Say Goodbye to Shaving with Silk’n

I don’t know anyone who loves shaving, plucking or waxing. I don’t know anyone who brags about ingrown hairs and razor bumps. But, I do know that there are ways to stop doing all that – and save a whole lot of time and money in the process! I’ve tried a lot of different methods, but today I want to tell you about something I’ve been doing at home to get rid of body AND facial hair.

I have very fair skin and dark hair. Having French and Italian ancestry (and winning the genetic lottery) gave me dark hair on my arms, legs and upper lip. The older I get, the more hair seems to pop up in super uncool places (where did this chin hair come from?). Go ahead and laugh now kids – it will happen to you too!

But, the good news is that I can get rid of this nonsense once and for all. I have been using the Silk’n Express Flash&Go permanent hair removal device. You may have seen it in my SnapChat story (@mybeautybunny). It’s a device that uses what Silk’n calls “HPL™ (Home Pulsed Light) technology” – optical light energy pulses that is absorbed by the pigment in your unwanted hair and transformed into heat. The heat disables hair growth while the surrounding skin is left alone. It’s not painful – you just feel a bit of warmth. There are five settings – so start with the lowest setting and move up from there.

The Flash&Go is best suited for women and men with lighter skin and darker hair. It works on light brown to dark hair (blonde, grey or white hair is tricky and may require more sessions). The built-in color sensor will not let the pulse go off if your skin is too dark. So you don’t have to worry about hurting yourself – it has a safety! You can check the website to see if your skin tone and hair color are a match. You can treat your arms, hands, legs, toes, underarms, bikini line, upper lip, chin, sideburns – just avoid areas above the cheekbones (you want to get those brows professionally shaped anyway).

So – how does it work? First, start with dry, shaved skin. Plug it in and turn it on – wait for the lights to come on. As I mentioned, you probably want to start with a lower setting your first time. You simply hold the device flush against your skin and hold the button down for one pulse. You can then move to the next spot (try not to overlap areas) and continue until you’ve covered the area to be treated. Alternatively, you can hold the button down and move slowly across your skin as you see and hear each pulse. It’s very easy to use, and the treatment tip is large enough that you can get an area such as your arms done in just a few minutes. You can do your whole body in about 20 minutes!

You should space your treatments out every two weeks for the first 4-5 sessions. After that, you only need to treat once a month. You should start seeing hair reduction around the six to eight week mark (because hair grows in three stages). Full hair removal can take up to six months. It may take some time, but it’s much more cost effective than other methods, and you can do it from the comfort of your bedroom or living room – while you watch TV.

Just a few things to keep in mind. Don’t point the light into your eye (because duh – obviously not a good idea), and don’t treat hair on your face if it’s above your cheekbones (too close to your eyes). If you’re doing any major peels, strong AHAs, laser treatments, tanning or anything that would make your skin sensitive, let your skin heal before you use your Silk&Go. And use sunscreen afterward if you’re going to be in the sun. Men can use the device, but not on beard hair – it’s too thick for this type of treatment.

There are two models – the Compact and the Express. The Express is what I have been using. It comes with 300,000 pulses (that’s a lot of hair removal!) and five energy levels. In the box, you get the device, carrying case, power cord and manual. I thought there would be a learning curve, but it was actually very easy to use. I recommend reading the manual thoroughly and watching the video before your first session.

Home Skinovations manufactures the Gilde, Flash&Go and SensEpil at home permanent hair removal devices. Silk’n has won recognition for Best Laser Hair Removal, Product of the Year – Hair Removal, and Product of the Year – Anti-Aging. Silk’n products are sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s, Ulta, and select Target locations.

Join me in the Silk’n not shaven revolution! Just say no to stubble, ingrown hairs and razor bumps. Do you hate shaving as much as I do? Share your stories with me in the comments below or use the hashtag #NoShaveWave.