*Flash & Go Laser Hair Remover*
First of all, let me start this review by stating that I did NOT get this product for free! I did purchased this item from Shoppers Drug Mart myself for $199.99
Slight Overview:
Silk’n Flash & Go is a new product of Home Skinovations that uses laser technology for permanent hair removal. HPL, or Home Pulsed Light, is the technology used by hair removal clinics and salons all over the world and has been the most trusted method for permanent hair removal for over 15 years. This is the same technology used in Silk’n Flash&Go but in a smaller, more compact device.
This specific device is very handy and is plugged in while you use it, not battery-based. It utilizes a cartridge as a source of the HPL technology and each cartridge is good for 5,000 light pulses: more then enough for the recommended treatments.
The size of the device makes it suitable to be used in hard-to-reach and sensitive areas like the upper lip, sideburns, neck, back, chest, arms, underarms, legs, feet and bikini area. Optimal results take time, but you can notice significant decrease of hair growth after 4 to 6 sessions.
How To Use The Device:
The machine has 5 different levels of treatment. If it is your first time do not go over level 1! I will repeat this, because it is important. Do not go over level 1 for your first treatment. Thinking that you will start higher and just really kill off all of your hair follicles is asking for a skin burn. Start at level 1. For subsequent treatments you can start to slowly work your way up the level scale to a 5 if your skin can tolerate that. First it states to shave the hair you wish to eliminate opening the hair follicles so the light can be absorbed easier. You then position the little window over your skin, hit a button on the wand and a very bright flash of light will come out and you'll hear a laser noise. This will not hurt but you will feel a warming sensation. I don't recommend looking at the wand when you do this, the flash is quite blinding. While the unit charges up for the next light flash (a few seconds) I reposition the window over the next area of skin, repeat until you have done the entire body part.
~Treatments 1-4 you do 2 weeks apart
~Treatments 5-7 you do 4 weeks apart
~Treatments 8+ you do as needed until desired results are achieved.
Treatment 1:
I decided to try out this device on the bottom half of my legs which is where i have the most hair growth and is the biggest pain for me to shave every couple days. The first treatment after 2 weeks of not shaving my legs i noticed the hair growth to be a lot slower but the hair did come back just as thick as usual.
Treatment 2:
For the second treatment I increased the level from 1-3. I did not get any bad irritation or burns from level 1so i skipped level 2 intensity and next time i will go to 3 or 4.
Treatment 3:
Before this treatment i did not shave my legs for the full 2 weeks time. The hair growth was very strange to look at. the outer sides of my legs the hair still had grown in almost like normal but not as course and a little patchy while the inner sides of my legs the hair was very light and super fine, also patchy. By patchy i am meaning that some hair had not grown back in the 2 weeks time (this is good news). I am guessing this is happening because of the hair growth pattern and its not the same rate for every single blade of hair. I went ahead and shaved like normal and continued with the level 3 laser treatment.
Treatment 4:
Right before treatment 4 my hair had grown in the same as the last treatment, no noticeable difference. still growing in slower and patchy. I am using level 4 now.
Treatment 5:
The hair on the outer part of my legs that was still growing in full but slower has finally started to grow back much finer then usual. i must have caught it perfectly on the growth cycle for those follicles. i was starting to get a little worried that the one side of my legs was always going to keep coming back but fear no more!! i am now noticing a bigger difference that im up to level 4 so i might just do the highest setting starting next treatment.
Treatment 6:
So my skin seems to be taking the strength of the level 4 just fine so this time around i am upping it to the strongest level 5 treatment. hair is still growing in slowly and much finer. i think i will need more then the 8 main treatments but i am okay with that since i actually have been seeing results.
Treatment 7:
Before this treatment i did not shave my legs for the full 2 weeks time. The hair growth was very strange to look at. the outer sides of my legs the hair still had grown in almost like normal but not as course and a little patchy while the inner sides of my legs the hair was very light and super fine, also patchy. By patchy i am meaning that some hair had not grown back in the 2 weeks time (this is good news). I am guessing this is happening because of the hair growth pattern and its not the same rate for every single blade of hair. I went ahead and shaved like normal and continued with the level 3 laser treatment.
Treatment 4:
Right before treatment 4 my hair had grown in the same as the last treatment, no noticeable difference. still growing in slower and patchy. I am using level 4 now.
Treatment 5:
The hair on the outer part of my legs that was still growing in full but slower has finally started to grow back much finer then usual. i must have caught it perfectly on the growth cycle for those follicles. i was starting to get a little worried that the one side of my legs was always going to keep coming back but fear no more!! i am now noticing a bigger difference that im up to level 4 so i might just do the highest setting starting next treatment.
Treatment 6:
So my skin seems to be taking the strength of the level 4 just fine so this time around i am upping it to the strongest level 5 treatment. hair is still growing in slowly and much finer. i think i will need more then the 8 main treatments but i am okay with that since i actually have been seeing results.
Treatment 7:
coming soon.........
The Pros:
* The device is extremely easy and quick to use. you can follow the steps demonstrated on the dvd manual and smaller areas only take a few minutes to treat.
* Unlike HPL-technology devices in clinics and salons, this product cause little to no pain at all. The device is regulated with different energy levels, each increasing in intensity. This aids you in gauging which energy level is most comfortable for you, and you can gradually increase the level as you begin to get used to it. Because the laser setting is regulated, the device does not cause any redness or tenderness.
* The product can be used in more than one area of the body. In fact, it can be used to any part of the body, even hard-to-reach areas like the shin and bikini line. It can also be used in large surface areas like the back and chest. What’s more is that it can be used to sensitive areas like the face making the product very versatile.
* Because this device is so lightweight and compact it is perfect for travel and even comes with attachments for international outlets.
* The product has a skin sensor in the cartridge making this very safe to use. The sensor is used to detect if the skin is ready for hair removal. This cannot be found in any other hair removal system, which gives Silk’n Flash&Go an edge over its competitors. The technology used by the product is also approved by the FDA, so you can be assured of your safety.
The Cons:
* The initial cost of $200 is a lot of money for something that may or may not work; however it did drop in price from $500 and laser treatments at a salon could rack up thousands in treatments so really in comparison to that its really not that expensive.
* There are three phases in hair growth, and the product only targets one of the phases: the hair growth phrase. Hence, permanent removal can take at least a year to occur. However, noticeable changes can be seen in as early as the first 4 sessions. After the initial sessions, you can notice that your hair is finer, hair growth is delayed, and lesser hair is present.
*The product is not recommended for persons with dark skin tones and those with hair colors that are light. The HPL technology utilizes the dark pigment of your skin called melanin to absorb the light energy emitted by the device. The absorbed energy is then converted to heat, which in turn disables hair growth. Too much melanin on the skin such as those with dark skin tones can subject these persons to adverse effects, like pain and permanent skin pigmentation. This side effect is, however, regulated by the skin sensor attached to the cartridge that takes all the guesswork out of whether your skin is suitable for the product or not.
Verdict:
To be announced when all 8 treatments have been completed. For now i am quite impressed with this device.
