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33 of 34 found the following review helpful:
 EXACTLY the same as Braun's Silk-Epil Xelle 5270, but for a slight increase in motor speed and the ice glove. May 05, 2011
By M.D. Edwards
"Avid Aesthete"
A few years ago, I bought myself a Braun 5270 Silk-épil X'elle Body System Epilator, which I've enjoyed using for the past few years, but for the fact that, in order to keep the massaging roller clip in place, I have to hold it on with my hand, effectively blocking much of the ingenious Smartlight's beam.
This new Braun Silk-Epil 5280 is the EXACT same model; all that Braun's changed here is the color (although, strangely enough, the color of my new SE5280 looks to be the exact same shade of pink of the epilator pictured on the instruction manual for my old Braun 5270. Curiouser and curiouser...). They've also added the Ice Glove, which, while it does cool the skin nicely, doesn't make for enough of a difference for them to have re-released the exact same product for around eighty bucks.
I've used epilators for years. Back in my middle school days, I was all too thrilled to get my hands on that first of epilators, the instrument of coiled torture that was the Epilady. Since the trauma that I endured at that implement's coils, I have happily acquired three more epilators over the past two decades, all of the Braun brand. Post-Epilady, I actually had forgotten about epilators and thought that their popularity had died out, until I saw that Braun was selling them throughout France & Italy during my last trip there. After I saw that model, Braun's Silk-Epil eversoft 2350/2370 (in a lavender and lilac color scheme), I couldn't WAIT to get my hands on that little 26 tweezer head model. I've kept it, because it never gave out on me, and it's been my take-it-on-trips-as-my-backup model ever since I got my newer 5270.
I was, therefore, all too excited when I got the chance to try out this new 5280 with its nifty ice glove. I just KNEW that Braun was going to have made even more improvements on its great line of epilators with this new one! ... uhm, no - it's the same thing they put out two to three years ago, just with a new accessory added in. : [
Don't get me wrong; I LOVE my Braun epilators. I've used them regularly for years, and on just about every area of my body that has hair, but for my head (no, really!): upper lip, chin, underarm, forearm, lower leg, thigh, and... higher. And very thoroughly there, at that (IF you start thoroughly epilating your bikini area, as I wrote in an older review for my Braun 5270, for the love of God, don't stop! If you try to go back after letting it go for a few months, it is absolute AGONY getting yourself back to it. I've been trying to get back for months, and just haven't made it all the way back there. YET. But I'm not giving up. The payoff is WORTH it).
Over the course of the years, I've come to find that yes, once you've acclimated to epilation and given it a few weeks, your hair DOES grow back in finer and softer. The pain DOES decrease, but you WILL still feel the hairs being plucked out. By the time you've acclimated to epilation, that plucking sensation is less painful, and more a simple awareness of the hair being removed. It comes out much easier, thus much less painfully. Ingrown hairs DO occur frequently if you don't exfoliate regularly, and they CAN be/become unpleasant. But the silky smooth skin that I get to enjoy for days at a time (up to 7 to 10 days for me, and my hair tends to be a bit on the coarse side), TOTALLY makes it worth it to me. I LOVE finding that my skin is just as silky smooth on post-epilation Day 3 and Day 5 as it was on Day 1.
As for the shaver/trimmer head, regardless of the model, I've always found that my skin stays smoother and silkier when I've epilated the hair away, as opposed to simply shaving it with the shaver head/s. The shaver/trimmer heads ARE great for getting your hair down to the proper epilation length, but if you're not a fan of stubble, the shaver head isn't really the way to go.
Comparing how silky & smooth my skin feels using either a Braun shaver/trimmer head, Venus razor, or Braun epilation head:
* the Braun shaver/trimmer end result is good. Hair is removed, and skin is smooth. Trimmer gets hair to perfect length for epilation.
* Venus is better. Skin always feels silky & smooth for the next 24 hours, but needs to be shaved again one, or most definitely two, day/s later to completely avoid stubble.
* the Braun epilation heads give me GREAT, long-lasting results for many days. Skin is silky, smooth, and lower maintenance.
