Customer Reviews

Braun Silk-épil Xpressive 7781 Wet & Dry Rechargeable Body & Face Epilator

5 star:		(187)
4 star:		(77)
3 star:		(23)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

This really is an excellent product, but the first time you use it be sure to allow plenty of time, and be prepared for plenty of pain!
Once you've got the initial run over and done with, repeat treatments will of course be pulling far fewer hairs, and I promise will hurt far less too.
I think with hindsight it might have been better to wax first, and then start using this epilator a few days after to catch any missed hairs and then of couse to strip the regrowth. That might have made it much easier.

I've used this in and out of water, and not really noticed much difference to be honest, but the convenience of being able to wash the unit and attachments under water is a definite plus.
If anything, I found it harder to use on wet skin in places (ie under-arms where the skin is not as tight), as it tended to snag the skin more rather than gliding. (I haven't tried using shave/shower gel with it as suggested in the manual, so maybe that would be better.) Fine on wet legs though, but no better/worse than dry to me.

The smartlight is a great addition - even in what I consider reasonably good light, it shows up hairs that I would otherwise have missed.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this, but would suggest lots of short, quick strokes for the first attempt rather than long sweeps, and start with lower legs rather than anywhere more delicate! Keep skin taut while using, move fairly slowly and take your time.

Expect redness too - especially for first use. I looked like I'd been stood knee-deep in red paint for an hour or two after! Having said that, repeat uses have hardly produced any redness at all.
Invest in a good, gentle moisturiser, with as little rubbish in as possible, for using immediately afterwards to soothe (I use Lush's Dream Cream, but a plain unscented cream/lotion with a drop or two of tea tree or lavender oil in would work fine to cool and calm the skin.)

I owned a previous model of a Braun epilator and got rid of it as I remembered it to be so painful and not a pastime I thought I'd ever continue. However....I've really had it with hair removal and I've tried the lot. Tired of the mess, stress and money disappearing down the hair-removal drain, I researched into epilating once more and decided, after reading all the great reviews, to give this model a go (annoying now significantly cheaper on Amazon only days after I bought it.) At nearly Ł100, this was a lot of money for me but, I concluded, was about the cost of four or five waxing appointments without the hassle of waiting for the hair to grow and walking around looking like The Gruffalo.

So, is it any good and how much does it hurt? I epilated my legs first and did them dry. The smart light was very good at showing up the hairs and the epilator removed them very efficiently. I did have to go over areas a few times in different directions to ensure all hairs were caught but it says you have to do that in the instructions and considering hair grows in different directions I would say it's reasonable to have to do that. As for pain, I didn't think it hurt that much at all. It was more an uncomfortable pulling/twanging sensation than pain. My legs did come up with mild red raised spots, but this went down within a couple of hours. Hair-free legs in 15-20 minutes! Result! One thing I would say is that if you're expecting the smoothness you get with shaving you'll be disappointed. The nature of shaving means every hair is taken off at skin level so you're inevitably silky smooth (if only for a day or so.) Epilating plucks hair from the root and does miss teensy-weensy hairs that you can't necessarily see but you can feel when you run your hands up your legs. Anyway, hair-free legs - very pleased indeed! Then I tried my underarms...

Oh. My. Giddy Aunt. I figured I was more hardy having experienced childbirth since my previous epilating days so forgot about all that and gritted my teeth. And I continued to grit my teeth and soon found myself using the breathing techniques they teach you in antenatal classes to now deal with epilating, panting my way through the searing pain as I saw my skin being drawn towards the machine like paper into a shredder. And shredded was exactly how my underarms felt when I finally finished. And finish I did because I was determined I was going to get my money's worth from this machine and epilating was the way forward. Disappointingly it did not remove the hair as well as on my legs. Before I blame the machine, this could've been down to my method not being great as I do remember blurred vision caused by the sweat from my brow as it trickled into my eyes; probably not optimum conditions for effective hair removal. Anyway, I did one underarm then braced myself for the second. Double the fun! At the end my underarms were, what's the word..? Oh yes. Raw. I think I may have removed the skin in addition to the hair as it was red, sore and I had actually drawn a tiny bit of blood. I found applying Aloe Vera jelly and later some Savlon really helped and they were fine again after a few hours (though still blotchy the next day.) Results were not as pleasing as with the legs though and I found this quite a disappointment. Felt I deserved totally hair-free underarms after all that at the very least. To be honest I felt I deserved a congratulatory slap on the back and a large glass of wine.

