Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 IPL review

What is it?

The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 is an IPL device from Braun, released in January 2019. There is an updated version called the Braun Skin i-expert Pro 7 IPL.

The Braun Pro IPL devices use intense pulsed light energy, called IPL. The flashes against your skin heat your hair follicles, causing damage to slow and then prevent hair regrowth. It takes several regular sessions to work. Then, periodic top-up treatments keep your skin smooth.

Learn more about how home IPL works here.

Braun (who is part of Procter & Gamble or P&G) is a household UK, European and American personal care brand. Their first IPL release was the Venus Naked Skin IPL in 2012, followed by the Silk Expert range in 2016. Their brand is trusted for quality, a long-lasting build, top performance, and value for money.

The Pro 5 IPL is smaller and lighter, and has a faster flash rate than the previous Silk-expert model. And the specification, performance and results remain unchanged in the new Pro 7 IPL model, too. However, the Pro 7 has a bluetooth connection to the companion Braun IPL app. The Pro 5 does not, but you can still use a simpilified version of the Braun IPL app with the Pro 5 IPL.

See also: Braun Pro 7 IPL vs Pro 5 IPL comparison review

Can I use it?

Before you buy an at home IPL device, you must check it is safe for you to use. Check the Pro 5 user guide for a comprehensive list of warnings and contraindications.

Next, let’s unbox the Pro 5…

First impressions

The packaging is professional, informative, attractive, compact and neat. It’s sturdy and economical too. I like that there’s very little plastic because the storage pouch keeps everything covered, clean and together.

What’s in the box?

• Braun silk-expert Pro 5 IPL with medium head
• Fixed power cord and base station pack
• Power lead and plugs (UK & Australia)
• Precision head (all models)
• Wide head (some models)
• Venus razor and blade (differs per model)
• User guide

How & when to use it

Before you start zapping away, first read the user manual and do a skin sensitivity test.

The user manual is a quick and easy read. It’s well organised and spaced-out, with helpful diagrams. You’ll find the safe skin tone and hair colour chart, a diagram of the IPL device, a brief explanation of how IPL works, contraindications and warnings, how to use it, about your skin patch test, the treatment plan, cleaning and storage, possible side effects and a troubleshooting guide.

As mentioned earlier, pay close attention to the list of contraindications for reasons you’re unsuitable to use this device.

To check your skin sensitivity, test each area you intend to treat with a few test zaps! Wait 24 hours and if your skin is normal, crack on with your first session (but avoid the test patch until your next weekly session).

There’s a start-up routine to get you to smooth, and then less regular top-ups for long-lasting results.

Then, just follow these steps:

1. Plug it in, the sensor shines blue and you’ll hear the fan start up inside
2. Select your mode; standard, gentle or speed
3. Position flat on your skin so the power bars light up and press the flash button
4. Slide to the next spot and repeat. Cover your skin in adjoining flashes, avoiding overlap.
5. When you’re done, unplug from the mains and the Pro 5 powers down.

It goes into standby mode after 10 minutes if you don’t press any buttons. Just press the power mode button to bring it back to life!

Quality & ease

For this review, I tested the Braun Pro 5 IPL on my full legs, extended bikini line, underarms and face. Here’s my feedback.

The white and gold IPL device is sophisticated and refined. I like the clean lines, subtle curves and gold accents. It’s compact and lightweight, but feels solid, quality – exactly what you expect from Braun.

The Braun Silk-expert weighs just 285g, but it feels solid and well-balanced with no creaks or cracks.

The 2 metre-long power cord is flexible and fixed into the base of the device with the power pack at the other end. So, unlike the earlier models, the weight of the power pack won’t pull the cable out mid-use. The power pack connects to the mains with a smaller 90cm cord so you get the full 2-metre supple cable to play with. Use an extension cable for more flexibility.

The IPL lamp gives a massive 400,000 flashes. Braun says the flashes should last for around 22 years. It’s superb value. You’ll never run out of flashes. You get a good 2-year manufacturer warranty too.

It’s very easy to handle around all your body, even if you have small hands. The large flash button is easy to press with fingers or your thumb. And it works in a few different grips, like this…

Flash windows

The flash bulb is fixed into the device. The heads click into place over the top. They can feel stubborn to remove at first until you get used to the pressure needed.

You get up to 4 flash heads with the Pro 5 IPL depending on the model you choose.

They change the size of the flash outlet and move the position of the skin sensors accordingly. The aim is that they better fit smaller or uneven areas like your face, so it’s easier to flash. Or cover more of your skin per flash for faster coverage.

With all models, you get the medium-size matt-gold body flash head. It measures 1cm by 3cm, so that’s a total flash area of 3 cm². It’s an excellent multi-purpose window for legs, body, underarms and bikini line. But sometimes it’s awkward to get a flash on your tache and jawline.

Luckily, with all models, you also get a smaller white precision head. This flash window is approximately 1cm wide by 1.5cm long, with a total flash area of 1.5 cm². It’s a good fit on the upper lip and around the jawline. And works well on fingers and toes too.

