****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Things have moved on very swiftly in the IPL for use at home market since I first used one around 5 years ago. This is the best yet and worth consideration, even if you already have a device in use (as I do).• SuitabilityIPL technology is not suitable for everyone and I would urge a visit to the Braun website to read all the available information before you make a purchase. It is not suitable for use on red, white, grey or blonde hair and is less effective the darker your skin tone. Some medical conditions also render it unsuitable, things such as varicose veins, so it is worth reading the health warnings even if your skin and hair colours fit the criteria.• UseIt works by targeting the root of the hair so you can shave to initially remove hair before a treatment, which will reduce the smell of burnt hair (hence the inclusion of a manual shaver in the kit). You can choose the level of intensity from extra gentle to normal; I chose normal as I have used similar devices for some time and just noticed some mild heat against my skin, which was not unexpected and felt fine. Choose extra gentle for the first few uses whilst you get used to it.You need to know that you will not see instant results and are likely to need to continue removing hair manually whilst you build up the process – there is a guide to follow. Hair will eventually fall out in most cases and you will notice regrowth becomes less frequent and softer over time. In my own case, I do not need to treat very often at all, and I now have patches of bare skin where hair barely, if ever grows. That is after about 4 years of occasional use after perhaps a year of regular treatments, so it does work.• Precision headI do not have this with the model I chose, so I just wanted to say that the IPL is fine for use on the face and I did not have any trouble with use even on toes where I have previously found it tricky getting the contacts to allow a flash. In my opinion, unless the cost differences are minimal, it isn’t worth paying significantly more for the models that include the precision head as the IPL without it is sufficiently flexible.• Is it worth updating your IPL?I have been using IPL technology for a while and debated whether it was worth buying a new model, particularly as I am in a maintenance phase with little input needed to achieve hair-free skin. I am pleased that I made the decision to buy as the speed of use has improved immensely from the first device I bought about 5 years ago. Then, I had to spend 30 seconds zapping a single area before moving on to the next; it took an hour or more to treat lower legs and even a model that is about a year old is still an order of magnitude slower than this Braun.This Braun model is phenomenally faster than any IPL I have used before, which makes it easy to fit in a session during even the busiest of days. There is no obvious delay for the lamp to recharge, it is literally a process that is held up by the time it takes you to move to another area with no waiting at all.• Comparison of modelsThere are three latest models in the Braun Pro 5 range, which at the time of writing are PL5014, PL5137 and PL5124. Having spoken to Braun, I understand that the basic handheld IPL device itself is identical and the only differences between the three models are the inclusion of a precision head, different manual razors and different bags. All are safe to use on the face, albeit the precision tool may make application in that area easier; note that Braun has stated this tool will be available as a separate purchase soon.I opted for the PL5137 without the precision head as it was available at a good price by comparison to the other two. The manual razor is fine and largely irrelevant as it is a throw away product designed only for short term use. The bag that comes with this more basic option is surprisingly good and much better than any that have been supplied with my previous IPL devices. So, don’t let the bag or manual razor influence your decision.On the basis that you are getting the exact same IPL device across all three options and a decent bag even with the more basic package, your decision will largely be whether the additional cost of a model that includes the precision head is worthwhile. For me, it wasn’t, and I am pleased with the PL5137.• SummaryThe Braun IPL is compact, fast and comes with a good bag for storage. Check the Braun website for full usage instructions and cautions before you purchase to ensure its suitability, but it is a very good IPL option and I have no regrets about upgrading from my previous device, even though it was only a year old.
