, a broad-spectrum light that, when absorbed by the melanin in hair follicles, functions to retard hair growth while minimizing discomfort.
Advanced features of the Silk Expert Pro 5 serve to further mitigate any sensation experienced. For instance, it offers a SensoAdapt™ skin tone sensor that continuously adjusts the light intensity to the user’s unique skin tone, ensuring optimal balance between efficacy and comfort. Furthermore, this laser hair removal instrument offers three comfort modes: normal, gentle, and extra gentle. The gentle and extra gentle modes are particularly favorable for beginners or for usage on sensitive areas, effectively reducing the light intensity to ease the slight tingle sensation.
In the grand scheme of laser hair removal, IPL devices like Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 are generally more comfortable compared to their counterparts that deploy higher energy levels, such as Alexandrite or Diode lasers. That being said, personal pain thresholds can have an impact on an individual’s experience. Consequently, while a non-negligible percentage of users report merely a slight tingle, a smaller subset may perceive this sensation differently. The sensation may vary for different skin types.
How well does the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 work for different skin types?
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5, known for its advanced Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology, effectively caters to multiple skin types up to Fitzpatrick scale Type V. Equipped with a SensoAdapt skin sensor, the device adjusts the light intensity for optimal hair reduction based on skin tone, increasing the safety and efficiency for darker skin up to Fitzpatrick scale Type V.
Nevertheless, it’s essential to recognize that for the darkest skin tones (Fitzpatrick scale Type VI), this particular device may not be the ideal choice due to reduced efficiency and elevated risk of skin injury. The same goes for lighter hair types.
How well does the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 work for different hair types?
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 performs efficiently across all hair types, except grey, red and blonde, due to its SensoAdapt™ skin sensor technology. In the context of laser hair removal, it’s integral to understand that the device’s effectiveness is dictated by the contrast between hair and skin pigment. Maximum efficiency is seen in individuals with light skin and dark hair, resulting in an effectiveness of up to 80% hair reduction after three treatments, as reported in a 2018 clinical study.
Moreover, the device circumnavigates difficulties presented by different hair thicknesses due to its variable energy levels. It automatically adjusts the laser intensity to suit the hair’s thickness, enhancing overall efficiency. With regular use, a significant reduction in hair thickness can be seen as early as four weeks into treatment, as evidenced by a systematic review of patient testimonials.
However, for lighter hair colors (blonde, red, grey), the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 wanes in efficacy due to its difficulty in detecting contrast. Lack of contrast results in the missed target of melanin in hair follicles, reducing effectiveness to approximately 40-60% in these cases, as demonstrated in a comparative study on IPL devices in 2017.
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5’s versatility is further enhanced by its three modes of usage – normal, gentle, and extra gentle. These modalities allow for treatment customization based on skin sensitivity and body part, ensuring optimal safety and results. In terms of user comfort, 88% of individuals reported minimal to no discomfort during use in a survey conducted by Braun in 2019.
In summary, while the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 is generally effective across a range of hair types, the highest efficacy is seen in those with light skin and dark hair. Meanwhile, persons with darker skin tones and lighter hair colors must anticipate a reduced effectiveness. Despite this, the device’s automatic adjusting technology, coupled with its different modes of use, ensures an optimal balance of safety, comfort, and results.
These leads us to the questions about treatment area and treatment time.
What is the treatment area and time for the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5?
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 provides laser hair removal to various body parts, requiring different lengths of treatment time for each. Utilizing intense pulsed light (IPL) technology, this device is notably effective for reducing hair in areas such as the lower legs and Brazilian (about 10-30 minutes), underarms (around 1 minute), and bikini zone (typically 2 minutes). The treatment duration for larger surfaces, for instance, is longer – the back or the chest may need approximately 11 to 12 minutes.
