Braun Silk-expert 3 BD 3001 / BD 3003 / BD 3005 Manual

Introduction

Our products are designed to meet the highest standards of quality, functionality and design.
Using professional light technology, Braun Silk·expert Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) allows you to permanently remove unwanted, visible hair comfortably at home. Before using the device, please read the use instructions carefully, including all contraindications, warnings and safety information, and keep them for future reference.
This device has been designed to effect long-term hair growth reduction after a certain period of treatment. Ideal body areas for use include:

Women: Legs, arms, underarms, bikini area and face (below cheek bones)

Do not use the device near the eyes and along the forehead.

Men: Shoulders and below (chest, back, arms, stomach, legs)

Do not use on the face, neck or genital area.
Usage on male beards or facial hair may lead to permanent or uneven results which may produce changes in facial characteristics that may not be desirable.

Braun Silk·expert is not suitable for everyone. It is most effective on light to medium skin tones and dark hair colors. Please, refer to the skin tone and hair color to see if the device is suitable for you:

Skin tone & Body hair type chart:

: suitable
: not suitable

Description

1. Treatment window
2. SensoAdapt™ skin tone sensors
3. LED Power bars
4. Gentle mode button and indicator
5. Treatment button
6. Power socket
7. Power supply
8. Mains cord
9. Treatment window reflector
10. Glass filter

How does it work?

Braun Silk·expert works beneath the skin surface by targeting the melanin in the hair follicle, helping to break the cycle of hair re-growth. With continued, periodic use, the light energy helps prevent unwanted hair from reaching the skin surface.

The intelligent SensoAdapt™ skin sensors (2) continuously read your skin tone before every flash, automatically adapting the light intensity for best efficacy and safety. This allows treatment of appropriate skin tones, but prevents treatment if your skin tone is too dark.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

DO NOT USE the device...

• if your skin is darker than skin tone V shown on the skin tone chart. Since dark skin absorbs more light energy, treating very dark skin may cause discomfort/pain and adverse effects (e.g., burns, blisters, discoloration or scarring) and injure your skin.
• if you are pregnant, lactating, or under the age of 18 as this device has not been tested with these individuals.
• if you have a history of skin cancer or precancerous lesions (e.g., nevi or a large number of moles).
• If your skin has been artificially or naturally tanned recently. Your skin may be extra sensitive following sun exposure and particularly susceptible to side effects of IPL treatment (e.g. burn, blister, discolour or scar to your skin). Also, avoid unprotected exposure to direct sunlight after your IPL treatment. Your skin may be extra sensitive and particularly susceptible to sunburn.

Certain conditions can also prohibit the use of this device.
DO NOT USE the device if any of the following applies:

• You have a chronic medical condition.
• You have a chronic skin disease (e.g. psoriasis or vitiligo) or damaged skin (e.g. sunburn, cuts, open wounds or active infections) in the areas you wish to treat.
• You have varicose veins in the area you wish to treat.
• You have a known sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity) or are taking medication that may make the skin more sensitive (e.g. Retin A, Accutane and/or other topical retinoids).
• You have had a skin peel treatment on the area you wish to treat.
• You have any of the above, this device may injure your skin or make existing conditions worse. You may experience side effects such as burns, blisters and skin color changes (hyper- or hypo-pigmentation) or scarring.

If you are unsure whether this device is safe for you to use, please consult your physician or dermatologist.

If you take any kind of medication regularly and over a long period of time, please consult your physician for any potential impact on skin sensitivity to light.

DO NOT USE on...

• scalp, eyebrows or anywhere near or around the eyes. Use in these areas may permanently damage your eyes.
• red, very blonde, grey or white hair. The device is not effective on these hair colors.
• nipples, genitals or around the anus. These areas may have a darker skin color and/or greater hair density and using the device in these areas may cause discomfort/pain or injure your skin.
• dark brown or black spots such as freckles, birthmarks, moles or warts in the treatment area.
• a tattoo or permanent makeup in the treatment area.
• beard / facial hair for men.

DO NOT look directly into the glass filter (10) or attempt to activate the device toward the eyes. To protect the safety of your eyes and those of individuals nearby, the device will only activate when both skin tone sensors are placed against the skin. If at any time the device activates when both sensors are NOT in contact with the skin, STOP use immediately and contact your retailer.

DO NOT USE more than once a week on the same area. This will not speed up the results and may increase the chances of injury to your skin.

