Braun IPL vs Silk’n Infinity: An Esthetician’s Guide

Our Esthetician’s Guide to the Braun IPL vs. Silk’n Infinity will let you know which laser hair removal device can better deliver safe and permanent results for you.

Braun IPL vs Silk’n Infinity: An Esthetician’s Guide

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Ask the Expert: Which is better for you, the Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 or Silk'n Infinity?

BY SAMANTHA WELCH, ESTHETICIAN

The more suitable device for you will depend mainly on your skin tone.

If you have sensitive skin or a dark complexion incompatible with most home laser hair removal, the Silk’n Infinity is the best IPL you can get.[1] It's by a reputable brand with proprietary tech and safety mechanisms that mitigates the risks for darker skin tones.

Resources: The Best At-Home Laser Hair Removal for Dark Skin, Silk'n Infinity In-Depth Review

If you have a light to medium complexion and an uneven skin tone, Braun's highly advanced Silk-Expert Pro 5 will be the more convenient option for you. It's skin sensor and auto-adjuster makes it user-friendly, and it has a bit more power to give compared to the Silk'n.

Resources: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 In-Depth Review by Estheticians

We've outlined the similarities and differences below in detail, but those mentioned above will still be your main qualifiers.

That said, if you're looking for the best at-home machine for that money can buy, that still goes to the ViQure EpiPro Diode Laser.

Resources: The Best At-Home Laser & IPL Hair Removal: Esthetician’s Choice

Product Comparison Table:
Silk'n Infinity vs. Braun Laser Hair Removal

Esthetician Tip: Save time by process of elimination. Check if the device is compatible with your skin & hair color first, then compare by technology, power, safety, and other features.

Silk’n InfinityBraun Silk-Expert Pro 5
silkn infinity reviewbraun silk-expert pro 5
Verdict:Best IPL for Dark Skin, Light Hair, or Sensitive SkinMost User-friendly At-Home IPL
Ideal for:Light to dark skin (Fitzpatrick I-VI), Sensitive skin, Low pain toleranceLight to medium skin tones, Full body treatments, Sensitive skin or low pain tolerance, Uneven skin tone on the body
Technology:eHPL™ technology (IPL + Galvanic Current)IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)
Energy Fluence / Power:2.5-4 J/cm² + 70-400 microampere (µA) Galvanic Current3 – 6 J/cm² (Joules per centimeter)
Flashes:Unlimited flashes (400,000 flashes)400,000 flashes; good for 22 yrs
Safety Mechanism:Automatic skin tone + contact sensorSensoAdapt™ (Automatically adjusts energy fluence to your skin tone) + 2 Contact Sensors
Additional Skin Rejuvenation Mechanism:Galvanic EnergyN/A
Skin Tone Coverage:fitzpatrick scale I-VI
Hair Color Coverage:human hair color spectrum
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Viable Alternatives:

Below are some of the other devices you can compare by their most important features.

wdt_ID Image Device/Brand Product Max Energy Fluence Skin Tone Coverage I II III IV V VI Cooling/Pain-free
66 VIQURE-SQUARE-2-300x300.webp https://healthybeautiful.com/review/viqure-depimini-808nm-diode-laser-machine-in-depth-esthetician/ ViQure EpiPro Diode Laser 20.0 I-VI Y Y Y Y Y Y Advanced TEC (Thermoelectric Cooling) + Wind Cooling (0°C~5°C/32~41°F) + Cooling gel (sold separately)
67 ulike-Air-10-square-300x300.webp https://healthybeautiful.com/Ulike-Air-10 Ulike Air 10 (SHR) 6.7 I-IV Y Y Y Y 65°F/18°C - Ice-Cooling Contact
68 ulike-sapphire-air3-square-300x300.webp https://healthybeautiful.com/review/ulike-sapphire-air3-an-in-depth-review-by-estheticians/ Ulike Sapphire Air3 7.2 I-IV Y Y Y Y 50-68°F/10-20°C - Sapphire Cooling
69 ulike-x-men-300x300.webp https://healthybeautiful.com/Ulike-X-for-Men Ulike X for Men (SHR) 6.5 I-IV Y Y Y Y 61.4°F
70 ulike-air-square-white-300x300.webp https://healthybeautiful.com/Ulike-Sapphire-Airplus-all Ulike Air+ 6.0 I-IV Y Y Y Y 58℉~67℉/14~19°C - Clinical-grade Sapphire ICE-Touch Tech

