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Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 PL5157
For dark hair on light to medium skin, with quick sessions
Check the price on Amazon- Full legs in about 7 to 10 minutes
- Light: about 10 oz (285 g)
- Precision head and Venus razor included
Other options
Pro 5 or Pro 7: which model for which budget?
| Model | Price (checked Oct 21, 2026) | Amazon.com rating | What sets it apart | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 PL5157 2 heads, Venus razor, pouch |
$349.94 | 4.1/5 (2,098 ratings) | 400,000 flashes, automatic flash adjustment, standard + precision head | Our pick ✅ |
| Braun Skin i-expert Pro 7 PL7243 3 smart heads, app |
$404.22 | 4.2/5 (325 ratings) | App with step-by-step guidance and a real-time coverage tracker | Best for app lovers ✅ |
| Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 IPL5100 1 head |
$319.99 | 4.2/5 (103 ratings) | Same Pro 5, standard head only | Body only, save $30 |
| Braun Silk-expert Mini PL1014 | $199.94 | 4.0/5 (250 ratings) | Compact, corded, travel pouch, weekly sessions | Budget pick |
| Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 IPL5347 4 heads |
$439.00 | 4.2/5 (1,490 ratings) | Same Pro 5, with more heads | Skip it if two heads are enough ❌ |
Prices, ratings and stock checked on Amazon.com on October 21, 2026, for delivery to a New York ZIP code. The PL5157, PL7243, IPL5100 and PL1014 were sold and shipped by Amazon.com; the IPL5347 was sold by a third-party seller with only 2 left in stock.
What really separates the Pro 5 and the Pro 7?
The guidance. This is the big one. The Pro 7 connects to Braun’s app, which walks you through each session step by step and shows a real-time coverage tracker so you don’t miss spots (Amazon.com listing). The Pro 5 skips the app: you pick the head, press, and glide.
The sensor. Both read your skin tone and set the strength of each flash for you. On the Pro 5, Braun’s sensor picks one of 10 intensity levels on its own, with normal, sensitive and extra-sensitive modes if you want it gentler (Braun US, PL5157); Braun’s European pages add that it reads your skin 80 times per second.
The flashes. Braun rates the Pro 5 at 400,000 flashes, which is years of full-body sessions. Flash count doesn’t separate the two models.
The heads. The PL5157 comes with a standard head, a precision head for the face, underarms and bikini line, a Gillette Venus razor and a pouch. The Pro 7 PL7243 comes with three smart heads, a Venus razor and a vanity case.
The speed. We Are Body Beautiful, a UK site that timed five sessions per device, clocked 7 to 10 minutes for full legs with the Pro 5 and weighed it at 285 g, about 10 oz (their test). Braun advertises a full-body session (legs, underarms, bikini, upper lip) in about 10 minutes for both models.
Who it works on. IPL targets the pigment in the hair. Braun says its devices suit light to medium-dark skin and natural blonde to dark brown or black hair, and work least well on very blonde, red, gray or white hair.
IPL isn’t for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, on tanned or sunburned skin, over tattoos, moles or permanent makeup, or while you take light-sensitizing medication. Do a patch test first, and if you’re unsure about your skin, ask a dermatologist; the manufacturer’s manual always has the final word.
How many sessions, and how often?
Braun’s US product page for the Pro 5 recommends one session a week, with visible results promised after 2 sessions in its lower-leg clinical study. Its Amazon.com listings now advertise just 2 sessions a month for 3 months, then touch-ups when you need them. Braun also claims up to 95% hair reduction in one month on the lower legs. These are brand figures, but they give you a clear plan: a few months of short sessions, then the occasional retouch.
Versus the salon. Spread the price over 12 sessions in your first year and the Pro 5 works out to $29.16 a session, the Pro 7 to $33.69 and the Mini to $16.66, for every compatible body area at once (prices checked October 21, 2026). If a salon charges you more than that per visit, the device pays for itself in year one.
1. Compatibility: your skin tone and hair color against the chart in the manual.
2. A schedule you’ll stick to: short, regular sessions beat ambitious plans.
3. Your areas: a precision head for face and bikini, a fast device for legs.
Who should skip it
If your hair is light blonde, red, gray or white, or your skin is very dark (type VI), an at-home IPL won’t do much for you: look at a women’s electric razor or an epilator instead. Everyone else just needs to keep up with the first few weeks; that’s where the results come from.
What about the Philips Lumea?
In Europe, the Philips Lumea is the Pro 5’s main rival. In the US, it’s hard to get: Philips doesn’t sell it on Amazon.com, and on October 21, 2026, its US store offered only a “back in stock” alert for the Lumea 9900 Pro (Philips USA). That’s why this guide compares the two Braun models you can order today, shipped by Amazon.
FAQ
Is the Braun Pro 7 better than the Pro 5?
It’s smarter, not stronger. Both read your skin tone and adjust each flash. The Pro 7 adds app coaching, a real-time coverage tracker and a third head, for $54.28 more on October 21, 2026.
Does IPL work on dark skin or blonde hair?
Not on very dark skin: the skin-tone sensor blocks the flash. On light blonde, red, gray or white hair, Braun says IPL is least effective, because there’s too little pigment for the light to target.
How soon will I see results?
Braun promises visible results after 2 sessions with the Pro 5, and from the first session with the Pro 7 based on app users’ self-assessments. Plan on a few months of regular sessions for the full effect.
Do I need to shave before each session?
Yes. Shave the area so the light reaches the root, not the hair above the skin; that’s why both kits include a Venus razor. Skip waxing and depilatory creams during treatment.
Can I buy the Philips Lumea in the US?
Not easily. It wasn’t listed on Amazon.com on October 21, 2026, and Philips’ US store showed the Lumea 9900 Pro as out of stock.
Our verdict
For dark hair on light to medium skin, the Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 PL5157 ($349.94, checked October 21, 2026) is the IPL to buy: fast, light, a precision head in the box, sold by Amazon and backed by 2,098 ratings (4.1/5). If you love being coached, the Skin i-expert Pro 7 ($404.22) turns every session into a guided routine. On a tighter budget, the Silk-expert Mini PL1014 ($199.94) gets you started. To prep your skin, see our best electric razors for women, and for a clean face before you flash, our facial cleansing brush guide. All our picks: Our picks.
- Braun US — Silk-expert Pro 5 PL5157
- Amazon.com — Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 PL5157 listing
- Amazon.com — Braun Skin i-expert Pro 7 PL7243 listing
- Philips USA — Lumea IPL
- We Are Body Beautiful — Lumea Prestige vs Braun Pro 5
- We Are Body Beautiful — Braun vs Philips IPL
How we work: this article combines manufacturer specs, independent tests and buyer reviews, checked on October 21, 2026. We did not test these devices ourselves.