So, overall, this Braun epilator IS a good one. I've found that, so far, the massaging roller clip DOES stay on, so I don't know if I was stuck holding it onto my old 5270 because I got a defective clip, or it just wore out over time, but I suspect it's the latter, as I epilated pretty much every week for quite a while there (always Sundays, when I had PLENTY of time to take care of the regrowth that I wanted to quickly be rid of). To do all of the areas that I wanted to get hair-free, it probably took me about an hour, hour and a half. Less, if I was epilating fewer areas. But it was all worth it to me. Still is, and after this many years of epilating (relatively consistently, I've been doing it for a good five to eight years), I know what to expect, pain-wise, when restarting, and I know to hold my skin as tight and smooth as possible when moving the epilator over it. Areas that have more curves require more attention, and that I make SURE to hold my skin as tight as possible in order to avoid razor/epilator burn. In sensitive, extra curvy areas, I HAVE drawn blood, and the tweezers HAVE gripped sensitive, nerve ending-laden parts that I really did NOT want them to grip, but the pain and discomfort have never lasted more than a day, even with the worst incidents.
Overall, if you're just making your way into the world of epilation, keep in mind that it WILL hurt until you acclimate to it, which may take up to two to three months, but once you've pushed through to that point, you're on easy street. I never bothered with the high efficiency clip, because, more often than not, when I use them over more curvy, sensitive areas, the speed of the rotating barrel and the minimal coverage provided by the clip painfully dragged the skin in and under the clip, causing epilator burn, if you will. Over legs and arms, that clip will most likely be just fine for you, but it doesn't work for me on all the areas I epilate, so I've always just stuck with the massaging roller clip. As this updated version's motor seems to move even faster at setting 2, I'm pretty positive that that would only be worse. Probably good for legs and forearms, maybe even thighs, but since I intend to use mine all over, it's not for me.
Epilation is a great, longer-lasting alternative to shaving, but it's not for everyone, and if you don't have a decent pain threshold, you might not give yourself the time needed to really get used to the discomfort. At about eighty bucks, that just might not be very cost-effective for you. Looking at all of Braun's options out there, I'm seriously considering buying one of their new Braun SE7781 Silk-Epil Xpressive Epilator Body System, Rechargeable, as it has TONS of attachments, and will address all of my needs. As far as brand goes, I'm a big fan of Braun's epilators, and I don't feel the need to try another brand, just another epilator that will function well on areas both big and small, flat and curved. Once you're hooked on epilation as your preferred method of hair removal (as I am!), I'm sure you'll understand why I feel that way!
* Update *
I DID decide to go ahead and buy myself a 7781, and ALL of the extra epilation heads and caps that I didn't get with the 7781, and I LOVE it! The caps snap and stay firmly in place, and have grooves on the side to grip for removal. The release button for the heads (found on the back of the unit) pops them off cleanly, and there are four different heads that I've got for my epilator in total now: the original wide 40 tweezer epilation head, the narrow underarm epilation head, the precision epilation head, and the shaver/trimmer head. The precision head has the fewest tweezers, and the narrowest epilation area (as you would expect) with only 8 tweezers in a narrow, staggered single row, on a ball-like head. The narrow underarm epilation head has 12 tweezer heads on a broad, but more slender, barrel head - good for getting into tighter places, as is indicated by the categorization.
Overall, there are many options on Braun's website and the suppliers' websites that they direct you to for order placement for additional replacement parts, including epilation heads and caps that aren't sold standard with many of their epilators (just don't bother trying to order with The Gourmet Depot - their link has been broken for nearly a month now. They must not want our money). One problem that I've experienced with my orders for said replacement parts with multiple vendors, however, is that these parts appear to be shipping from the Braun factory with the packaging seals broken, leading me to believe that Braun is shipping out replacement parts that have been returned without even bothering to inspect them, sanitize them, and reseal them. If that IS the case, it's disturbing to me that Braun may, indeed, be sending out unsanitized, uninspected returned parts that are used in such private areas of the anatomy...
Outside of that issue, considering all of the epilators that Braun has on the market right now, I'm happiest with my new 7781. SO many options for hair removal!