Overview: Silk'n Infinity vs. Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5

Silk'n Infinity

Video: Silk’n Infinity IPL – eHPL™ hair removal with light pulses

The Silk’n Infinity is one of the few home devices that we've found to be up to standard in safely and effectively treating dark skin.

Related: The Best At-Home Laser Hair Removal for Dark Skin

If you’ve been shopping for at-home IPLs, you’ll notice that almost all of them limit skin coverage to Fitzpatrick IV-V or dark brown and naturally dark hair at most.

This is because the mechanism of laser hair removal, called selective photothermolysis, is very high risk for dark skin and ineffective for light hair.

IPL targets melanin, causing damage with continuous application.

Every hair removal machine's goal is to ensure that its heat energy is localized to just the target root, not the surrounding skin.

Unfortunately, no IPL or laser equipment outside of professional Nd:YAG machines and long-pulse diode can do this with dark skin tones without some degree of complications like burns.

Most devices simply can’t differentiate between melanin in the hair and the skin.

What makes Silk’n unique, however, is it doesn’t just use IPL but a combination of it with galvanic current.

Galvanic current opens your pores and gives the IPL more straightforward access to your hair follicle.

This process amplifies the device’s hair-eliminating ability and reduces the need for dangerously high energy fluences to achieve the same results.

This unique system of hair removal is their proprietary eHPL™ (enhanced home pulse light).[5]

With its fool-proof automatic skin sensor, temporary pressure markings, longer wavelength, and low energy fluence—you'll have to really try for anything to go wrong using this device.

I've been using this at max level 5 and it only feels like a tiny, minute zap. It’s a great, relatively painless, and very safe option for sensitive skin, light hair, and skin tones up to Fitzpatrick VI.

The galvanic energy also gives you extra skin rejuvenation, a very nice addition especially since EMS (electro-muscle stimulation or electrotherapy) treatments like this are very expensive. I wouldn’t mind a free 2-in-1 body rejuvenation!

That said, its superior safety measures seem to come at the expense of time and effort.

The estimated time to see results are within 5-6 months of recommended use. Quite a leap in comparison to other devices that averages 3-4 months.

This is also probably one of the reasons I’ve seen a good number of negative feedback.

If you’ve been conditioned by regular devices to see results in 12 weeks, you would be expecting the same here.

It’s important to remember, though, that ultimately, other devices aren’t close to capable of treating light hair and dark skin.

This has been scientifically proven to work if you do it right[1]—it just might take ages.

If you manage your timeframe and expectations, Silk’n Infinity‘s hair removal system can deliver where other devices can’t.

Ideal for: Light to dark skin (Fitzpatrick I-VI), Sensitive Skin, Low pain tolerance, and people with time and patience.


Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5

Video: BRAUN Silk-Expert IPL Pro 5 – Features

From the brand that makes it their business to keep you flawlessly hair-free comes their latest product yet.

The Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 is clinically tested for permanent hair reduction.

Braun has even taken it one step further and was awarded accreditation by the Skin Health Alliance, a team of independent dermatologists that perform scientific reviews and clinical trials on skincare.

Silk-Expert is the only IPL device that automatically adapts to your skin tone, making it one of the most user-friendly laser hair removal devices today.

Because skin tone varies across different body parts [5], you may have to adjust your device’s setting according to each area. This is usually done manually and greatly influences the outcome of your treatment. (Too low and it won’t work, too high and you can get burned.)

