braun smart ipl (hair removal)

A comprehensive review, because I love it so much and already bragged to all my friends about it…

Hopefully this can help at least one person.

My discovery and purchase of this device has been nothing short of revolutionary for my thick, unwanted hairs (legs + other places), and my frugal brain.

Although the price tag on this device does not suggest frugality— take note of this quick price breakdown that took me lots of research:

• Most laser clinics charge at least $50 per body part, per session.

• Each body part needs at least 6-8 sessions in most cases

• One body part (just your armpits, for example) would cost around $300-400 for 6-8 at a clinic, excluding taxes, gas money, time, and other fees

• Say you want to get your legs done at a clinic… they usually charge separately for upper and lower legs. (Crazy)

• This device costs $600 (often on sale too!), which is honestly a steal if you’re looking to laser multiple body parts. You can do any body part (including the chin/outer face), on your own schedule, and in the comfort of your own home.

• The device gives you 400,000 light flashes, which may seem limited, but that’s a ton of flashes. I’ve personally completed over 10 sessions of my full legs, underarms, bikini area and lower stomach— and I’ve only hit about 13,000 flashes.

• The bulb & device should last a gooooood while. If it doesn’t, I do believe that Braun is a trusted-enough brand and would help out with any issues.

How does it work? From my understanding, the intense broad-spectrum light flashes are meant to target melanin in dark hair beneath the skin (down to the follicles). You need to shave all visible hair before each session so that the light targets the follicles and inhibits future hair growth in that area. There are tons of articles and videos that explain this better, but this is a summary.

Does it hurt? Not in my opinion; but there are 3 light intensity settings, which can affect the feeling of the light on your skin, and the number of sessions required for the desired result. Highest light intensity = slightly stronger ‘burn’ feeling on the skin, but removes hair in fewer sessions. Pick your poison.

Is it easy to use? Yes, but what makes it super easy is the app. If you don’t have a device compatible with the app, I recommend looking into a different braun ipl device. This device bluetooth connects to your phone, then the app prompts you to input some information and test your skin tone. The app does all the heavy lifting so there’s no learning curve.

Does it remove all hair, forever? No, and that’s almost impossible across all laser and ipl devices. From my research, I found that even most clinical devices don’t fully remove all the hair forever, but I could be wrong. From what I’ve found, most at-home “laser” hair removal devices are actually ipl (which uses broad-spectrum light, not just red). I’m not entirely sure which is more effective; but this ipl device claims to remove up to 80% of visible hair, and I have definitely experienced a 70% decrease in my unwanted hair after completing all my sessions. I only completed my sessions a few months ago, so I can’t attest to the ‘forever’ question yet… we shall see.

What about other devices? I’ve been looking into getting laser done for so so long, and really got serious about it last year. Trust me, I’ve looked at just about every option on the market. I’m not making any claims on whether this is better than other devices— as I have not tried them myself— so please do your own research, especially if you’re skeptical. I’ve watched and read tons of reviews over a plethora of at-home ipl devices… this one just happened to be the best for me, in my opinion. Always do your own research!

With all that said, the only cons I have found are that: the device only works on lighter skin tones (unfortunately, as it targets melanin in hair/skin/freckles), and it takes some getting used to— between the ‘pain’ of the light zaps, and the angle at which you have to hold the device on your skin.

Other than that, it has definitely reduced my visible hairs by at least 70%. I was once shaving my legs every day in the summer; now I can go days to weeks without them looking insanely hairy. Truly amazing. I don’t ever write reviews like this but the braun ipl deserves it, and you deserve to see the thought process behind a purchase this large (because it doesn’t happen often for me).

I’m happy to answer any further questions!

***Disclaimers: This is not medical or professional advice. Please see a certified professional for any medical advice.

I am not trying to discourage anyone from going to a clinic for laser hair removal or IPL. This is simply my personal review and opinion of this product.

:)