Some of the Braun Pro 5 models come with an extra precision head so you can use one for your face and the other for your bikini area, and other areas around your body. However, I find it too small to position with accuracy around the bikini area, and it takes ages to cover your skin in flashes. I prefer the medium head here.

And finally, with the most expensive models, you also get a white wide flash window. It measures 3.25cm x 1.2cm, so 3.9cm2. The purpose is to cover more skin per flash, and so speed up session times on large areas like legs and torso. But, as with the second precision head, I don’t find it very helpful.

That’s because the wide head is just a few millimetres bigger than the medium head. It’s impossible to gauge this slight difference whilst gliding, and I feel more likely to glide too far between flashes for more gaps and missed spots. The wide head is also too big for easy flashes on your lower legs, so you need the medium head, anyway. Therefore, I prefer to continue flashing my upper legs and everywhere else with the medium head.

Therefore, in summary, you really only need the medium-size and one precision flash head. Don’t pay more for the extra flash heads as they aren’t very helpful at all.

Related: Learn how the different Braun Pro 5 IPL models compare

Power, eye & skin safety

The Braun Pro 5 IPL has 10 intensity levels and a high IPL intensity range, from 3 to 6 J/cm2. This is one of the most powerful home-use IPL devices. This means, if you have light skin and use the higher levels, you’ll get longer-lasting results than less powerful devices. The lower intensities are for darker skin.

See also: See how the Braun Pro 5 and the Braun Pro 3 compare.

The Braun Pro 5 is clinically tested safe for home-use and it passes the European manufacturing and safety standards for the CE mark. It’s FDA-cleared in the US too.

So, how does it protect your eyes and skin?

You must hold the flash window flush against your skin so it covers the two skin sensors. If not, it won’t flash. This means you can’t accidentally flash it into open-air anywhere near your eyes.

The Pro 5 also has reassuring independent accreditation from Skin Health Alliance because it’s skin-safe.

There’s an inbuilt UV filter. And the advanced skin tone sensor stops the IPL flashes from hurting your skin too. It’s also the reason the Braun Pro 5 IPL is so darn straightforward to use. Here’s what it does:

This means it chooses the most powerful intensity that’s still safe for your skin tone. And from 10 increments versus 5 as with other IPL machines. This means a more precise match to your skin tone and the best possible results in the shortest time.

This clever tech takes all the faff and guesswork out of which intensity level to choose. Just plug-it-in and start zapping!

But what if it smarts too much?

Gentle modes for sensitive bits

IPL can smart a bit on more sensitive body areas like your bikini line and underarms. Luckily, Braun IPL has 2 additional comfort modes to adjust the intensity. They’re simple to activate.

1 light means extra gentle mode. This chooses the lowest IPL intensity level 1.

2 lights mean gentle mode. This reduces the intensity so you’ll see fewer white indicator lights illuminated.

3 lights mean standard mode. The Braun IPL balances maximum power and safety with your skin tone.

Extra gentle mode adds further reassurance if you have darker skin. However, if safety and comfort for darker skin are your concern, consider my recommended devices for dark and black skin.

Session speed

The Braun Pro 5 IPL is one of the fastest high-power home IPLs you can buy. The flash rate is very fast at every 0.6 to 1.2 seconds, fastest on the lowest intensities. Keep the flash button pressed for continuous flashes in glide mode. After each flash, glide the handset 1cm along your skin to the next position.

The flashes start a little faster, but after a short while as the bulb heats up, they slow to a steady pace as advertised. You’ll appreciate how the compact and lightweight design is easy to handle at speed. It’s not quite a fluid motion, but it’s fast and manageable.

Braun says you can do both lower legs in 5 mins on the lowest intensity level, and your full body in just 10 minutes. It took me a little longer than that.

Here’s the Braun Pro 5 IPL session duration from my speed tests taken from the average of 12 test sessions. My full body test covers full legs, bikini line, underarms, and face (upper lip and chin).

*Time per session taken from the average of 12 test sessions.

I did my full body in around 23 mins. That’s one of the fastest high-power IPLs I’ve tested. It’s beaten only by the SmoothSkin Pure Adapt and CurrentBody Skin Laser. So, if you have little time to spare and speed is what you need most, this is a solid choice.

Braun IPL app

You can use the Braun IPL app with the Pro 5 IPL. the Braun IPL app replaces the previous version app called the ‘Braun Silk-expert Pro’ app.

You use the app as a simple guide alongside your device. You can plan your sessions, start a session, and view your progress through the schedule. You must still read the user guide to do your skin sensitivity test, understand the contraindications, the different power modes, possible side effects, and aftercare information too.

The latest Pro 7 IPL device has an upgraded experience in the app, and it walks through all the key actions. It still lacks contextual contraindication and aftercare information, but it’s a helpful guide nonetheless.

What does it feel like?

You’ll hear the cooling fan whirring inside the device. And you’ll hear each flash ‘pop’.

The flashes are very bright, but harmless to your eyes. They’re most intense in extra gentle mode because they are rapid and can leave spots in front of your eyes. Try not to look directly at the flashes. Look just to the side instead. Also, use it in a well-lit room so the flashes don’t seem so intense. Sunglasses or specialist IPL glasses can help ease any irritation you might feel.