Silk Expert’s intelligent SensoAdapt™ technology continuously reads your skin tone at 80x per second and re-calibrates itself as you glide it across your skin. This ensures that the light intensity is always right for maximum safety and optimum efficacy.

It has 3 levels: Normal, Gentle, and Extra Gentle. You can adjust this accordingly, depending on how sensitive your skin is.

Another plus is its built-in cartridge that loads up to 400,000 flashes. This number will take a long way because you only have to glide over every area once (vs. other devices that offer a higher number of flashes but requires that you go over areas 2-3x.)

The speed clocks at just .05 – 0.9 seconds on level 1. Combined with its large window which opens at 3 cm2, areas like your legs and arms can be done in no time. The noise level compared to most machines is also much lower.

It has an energy fluence of up to 6 J/cm2 and covers the normal spectrum of skin tone and hair color (light to dark brown, dark hair).

Initial treatment involves 4-12 weekly sessions. Once completed, you can top up once every 1-2 months for maintenance.

Several editions come with either: Standard, Wide, or Precision heads, a facial cleansing brush, or a Gillette razor. It also comes with a pretty creme traveling pouch.

An app is also available on iTunes or Google Play to help schedule your sessions and maximize your device.

Ideal for: Full body treatments, Fool-proof treatment that’s almost free from trial-and-error (you only have to adjust for pain tolerance)


Pros & Cons:

Silk'n Infinity IPL Device

silkn infinity review
Images: Silk'n Infinity Review by Gabrielle Sterin/Healthybeautiful.com

Pros:

  • FDA Cleared and Approved by Health Canada, GMP & ISO Medical.
  • One of the few portable devices that can be used on ALL skin tones including brown, black, or Indian skin, and has one of the broadest coverage of hair colors
  • One of the safest at-home laser hair removal machines due to the brand’s proprietary Enhanced Home Pulsed Light™, and its numerous failsafe mechanisms:
    • Automatic Skin Color Sensor, Recessed Flash Window – Protects the Skin, Prevents you from accidentally wasting any flashes
    • Skin Contact Sensor – Protects the Eyes
  • Among longest wavelength compared to average IPL devices, which ensures that it penetrates far into the skin to reach deep-seated hair roots and is safer for darker skin tones
  • Brand Reputation. Silk’n has more than a decade of building innovative hair removal devices. They are one of the first companies to get FDA clearance for home IPLs way back in 2008.
  • Unique cleansing box that provides thorough disinfection and allows device sharing, something actively discouraged with most at-home laser hair removal devices
  • Small, light, and easy to use on small and large areas of the body
  • Silver casing makes it convenient to bring for travel
  • Solid customer support—Something sorely lacking in cheap, off-brand devices.
  • Skin rejuvenation is a byproduct of galvanic energy, a type of electrotherapy that’s used in facials and body treatments

Cons:

  • Enhanced Home Pulsed Light™ has intrinsically low energy fluence. This is to emphasize safety, especially for darker skin tones. This comes at the expense of quicker results and will likely take you longer than advertised to see permanent hair reduction. You’ll need patience and discipline in keeping to your schedule.
  • If you buy the cleansing box bundle and share the device with multiple people, you can run out of flashes. That “lifetime use” is really for one person. Since the Silk’n Infinity's cartridge is built-in, you’ll have to buy a new unit once the lamp runs out of flashes.

Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5

Images: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 Review by Michelle Evans/Healthybeautiful.com
Images: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 Review by Michelle Evans/Healthybeautiful.com

Pros:

  • Clinically tested and cleared by the FDA.
  • ELLE Editor's Choice 2021, Dermatologically accredited by the Skin Health Alliance
  • The most user-friendly at-home laser hair removal machine due to the brand’s proprietary SensoAdapt™ and its numerous failsafe mechanisms:
    • Skin contact sensors ensure the device is in full contact with your skin to prevent stray flashes from damaging your eyes
    • Intelligent SensoAdapt™ skin tone sensor reads your skin 80x per second and automatically adjusts the light intensity to your skin tone for safety and efficacy
    • Built-in UV filter
    • Gentle Modes for skin sensitivity: ‘Standard’‘Gentle’, and ‘Extra Gentle’
  • Incredibly easy and fast treatments with just 0.5 – 0.9 seconds between flashes
  • Device Caps or Heads‘Standard cap’ have bigger treatment windows to easily cover large areas like legs & arms, ‘Precision cap’ for smaller areas like upper lip & bikini
  • Treatment Methods or Flash Settings for easier use: ‘Gliding’ automatically flashes as you slide the device over large areas & ‘Stamping’ is for carefully treating small or sensitive areas
  • Brand Reputation. With over a century of innovative product design, Braun and parent company Gillette have become synonymous with quality and precision in hair removal.
  • The latest Braun Expert Pro 5 is 15% smaller and 25% lighter than previous editions.
  • Solid customer support—Something sorely lacking in cheap, off-brand devices.
  • The beauty pouch case makes it convenient to bring for travel

Cons:

  • Uses IPL, which has bright flashes, you’ll want safety glasses for extra eye protection
  • Flashes during the gliding mode can be inconsistent depending on how hard you press, it takes practice
  • It may not be effective on extremely strong, resilient hair

Laser Hair Removal Key Comparison: Silk'n Infinity vs. Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5

Consistency and commitment are the keys to having an effective laser hair removal treatment, both professionally done and at home.

Your goal is to slowly damage your hair follicles during each session until it reaches the point where your hair is so thin and sparse that it’s negligible or can’t altogether grow back.

This process needs to be done safely, effectively, and repeatedly over some time to get permanent results.

At-home laser hair removal takes effort and patience; that’s why you need to choose a product that is not only effective but something you also feel comfortable with using.

Liking the product and wanting to use it is crucial in helping you stick with your treatment.

We’ve detailed our experiences with both the products below to give you as many details as you need to make an informed buying decision.


Technology

Both use IPL proprietary technology from their brands to safely deliver permanent hair reduction.

The key difference lies in their skin and hair color coverage range and unique safety mechanisms.

Silk’n Infinity: eHPL™ Technology

Video: Silk'n Infinity Review – At-Home Laser Hair Removal Device

The Silk’n Infinity uses a variation of IPL called eHPL™ that combines home-use IPL with galvanic energy.

eHPL™ technology = Galvanic Energy + Optical Energy.

Galvanic energy opens up your pores, so the optical energy is flashed directly to the hair strand, allowing it to be absorbed entirely unencumbered.

This makes Silk’n Infinity an effective hair removal device even with its low-energy fluence and, most importantly, bypasses the limitations in skin tone and hair color compatibility of almost all at-home laser hair removal devices.

The Silk’n Infinity is only one of 3 devices we’ve encountered in the market that is compatible with all skin tones.

Resources: Silk'n Infinity Hair Removal Review: Technology

Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5: IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

Video: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 – Technology

The Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 uses IPL like most at-home laser hair removal devices on the market.

IPL uses broadband light to target the melanin in your hair and heat it enough to damage it gradually until it stunts its re-growth. This is done over a series of periodic treatments.

Braun's IPL power is slightly higher than Silk'n, though not by much.

However, Braun is more efficient with its use of power as it adjusts its strength to your skin tone using its unique SensoAdapt technology.

Resources: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 In-Depth Review: Product Technology

For perspective, these are our Esthetician’s Choice for the top laser hair removal for home use and their respective energy fluences.

Silkn Infinity review. Figure: Comparison of the device levels and energy fluence of our top choices for the best at-home laser hair removal devices.
Figure: Comparison of the device levels and energy fluence of our top choices for the best at-home laser hair removal devices.
Laser Hair Removal Device:Technology:Device Levels:Maximum Energy Fluence/Power:
Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser 4XDL (Diode Laser)1-5 levels7 – 22 J/cm²
Silk'n InfinityeHPL™™ technology (IPL + Galvanic Energy)1-5 levels2.5 – 4 J/cm²
Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 IPLIPL (Intense Pulsed Light)1-10 levels3 – 6 J/cm²
DEES 3-in-1 Permanent Hair Removal SystemIPL (Intense Pulsed Light)1-5 levels4.8 – 6 j/cm²
BoSidin Painless Permanent Hair Removal DeviceOptimal Pulse Technology (OPT) + Multi-frequency Continuous Pulse Technology1-6 levels2.8 – 8.2 J/cm²
Note: All devices utilize optical energy except for the Tria 4x, which uses a diode laser.