So, after this rambling, what do I think? Firstly, don't expect miracles. I was excited after doing my legs but the underarms were a disappointment. Secondly, how much epilating hurts you will depend on the length of your hair, the sensitivity of your skin and obviously your pain threshold. I'd say epilate at least 24 hours before you intend to expose your bits to allow for any redness to go down. I also haven't tried epilating my underarms in/after a bath, so maybe that'd help with the pain. As for regrowth, I can't comment on that yet, but when I used to get waxed my hair would start growing back after 10 days or so and I expect this'll be the same. Don't be tricked into thinking you'll be hair-free for four weeks - you probably won't be. That said, 10 days is surely better than the measly one or two you get with shaving! Also, it's good you can do in-between-days touch-ups. The hair does come back finer. I'm hoping the underarms will get easier as I get used to it and the hair gets finer. Here's hoping anyway! In the meantime, I'm sure there are some good sedatives out there.

Update - 6th Sept 2010:

Legs are a breeze and having persisted with epilating the hair does come back significantly finer and more sparse.

The good ol' underarms? Well, thanks to the many kind people who took the trouble to comment on this review, the underarms are now bearable to epilate. This is not because they have come round to my house, sedated me and done it for me, but rather shared their experiences and given me valuable tips. However, they are bearable only if you religiously follow these tips:

1. Do not leave epilating until the hair has got too long or it will hurt like hell. It doesn't matter what's going on in your life, make the regular epilating of your underarms your number one priority and grab those hairs when they're a few millimetres and not a few feet.
2. Exfoliate regularly to lift the hair and minimise ingrowing hairs.
3. Try to stretch the skin as you epilate. This will grab the hairs better and give a smoother result.
4. Use talcum powder. This really does make a huge difference as it makes the epilator glide over the skin and prevents Skin-Being-Pulled-Through-Paper-Shredder scenario where the skin is pulled into the machine and snagged and cut. I epilated using talcum powder for the first time today after reading someone's comment and had the best result to date. My underarms are now totally hair-free and silky smooth.

I would not go back to shaving now having persisted with epilating; the finer hair, the lack of underarm hair 'shadow' and longer lasting results make it worthwhile. I even took it on holiday with me along with the charger as I was not prepared to shave even for two weeks. I didn't watch my skin being shredded and see blood drawn all those months ago just to go back to square one, you know!

And the bikini line...?

Are you mad?

I've been using a Braun epilator for about 12 years, so I am used to the pain. This model had a number of features which made it much much easier to use than the old model. I loved that it is rechargeable, so you can use it easily and quickly anywhere, and the epilating action seems to be more efficient than my old one. Being able to use it in water as well makes it less painful, easier and very convenient - you can quickly "touch up" an area in the shower. I also loved the light - my main problem before was getting enough natural light on my legs to see the hairs, close enough to a power supply - these problems are solved! The massaging head genuinely reduced the pain as well.

All together, a great product and well worth the money when you think about all the areas you can de-hair and what that would cost you in wax.

I read so many reviews of the silk-epil in the hope I'd get at least one person admitting they need one of these for facial hair but found none.I suffer from POS and haven't the right colouring etc.. for laser treament therefore was desperate and decided to give the silk-epil xpressive a go. Boy am I glad I did! It doesn't hurt at all on my chin and pinched a bit on my upper lip which I'm used to already and the result is simply fantastic! It works really well on short hairs, ones I didn't even know where there...it is very satisfying to hear the pluck, pluck, pluck as I ran it over my chin, lip and neck!!I used to wax...which always left behind some tough persistent hairs that I then had to tweeze. Hair removal was a time consuming, never-ending job for me but no longer! Now I'm done in a few minutes...or less the only thing I would say is be prepared to go back over area the next day etc..for the hairs that are growing at differing rates...not a criticism of the silk-epil...more of a criticism of mother nature!It's hassle free so repeating daily or so until you have it under control isn't a problem!
I feel like a new woman and get extremely emotional when talking about how this product has changed my life, I have gained so much confidence and highly recommend it for facial use.(haven't tried anywhere else yet)I hope this helps!

