Product Comparison Table:
Tria 4x vs. Braun Laser Hair Removal Overview
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.
| Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X | Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Verdict: | Strongest & Most Powerful At-Home Laser Hair Removal Device | Most User-friendly At-Home IPL |
| Awards: | InStyle’s 2020, 2021, & 2022 Best Beauty Buys Award | ELLE Editor's Choice 2021, Dermatologically accredited by the Skin Health Alliance |
| Ideal for: | Stubborn, deep-seated hair, Re-growth despite previous IPL sessions; Precision lasering for the face, underarm, & bikini; Looking for a portable, cordless device. | Light to medium skin tones, Full body treatments, Sensitive skin or low pain tolerance, Uneven skin tone on the body |
| Technology: | Diode Laser | IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) |
| Energy Fluence / Power: | 7 – 22 J/cm² | 3 – 6 J/cm² |
| Flashes: | 90,000 pulses | 400,000 flashes; good for 22 yrs |
| Safety Mechanism: | Skin tone sensor + Contact sensor | SensoAdapt™ (Automatically adjusts energy fluence to your skin tone) + 2 Contact sensors |
| Skin Tone Coverage: |  |  |
| Hair Color Coverage: |  |  |
| Read In-Depth Review | Read In-Depth Review | |
| Check for Discounts | Check for Discounts |
Ask the Expert: Which is better for you, the Tria 4x or Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5?
BY SAMANTHA WELCH, ESTHETICIAN
The more suitable device for you will depend mainly on the thickness and density of your unwanted hair.
Tria 4x Laser Hair Removal
If you have deep-seated follicles, stubborn hair prone to re-growth despite previous IPL attempts, the better option for you would be the highest-intensity laser available for home use: the Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X.[1]
Most at-home laser hair removal uses low-energy IPL and variations of it, while Tria's high power stems from its unique energy source: a diode laser.
It is the most powerful at-home laser hair removal device by a mile and the only one of its kind on the market.
Those with excessive hair growth issues connected to PCOS or hirsutism will likely benefit more from treatments with higher energy fluences.
Resources: Tria Beauty Laser 4x In-Depth Review by Estheticians
Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5
If you have normal unwanted hair growth, Braun's highly advanced Silk-Expert Pro 5 is the more convenient option for you.
While it doesn't quite have the power Tria 4x does, the Braun Pro 5 excels in speed, built-in safety mechanisms, and efficiency.
We've tested over 35 devices over the years, and Braun's competitive edge holds true even when compared to other brands.
The Silk-Expert Pro 5 is one of the most beginner-friendly IPL laser hair removal devices you can buy today.
Resources: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 In-Depth Review by Estheticians
Both devices can only work on light to medium skin tones and dark-colored hair.
We've outlined the similarities and differences below in detail, but those mentioned above will still be your main qualifiers.
- Product Comparison Table: Tria 4x vs. Braun Laser Hair Removal Overview
- Ask the Expert: Which is better for you, the Tria 4x or Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5?
- Viable Alternatives
- Overview: Tria 4x vs. Braun Hair Removal
- Pros & Cons:
- Laser Hair Removal Key Comparison: Tria 4x vs. Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5
- Tria 4x Laser Hair Removal Device Review
- Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 IPL Device Review
- References:
- Tria 4x Coupon Codes
- Braun IPL Coupon Codes
Tria 4x Coupon Codes
Get the best price with the latest premium promo and discount codes when you buy the Tria laser 4x online.
Tria hair removal sales and special gifts are limited-time offers.
Tria Beauty UK
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Free shipping on all domestic orders above £50. Paypal payment plans available. 60-day money-back guarantee. 2-year warranty.*
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*at the time of publishing. Subject to change. *can't see codes? They might be disabled by Adblockers.
Braun IPL Coupon Codes
Get the best price with the latest premium promo and discount codes when you buy the Braun laser hair removal device online. Braun hair removal sales and special gifts are limited-time offers.
*at the time of publishing. Subject to change.