Note that the benchmark is reliant on energy fluence. E.g., Tria's 5 power levels are distributed over a wide energy fluence of 6-22 J/cm². This means every level has a considerable jump in intensity compared to Braun's 10 levels, where it maxes out at just 6 J/cm²

The Tria 4x significantly increases in intensity as you go from level 1 to 5.

Based on power and efficiency, the Braun IPL edges out the Silk'n Infinity, in our opinion.

Winner: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5


Unboxing: Package Contents

The Silk’n Infinity system comes with a silver beauty case and extra cleaning cloth that you can use for travel.

The accessories that come with the unit are the same, including the mains power adaptor/charger and user manuals.

The Silk’n Infinity bundle comes with a separate cleaning box, an innovative add-on that kills any residual bacteria in the treatment window area. Other brands discourage sharing the device with others because it’s unhygienic, but the cleaning box disinfects it with every use, making it amenable to sharing.

Resources: Package Contents: What’s in the Box? Unboxing the Silk’n Infinity

The Braun IPL hair removal system comes with can come in leather, plain crème, or a printed gold design.

The package comes with a tad bit more:

  1. Beauty pouch
  2. Silk Expert Pro 5 (with the standard head attached)
  3. Precision Head (interchangeable with the standard head)
  4. Venus Razor
  5. Transformer including power cord and plug
  6. User Manual

Resources: Package Contents: Unboxing the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5


Product Design & Our Experience

Ease of Use, Weight, Portability

The Silk’n Infinity IPL is incredibly lighter in comparison, albeit slightly restrictive with the cord.

It’s made for traveling, underscored by its lightness and inclusion of the silver beauty case.

This has an internal cooling fan that sounds like a hairdryer, so you’ll want to work where you can make noise.

Resources: Product Design & Our Experience Using the Silk’n Infinity

Braun's home IPL is sleek, lightweight, and ergonomically designed.

It has a longer cord in comparison, so you have a bit more freedom in movement.

The weight is also convenient and doesn’t tire your arms with any extra heft.

Resources: Product Design & Our Experience Using the Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5

Overall, the ergonomic shape of the Braun and the longer cord make it much easier to maneuver.

Winner: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5


Operations

The Silk’n Infinity IPL device is very simple and straightforward.

You only have the giant pulse button to trigger flashes in manual or ‘pulsing’ mode and the 5-level indicators at the back that you can cycle through.

The silver plate or the base electrode triggers the galvanic energy at the back, which your hand needs to be in constant contact with for it to work.

The galvanic energy, ‘gliding’ or auto flashing mode, skin contact sensor, and skin color scanner are all automatic.

Resources: How To Use the Silk’n Infinity

The Braun IPL laser device is also simple to operate, though it has more features to note.

There are several buttons and indicator lights to toggle flashing and power levels, but most of the safety measures are automatic.

You can set the flashing to manual or automatic with the ‘pulsing' or ‘gliding' method.

  • Pulsing is pressing a button to trigger flashes. This is for precise treatments where you must maneuver the device on rounded or small areas.
  • Gliding is where the device flashes intermittently as you slide it across your skin, making treatments in large areas fast and convenient.

This makes treatments extremely safe, fast, and easy.

The Braun Pro 5 has more moving parts than most devices, with its interchangeable device caps.

The Standard head is to cover large areas, while the Precise head has a smaller treatment window.

I honestly don't bother with it sometimes and use the Standard head everywhere, but it's a good option to have.