PRECAUTIONS

• The device is intended for a single user.
• It is not intended for use by people under 18 years old.
• People with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities or lack of experience and knowledge, may use the device if they have been given supervision or instruction concerning the safe use of the device and understand the hazards involved.
• Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the device. Always keep the device out of children's reach.

ELECTRICAL AND FIRE SAFETY

The device contains fragile parts and has to be handled with care. Regularly check the device and cords for visible signs of damage. In case of damage or cracks, stop using the device. Electric shock may result from using a damaged device. In case of defects, have the device checked and repaired by an authorized service center. Unqualified repair work can lead to extreme hazards for the user. Always unplug the device after use.

Never attempt to repair and open the device, as this may expose you to dangerous electrical components and to pulsed light energy, either of which may cause serious bodily damage and/or permanent eye injury.

To prevent any damage or risk of electric shock or fire hazard, operate this device only by using the mains cord (8) and power supply (7) (CyDen Type 6027...) provided.

• 
  DO NOT use in or near water and wet surfaces such as bathtubs, showers, basins or other vessels that may contain water. If the device becomes wet, it should not be used. Electric shock may result from using a wet device.
• DO NOT use if the device is damaged (e.g. cracked housing, cord damage etc). Internal parts contain electric charges that are hazardous.
• DO NOT use if the glass filter (10) is cracked or missing. Regularly inspect the glass filter for damage.
• DO NOT touch the glass filter during or directly after use since it will get hot.
• DO NOT use petroleum-based or flammable cleaning agents (alcohol, acetones) on the device as these pose a fire risk.
• DO NOT use abrasive cleaning agents. These may damage the device or scratch the glass filter.
• DO NOT attempt to use this device other than for removing unwanted hair.
• DO NOT activate the device onto any surface other than skin.
• DO NOT activate the device if the treatment window (1) is not placed in full contact with the skin.
• DO NOT block the cooling vents. The device may overheat and pose an electric shock risk or fire hazard.

HOW TO USE

Preparing the treatment area

Remove any visible hair on the skin before using the device. You may use your preferred hair removal method. Clean the treatment area and pat it dry.

To power on the device

Plug the mains cord (8) into an electrical outlet. Plug the power supply (7) into the power socket (6). The LED power bars (3) will light up once and, a fan starts running. This means the device is in READY mode. During operation, the device will heat up slightly.

Automatic skin tone reading

When both skin tone sensors (2) have skin contact, the device reads your skin tone and selects the appropriate light intensity which is indicated by white LEDs on the Power bars (3). These confirm that the device is ready to flash.

	light skin tone → high light intensity
	dark skin tone → low light intensity
no LEDs	no skin contact → device cannot be activated
red LED	invalid skin tone → device cannot be activated

Patch Test

Before your first treatment, we recommend you test your skin for reaction to Braun Silk·expert on a small area of skin of the body part you plan to treat (about 2 x 3 cm in size; equivalent to the size of two flashes, side by side).
Perform a patch test as described BELOW in chapter «TREATMENT MODES», section «Precision mode». Wait 48 hours to examine the test area. If the skin appears normal, begin your first treatment. If a skin reaction develops, discontinue using the device and consult your physician. Do not treat the patch tested area for at least one week after the test.

TREATMENT MODES

Depending on the area you wish to treat you can choose between Gliding mode and Precision mode:

The gliding mode enables fast and efficient treatments and is recommended for large skin surface areas (e.g. legs, arms, chest and back) while the precision mode is recommended for treating sensitive or small, hard-to reach areas such as knees, shins, ankles, bikini line or underarm and face for females.

The area to be treated has to be hair-free, clean and dry. Before pressing the treatment button, look away from the device to avoid the bright light.

Gliding mode	Precision mode
Place the treatment window (1) firmly on your skin, ensuring both skin sensors (2) have skin contact. Power bars (3) show white LEDs.
Press and hold the treatment button (5). The device will begin to flash.	Press and instantly release the treatment button (5). The device will emit a flash.
Move the device slowly and continuously from the bottom to the top of the treatment area. Make sure to always keep full skin contact so that the device flashes continuously.	Lift off the device and place it onto the next adjacent spot to be treated. Again, wait for the power bars to show white LEDs. Then press and release the treatment button.
Once you have completed your first gliding stroke, lift the device off the treatment area. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to treat the next adjacent area in a parallel stroke.	Continue treatment spot by spot until you have completed the entire area you wish to treat.

Make sure to avoid missed areas by placing the treatment window directly next to the previously treated spot without leaving any space between treated areas.

If you feel intense pain, stop treatment immediately and consult your physician before using the device again.

