By Mariela
There are many things to consider when purchasing an IPL device for your hair removal needs. The first is your skin’s nature. Sensitive skinners have to take extra precautions when purchasing any grooming item because a wrong choice can significantly damage their skin, cause tremendous discomfort, or affect how they look. And for IPLs, not all the variants available on the market factor in this need.
Again, you have to look for safety guarantees and certifications for any IPL handset you have in mind. After all, what’s the point in purchasing something that will harm you? Electrically or battery-powered gadgets like IPLs can constitute a serious safety threat if the right measures are not in place. That’s why certifications from globally recognized bodies are germane to avoid stories that touch.
Another thing you cannot overlook when purchasing an IPL gadget is its effectiveness. Primarily, you are purchasing this tool to help you remove hairs you consider objectionable. As such, it must do that within a reasonable time. Understandably, this technology isn’t immediate in its action, but within 2-3 weeks, an effective IPL must have reduced your hair count and length by more than 60%.
If your pain tolerance is low, you also need to consider an IPL that guarantees a nearly nearly painless experience. Going by its operational mechanism, these light-based gadgets produce a heat sensation beneath the skin, causing discomfort. However, some premium IPL handsets have ice-cooling technology that normalizes or neutralizes this heat-based discomfort.
Table of Contents:
- Part 1: Benefits of IPL Devices Over Salon Hair Removal
- Part 2: Ulike Air3 vs. Braun Silk Expert Pro 5.0: Which is Better?
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Part 3: Ulike Air3 vs.Braun Silk Expert Pro: Comparison Table
Benefits of IPL Devices Over Salon Hair Removal
Salon or professional hair removal is undoubtedly an effective method for achieving hairlessness. You get to meet industry experts who can deliver tailor-made solutions to your hair removal issues. However, it trails at-home IPL gadgets in many ways, includingPrice:- Salon hair removal is costly, and there’s no way around beating down the price. If you choose this pathway, your budget will be thousands of dollars, with the exact amount depending on many variables. However, with at-home IPL devices, you don’t even need up to $500, and you are assured of a salon-like result.
Privacy:- There is a limit to how much you can hold to your privacy when seeking a salon hair removal service. Depending on the body part involved, you may have to undress for inspection and treatment. Of course, if the area is anywhere below your belly, it can feel very awkward since it means someone beside you will be accessing your private areas. Conversely, this challenge is non-existent with IPL devices; you are your expert, and you get to use the tool in the secret of your room.
Convenience:- Salon treatments most often require appointments. Besides, if you live far from the shop, it’s going to take time to drive down to meet up with your date. You can avoid this formality and spend your time doing other things by getting an IPL device. It’s so convenient that even when you are traveling, you can pack and use it anywhere.
Many people already know the tremendous benefits of at-home IPL devices over salon hair removal. However, the challenge has always been choosing between two or more IPL devices, considering that all work on the same technology. Again, the rigorous marketing campaigns embarked upon by various manufacturers further make decision-making difficult from the buyers’ perspective.
Ulike Air3 vs. Braun Silk Expert Pro 5.0: Which is Better?
If you’ve spent some time scouting for the best IPL devices in 2023, there’s no doubt that Ulike Air3 and Braun Silk Expert Pro 5.0 will be among the options that will pop up.
Braun is a reputable hair removal brand with its headquarters in Germany. For over 100 years, the company has dished out hair removal solutions that have revolutionized the niche. Similarly, with over four million sales, Ulike has stamped itself as an authority in the IPL hair removal niche. So, if faced with the decision to select one out of the two, which one should you buy?
As with any purchasing decision, your selection should be based on rationality and facts rather than sentiments. Below are frank comparisons between these two leading IPL devices, which should help you decide without further confusion, which of them you should buy.
Design and Finishing: Braun Leads
Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 expertly blends two colors – white and gold – to produce a device that is visually appealing to users. But besides this aesthetic, the slightly-curved shape at the middle makes it sit firmly and comfortably on users’ hands, ensuring that during long usage, it doesn’t constitute a challenge to handle. This user-friendly shape is the edge it has over Ulike Air3, which is instead a long, straight device that can become a handful after a long time of handling it.Reviews: “I can’t fully describe how satisfied I am with this IPL. First, the color combination, and second, the hand-friendly design. For the last four weeks, I’ve been using it on my underarms and bikini, and, guess what? It’s bye-bye to shaving in those areas.” – Alex from Connecticut
Safety: Ulike Air3 Leads
Both IPL devices are reputably safe to use on compatible skin and hair tones. Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 has been clinically tested and proven safe for home use. Similarly, Ulike Air3 is safe for home and personal service, according to dermatologists’ regulatory bodies’ evaluation.The reason Ulike Air3 takes the lead in this department is its FDA clearance and other multiple certifications surpassing the 30 that it has. Securing endorsements and recommendations from globally acknowledged bodies comes with hard work and dedication to global safety standards, which Ulike Air3, has successfully met and surpassed in some cases.
Reviews: “I needed an IPL device I could safely use on my sensitive body parts, and I found one in Ulike Air3.” – Sara from Mexico
Effectiveness: Both Devices are at Pal
Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 and Ulike Air3 devices deliver salon-like smoothness and hair removal in approximately the same timeframe. For Ulike, users can expect around a 64% reduction in hair length and count in just two weeks, and depending on the volume, texture, and tone of their hair, the journey to hairlessness with this device can fall anywhere between six to twelve weeks.