Braun Silk-épil Xpressive 7781 Wet & Dry Rechargeable Body & Face Epilator

Man, epilating *hurts*. I was an epilating virgin prior to using this, so if this as pain-free as it gets, all earlier models are just medieval torture devices what were invented by mens what hate us.

The actual thingie is satisfyingly heavy and chunky... that's probably not remotely relevant to build quality, but it's reassuring somehow. It's also quite pretty, really. It's white and blue and it has glitter :o) It's a superficial benefit, absolutely, but it's a really nice touch.

(A quick word of warning... avoid looking directly at the part that actually removes hair. It looks a little like a gaping maw full of jagged silver teeth, and it put the frighteners on me.)

The plug is a two-prongy one, so you'll need to buy an adapter. Bit annoying, but I'm sure there's a good reason for it. You'll need to charge it for about an hour before using it and the charge apparently lasts about 40 minutes. I used it while in the bath - if having babies in warm water makes it be less painful, surely the principle here is the same, I thought. Excellent in theory. In practise not so much: it hurt like the dickens. Even with the pre-massage and pre-epilation wipe (they provide 16 of them), it really, really hurt.

It doesn't feel like it's being waxed. I'm a waxer, so I figured this would be a giggle on a Saturday afternoon next to that. Tisn't. While waxing pulls off a layer or two of skin, with epilating, it's like you can feel each hair being pulled out. It's more akin to intensive, persistent plucking on a larger area. Plucking certainly becomes more bearable as you adjust to it, though, and I expect it's the same for epilating.

But. The 5 stars is because after a few hours, my skin is so so smooth, with none of the rawness of post-wax, none of the waxy residue and none of the clean-up. Such a bonus. I cannot imagine venturing into more sensitive areas, and I can't fathom doing it dry... I reckon am well 'ard for doing both legs in the bath! But it's worth persisting with as the end results are so wonderful.

So absolutely 5 stars - but it's totally ok if you cry.

I gave this to the missus to road test (not needing smooth legs myself!), hence she is penning this review. So it's over to you Mrs O':

This is the first time I've used an epilator, so I was a little apprehensive and not sure what to expect, except I had heard they were painful. Well - oww (!) they are!! However, I think it's a sensation I'll soon get used to (and the booklet tells me I will, so here's hoping).

The epilator comes in a nice presentation box with all the heads you need for every possible occasion, from shaving your legs to more delicate areas! The instruction booklet is in multiple languages and the instructions are pretty clear, although I did take some time to understand which attachments were for which areas and the 'any language' pictures at the front of the booklet didn't do much to dispel my confusion. However, once I'd worked it out I wondered why I hadn't realised earlier! The epilator itself is rechargeable and charges in 1 hour to give 40 minutes epilation. The 1 hour charge is great, especially for the first time, as you expect to have to charge appliances for at least 24 hours in the first instance, so that was refreshing. The instructions suggest that as you use and recharge your epilator the charge will last longer and longer.

The unit itself is very ergonomic and the light is fantastic, highlighting all those tricky light hairs that you wouldn't normally see. In fact without the light I think the epilator would be much less effective, as most of us don't have brilliant daylight conditions in our bathrooms (admittedly I used it when it was dark outside, so the light was a boon!).

So, down to the epilation itself.... I started with my legs and tried both wet and dry conditions and yes it hurt, but nowhere near as much as waxing does! (Admittedly waxing is a short sharp shock and this is repeated!). I don't think using it in wet conditions changes how it feels during epilation, but I do think it gives a better result. I think in the leg area I will soon get used to the epilation feeling. The result as far as smoothness was good and I'm sure it will get better the more I get used to using the appliance and then can go on to using the efficiency head attachment. As far as the more delicate areas are concerned e.g. underarms and other bits (!), it was a bit more challenging and painful. The underarms were tricky in trying to keep the skin taught enough when only having use of one arm and that's holding the epilator! However, I did better on the second underarm and although I had to take a deep breath, I think I will be able to use it effectively. Don't do it before you go out though as you can't use alcohol based deodorant afterwards (or invest in non-alcohol base variety of course!). The other bits were also challenging and of course sensitive and my first attempts not that great! However not as painful as you might imagine and NO WAY near as painful as getting down there waxed (and less embarrassing!!).