Gentle mode

For sensitive areas (or first time users) you may set the device to Gentle mode by pressing the Gentle mode button (4). The Gentle mode indicator will illuminate to indicate it is activated. To de-activate Gentle mode, simply press the button (4) again. The Gentle mode indicator will go off and the device will return to its standard settings.
Gentle Mode reduces the light intensity. More treatments may be required to see the desired effects. The Gentle Mode is also recommended when doing the monthly maintenance treatments.

Standby mode

After 10 minutes of inactivity, the device will revert to standby mode (which will be indicated by one blinking light on the power indicator bars). To return to READY mode, press any key or remove/replace the power cord.

Sleep mode

If the device is not operated (no button push) for 60 minutes, it will enter sleep mode (low power state).

The Power bar LEDs are off. To return to READY mode, press any key or remove/replace the mains cord. On wake-up the device will follow the standard Power on procedure (power bars will light up completely once).

Facial treatment (female usage only)

Before Treatment

• Ensure you have done a patch test before treating the face (see chapter «Patch Test»).
• Remove any visible hair and cosmetics, lotions and creams from the area you wish to treat.
• You may choose to use a mirror to help position the treatment window on the face.

Treating the face, cheek and jaw

(use the «Precision mode»)

Place the treatment window on your skin. Wait for the power bars to show white LEDs. Before pressing the treatment button, close your eyes or look away to avoid the bright light. Avoid treating the same area twice as this may increase the chance of producing adverse reactions.

Upper lip area

• Avoid contact with the lips and the nostrils. The central area below the nostrils is often sensitive.
• Do not use on permanent / semi-permanent lip liner on the lip margin.
• TIP: You can press your lips together to ensure that the light does not activate on the upper lip itself.

Neck and chin

Hair growth under the chin can be denser and coarser. This can sometimes lead to slight skin reddening following a treatment. This redness is temporary and should completely disappear after 24 hours.

NOTE:

• If redness or a burning sensation occurs and lasts for several minutes, apply a cool cloth/pad to soothe the area.
• If any pigment changes in the skin, e.g., lightening or darkening, are observed, stop using the device. Seek medical advice to determine the cause which may be due to an underlying medical condition.

TREATMENT PLAN

The typical hair growth cycle varies between individuals and could take up to 18 - 24 months depending on body area (underarm, lower leg, bikini area). Since only hairs in their growing phase are susceptible to treatment with light, it is important to do multiple treatments to achieve continuously smooth skin. For this reason, we recommend a start-up phase of 4 -12 weekly treatments to achieve optimum results.

In case you no longer see hair growing, you do not need to complete the full 12 weekly treatments. You can switch to the maintenance treatments.

AFTER TREATMENT

Once you have completed your treatment, unplug the power supply from the electrical outlet to turn off the device.

Do not touch or clean the glass filter (10) for at least 5 minutes after use to allow it to cool down.

After treatment, we recommend using sunscreen SPF 15 whenever treated areas may be exposed to the sun. We recommend avoiding exposure to artificial light sources, such as tanning booths or solariums.

Avoid any activity or skin products that may irritate your skin for 24 hours after treatment. This includes using hot tubs or saunas, wearing tight-fitting clothing, using bleaching creams, perfumed products or peeling products. The above may cause irritation, such as itching and redness, in the treated areas.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

• After use, wipe down the device and especially the treatment window with a dry, lint-free cloth. Do not rinse or immerse the device in water or any other liquid.
• To ensure maximum performance, it is important to keep the treatment window reflector (9) free from dirt, hair or other debris. To aid in the cleaning of this part, the front section is removable. Once removed, it can be cleaned with a slightly damp cloth. Always ensure the front section is completely dry before re-fitting it.
• Store the device in a cool, dry place. Make sure the treatment window and skin sensors are protected from damage.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Some people will experience slight discomfort (e.g. heat or redness of the skin) when using the device – this is normal. You may feel heat and tingling when activating the flash, followed by redness in the skin. This type of reaction usually disappears within 24 hours. Adverse reactions are usually immediate or appear within 24 hours. In rare cases, they may take up to 72 hours to appear. If you experience abnormal skin reactions please contact your physician.

TROUBLE SHOOTING

The following troubleshooting guide may help you solving initial problems you may experience with this device.

www.service.braun.com

Documents / Resources

References

• Braun Service

Download manual

Here you can download full pdf version of manual, it may contain additional safety instructions, warranty information, FCC rules, etc.

Download Braun Silk-expert 3 BD 3001 / BD 3003 / BD 3005 Manual