+ Get the Best Prices Online
Viable Alternatives
If you don't think the Tria 4x or Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 is right for you, below are some of the other devices we've reviewed and highly recommend.
ViQure EpiPro vs. Silk'n Infinity Laser Hair Removal: An Esthetician’s Guide
ViQure EpiPro vs. JOVS Venus Pro Hair Removal: An Esthetician’s Guide
JOVS Venus Pro vs. Braun Silk-Expert Laser Hair Removal: An Esthetician's Guide
ViQure EpiPro vs. Tria 4x Laser Hair Removal: An Esthetician’s Guide
JOVS Venus Pro vs. Tria 4x Laser Hair Removal: An Esthetician's Guide
JOVS Venus Pro vs. Silk’n Infinity Laser Hair Removal: An Esthetician’s Guide
Overview: Tria 4x vs. Braun Hair Removal
Tria Laser Hair Removal 4x
Video: At-home laser hair removal with Tria Beauty
This device is the closest you can get to medical grade in terms of power and technology.
The Tria is the only consumer device able to use a diode laser, one of the only four lasers used by physicians in professional laser hair removal. (The other lasers are Ruby, Alexandrite, and Nd:YAG. No portable versions of these are available as of this year. IPL is not laser; it is light technology.)[3]
If you want the highest chance of getting permanent results at home, the Tria is by far miles ahead of the pack.
The device, however, is also limited by its technology. Diode lasers are only safe to use on light skin and dark hair.[4]
The nature of laser delivery also limits it to a tiny flash window size. This feature makes it great for the face but time-consuming to use in large areas like the legs.
This device is also unique that it's battery-powered instead of mains connected like most IPL devices. Plugged devices can be a pain, with short cables that can be limiting or long ones that can get messy or in the way during treatments.
The Tria 4x is a higher-end device and quite a splurge. Certainly not as expensive as professional services, but still an investment compared to the more affordable IPL machines.
Ideal for: Stubborn, deep-seated body hair prone to re-growth where IPL has been ineffective; precision lasering for the face, underarms, or bikini areas; looking for a cordless and portable device.
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 foolproof laser hair removal devices today.
Because skin tone varies across different parts of the body[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 is also the fastest we've seen, clocking at just .05 – 0.9 seconds. 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:
Tria Hair Removal System 4x
Pros:
- The first and only FDA-cleared at-home laser hair removal device that uses a true laser, diode (vs. IPL or radiofrequency used by other devices).
- The Tria 4x has won InStyle’s 2020 & 2021 Best Beauty Buys Award, where they survey top dermatologists to find out which laser devices they recommend.
- Diode laser is proven to be more effective than IPL and requires fewer sessions to achieve permanent results. It is one of the most effective (and expensive) types of hair removal technology also used by high-end clinics and dermatologists worldwide.
- Has the highest energy fluence/power of any at-home device at 7-22 J/cm2 vs. the normal rate of 4-8 cm2
- No eyewear is needed as the device has a Class 1 laser, the safest type that cannot emit radiation at any hazardous levels.[6]
- Safety features include a skin tone sensor that protects the skin and a contact sensor to protect the eyes.
- Perfect for precision lasering; targets small areas like upper lips, underarms, and bikini lines
- For those who have tried IPL technology and been proven to be ineffective for their hair growth, especially those dealing with hirsutism or PCOS
- More portable and safer to use in the bathroom since its battery-powered
- Brand Reputation. Tria Beauty has more than two decades of building innovative hair removal devices with solid customer support—something sorely lacking in cheap, off-brand devices.
Cons:
- Small flash window size, inefficient to use in larger areas like legs and arms
- People with low pain tolerance may not be able to maximize its high energy levels without numbing creams or cooling gels
- High-end, one of the most expensive at-home devices
- Needs re-charging after 30 minutes of use
Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5
Pros:
- Clinically tested and cleared by the FDA.