The story isn’t different with Braun Silk Expert Pro 5.0. In two weeks, many users report a significant reduction in their hair length and count. Based on Braun’s claims, which some users also attested to, most people can achieve their hair removal goal (100%) between four and twelve weeks. As such, going by outcomes, both devices are not different from each other.
Reviews: “I was almost giving up on IPLs because of my not-too-pleasant previous experiences until I stumbled on Ulike Air 3 Sapphire IPL. It’s definitely a masterpiece because I can see a noticeable result after my second treatment. The matte finish and packaging are just out of this world. I will recommend this handset to anyone who has had a bad experience with one. This is different!” Smith009 from the Czech Republic
Ice-Cooling Technology: Ulike Air3 Leads
Ulike has a patented sapphire ice-cooling technology it introduced to its IPL that addresses the discomfort that can accompany an IPL session. Apart from the heat generated inside the skin because of the melanin and light interaction, IPL gadgets typically become hot with long use. However, this ice-cooling technology by Ulike brings the temperature down to as low as 18.2℃/65°F even after 30 minutes of use. The implication is that you can use this gadget on sensitive body parts without recording any hurt or discomfort.
Braun, on its part, does not have this special cooling technology. Instead, it relies on its three modes, common to most IPL devices, to regulate the light intensity that penetrates the skin. While the brand claims that the gadget is nearly painless, people with sensitive skin may not find it as friendly, especially in their intimate areas, as Ulike Air3.
Reviews: “Count me out if it’s painful. That’s why I can never try waxing or plucking. But Ulike Air 3 Sapphire handset has proven to me that hair removal does not have to be like going through hell. I highly recommend it.” – SamLarry from Virginia
Customer-Centric Policies: Ulike Air3 Leads
Sometimes, how a brand treats its customers is as important as the product they sell. Ulike and Braun are highly customer-centric, providing services that ensure that customers get value for their money. For Braun, a 100-day money-back guarantee is unsurpassed by most other IPL manufacturers. It means that even after 100 days you’ve had the gadget with you, you can return it if the result doesn’t meet your expectations. Also, Braun offers free standard shipping for selected destinations in the United States.Ulike also offers free standard shipping to customers and a 90-day money-back guarantee. It, however, dusts Braun off in this area with its two-year warranty, which covers all non-customer-induced damages within that period. First-time buyers can also get a $60 discount during this holiday by simply entering the code Holiday when checking out.
Price: Ulike Air3 Leads
The next thing most buyers want to know after ascertaining that a device works is the price. It’s rational to want to spend less to get more, and with regard to the two IPL gadgets we’re reviewing, Ulike makes that possible. Ulike Air3 sells for $329, while Braun Silk Expert Pro 5.0 sells for $384. With the difference between the two devices not too wide, it’s almost an easy decision for any buyer on the basis of this consideration. However, a more rounded way to look at this pricing is to consider what’s in the box of both packages.
Reviews: “Ulike provides excellent IPL handset at a pocket-friendly price.” – Rosemary – Canada
What’s in the Box: Both are at Pal
When you unbox a new Ulike Air3 package, the items you will find there include a razor, protective goggles, a beauty pouch for carrying the device, the IPL handset, and charging accessories.For Braun, you also have a razor, vanity kit bag, power cable, three additional caps (two precisions and one wide), and the IPL handset itself. Yes, Braun doesn’t include a protective goggle in its box, but it compensates this with three additional caps. Likewise, Ulike Air3 doesn’t have additional caps to reach different body parts, but the goggles included compensate for this.
Reviews: “…It’s difficult to think about what I need that Braun hasn’t included in this package. In particular, I appreciate the broad head cap that allows me to cover the entire body in less than 15 minutes. The bag comes handy too and allows me to safely carry the package everywhere I go.” – Thompson, Wales
Ulike Air3 vs.Braun Silk Expert Pro: Comparison Table
Parameters Ulike Air 3 Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 Winner Price $329 $385 Ulike Air 3 Warranty Two years None Ulike Air 3 Money-back Guarantee 90 days 100 days Braun Ice-Cooling Tech Yes No Ulike Air 3 Lifetime Flash 850,000 400,000 Ulike Air 3 Skin Sensor No Yes Braun What’s in the box IPL, protective glasses, charging accessories, razor IPL, three additional caps, charging accessories, a premium bag, and a razor ———— FDA Clearance Yes No Ulike Air 3 UV Filter Yes No Ulike Air 3 Result Timeline Noticeable results in two weeks Noticeable results in two week ———— Conclusion
Ulike Air 3 and Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5.0 are IPL devices with similar capacities and features. Both are premium and will deliver salon-like results if used as recommended. However, Ulike is cheaper and has more customer-friendly packages like a years warranty and ice-cooling technology that are not available with Braun. Therefore, if you are to choose between the two, we recommend the Ulike Air 3 Sapphire IPL Hair Removal Handset.
Let’s begin our comparison with how both devices look and feel to users. It’s a close call between these two IPL devices because both makers spent a great deal of time perfecting the ergonomics of their devices. Ulike Air3 comes in three color styles – purple, pink, and white. Its matte finish is excellent and makes handling effortless. Also, looking at the length, the device gives enough room for handling and its long rectangular shape with curved ends is a delight to many users.