The epilator is easy to clean, especially as you can clean it under running water, and the brush is also very useful. The carry case it comes with keeps everything together and the charge was sufficient to `do' all areas in one go. All in all I would say this will prove to be a good investment, especially if it slows down the rate of hair return, we shall see!

I got this, my first epilator, a few weeks ago as I wanted to be able to go out in sleeveless tops etc without having to worry about when I last shaved. I don't normally go for the most expensive model of anything when buying for the first time, but I thought (and still do) that the features of this model really do make it worth the extra money and also one of the most comfortable and practical for the 'beginner'.

Being able to get it wet is really handy for cleaning it etc, cordless is great as there are no cables to get in your way and the shaver attachment is a nice additional feature to have. However the most useful feature has surely got to be the light on the handle, which makes it much easier to see the surface of the skin and to get even the fine/fair hairs. I have an olive complexion so it's fairly easy for me to see dark hairs against the skin, but if you are fair-skinned then having a light to show up pale-coloured hairs would be very handy I would think. Braun make several models in this range, identified by different coloured switches on the handles. Not all of the others are waterproof or come with the same range of attachments, so if you see a cheaper 'Braun Xpressive epilator' elsewhere on Amazon, don't get caught out by thinking it's necessarily the same model and comes with the same features as this one. Check that it's the 7781 (blue handle switch) first!

I decided to follow the advice of previous reviewers here (THANK YOU ladies!) by epilating legs first before attempting any more sensitive areas. It felt like 20 hairs were all being pulled out by tweezers at once, but the 'ouch' only lasts for a moment per hair, nothing to worry about really. It took about 10 days for the hair to grow back enough to need epilating again, and the second time it didn't hurt at all, probably because I knew what I was doing and the hairs were shorter. Shorter hairs definitely mean less pain. The most important thing when epilating legs for the first time is not to rush - use the epilator on its lower speed setting and move it slowly over the leg. I used the 'massage head' the first time, but now I actually find the 'efficiency cap' more comfortable. I've only epilated dry as yet but it's nice to have the option of using it in the bath.

I haven't used the epilator on bikini area but I have used it on underarms and face. I didn't find underarm area as bad as some other reviewers seem to have done - if you ensure the hairs aren't too long and that the skin is taut (i.e. stretch arm above head and use other hand to move the epilator) then it really isn't that bad the first time, and when I epilate again it doesn't hurt at all. It is worth using the 'narrow epilation cap' and the slower speed setting for underarm area though - if you use the 'massage' or 'efficiency' caps and faster speed setting then more hairs at once will be pulled out so it will feel like it hurts more.

The epilator is more awkward to use on the face, and I didn't find the 'precision cap' a very useful attachment because it's too narrow to pick up all the hairs it's being aimed at - I prefer to use the 'narrow epilation cap' instead. Have to admit, epilating the upper lip/below nose area IS eye-watering the first time! But with patience and persistence it CAN be done and the results are pleasing. The key is to go slowly and take your time. I recommend rubbing Baby Oil into the skin afterwards to help with any soreness/sensitivity.

One thing I would not recommend this product for at all is for getting rid of stray hairs in eyebrow/top of nose area - I found it impossible to see adequately what I was doing and rather than risk ending up with half an eyebrow, will go back to using tweezers instead. :-D

Finally, some previous reviewers and the product instruction manual advise looking after the skin afterwards, i.e. making the effort to moisturise and exfoliate epilated areas frequently. I have followed this advice and have yet to experience any ingrown hairs. And husband likes the results!

I bought the Braun Silk Epil Xpressive 7781 online at amazon.co.uk a month ago, and I must say that I'm absolutely in love with it.

Having owned the Braun Silk Epil Soft Perfection for years, I had learned to equate epilation with medieval torture (in fact now that I think about it, I'm sure some primitive form of epilators were used during the Inquisition). I had actually stopped using it altogether and reverted to shaving, simply because I couldn't deal with the amazing pain of epilating my knees (owwwww!) or worse, my thighs (aaaaaaggghhh!) But shaving is far from ideal, as we all know, so when I saw the commercial for the Xpressive, I admit I was interested enough to look it up online. After browsing many, many forums, I figured it was worth a shot. The underwater concept seemed to have great potential for a less painful epilation experience, even if part of me said, "it's just marketing!" And I should know, being in marketing myself!