If you want more bang for your buck, I think the 7781 is really the way to go! Either way, happy epilating! ; )
17 of 18 found the following review helpful:
Lasts Quite Awhile May 19, 2011
By K. Kasabian
For your inner masochist, consider the Braun Silk Epilator, a device I had no prior knowledge of before it was offered to me through the Amazon Vine program, but one which I now consider part of my regular beauty regimen.
Seriously, if you have a low threshold of pain, look for another leg-hair removal system, like a razor. The epilator is essentially an electric tweezer that rips your leg hairs out by the root. Hurts so good. Good, because my legs were smooth for a week before I felt anything growing back. And good because that pain means fewer razor cuts and less money spent on razor blades. But the most promising thing about this device is that with regular use, I'll probably be looking at fewer hairs to pluck in the future, as habitual hair removal tends to lead to less hair growth over time.
Cleanup is easy w/ a provided brush that gets stray hairs out of the rotating blade. The ice glove does help after epilating, glad they thought to include it. An investment, but I think the price is justifiable since razor blades are so expensive. Recommended.
10 of 11 found the following review helpful:
Mowing the Legs... Jun 16, 2011
By Michael Jandrok
Ok, in the spirit of full disclosure, I ordered this product from the Vine for my wife, as I am a hairy fellow who has yet to catch the recent wave of manscaping. In light of that TMI moment, I'll let the wonderful Mrs. give her impressions of the product, since she has been the one using it:
The first thing I have to say is... if you've never used a epilator before, don't be discouraged if you get less than perfect results the first time. Because it takes a few tries to (1) get used to using it and (2) get the technique down.
I will admit it, at first, I was ready to toss the thing, because while it did remove hair in places, in others, it missed them completely. But I didn't want to give up on it right away, so I kept trying it. And I got better at it. And the epilator started growing on me.
This isn't something you can zip through, like you do when you shave your legs. You can't run it up your legs and have it done in five minutes. Making long slow passes, and then going over areas again at an angle seems to work best, because face it, hair doesn't grow straight up and down. It grows in whorls and patterns, even on your legs, and you'll get the best results when you realize that fact.
Even with that in mind, the Braun SE 5280 Silk Epil 5 doesn't do a perfect job, and there are still places where it can't quite get the hair, particularly around areas like the outside ankle and boniest part of the knee. The shaver comes in handy for touching up the spots you miss, and the hair does grow in much finer and softer. I didn't find it particularly painful, but it does come with a handy ice mitt to soothe the legs and numb the skin up before plucking. And for a humorous component, it sounds very much like one is using a miniature lawn mower on one's legs. I thought that when I was testing it out, only to have my teenaged daughter stop by the bathroom door and say, "Mom, it sounds like you're mowing your legs!" Which suddenly made it very hard to keep using it!
I'm giving the Braun SE 5280 Silk Epil 5 four stars, because it did get better with practice and patience, and even if it isn't perfect, it beats shaving my legs any day.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 A fine alternative to shaving or waxing May 05, 2011
By Terry
"TCinSATX"
I have used one of the original epilators, Epilady, for about 20 years now on my legs so when the opportunity to review the Braun Silk-epil 5 through the Amazon Vine program presented itself, I was delighted!
Epilation is different from shaving in that it pulls the individual hairs out by the root - like waxing. This allows for longer, stubble-free periods because it takes longer for each hair to grow back - up to 19 days. As you might expect, it is painful when you initially use an epilator. However, if you persevere, epilation becomes completely painless. The first time I used my Epilady, I thought I would never be able to use it again! But because it was a rather expensive device at the time, I kept at it and very soon, the entire process was pain-free.
My old Epilady is a different style device because it uses a long, stainless steel coil that vibrates so it catches the hairs in between the coils and pulls them out. This Braun is more like rolling tweezers (40 of them), so I wasn't sure it would be as effective. Happily, I find that this Braun is more effective in much less time!
The Braun Silk-epil 5 is really a total hair removal system, since the device is an electric razor, a trimmer, and an epilator, all in one. It comes with two epilating caps - a "massaging cap" and an "efficiency cap". The massaging cap is supposed to make it less painful initially, while the efficiency cap allows faster hair removal. It also comes with a regular shaver head and an additional clip-on trimmer designed to trim bikini hair to the optimum length before epilating. Finally, a power cord, an ice glove for relieving pain and sensitivity, a cleaning brush, and a storage pouch round out the contents of the box.
