Whether you like to keep some parts of your body au naturel or totally de-fuzz from top to toe, you’ve probably had a few far-from-pleasurable experiences with hair removal. From neon-lit (and very public) threading chairs in department stores to painful, expensive and, let’s face it, often embarrassing waxing appointments, having your body hair removed is rarely enjoyable.
But what if we told you that there’s an easier and more convenient solution that you can do in the comfort of your own home? IPL (intense pulsed light) devices, such as the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 IPL, are one of the most modern ways to banish hair for good. Completely safe to use at home, the handy tool's broad spectrum of light wavelengths break down the hair regrowth cycle in the upper layer of the skin.
To find out more about the benefits, we asked Dr Anita Sturnham, a GP specialising in dermatology, to talk us through IPL and explain what makes the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 IPL such an impressive beauty gadget.
It visibly removes hair for up to six months
Through regular treatments and a simple maintenance plan, the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 IPL promises long-term hair removal that lasts up to six months³. It does this by stopping the hair regrowth cycle in the upper layer of the skin.
‘Hair goes through a three-phase cycle: an anagen growing phase, a catagenic resting phase, then a telogenic shedding phase,’ Dr Sturnham explains. ‘So, at any stage at any time, we have multiple hairs going through different stages of that cycle. In order to make sure we are successfully treating hair in the allergen growing phase, it’s recommended that you do a weekly treatment until you’ve noticed significant reduction in your hair growth.’
‘For some people, that might be as early as four weeks of use², but others may need to continue for 12 to 18 weeks until they notice a significant reduction of hair in the area. That’s when you can switch to your maintenance plan, which requires you reduce treatment of that area to once or twice a month to enjoy long-lasting results’.
It’s the safest and fastest IPL device around¹
If you’ve used an IPL device before and found it clunky, rest assured that the latest technology is practically unrecognisable. Quicker and more streamlined than ever, the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 IPL is lightweight and intuitive, and uses a SensoAdapt sensor to ensure an optimal balance between efficacy and safety.
‘The Silk Expert Pro 5 IPL is Braun’s fastest device – and lighter than the brand’s previous devices,’ says Dr Sturnham. ‘Firstly, its safety mode means the IPL will only release light energy when it’s in direct contact with your skin, which is really important. Also, its SensoAdapt technology means when you glide the device against your skin, it’s reading your skin tone in real time and adjusting the intensity of the IPL energy that is released. It also has different modes, so you can choose to select the strength of the treatment according to how sensitive your skin is and how sensitive the area is.’
It can be used all over the body
With the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 IPL, you can actually treat both large and small surface areas (including intimate areas) quickly and easily. Dr Sturnham explains how to do so using different application techniques and interchanging between heads.
‘For larger surface areas, such as legs, it’s best to use a gliding mode,’ she says. This mode creates a short flash sequence, which enables fast gliding over the skin to achieve effective results, while avoiding missed areas. ’You can treat both legs in just five minutes with this method,’ Dr Sturnham continues. ‘When you’re moving to more intimate areas, such as your bikini line and underarms, it’s recommended that you switch to the smaller precision head and use a stamping action to treat the area. You can also use the precision head on your face – including the upper lip, chin and jawline. I’d recommend using the device’s stamping action for those smaller areas, too.’
It’s more comfortable to use than you think
If you previously avoided IPL devices because you’ve heard they’re painful, we may be about to change your world. The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 IPL is practically painless, thanks to its interchangeable modes and the SensoAdapt sensor – a technology that continuously reads the skin tone and adapts the flash intensity as it goes.
‘You have a normal mode, gentle mode and an extra gentle mode,’ says Dr Sturnham. ‘It’s always good to start on one of the gentle modes because they only release the amount of energy suitable and safe for your skin type. It isn’t painful but you will be aware of a warm sensation. Then, as you get into more intimate areas, such as your bikini line and underarms, you might feel a bit more heat again.’
You can make the experience even more comfortable by making sure you don’t have visible hairs in the area you’re treating. ‘If you haven’t shaved beforehand, you’ll frazzle the visible hairs as well treating the deep hairs,’ explains Dr Sturnham. ‘So, I recommend shaving the area the night before to avoid any risk of irritation, and ensuring your skin is dry before you start the treatment.’
IPL is the perfect tool as part of a safe and effective beauty routine. So what are you waiting for? Get started and enjoy those long-lasting hair-removal results just in time for party season.
Try Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 IPL to enjoy up to six months of permanent visible hair reduction³, available now at boots.com
¹ Efficiency based on the combination of window size, speed and energy. Safety technology shared with Cyden.
² Tested on lower legs, armpits & bikini, following the treatment schedule. Individual results may vary.
³ Tested on lower legs, armpits & bikini, following the treatment schedule. Individual results may vary.