Anyway, as I live in France, where epilators are much more expensive, I decided to order it from Amazon UK, neglecting to notice that the plug was obviously suited for the UK and not for France. Have I mentioned my hair colour? ;-) Ah well, a quick trip to the BHV solved that, and with my plug converter in hand, I charged up the Xpressive and went to work! I sat in a nice hot bath for about 15 minutes, reading a book and letting my pores dilate (they say it makes for an easier epilation). It was then time to put the Xpressive to the test.

MIRACULOUS. I put one leg and then the other up on the side of the tub and epilated both of them up to the knee without feeling a THING, aside from the pressure of the "anti pain" roller attachment. I admit I had felt very skeptical out the outset, but after 5 minutes of what was basically a strange kind of massage, all doubt vanished into thin air, to be replaced with pure wonder. HOW could this not hurt? Then, on to my knees...and thighs... OK, there I admit I did feel some pain (there is no such thing as a 100% perfect product after all), but it was SUCH a pale comparison to what I had to endure with my previous epilator! No tears, no cursing, no resorting to my razor...

I've now used this product twice on my legs from ankle to bikini line, and all I can say is BRAVO to Braun. What a pleasure to finally have smooth legs without spending 3 hours in the bathroom, teeth gritted and tears in my eyes, suffering for the sake of hair-free legs! Oh the lengths that we women will go to! But with this little beauty of a machine, all that is behind me. :-)

I would just like to point out one small down side, which may not affect everyone, and which I believe is most likely a "problem" for every epilator out there: not every hair on one's legs grows at exactly the same rate, so after epilating there will probably remain a slight sensation of tiny stubble when you run your hands up your legs. This can be treated with 5 minutes of rubbing hair removal gloves/mittens/abrasives etc. over the surface of your legs (there are many brands - look them up online). Afterward, they're smooooooooth and wonderful (aside from the little red spots that always appear after electric epilation of course!). Yes, having smooth legs is an ongoing effort that requires time and determination, but so is having shiny hair (and in my case, natural-looking highlights), smooth skin, correctly applied makeup and a toned body (just to name a few). Welcome to womanhood! ;-)

I have tried all hair removal methods (not laser...) out there and this little machine is by far the best so far. I have used cold wax, hot wax, epilators, razors, creams... Out of the epilators that I have tried this is by far the best and most comfortable (if there is such a thing as comfortable hair removal) out there.
The light is most certainly NOT a gimmick, it really does work and is a great little plus. The fact that you can charge it and take it away with you or simply use it anywhere without having to awkwardly be near plugs is fantastic. The fact that you can use it in the shower or bath as well is great. It makes the whole affair much more enjoyable (as far as that is possible!). I did find it cheaper else where, so I did not purchase from Amazon, but thought I would rate it as I would definitely recommend it to others!

Ok, I confess, this review is composed with the aid of the lady of the house, but so glowing is her feedback that I'm tempted to use it myself. Actually, I already have. I had to, because she wanted me to feel the difference between her old epilator and this one, which we used wet. Well, the old, dry one absolutely killed. Man, it just plain hurt. But the 7781 was much, and I mean MUCH, better. Was it painless? Of course not. Was it better than dry epilation? Without a doubt.

Of course, we're all different and some of you might still be reluctant to epilate regardless, but this is a very nice product. It feels weighty and substantial, it has more features than any other item in the same market, and it works phenomenally well (now that I can vouch for). The whole package basically makes the hair removal process as painless and thorough as possible, and you can trim hairs to what is considered the optimum length for plucking.

You can check all the product details on the Amazon page, but we would like to add that, once the slightly pink raw feeling has passed, you really will be happy with the results. You can't get any smoother than hairless, and you can't epilate any more smoothly than with this item. We would just like to second the warning of another reviewer - don't look at the "mouth" of the epilator, it's terrifying.

Five out of five on every count from us, for the product and the results. I might edit the review further when I've epilated my rugby player legs.