It feels warm and tingly against your skin. Some more sensitive areas, like ankles, thighs, bikini line and underarms can sting more. Hair is generally thicker and denser on the bikini line and underarms so these areas can be uncomfortable. Simply select gentle or extra gentle mode if it feels too intense. Sometimes starting with the more sensitive areas is easier.

It’s really fast so you won’t get bored. But it still demands concentration because you must remember which areas you’ve flashed. This avoids too much overlap and missed hairy bits.

Skin redness is a common skin reaction to IPL. Your skin may also feel a bit hot and tingly. It’s normal and should wear off within 24 hours. You can cover it with a cool facecloth or ice pack. Cooling water sprays are good too, Aloe Vera gel or a non-scented moisturiser.

After your treatment, avoid things that could irritate the skin you’ve flashed. For example, using hot tubs and saunas, spanking, wearing tight-fitting clothing, using bleaching creams and perfumed or exfoliation products.

Avoid tanning and wear a SPF 15+ (30+ ideally), if exposed to the sun! If you don’t you risk experiencing some of the rare home IPL side effects.

Effort & results

Shave before every treatment, and /or between sessions as you need.

The start-up schedule is typical for at-home IPL devices. You do weekly sessions until you are smooth. Braun says you’ll need between 4 to 12 weekly sessions. Once you’re smooth, switch to less frequent top-ups. These could be every 1 or even 2 months, or as you feel you need them.

If you complete all 12 weekly sessions, you’ll need top-ups less frequently than if you stop earlier in the start-up schedule.

Our tester’s experience matches the advertised results. They noticed slower leg hair growth after 2 sessions. It got softer and lighter after session 3. They had big, smooth hairless patches after 5 sessions which made shaving super quick and without ouchie razor bumps. After 6 sessions there was very little hair left. And ingrown hairs faded and healed, too.

Once smooth, do top-ups as you need them. Shave if you need to before these. Try spacing some a month apart, and eventually increase the gap to 2 months and even further.

So far our tester says…

“I’ve now done 6 sessions and 3 top-ups 1 month apart. At first, I’d notice some hairs around tops of my ankles. So, I shaved and flashed them and now they’re no more. I’ll keep going and try dropping the top-ups to every 6 weeks. I’m smooth and shaving rash free in time for Summer. I can’t wait to get my legs out!”

The negatives

Just a few not-so-big negatives to report.

First, as mentioned earlier, the Braun Pro 5 is fast and magic on large areas like legs. However, on standard and gentle mode, sometimes the flash rate is unpredictable so you can glide it too far, or not far enough, in between the flashes. I think this is because of how the sensors scan your skin and select the IPL intensity before each flash.

If you have difficulty controlling it, try to keep closer contact with your skin so the flashes stay consistent. It takes a little practise to find your technique and rhythm (especially if you’re used to a slower IPL device). Or you could switch to a stamping motion instead.

Second, the flashes are intense when gliding in extra gentle mode, because they are so rapid. They dazzle you, so it’s difficult to get accurate coverage. They eventually slow and your eyes adjust, but it’s not pleasant to start.

Next, the extra flash heads aren’t helpful (and they cost more). The wide head doesn’t make my sessions any easier or faster, and the second precision head for the bikini line is too small and takes loads of flashes. It’s a faff to stop and swap the heads too, so I prefer zapping everywhere non-stop with the medium head.

And finally, the Braun Pro 5 IPL is expensive. But is it worth it? Let’s look at the value you get next…

Is it good value?

The Pro 5 IPL retail price is $429.99 in the US, but it’s an eye-watering £610 to £794.99 in the UK. They’re exactly the same devices so, if you’re in the UK, this seems a tad unfair and I’d avoid paying full price. There are offers about, but even then it’s still expensive.

So, let’s consider what it gets you…

The Braun Pro 5 IPL device is distinctly premium because it’s intuitive and easy, with a foolproof auto-match skin tone sensor. It’s superb quality and the IPL bulb flashes last decades. Plus, session are quick. You can easily zap your full body in one sitting.

I think it’s good value, especially compared to the latest Pro 7 IPL. That’s because the devices are the same, only the bluetooth app is new and accounts for the Pro 7’s even higher price tag. So, if you don’t care for the fancy app, grab the Pro 5 IPL before it’s gone. It’s from a trusted brand, with a 2-year warranty and a long 100-day money-back guarantee, too.

Look for the best offers, but don’t pay more for the extra precision and wide head – they aren’t very helpful.

See also: my round-up of the best IPL and Laser hair removal devices for DIY long-lasting sily smooth skin. I’ve tested all the leading brands and I think these are the top choices.

Buy Braun Pro 5 IPL 🛒

When you shop via my links I earn a small commission (but your price stays the same). And I really appreciate your support 🙏!

Choose from various Braun Pro 5 models. Each has a nice storage case, Venus razor, standard and precision flash window. Some then have additional flash windows too. See the options below👇.

You can also check out this Braun Pro 5 IPL models comparison review.