To epilate, the hairs should be an optimum length - between 2-5 mm. You will quickly figure out how long that is to the naked eye. You pull the skin taut with one hand and run the epilator along your skin with the other hand, going against the direction of the hair growth, holding the device at a 90 degree angle to the skin. A fantastic feature on the Silk-epil 5 is the bright light. This makes it easy to see that you have gotten every hair before moving to the next area. There are two speed settings, but I'd advise going for the optimal speed (fastest) because pulling hairs out slowly doesn't make it hurt any less, in my opinion.
This epilator is designed for legs, underarms, bikini area and even facial hair. Since the Epilady was not designed for underarm, bikini line, or facial use, I have never used an epilator on those areas. The ice glove, which is a gel pack that you place in the freezer before slipping into a little mitt that you apply to the area beforehand, definitely makes epilating in these sensitive areas much less painful. Even though epilating my legs is completely painless because of my years of using an epilater on them, it absolutely hurt when I used it on my underarms and bikini line. The ice glove made it less so, however I thought that the massaging cap was actually more painful than the efficiency cap.
Cleaning the unit is easy as the caps and heads come off. Use the included brush to remove all the little hairs and dip the brush in alcohol to clean the epilating head. The only thing you don't use the brush on is the shaver foil, which is delicate and can be easily damaged. This particular Braun is not waterproof so you cannot use it in the shower nor can you submerge the main unit.
The results are are, of course, the whole reason anyone would EVER consider ripping their body hair out by the roots! For me, it is definitely worth it. My legs and underarms are silky smooth, and remain that way for about two weeks. There is no stubble the next day, nor do I ever have to cope with nicks and cuts. Finally, a big bonus of epilation is that the hair grows back finer and slower over time and eventually, much of it never grows back at all! I have very little hair on my legs as a result of using an epilator for 20 years. I am hoping my underarms follow suit soon.
If you are tired of having to shave your legs and underarms multiple times a week, you might find an epilator to be a better solution to hair removal. If you are ready for the fact that it WILL be painful initially, and are willing to suffer for beauty (at least for the first 2 or 3 times), I think you will be pleased with the results you get from this Braun Silk-epil 5.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Best $60 I've ever spent on hair removal! Aug 09, 2011
By becca
I've tried every form of hair removal: waxing, tweezing, depilatory creams, and shaving. I used to get monthly Brazilians (full montay) until I moved and the price up here is double the price I used to pay, so ever since I moved, I've been exploring new options. I am soooo glad that my friend told me about epilating! I waited three days without shaving and then I ran to the store, got my Braun 5280, and I absolutely LOVE IT!
Last night I epilated both legs. Now remember, I get my whole vag waxed, so believe me when I tell you epliation hurts! (So does waxing and tweezing...) But when you run your fingers over your smooth skin you decide it's totally worth the pain!
I prefer this over shaving because the smoothness will last longer. For me, sometimes after I shave I'm only perfectly smooth for one day and when I go on vacations or weekends over the bf's house I don't want to worry about shaving. Also, when the hair grows back it will be the soft, brand new baby hairs instead of blunt edged adult hairs.
This epilator doubles as an electric razor. It has a cord, which is better for me than the battery-operated ones. That way, when I'm in the mood to epilate (you totally have to be in the mood to rip your hair out) I can take all the time I need. This model is not made to operate in water. That sucks but I'd rather a corded model so I don't have a choice. I honestly don't see the need to spend more on the more expensive models when this does the trick! It has 40 tweezers, two speeds, a light, and it doubles as a razor.
I found this epilator had a hard time plucking my coarse pubes but I've seen the wax strips after they pull the hair out from down there--those hairs run deeeep! I don't know how deep is standard, but mine run a little over a quarter inch below the skin. :( Sucks. I am going to check out a smaller epilator for that area. I won't be able to bare this one pulling out all that hair at once!
Compared to at-home waxing, clean up is a breeze! The whole thing comes apart so just snap the pieces apart, rinse and you're done!
Happy hair removal!!!
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