No. 03 in devices
Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5
// glowrecs.com/braun-silk-expert-pro-5
Buy on Amazon See price
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases through our links — rankings are based on Reddit consensus, not commission rates. How it works.
76% would recommend
39 redditors · 32 threads · 3 subs
95% CI: 62–87%
★4.2 on Amazon (1,439 reviews)
77%
18%
Positive 30 Neutral 7 Negative 2
Why we ranked it No. 3 in devices
Sample 39 redditors with explicit opinion · 30 positive · 2 negative · 7 neutral
Score0.780 — formula: 0.75 × % positive + 0.25 × pos/neg ratio
Confidence95% CI: 62–87% · the true approval rate falls in this range with 95% statistical confidence
Verdict Highly Recommended — ≥65% positive across ≥7 redditors.
Sources r/HairRemoval, r/30PlusSkinCare, r/SkincareAddiction
Braun · devices
Highly Recommended

Silk-Expert Pro 5

r/HairRemovalr/30PlusSkinCarer/SkincareAddiction
TL;DR — Reddit consensus
Reddit's most-trusted at-home IPL: the longest guarantee (5 years) and by far the most unsponsored praise — the one people recommend when nobody's being paid to. Slower and a bit pricier than Ulike, but the safe default.
What redditors love
+
The most unsponsored praise on Reddit — the trusted default
“I have a Braun IPL Pro 5, and it's been a huge quality of life improvement”
+
Strong on ingrowns and stubble
“I'm in my 8th week and haven't gotten a single ingrown hair ever since, which is a huge win”
+
Works on the classic pale-skin/dark-hair combo
“I got the Braun 5 IPL and it works! The armpit hair is gone and leg hair is way less”
What they don’t
Can be genuinely painful for some — a few quit over it
“the pain was the main reason I couldn't stick with it — sold it after a couple sessions”
Slower and pricier than Ulike, no built-in cooling
“the Braun quickly heats up and I had to take many breaks to not burn myself”
Read all 39 mentions on Reddit ↓
Direct quotes

What 34 redditors actually said.