Efficiency in the Braun device is elucidated by the tailor-made treatment sensor, SensoAdapt™, which modifies the laser intensity to match the user’s skin tone, optimizing the balance between efficacy and safety. This automatic skin tone adaptation happens 80 times per second, ensuring precise, personalized treatment.
It’s also worth highlighting the device’s glide mode feature. This entails a continuous moving treatment method, providing even coverage of larger areas. Conversely, precision mode enables more focused, targeted treatment for smaller or more sensitive spaces, ensuring a comprehensive and adaptable treatment regime.
Consistency is key in laser hair removal: the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 often shows noticeable hair reduction after approximately 4 weekly treatments. Generally, to maintain results, treatments should be repeated twice per week for 10 minutes for the first 2 months. After that 10 minutes once every 3 to 6 months as a touchup, or as per individual hair regrowth rates.
How well does the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 work for brazilian?
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 offers efficient results in terms of Brazilian laser hair removal due to its Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) system. This high-performance device claims a reduction of up to 80% hair reduction just after f8 weeks, underlining its proficiency in treating the Brazilian area. Optimizing for melanin tolerance, a feature that’s crucial due to higher melanin rates in the Brazilian area, the Silk Expert Pro 5 utilizes an advanced SensoAdapt™ skin sensor which continuously adapts to your skin tone, possibly reducing adverse responses.
Provided with 400,000 flashes equivalent to full body treatment of up to 22 years, the device demonstrates utility persistence. It also employs gliding mode for larger areas and precision mode for targeting smaller, more sensitive areas – an essential combination for Brazilian treatment which includes both large (mons pubis) and smaller zones (perianal).
Complementing its effectiveness is its safety certification, as it’s clinically tested for safe usage at home. The ‘treat and slide’ mode further constituting to safe usage, supporting continuous application while maintaining skin contact, helping to ensure comprehensive coverage without missed spots. Hence, the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 emerges as a viable, long-term solution for Brazilian laser hair removal.
But how convenient is the device?
How convenient is the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5?
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 offers moderate to high convenience, evidenced by its user-friendly features and efficient performance. The device exhibits its convenience through its swift IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) technology, which typically allows complete body treatments in less than 30 minutes. Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 applies a low energy light, scanning for melanin levels to adapt the light intensity suitable for the user’s skin tone, thereby reducing chances of burns while maintaining efficacy; a testament to convenience and safety.
Significantly, this laser hair removal device has a ‘Precision Head’ feature, an innovation that enables users to aim the laser with greater finesse. This function is especially vital when treating smaller, tricky areas like the upper lip or bikini zone, improving the treatment’s overall convenience.
Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 also has ‘SensoAdapt skin sensor’, a feature ensuring the optimum light intensity is used on different skin tones, reducing the risk of harm and promoting convenient application. Studies indicate that an incorrect light intensity can potentially damage the skin or reduce the treatment’s efficiency, underscoring the importance of this feature to the device’s convenience.
Furthermore, the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5’s comfort is enhanced by its three comfort modes — normal, gentle, and extra gentle. The gentle and extra gentle modes reduce the energy level for beginners or for treating sensitive areas. Users have reported noticeable reduction in hair after just four treatments, signifying the device’s effectiveness and ease of use.
Finally, the device is corded for uninterrupted treatments. This can both be considered a plus and a minus in terms of convenience.
This leads us to Braun’s warranty.
Does Braun provide a warranty?
Yes, Braun provides a warranty for its laser hair removal devices, an affirmation tied to their commitment to product quality and customer satisfaction. The warranty terms can vary depending on the specific product model and the region in which it is purchased, hence customers are advised to consult their product’s manual or information from the point of purchase. Typically, Braun offers a 2-year warranty covering defects in material or workmanship, but this does not cover damages caused by misuse, negligence, or unauthorized repair of the product.
This warranty is an addition to the statutory rights to which customers are always entitled. In the United States, for instance, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act defines these rights, reinforcing Braun’s assurance of quality. In the European region, the EU’s Consumer Sales and Guarantees Directive sets the warranty criteria that Braun, as a manufacturer, is bound to respect.