You can adjust the energy range depending on your comfort with 3 modes: Extra Gentle, Gentle, and Standard.

You can work up to this, but it shouldn't be uncomfortable even at its highest power.

Resources: Product Design & Our Experience Using the Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5

They’re both intuitive to use, but the Silk’n Infinity is much easier to operate.

Winner: Silk'n Infinity


Lifespan / Longevity

An at-home laser hair removal device will last as long as its cartridge.

With IPL devices like the Silk’n Infinity, that’s the number of flashes its Xenon lamp can hold.

The brand advertises “lifetime use” in the US, while EU regulations require them to disclose its 400,000 flash capacity.

That amount can last you for a lifetime of use, provided you take care of the hardware.

The lamp is built-in and cannot be replaced.

Resources: 7 Key Things You Should Know Before Buying the Silk’n Infinity

The Braun IPL also has a 400,000 flash capacity, which is above average in terms of lamp life. Braun advertises 22 years' worth of treatments.

The lamp itself is also built-in and cannot be replaced.

Resources: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5- Quality, Durability, & Lifespan

It's an even tie here as both devices offer 400,000 flashes for their lifetime.

Winner: TIE – Silk'n Infinity & Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5


Pain Levels

Generally, the higher the energy fluence used, the faster, more effective, and riskier your treatments will be.

Pain is one of the limiting factors to measuring how high we can go with the intensity of your laser, both professionally and at home.

Factors that affect how much you’ll feel are:

  • the intensity of the laser (measured in joules or J/cm²) — the higher the energy, the more painful it can be.
  • the treatment area — upper lips and underarms, for instance, are more sensitive than the arms or legs.
  • how thick your hair is — the coarser and denser your strands are, the more heat it will absorb and the more you feel it. This will gradually subside as you progress because hairs will eventually thin out.
  • individual’s tolerance for pain-sensitive skin needs a much gentler approach over an extended period to achieve the same results as a higher intensity treatment done in a short period
  • your skin tone — darker skin has a more adverse reaction to lasers with high energy and short wavelengths

The Silk’n Infinity operates on a gentler, much lower energy fluence than the Braun. (2.5-4 J/ cm² + 70-400 microampere (µA) Galvanic Current vs. 3-6 J/cm²)

This, along with its use of galvanic energy, makes the Silk’n Infinity able to work safely on dark skin, unlike the Braun IPL, which can only treat light to medium skin tones.

Our tester is a Fitzpatrick III and has been using the Silk’n Infinity hair removal at max level 5. She reports tiny, minute zaps that feel relatively painless compared to other devices.

Other patients with a much darker complexion report feeling a much stronger current, even at level 2.

Resources: Silk’n Infinity In-Depth Video Reviews: Tests, Long-term & Short-term Results, Tips & Tricks

Because of its SensoAdapt and skin tone sensor, it will never flash on a higher strength than you require.

You can also manage the IPL intensity with Gentle Mode according to your sensitivity.

Both combined should give you a relatively painless at-home laser hair removal experience.

Resources: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 – Pain Levels

Both devices are gentle and relatively painless to use. The only thing to note is that the darker your complexion, the more you'll feel the heat.

Winner: TIE – Silk'n Infinity & Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5


Frequency & Results

As the energy fluence used by the Silk’n Infinity is low and gentle, it also takes much longer for results to come in.

It’s recommended to be used 2 weeks apart or twice a month for the initial 4 treatments, followed by 4 weeks apart for the rest.

It takes an estimated 5-6 months to see results, which is twice as long as normal at-home IPL.

Resources: Silk'n Infinity Video Reviews: Tests, Long-term & Short-term Results, Tips & Tricks

The Braun IPL is recommended to be used weekly for the initial 4 – 12 treatments, followed by monthly or as-need basis as maintenance.

Braun promises results in as little as 4 weeks, but I'm a bit skeptical. You need 12 weeks to see visible results based on long-term reviews.

The maintenance is where we see the difference, in my opinion.

