If you look at the price range of good epilating products right now, they’re between $50 and $100.
The Silk Epil 9, Braun’s top of the line option costs over $100. Next in line is the Silk Epil 5 that goes a little over $55.
Not expensive, but some women don’t want to spend that kind of money on an epilator.
The Silk Epil 3 is Braun’s most basic and least expensive epilator available right now. It doesn’t have the bells and whistle that the more expensive options have.
But don’t let the price fool you into thinking this is a sub-standard product. It is a Braun, and they are synonymous with quality grooming products.
But there are some compromises you need to make like the dry only use and corded only option.
A quick look at the features
- Comes with 20 tweezers that can pluck hair off its roots
- Attachments that come with the epilator include an efficiency cap and massage rollers
- Massage rollers massage skin which helps numb the plucking sensation
- Triple action cutting system makes this epilator efficient at removing hair follicles
- “SmartLight” feature helps track down the thinnest hair
- 2-speed settings give you the flexibility on choosing one that suits you
Pros
- Entry-level price won’t bleed your wallet
- Decent performance thanks to the 20 tweezers and massage rollers
- Massage rollers make epilating more comfortable
- Built-in light helps in tracking thin hair
Cons
- No option to use it cordless
- Only for dry use
- You’ll need more than one pass to remove hair because it only has 20 tweezers
What to expect from the Braun Silk Epil 3?
Since this is an entry-level product, do not expect a lot of bells and whistles from the Silk Epil 3. Every feature from the tweezers to the switch is as basic as they come.
But it does come with a couple of features that are found in epilators on the upper price ranges, which I’ll share below.
Design and interface
Looking at the design, this model utilizes a simple and minimalist design.
The color combo is white and shades of purple. In the middle is the power switch with three settings – gentle/slow, efficient/high, and off.
On top of the switch is an LED light that illuminates the area in front of the epilator head.
If you have blond hair, this feature dramatically helps in tracking hair otherwise invisible with the naked eye.
The more expensive Braun Silk Epil 5 Wet/Dry does not have this feature.
Twenty tweezers
At the heart of this epilator are 20 tweezers that are pretty much standard on products at this price range.
To give you some comparison, the Philips Satinelle Essential comes with 21 tweezers, and it’s actually a little bit cheaper.
Image source: beautyandmakeupmatters.com
But that variant does not come with any massage rollers or light. It has a much more basic feature set.
The functionality of these tweezers is simple. It has a spinning drum that contains drums/tweezers that open and close. Around these tweezers are rounded spikes that help raise flat-lying hairs and guide it towards the tweezers.
The purple, spikey device on the top and bottom part of the roller is the massage rollers.
Massage Rollers
One thing that separates the Silk Epil 3 with other epilators at this range is the presence of massage rollers.
This feature helps to alleviate the plucking sensation from tweezers by massaging the skin.
Beginners who have not experienced epilating will benefit the most from the rollers. Using it though it may reduce the efficiency of it, which means more passes.
Removing the rollers will give you better results, albeit a more painful one.
Cleaning
Braun makes cleaning the epilator head an easy task because it is removable. On both sides of the epilator are buttons that release the head when pressed simultaneously.
You can then use the cleaning brush to remove hair residue from the tweezers.
Power cord
Take note that this epilator does not have a battery, so it won’t be as portable. It comes with a 7-foot power cord to run it. If you want something cordless, then you’ll have to pay more for a cordless Silk Epil 5 or 7.
Accessories included
I’ve already mentioned some of these features above, but I’ll repeat it again. This epilator comes with a high-efficiency cap that houses the massage rollers. Since the cap raises adds height to the epilator head, the results won’t be as close.
It also has the SmartLight LED that is most useful to women with blond hair as it helps track thin hair.
The soft lip tip is another feature not commonly found in epilators at this price range. It helps raise flat-lying hairs and increase hair plucking efficiency.
However, this variant lacks a facial cap, which means you can’t use this epilator on the face. You can only this on the legs and underarms.
Performance
Let’s start with ergonomics. The round shape of the Silk Epil 5 isn’t the most ergonomic around. If you have small hands, it may be a struggle wrapping your fingers around the oval body.
For the best results, the epilator should be perpendicular to the surface; it is epilating. This means you can hold the like this…
Even at the lowest setting, this will be noisy. I suggest using this in an isolated area like the bathroom away from your companions at home.
This will work best on shorter strands of hair up to 0.8 inches tall, according to moo.reviews. It won’t work well on longer strands of hair as it tends to break strands instead of pulling it out.
You may need to shave longer strands of hair first before using this.
The Silk Epil 3 will work best on the leg area. But it will require multiple passes to get all of the hair out.
So make sure to use this at night time when you’re not in a hurry.
It does not have any facial cap, so it won’t be as comfortable using on the face.
Pain level
First-time users should expect a pinching sensation using an epilator. No matter how expensive or cheap the variant is, remember that these devices pluck the hair.
To get the best results, don’t forget to read our guide on using an epilator.
What consumers say?
Women, for the most part, were happy with the performance of this variant. But expect some pain using this according to reviews. The most painful area using this would be on the underarm, face, and pubic area.
Yes, women have used this on sensitive parts like the pubic and face area. Braun does not recommend women using this in these areas because it lacks the attachments for it.
If you use it in these areas, there’s a risk of the tweezers pinching the skin. So consider this a warning.
In terms of performance, reviews say that this epilator will remove hair, but it will take multiple passes.
There were complaints of it not performing well, but that could be because of poor technique or hair being too long. If the hair is too long, you will need to shave it first, wait a day or two before epilating because this product works best on short hair.
It could also be a case of the epilator not being suitable for the type of hair. For example, maybe it’s too coarse for it.
Where can I buy this?
You can buy this epilator from Amazon and it’ll be eligible for their 2-day free shipping if you join Prime.
To wrap up
This entry-level epilator is a decent option if you don’t want to spend over $50 for a good epilator. It’s got some features found in pricier variants like the massage rollers and SmartLight LED.
However, it won’t be as efficient as epilators that have more tweezers like the Braun Silk Epil 7 or the Emjoi AP-18.
It is a good value for money option if you don’t mind not having the cordless feature or the wet option. You’ll have to do multiple passes to remove hair from your legs or armpits. And expect it to be a little painful at first.
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