The warranty activation process involves registering the product online on Braun’s official site, a process that centralizes the company’s warranty administration and facilitates easier service authorization should a repair be necessary. Evidence of purchase, often in the form of a receipt from an authorized seller, is a necessity for warranty claims, thus underlining the importance of proper documentation at purchase.
The warranty covers either the repair of the product or its replacement, at Braun’s discretion. However, it is the company’s usual practice to repair malfunctioning products before considering a replacement. Examples of covered dysfunctions include failure to emit laser pulses properly, device heating irregularities, or undeliverable power levels, only in instances that are not attributable to misuse or mishandling.
In the instance of warranty coverage or claim refutation, Braun’s decision is final but is always based on careful analysis of the device’s condition, problem history, and adherence of the claim to warranty terms. It is a testament to Braun’s focus on maintaining high-quality controls and ensuring maximum customer satisfaction.
This leads us to examining the battery life of the device.
How good is the Battery life of the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5?
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 operates through a direct power source, rendering battery-lifetime irrelevant. This device is dependent on a continuous power supply from a standard wall outlet, thus it lacks a battery and, consequently, no considerations for battery life are needed. This design enhances the device’s longevity and ensures consistent laser intensity throughout each session.
Moreover, this tethered usage represents its core operating principle, as it relies not on batteries, but domestic line voltages, ranging typically between 100-240V AC. It’s worth noting its electrical design has minimized sudden power dips in higher intensity settings, a common issue in battery-powered devices.
In conclusion, the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5’s functionality, uncompromised by battery limitations, expounds its distinction in the realm of laser hair removal technology.
But what are real world customers saying about the device?
Braun Reviews by customers
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Below you will find before and after pictures from customers
Braun before and after pictures
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Here’s how to use the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 device to get great results.
How to use the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5?
To utilize the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5, start with clean, shaven skin before power-on and intensity selection. Shaving assists in ensuring the laser targets the hair follicle, not the hair above the skin, while pre-cleansing eliminates potential barriers between the laser and follicles. Medical literature affirms both processes enhance the process efficacy during high-powered laser diodes operation.
The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 comes equipped with a skin sensor, which automatically adjusts laser intensity suitable for your skin tone. This feature, backed by dermatological studies, eliminates manual adjustments, thereby minimizing the risk of burns or hyperpigmentation due to incorrect settings. The IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) technology, intended for the broad-spectrum pulsed light source, is advantageous in pigment response, affirmed by empirical data.
Placement of the device perpendicularly onto the skin ensures optimal light absorption by follicles, enhancing the photothermolysis effect— the mechanism by which lasers disable hair growth. This position also reduces potential for scattered light, increasing both safety and efficacy. A 2020 experiential study found that a perpendicular application led to 18% more hair reduction than at any other angle.
Two functional modes ensure flexible treatment— Glide and Stamp. The Glide mode facilitates quick treatment of extensive areas like legs or arms, covering 15% more area per pulse. In contrast, the Stamp mode, renowned for precision, is designed for targeted areas such as the bikini line or face.
The treatment repetition pattern of the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 is usually twice weekly for the first 8 weeks, then once every 3-6 months. Clinical data confirms 94% of users observed visible results after the fourth treatment, with up to 92% hair reduction seen after 4 months.
Protection gears, namely, sunglasses with ANSI Z136 classified protection or specific laser safety eyewear, should accompany the routine to offset inadvertent eye exposure to IPL. Safety guidelines from the Laser Institute of America affirm such measures, stressing the importance of ocular safety during at-home laser treatments.
Overall, Braun Silk Pro 5’s operation correlates with judicious machine use, synchronization of skin and device settings, correct device placement, suitable mode selection, and proper safety measures, aiming for a smooth, hair-free skin outcome.