- ELLE Editor's Choice 2021, Dermatologically accredited by the Skin Health Alliance
- The most convenient to use 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
- 3 Gentle Modes for skin sensitivity: ‘Standard’, ‘Gentle’, and ‘Extra Gentle’
- Easy and fast treatments with just 0.5 – 0.9 seconds between flashes
- 2 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
- 2 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: Tria 4x 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: IPL vs. Diode Laser
Both use different base technologies to safely deliver permanent hair reduction.
The key difference lies in the type of laser light they use, the amount of power or energy fluence they can emit, and built-in safety mechanisms.
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.
It’s important to know that IPL differs from real lasers used in clinics.
Though IPL can reduce and disable hair indefinitely, results can take longer and is much less permanent than real laser.
Resources: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 In-Depth Review: Product Technology
Tria Hair Removal Laser 4x: Diode Laser
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX29_6xRvoA&t=3s
Video: The technology behind Tria’s Hair Removal Laser | Tria Beauty®
99% of at-home laser hair removal devices use IPL or variations of it to provide hair reduction.
What makes the Tria Laser 4x truly outstanding is its use of a diode laser—1 of the only 4 lasers used by physicians in medical clinics for professional laser hair removal.[7]
Diode lasers are more potent than IPL, making the Tria 4x more effective for those compatible with it (light skin, dark hair) as a hair removal device.
For perspective, these are our Esthetician’s Choice for the top laser hair removal for home use and their respective energy fluences.
| Laser Hair Removal Device: | Technology: | Device Levels: | Maximum Energy Fluence/Power: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser 4X | DL (Diode Laser) | 1-5 levels | 7 – 22 J/cm² |
| Silk'n Infinity | eHPL™™ technology (IPL + Galvanic Energy) | 1-5 levels | 2.5 – 4 J/cm² |
| Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 IPL | IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) | 1-10 levels | 3 – 6 J/cm² |
| DEES 3-in-1 Permanent Hair Removal System | IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) | 1-5 levels | 4.8 – 6 j/cm² |
| BoSidin Painless Permanent Hair Removal Device | Optimal Pulse Technology (OPT) + Multi-frequency Continuous Pulse Technology | 1-6 levels | 2.8 – 8.2 J/cm² |
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.
Just on pure power and laser strength, Tria 4x hair removal is leaps and bounds ahead of the pack.
Resources: Tria Hair Removal Laser 4x Review – Technology & Product Specifications
Winner: Tria Laser Hair Removal 4x
Unboxing: Package Contents
The Tria Laser Hair Removal System 4x comes in a nice, sturdy box that you can use for storage. It’s nothing special, but it keeps things tidy and secure.
It comes with:
- the Tria laser 4x unit
- Charging cable
- User manual
- Quick guide.
I keep the device in it whenever I need to charge, so I don’t accidentally knock it off the counter. I’ve unfortunately done that several times when I leave it standing while charging.
Resources: Package Contents: Unboxing the Tria Laser Removal 4x
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:
- Beauty pouch
- Silk Expert Pro 5 (with the standard head attached)
- Precision Head (interchangeable with the standard head)
- Venus Razor
- Transformer including power cord and plug
- User Manual
Resources: Package Contents: Unboxing the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5
Product Design & Our Experience
Ease of Use, Weight, Portability
The Tria Beauty Laser 4x is the only cordless at-home laser hair removal device we’ve encountered, and the freedom of movement is liberating.
It’s battery-operated, which has its pros and cons. You can move around without being tied down to an outlet, but you have a 30-minute time limit until you need to charge.
The Tria 4x laser is also quite hefty compared to other devices with its miniature diode laser machine and lithium-ion batteries.
This added weight is negligible at first but can be tiring after a while.
It is easy to handle, though, with the ergonomic design of its airpod-like build and silicone grip.
Resources: Product Design & Our Experience Using the Tria 4X Laser
Braun's home IPL is incredibly lighter in comparison, albeit slightly restrictive with the cord.
The device is sleek, lightweight, and ergonomically designed.
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 Tria 4x laser machine being a cordless device, trumps in terms of mobility and ease of use.