You'll have to use the Braun every month after the initial start-up phase of 12 weeks to maintain results. According to other reviews, this will eventually taper off, but it will take almost 12 months.

Resources: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 Video Reviews: Tests, Long-term & Short-term Results, Tips & Tricks

Braun IPL has an earlier projected timeline for results, at 4-12 weeks.

Winner: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5


Safety

The Silk'n Infinity and the Braun IPL have some of the highest safety protocols for a home-use optical hair removal device.

Both are FDA-cleared with brands that have decades of innovation behind them.

Skin Safety

Both have skin tone sensors that let you know if your complexion is compatible with the device. This prevents any mishaps like burns or blisters and keeps the device foolproof.

Both have automatic skin sensors located near the treatment window for easy scanning.

Braun's intelligent SensoAdapt™ automatically adjusts its IPL to the optimum energy fluence.

However, this only applies to Fitzpatrick I-IV or light to medium complexions.

There is no second guessing on areas where you have uneven skin tone. Every flash is always safe for every part of your body.

The Silk'n Infinity, on the other hand, is safe for all skin tones

Eye Safety

Both have contact sensors that prevent any discharge that could damage the eyes or waste flashes.

However, both devices use IPL, which is extremely bright and can be damaging, so you’ll still need safety glasses.

Resources: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 Review: Safety, Silk'n Infinity Review: Safety

While they both have outstanding safety mechanisms in place not found in average devices, the fact that you can use the Silk’n Infinity on ALL skin tones makes it safer.

Winner: Silk'n Infinity


Compatibility

Skin & Hair Color Chart: At-Home Laser Hair Removal
Skin & Hair Color Chart: At-Home Laser Hair Removal

The Braun hair removal device can be used on light to medium skin tones (Fitzpatrick I-V) and mid-to-dark hair. It has a bit of a wider range in terms of covering darker complexions.

The Bran can also be used on females' cheekbones down, but only shoulders down for makes. Patchiness can occur, so it's best not to use them on beards.

Resources: Silk-Expert Pro 5 Review: Compatibility Guide – Skin Tone & Hair Color, Treatment Areas

Image: EU Skin tone and hair color guide for Silk’n Infinity, with their corresponding energy level allotment. Most home devices can only treat light to medium skin complexions. Silk’n Infinity is one of only two (2) home devices we’ve tested that cover all skin shades.
Image: EU Skin tone and hair color guide for Silk’n Infinity, with their corresponding energy level allotment. Most home devices can only treat light to medium skin complexions. Silk’n Infinity is one of only two (3) home devices we’ve tested that cover all skin shades.

The Silk’n Infinity hair removal device can be used on all skin tones and mid-to-dark hair, as well as from the cheekbones down for both males and females.

Resources: Silk'n Infinity Review: Compatibility Guide – Skin Tone & Hair Color

Both cannot be used on naturally white, grey, light blond, or red hair.

Based on skin tones, hair color, and coverage of treatment areas, the Silk’n Infinity can cater to a broader range of patients.

Winner: Silk'n Infinity


References:

  • R. Stephen Mulholland (2009) Silk'n™ – A novel device using Home Pulsed Light™ for hair removal at home, Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 11:2, 106-109, DOI: 10.1080/14764170902902806
  • 22 Dec 2003: Barsh GS (2003) Correction: What Controls Variation in Human Skin Color?. PLOS Biology 1(3): e91. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0000091 View correction
  • Gold, M. and Goren, H. (2015) The Effect of Novel Low Energy Pulsed Light Combined with Galvanic Energy for Home-Use Hair Removal of Dark Skin. Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications, 5, 283-290. doi: 10.4236/jcdsa.2015.54034.

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Gabrielle Sterin
Beauty and lifestyle editor Gabrielle Sterin has collaborated with several print and digital magazines. She has worked directly with photographers, models, beauty publicists, hairstylists, makeup artists, and nail technicians to bring projects to life. She has also styled still-life beauty shoots and art-directed model & reader fashion shoots.