The Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 is Braun’s best IPL hair removal device. It’s comfortable to hold, easy to use, and more importantly, it gets results. Here’s our Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 review.
RRP: £499.99
Amazon: [amazon_link asins=’B018CVHA5Q’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’techt06-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’e7d3230b-0570-11e8-8b76-d73a198b1308′]
Before we go any further, we need to address a slight quirk with the Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009. The model number is slightly misleading. The BD5009 is exactly the same IPL hair removal device as the BD5001, the only difference is the free gift that comes with the IPL device. With the BD5009 you can a Braun Silk-épil 9 SkinSpa Exfoliator. With the BD5001 you can, a much cheaper, Gillette Venus razor.
However, at the time of writing, Amazon is offering a huge discount on the BD5009 (making it cheaper than the BD5001) so it’s still the device we recommend you buy. For this reason, we suggest you keep a close eye on both prices before you buy.
How to use Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009
- Shave area you want to treat
- Switch on Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009
- Rest nozzle against skin
- Press flash button
*Activate gentle mode for sensitive areas
Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 review: Design
The design of the Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 is as good as any IPL device on the market. It’s well balanced, easy to hold, and contoured in such a way that makes it easy to reach areas that are usually tricky.
It’s a corded device, which is both a good and a bad thing.
Good, because it’s ready to use right out of the box, and at any time you want. Just plug the device into the wall and start flashing. It’s never going to run out of battery.
Bad, because it means you have to deal with a cord getting in the way and you’re limited to using the device as far as its cord (and your extension lead) lets you be.
If you want a cordless-IPL device, check out our review of the Philips Lumea Prestige Review (BRI956/00): The #1 Home IPL Hair Removal Device.
One feature we particularly like is the lamp life of the BD5009. It’s huge. The 300,000 flashbulb (combined with the 3 cm² nozzle) means the device is capable of 200+ 12-week full-body treatments.
Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 review: How to use
Using the Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 is easy. It comes with a built-in sensor that reads your skin tone – 80x per second – and will automatically select the appropriate level. The machine has ten different intensity levels, which are displayed on the unit’s side.
When you’re ready, simply rest the device’s head on your skin. Wait a split second for the machine’s head to signal its ready, then press the large button to treat your skin.
For sensitive areas, the Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 has a gentle mode button located below the main flash button.
Like any IPL device, you need to shave the area you want to treat first.
Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 review: How does it work?
The Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 is a standard IPL device. This means it works by directing IPL (intense pulsed light) towards your hair follicles. The light passes harmlessly through your skin and is absorbed by your hair follicle’s melanin (pigment/colour). While the hair absorbs this intense pulsed light, its energy gets turned into heat. Ultimately, it’s the heat that damages the hair follicle and prevents it from growing.
Repeating this once-a-week over a period of 6-8 weeks will permanently injure the hair follicle, which in turn, will permanently prevents hair growth.
See also: Remington IPL6500 iLight Pro review.
Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 review: Will it work on my skin tone?
IPL treatments are only successful on certain skin types. Light skin and dark hair are the perfect conditions for IPL. The further away your skin tone is from this, the less chance IPL will work on your skin. Check the attached skin tone graph, to see if IPL is right for you.
Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 review: Does it Hurt?
The quick answer is no. It’s definitely a lot less painful than waxing. Some users have likened the feeling to an elastic band flicking against the skin. This will depend on the density coarseness of your hair. Areas with thick and coarse hair will feel a greater pang, while other areas where the hair is finer and spread wider apart will be completely painless. The reason for this is because the follicle will absorb the energy from the intense flash. The denser the grouping the hotter the flash will feel due to more hair absorbing the energy. But like we said, any pain is similar to getting flicked with an elastic band and is over instantly.
In short, the pain is minimal and you can definitely handle it.
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Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 review: Verdict
The Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 is a premium IPL hair removal device with a huge lamp life and generous 3 cm² nozzle that will speed up treatments. It’s a corded device, meaning users will have to negotiate its corb, but on the plus side, it’s ready to use straight out of the box and it will never run out of battery (or need charging). Its one oddity is that the Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5009 is exactly the same device as the Braun Silk-Expert IPL BD5001. The only difference is that you get a free electronic exfoliator with the BD5009, whereas the BD5001 comes with a free Gillette Venus razor. And for that reason, we suggest you buy whichever device is cheapest on Amazon at the time.
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