Winner: Tria Laser Hair Removal 4x
Operations
The Tria 4x laser machine is still simple to operate, though it has a tad more manual steps in comparison.
The device is locked every time it’s not in use, which you must unlock using the skin tone scanner at the bottom.
You have an LED display at the top showing your battery life, lock/unlock status, power level, and a pulse counter.
The contact sensor automatically triggers the pulsing whenever the treatment window fully covers your skin, which is very convenient since you don't need to press any buttons for each flash.
Resources: Product Design & Our Experience Using the Tria 4X Laser
The Braun IPL laser device is very simple and straightforward to use.
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 Braun IPL is much easier to operate, even without the fancy LED display.
Winner: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5
Lifespan / Longevity
| Laser Hair Removal Device: | Lifespan/No. of Flashes: |
|---|---|
| Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser 4X | 90,000 |
| Silk'n Infinity | 400,000 |
| Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 IPL | 400,000 |
| DEES 3-in-1 Permanent Hair Removal System | 350,000 |
| BoSidin Painless Permanent Hair Removal Device | 500,000 |
An at-home laser hair removal device will last as long as its cartridge.
With IPL devices like the Braun IPL machine, it's down to the number of flashes its Xenon lamp can hold.
The device has a 400,000 flash capacity, which is above average in terms of lamp life. Braun advertises 22 years' worth of treatments.
That amount can last you for a lifetime of use, provided you take care of the hardware.
The lamp itself is built-in and cannot be replaced.
Resources: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5- Quality, Durability, & Lifespan
The Tria 4x laser hair removal system has significantly less than 90,000, but you will also need fewer pulses to achieve the same results as any IPL.
This is because the Tria Hair Removal 4x uses a diode laser 3x stronger than any home IPL device.
90,000 pulses are also nothing to sneeze at—that’s more than enough for several full-body treatments.
The tie-breaker for use is the battery use. You can only recharge up to 300x for every unit, limiting its use to 300x.
And while that may seem like a lot of uses over a few years, it’s another limiting factor to the device’s lifespan.
The Tria’s diode laser is a built-in machine, so it can’t be replaced. The same goes for its battery.
Resources: Tria Hair Removal 4x Review: Quality & Durability – Lifespan & Battery
With that, we’ve chosen the Braun IPL hair removal as the device that could last longer than the Tria 4x.
Winner: 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 Braun home laser operates with a gentler, much lower energy fluence than the Tria 4x. (3 – 6 J/cm² vs. 7 – 22 J/cm²)
This, along with its SensoAdapt, makes the Silk-Expert Pro 5 able to work safely on much darker skin than the Tria 4x, which can only treat light skin and dark hair.
I've been using the Braun hair removal at max level and with only tiny, minute zaps that feel relatively painless compared to the Tria.
On the downside, you know it will take longer to see sustainable results when working on lower-energy IPL than a diode laser.
Resources: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 – Pain Levels
The Tria Laser Hair Removal 4x is a much stronger device and can be painful for some, especially at level 5 (22 J/cm²).
This energy fluence is high enough to warrant soothing gels for some patients in professional settings.[8]
In parallel, the use of numbing creams and cooling gels is not uncommon for those with low pain tolerance who want to use the device at its full capacity to achieve quicker and better results.
Resources: Tria 4x In-Depth Review: Pain Levels
The Braun IPL wins by being gentle and almost painless compared to the powerful Tria 4x.
That said, everyone’s pain threshold is different. Only you can decide for yourself with experience how high or low you’ll be able to go with your treatments.
Winner: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5
Frequency & Results
The Tria 4x has one of the fastest turnarounds we’ve seen in a hair removal device, no doubt owing to the brand’s exclusive use of its mini diode laser.
Treatments are recommended once every two weeks, with 3-6 months of regular use to see significant results.
The disparity in the turnaround depends on the individual’s physiology and chosen energy levels.
The higher the intensity level used, the faster and more permanent the results.