Top 6 by confidence shown — expand below for the rest. Click any to open the original on Reddit.
A
u/anon · r/30PlusSkinCare
I have a laser hair removal device (Braun IPL Pro 5), and it's been a huge quality of life improvement. It's around $300.
View thread →
A
u/anon · r/HairRemoval
I got the Braun 5 IPL and it works! The armpit hair is gone and leg hair is way less. It definitely works. I'm pale with black hair for reference.
View thread →
A
u/anon · r/30PlusSkinCare
I have the same Braun IPL device and love it. There is zero pain as long as you shave before doing it. I did buy some eye protection even though the directions don't say it's needed.
View thread →
A
u/anon · r/SkincareAddiction
The Braun IPL Silk·Expert Pro 5 has cleared it up. I got mine from Costco ($300) because I knew if it didn't work well it would be easy to return.
View thread →
A
u/anon · r/HairRemoval
One of the main reasons I got the Braun Pro 5 — I'm in my 8th week and haven't gotten a single ingrown hair ever since, which is a huge win.
View thread →
A
u/anon · r/HairRemoval
I used to own the Braun Pro 5 and the pain was the main reason I couldn't stick with it — sold it after a couple sessions.
View thread →
Show all 34 mentions ↓
u/mr_seven68 · r/30PlusSkinCare
"Not the person you asked but I have the same Braun IPL device and love it. There is zero pain as long as you shave before doing it. I did buy some eye protection even though the directions don’t say that it’s needed. …"
View thread →
u/BodakBlonde · r/HairRemoval
"I was going to say the same thing! Def try IPL. I use the Braun Silk 5- I’m 7 sessions in and it’s made a WORLD of difference"
View thread →
u/SilverHammer1979 · r/HairRemoval
"I got a Braun IPL machine and it has been life changing."
View thread →
u/Ok-Professional-4765 · r/HairRemoval
"I can literally feel your pain. It's more of an upfront cost, but I got a Braun IPL machine and did my Brazilian that way. No more hair anymore! I shaved and IPL'd weekly for a few months. Now I just do a maintenance …"
View thread →
u/reptilenews · r/HairRemoval
"Braun IPL as well. I did the 12 weeks. Zapped chin, underarms, mustache and legs. I'm female with PCOS. Legs are hairless. I did the bikini edgeline too, and hairless. Underarms mostly hairless, but grow in after a wh…"
View thread →
u/adieudaemonic · r/SkincareAddiction
"I had the same issue and the Braun IPL Silk expert Pro 5 has cleared it up. I got mine from Costco ($300) because I knew if it didn’t work well it would be easy to return."
View thread →
u/Devlinaaa · r/30PlusSkinCare
"I strongly recommend at home IPL! (If you don't use retinol/tret/BHA in the area!!!) As someone with PCOS, I have seen amazing results and wish I'd started sooner. Granted my skin + hair combo is perfect for it (fair …"
View thread →
u/Ok-Seat-3916 · r/HairRemoval
"I tend to have a lot of ingrown hairs that lead to scarring and painful wounds all the times, so that was one of the main reasons I got the Braun Pro 5; I'm in my 8th week I think and haven't gotten a single ingrown h…"
View thread →
u/ManateeNipples · r/HairRemoval
"I have the same skin tone and had the same hair issue, I used a braun silk pro 5 and even before it got rid of the hair it started to make it much more fine, I could shave without ingrown hairs and all the red irritat…"
View thread →
u/Rantakemisti · r/HairRemoval
"Congrats on the amazing results! I’ve had a similar experience with the Braun Silk Pro 5, though I’m a guy with darker skin, so it took a bit longer to see such smooth results. It’s always great to see result posts wi…"
View thread →
u/zeanderson12 · r/HairRemoval
"OP. If there is one thing you take from this post, it is this. The Braun silk IPL 5. I got on sale from target for 200 some dollars. It completely eliminated underarm, bikini, etc. And I spent thousands on laser prior…"
View thread →
u/__kamikaze__ · r/HairRemoval
"I have both. The Braun Silk 5 has broken twice- the sensor is absolute garbage, it constantly has issues detecting my skin. The Ulike has 1 sensor at the top of the device, which is much more efficient and less likely…"
View thread →
u/Music_201 · r/HairRemoval
"Yes it will work on you. I did IPL on my stomach and it got rid of the hair. You can get a Braun IPL and use it at home once a week and works great on the face too. But make sure it will be compatible with your shade …"
View thread →
u/ic3princz · r/HairRemoval
"I got rid of almost all of my underarm hair using at home IPL (at least 7 yo Braun device). I now shave my 10 remaining hairs every month and have not done a touchup in 6 months for sure. I have similar situation on m…"
View thread →
u/AnyAcanthopterygii27 · r/HairRemoval
"At home devices are not as effective, they’re not as powerful, so results are patchier and don’t last as long. Additionally, salon devices are all FDA tested and approved, while the only device that has been tested is…"
View thread →
u/iammeubu · r/HairRemoval
"Hi first of all, there is nothing you should feel insecure about. No one's noticing this unless you zoom in and mention it. I'm on week 13 with my braun ipl now using it every 2 weeks on my legs now day's. I had these…"
View thread →
u/Wild_girl_travels · r/HairRemoval
"Just started my 2nd sesh "down there" with Braun IPL - I went 2nd setting for the 1st session, then 3rd (highest) setting for the 2nd. I haven't seen any results yet to be honest, but am hopeful by week 8 things will …"
View thread →
u/Individual_Sun5662 · r/HairRemoval
"An IPL is more expensive, but the Braun 5 is painless compared to the epilator. I've used an epilator and it resulted in folliculitis. If you are prone to bumps, redness, etc after waxing, I would go the IPL route."
View thread →
u/Pasta_ri0t · r/HairRemoval
"I think she was talking about waxing. Do not wax. That will destroy the progress. Shaving is recommended prior to IPL with Braun"
View thread →
u/Few_Skirt_6545 · r/HairRemoval
"Snap, I don’t like butt hair and have started to use the braun IPL device to zap the area, only been a couple of weeks but noticing less and less hair regrowth every time, well chuffed."
View thread →
u/Ill-Chocolate-7420 · r/HairRemoval
"Yes, you are an ideal case for IPL hair removal. You can use the machine basically anywhere that doesn't have a wound, mole, tattoo or discoloration. You have to shave the area completely before the IPL treatment, thi…"
View thread →
u/remediesblackboards · r/HairRemoval
"I purchased the Braun IPL as a gift, so it sat under our tree until after Christmas. When we finally read the instructions we discovered that you cant use on the pubic area nor can you use it if you take meds that mak…"
View thread →
u/mumtwothree · r/HairRemoval
"I am exactly the same. One year later and it has been the best investment I made for myself. I have the Braun Pro 5 IPL. My skin is no longer itchy, red and full of ingrown hairs. It looks smooth and healthy and very …"
View thread →
u/lala16888 · r/HairRemoval
"Braun silk expert pro 3. Consistency is so key with it but the results have been worth it for me, anyway."
View thread →
u/AliveWeird4230 · r/HairRemoval
"Same. IPL has stopped ingrowns and the inflamed follicle rash that came after shaving no matter what methods I used to minimize it. I am so much more comfortable and my skin is so much healthier now. Mine is at-home, …"
View thread →
u/Olivyah · r/HairRemoval
"I have been using my epilator on my entire body for almost a decade, and have very sensitive skin. I have two I use for different areas (Braun Silk Epil #9 wide and #7 regular with extra replacement heads). Epilator q…"
View thread →
Before you go

Leave with an answer, not 40 open tabs.