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Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 PL5157
At-home IPL for about the price of one full-legs laser session
Check the price on Amazon- $419.99 once, against $300 to $600 for one full-legs laser session at clinics
- Braun says it suits light to medium dark skin tones, hair from natural blonde to dark brown or black
- 4.1/5 from 2,107 Amazon ratings, sold and shipped by Amazon.com
Other options
Our pick: the Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 PL5157, because at $419.99 it costs about the same as one full-legs laser session ($300 to $600 at clinics, Rao Dermatology, August 2026), is sold and shipped by Amazon.com, and is rated 4.1/5 from 2,107 ratings (checked November 5, 2026). If you want more heads, the four-head Pro 5 is $469.99.
Laser or IPL at home: who wins, line by line?
Both methods use light to heat the pigment in the hair and slow regrowth. A laser sends one focused wavelength and is run by a clinician in an office. An at-home IPL flashes broader light and you run it yourself. Here is what the American Academy of Dermatology, Rao Dermatology and Braun say.
| Laser at a clinic | IPL at home | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to start | Per session: $150 to $300 (underarms), $300 to $600 (full legs), typical ranges at Rao Dermatology | $419.99 once for the Braun Pro 5 PL5157, any zone on the list | IPL at home ✅ |
| Skin tone | The AAD says laser can be done safely on dark skin, but very carefully | Braun: suits “light to medium dark skin tones” | Laser, for dark skin ✅ |
| Hair color | The AAD: works best on dark hair | Braun: least suitable on very blonde, red, grey or white hair | Tie |
| Sessions | Most patients need 2 to 6 treatments (AAD), maintenance later | Visible results in 2 sessions, then touch-ups “whenever you need to” (Braun, results vary) | Tie |
| Who runs it | The AAD recommends a board-certified dermatologist | You, with the device’s skin sensor and the manual | Laser, for oversight ✅ |
| Convenience | Appointments, travel, a bill per visit | At home, on your schedule | IPL at home ✅ |
The three Braun Pro 5 options on Amazon.com
Prices, ratings and sellers read on Amazon.com on November 5, 2026 (all sold by Amazon.com).
| Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 PL5157 | Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 IPL5347 | Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 IPL5100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Nov 5, 2026 | $419.99 | $469.99 | $279.94 |
| Amazon rating | 4.1/5 (2,107 ratings) | 4.2/5 (1,495 ratings) | 4.2/5 (110 ratings) |
| What you get | 2 heads, Venus razor, pouch | 4 heads | 1 head |
| Per month over 24 months | $17.50 | $19.58 | $11.66 |
| Our label | Best value · Our pick ✅ | More heads | Lowest price (few ratings so far) |
The PL5157 was $349.94 on October 21, 2026 and $419.99 on November 5: prices move, so check the listing the day you buy.
What the listings and clinics don’t say side by side
Putting the AAD, Rao Dermatology and Braun’s US page next to the Amazon.com listings, four things stand out. No single source gathers them.
- The number of sessions does not separate the two. The AAD says most patients need 2 to 6 laser treatments; Braun promises visible results in 2 sessions of its device. What differs is the bill: a clinic charges every visit, the device charges once.
- One device equals about one visit. At $419.99, the Braun is 0.7 to 1.4 full-legs sessions ($419.99 ÷ $600 and ÷ $300) and 1.4 to 2.8 underarm sessions.
- A short underarm course can cost less. Two underarm visits at the low end of the range ($150 each) come to $300, under the price of the device. Past that, or with a second zone, the device pulls ahead.
- The device price moves. The same Braun cost $349.94 on October 21 and $419.99 on November 5, a $70.05 jump in two weeks. The 1-head IPL5100 at $279.94 is the cheapest way into the family, with only 110 ratings so far.
The math. Full legs at a clinic, 2 to 6 sessions at $300 to $600, cost $600 to $3,600. Underarms, at $150 to $300, cost $300 to $1,800. Over 24 months the Pro 5 PL5157 works out to $17.50 a month. If your skin and hair suit it, the device is the choice that frees up the most budget; if they don’t, laser at a clinic is the route built for you.
1. We compare what dermatology sources, the manufacturer and clinics say, line by line. 2. We read the price, rating, number of ratings and seller on Amazon.com the same day, and clinic prices as they publish them. 3. We start with a device sold and shipped by Amazon with a 4/5 rating on more than 500 ratings.
Laser or IPL: which one for your skin and hair?
- Dark hair, light to medium skin, several zones: IPL at home. The Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 PL5157 ($419.99) is our pick. Comparing it with Braun’s app model? See Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 vs Skin i-expert Pro 7.
- Dark or tanned skin: a laser appointment with a board-certified dermatologist first. The AAD says laser can be done safely on dark skin when it is performed very carefully.
- One small zone, one short course: a clinic can cost less ($300 for two underarm visits at the low end); the device wins as soon as you add a zone.
- Very blonde, red, grey or white hair: Braun lists these as the least suitable for its IPL. Ask a dermatologist what suits you.
- If I have neither? A razor costs almost nothing: see best electric razors for women. For hair that is too light for IPL, an epilator pulls hair out by the root: see Braun Silk-épil 7 vs 9.
The AAD lists common, minor effects of laser (discomfort, swelling, redness for 1 to 3 days) and rare ones: blistering, cold sores, infections, scarring, and skin lightening or darkening, some of it permanent. France’s health agency ANSES advises against light-based hair removal on skin diseases or a history of skin cancer, psoriasis or herpes in the area, with photosensitizing or anticoagulant medication, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, after recent UV exposure, and over tattoos; it asks users to wear protective glasses, avoid the eye area and space sessions at least a month apart. Braun’s French page also excludes moles, birthmarks, brown spots, warts and filler areas. If you are unsure about your skin, a mole or a medication, ask a dermatologist, and follow your device’s manual. Results vary from person to person and none is guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
Is laser or IPL better for hair removal?
The AAD says laser works best on light skin and dark hair and recommends a board-certified dermatologist; Braun positions its at-home IPL as an alternative to laser for dark hair on light to medium dark skin. We found no independent head-to-head test, and results vary from person to person.
How much does laser hair removal cost?
At Rao Dermatology (August 2026), typical ranges per session are $150 to $300 for underarms, $200 to $450 for the bikini line and $300 to $600 for full legs. With 2 to 6 sessions (AAD), that is $300 to $1,800 for underarms and $600 to $3,600 for full legs.
How much does an at-home IPL cost?
On Amazon.com on November 5, 2026, the Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 PL5157 was $419.99 ($17.50 a month over 24 months), the 4-head IPL5347 $469.99 and the 1-head IPL5100 $279.94.
Can I use an at-home IPL on dark skin?
It is not the easiest case: Braun says its device suits light to medium dark skin tones, and the AAD says laser can be done safely on dark skin but very carefully. Talk to a board-certified dermatologist before any session.
How many sessions do I need?
The AAD says most patients need 2 to 6 laser treatments, with maintenance later. Braun promises visible results in 2 sessions and touch-ups whenever you need them; individual results vary.
Our verdict
Our pick: the Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 PL5157, because at $419.99 it costs about the same as one full-legs laser session ($300 to $600 at clinics, Rao Dermatology, August 2026), is sold and shipped by Amazon.com, and is rated 4.1/5 from 2,107 ratings (checked November 5, 2026). Pick the four-head model at $469.99 if you want more heads, or the 1-head IPL5100 at $279.94 to start lower. If your skin is dark or tanned, laser at a clinic is the route built for you. See all of our recommended beauty devices.