Neither of these is a laser, and only one of them tells men to keep it off the beard.
Short answer:
- Both are IPL flash lamps, not lasers. Both aim at dark pigment in the hair, so neither works on blond, red, grey or white hair.
- Braun suits a once-a-week routine. Its manual bans a man’s face and neck, and it will not treat skin darker than tone V.
- Ulike suits someone who will treat three times a week and wear goggles. Its manual says nothing about beards, and silence is not permission.
Are Ulike and Braun really lasers?
No. IPL (intense pulsed light) is a filtered flash lamp, like a strong camera flash. A laser sends one wavelength in a narrow beam; a flash lamp sends a wide band. Ulike’s light runs from 550 to 1200 nm, Braun’s from 510 to 2000 nm.
Both are FDA-cleared through the 510(k) route: Braun as K190354, Ulike’s Air 10 models (UI20) in clearances such as K241998. The cleared wording is a reduction in hair regrowth, measured up to 12 months after treatment ends. Fewer hairs, not none. I compared four devices in more detail in my guide to the home device manuals.
Which one fits your problem?
Shaving every two days and tired of it → either one; pick by schedule. Braun asks for one session a week for 4 to 12 weeks, then every 1 to 2 months. Ulike asks for three sessions a week for the first 4 weeks, then every two weeks or once a month. The best schedule is the one you will actually keep.
Beard line or coarse men’s facial hair → neither, as written. Braun’s manual allows men “shoulders and below” and warns that beard use may leave uneven results that change how the face looks. Ulike’s manual is silent, though its product page shows a man’s beard area. The face is where hair sometimes grows back thicker, so this is a clinic job.
Darker skin → be careful with both. Darker skin soaks up the same light, so the surface heats along with the hair. Braun will not treat skin darker than tone V. Ulike is cleared for types I to V, and its manual says type V users should take “particular caution.”
Light or grey hair → neither. There is too little pigment in the hair to absorb the light.
The two devices
Photo: the brand’s official store.
Ulike Air 10. Ulike’s site does not say where the company is based; its FDA filings list the applicant as a Shenzhen, China company. Ulike says the window is kept cool during flashes, and that a skin sensor sets the strength for your skin tone. Goggles are required by the manual. The first month is busy: three sessions a week.
Photo: the brand’s official store.
Braun Silk·expert Pro 5. Braun says its sensor reads your skin tone before every flash and refuses skin that is too dark. The manual does not ask for goggles; instead it bans use near the eyes, eyebrows and forehead. It also says no more than once a week on the same area.
What can go wrong?
Both manuals list burns, blisters and changes in skin colour, mostly when skin is too dark, tanned or treated too often. Do not flash over tattoos, moles, dark spots or scars. Braun also advises against areas with dermal fillers.
The other risk is hair growing back thicker, called paradoxical hypertrichosis. A meta-analysis of nearly ten thousand treated people put it at about 3%, almost all on the face and neck [[1]](https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-021-00611-w). That is one more reason I keep these devices on the body.
How is this different from a clinic laser?
In a small trial of six underarm sessions, a clinic diode laser removed roughly twice as much hair as a home device [[2]](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286162). A clinic can also change the device and settings for your skin tone. When you compare clinics, ask how they choose the laser, not just its name.
What I tell my patients who ask which one to buy
I ask three questions first: what colour is the hair, what colour is the skin, and where is it. Dark hair on light to medium skin, on the legs or underarms, is where both do their best work. After that, I tell them to pick the routine they will keep, because a device left in a drawer does nothing. This is clinical judgement, not a tested rule.
For a beard, I send men to a clinic. Men’s skin and hair do respond differently, and Braun’s manual draws the same line.
FAQ
Is Ulike better than Braun?
Not across the board. Both are IPL with similar limits on hair colour and skin tone. Braun has a simpler weekly start; Ulike asks for more sessions early and requires goggles.
Can men use Ulike or Braun on the beard?
Braun’s manual says no to a man’s face and neck. Ulike’s manual does not address it. Hair growing back thicker is most often reported on the face, so a clinic is the safer place for a beard.
Do I need goggles for home IPL?
Ulike’s manual requires them. Braun’s bans use near the eyes instead. Wearing goggles with either one is a sensible habit.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This article contains affiliate links: if you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change what I recommend.
Read next
- Is IPL or Laser Better for Home Hair Removal?
- Does Laser Hair Removal Help Acne? What the Trials Show
References
- Snast I, Kaftory R, Lapidoth M, Levi A. Paradoxical hypertrichosis associated with laser and light therapy for hair removal: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Dermatol 2021;22(5):615-624. 10.1007/s40257-021-00611-w
- Hendricks K, Nxumalo CT, Makgobole MU, Ghuman S, Jacobs D, Mpofana N. Evaluating the effectiveness of laser hair reduction using a home use laser in comparison to a diode laser. PLoS One 2023;18(5):e0286162. 10.1371/journal.pone.0286162
Disclaimer: Home devices should be used according to the manufacturer’s manual and safety instructions, which take priority over anything I write here. Device approvals and permitted claims differ from country to country. Product mentions reflect my clinical opinion; availability and models change, so check the current manual and listing before you buy.
14 years in practice · replies to messages herselfA doctor in Korea, in practice since 2012 — your K-Beauty Doc. Physician in non-surgical aesthetic medicine, practising in Ansan, South Korea. Every article here is written from clinical practice and the published literature. Not medical advice.
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