Resources: Tria Hair Removal Videos: Tests, Long-term & Short-term Results, Tips & Tricks
As the energy fluence used by the Braun hair removal device is low and gentle, it also takes much longer for results to come in.
It’s 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
The Tria 4x has a much more sustained hair reduction with longer re-growth periods than most IPL devices.
Winner: Tria Laser Hair Removal 4x
Safety
The Tria 4x and the Braun IPL has 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.
Tria's skin tone scanning is used to unlock the device. You then have to choose which energy level you want to work with.
Resources: Tria 4x Review: Safety – Skin & Eyes
Braun's intelligent SensoAdapt™ automatically adjusts its IPL to the optimum energy fluence.
There is no second guessing on areas where you have uneven skin tone. Every flash is always safe for every part of your body.
Resources: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 Review: Safety
Eye Safety
They also have contact sensors that prevent any discharge that could damage the eyes or waste pulses.
The Tria 4x also uses a Class 1 laser that can’t emit radiation at hazardous levels.
Braun's laser hair removal device still uses IPL and has bright flashes, so you’ll still need safety glasses.
While they both have outstanding safety mechanisms not found in average devices, the SensoAdapt™ is so innovative that it still edges everybody out.
Winner: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5
Compatibility
The Tria Hair Removal Laser 4x device can be used on light to medium skin (Fitzpatrick I-IV) and dark hair, with cheekbones down for females and neck down for males.
Resources: Tria 4x Review: Compatibility Guide – Skin Tone, Hair Color, & Treatment Areas
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
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-Expert Pro 5 can cater to a broader range of patients.
Winner: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5
Tria 4x Laser Hair Removal Device Review
Summary
The Tria 4x is recognized for introducing diode laser technology to at-home hair removal. It boasts an energy fluence of 7-22 J/cm², making it one of the most powerful systems available.
However, users have reported discomfort during its use, and it shares limitations with regular IPL devices, being effective only on light skin with dark hair.
The device's small window size makes it inefficient for treating larger areas, and its limited service life of 90,000 pulses and 300 battery recharges falls behind newer devices.
Despite its powerful diode laser technology, the Tria 4x has not yet overcome its constraints, holding back its full potential.
If you're looking for a similar device that uses a diode laser, the ViQure DepiMini has a wider range and more flexible features in comparison.
Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 IPL Device Review
Summary
The Braun Silk Expert 5 IPL Hair Removal is the only IPL device that automatically adapts to your skin tone, making it one of the most foolproof laser hair removal devices today.
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.
The Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 won the ELLE Editor's Choice in 2021 and is accredited by the Skin Health Alliance.
Although impressive on its own, note that this is NOT among our Esthetician’s Choice for the best laser hair removal devices of all time.
Ideal for: Full body treatments, Fool-proof treatment that’s almost free from trial-and-error (you only have to adjust for pain tolerance)
References:
- Wheeland, R.G. (2012), Permanent hair reduction with a home-use diode laser: Safety and effectiveness 1 year after eight treatments. Lasers Surg. Med., 44: 550-557. https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.22051
- Hrvoje Glavaš, Marko Vukobratović, Tomislav Keser. (2018) Infrared thermography as control of handheld IPL device for home-use. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy 20:5, pages 269-277.
- Haedersdal, M. and Wulf, H. (2006), Evidence-based review of hair removal using lasers and light sources. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 20: 9-20. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3083.2005.01327.x
- Atta-Motte, M., & Załęska, I. (2020). Diode Laser 805 Hair Removal Side Effects in Groups of Various Ethnicities – Cohort Study Results. Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences, 11(2), 132-137. Retrieved from https://journals.sbmu.ac.ir/jlms/article/view/25307
- 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
- “Laser Classes And Hazards | FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND NATURAL SCIENCES.” Laser Classes And Hazards | FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND NATURAL SCIENCES, fens.sabanciuniv.edu, https://fens.sabanciuniv.edu/en/laboratory-safety/general-laboratory-safety/laser-classes-and-hazards. Accessed 14 Aug. 2022.
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