What you're Doing Wrong with At-Home Hair Removal
It used to be that to impeccably remove body and facial hair, a person needed to use the services provided by a salon or spa. These professional treatments involved multiple visits, a hefty financial investment and a rigorous maintenance plan. Things changed about a decade ago when Silk’n designed and developed at-home devices that harness state-of-the-art technologies to permanently remove unwanted hair.
While these devices are proven to deliver results, users are making some common—and easily avoidable—mistakes that could be undermining a treatment’s efficacy. Don’t worry, though, we’re here to shine a light on what you might be doing wrong so you can maximize your chance at positive results.
First, let’s introduce you to the Silk’n family of hair removal devices, and what makes them so popular and effective. Next, we’ll review what you might be doing wrong by looking at common user mistakes. Lastly, we’ll offer advice on what it takes to perform consistent and productive treatments so you can enjoy smooth skin.
Silk’n Hair Removal Devices
Clinically tested and developed by physicians for at-home use, the Flash&Go series and the new Infinity provide long-lasting results and permanently remove facial and body hair. Regardless of your choice of device, you can count on relatively quick hair removal sessions that are pain-free.
These devices were thoughtfully crafted to fit different lifestyles and hair types. Despite their various designs and features, each is equipped to safely remove stubborn hair from the comfort and privacy of one’s home.
The Infinity combines Home Pulsed Light with galvanic energy to penetrate deeper to remove hair more judiciously. Galvanic energy attacks hair at the root, leaving skin soft to the touch.
The Flash& Go Compact is travel-friendly, letting you toss it in your luggage before you jet set to a tropical beach or to continue treatment during a weekend getaway. It’s convenient and can be used on your arms, legs and bikini line.
The Flash&Go Express is perfect for people with busy lives. It provides shorter session durations than other devices. Its ergonomic body lets you easily maneuver to treat sensitive areas.
The Flash&Go Jewel is designed to treat tighter surface areas with more precision. It is adept at providing bikini line treatment on all hair types and colors.
You can also use a combination of hair removal devices if that best suits your needs and goals.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Now, that you know what hair removal device, or devices, that will work best for you, it’s time to learn what not to do before, during or after treatment. Remember, every device is different so always consult with its user manual for specific instruction or product information and be sure to read through our hair removal resource center for additional details.
Taking Supplements
People take hair supplements to promote growth for ideal grooming purposes or as a remedy for thinning hair. These supplements don’t cause hair to grow in a specific area. Rather, hair will grow wherever it’s able to based on your body.
We’re not claiming that these supplements work or not, but if you are ready to commit to at-home hair removal, then you have two options: you can either stop taking hair supplements or you can add a few extra treatments.
Additionally, if you are unwilling to stop taking supplements then adjust your expectations for the results of your Silk’n treatments.
Not Understanding Skin Tones
This might be the most overlooked. At home hair removal devices detect the contrast between skin tone and hair color. Once detected, it activates and emits a pulse to attack hair at the follicle. Positive results typically occur for people with light skin and dark hair. Those with gray or bleached hair might also experience some difficulty if there isn’t enough pigment for the device to detect.
Before you invest in a device review the Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale to gauge whether your skin is suitable for an at-home device. Type I, II and III work best with dark hair.
Not Exercising Enough Patience
Even though these aren’t professional treatments, at-home devices are still professional-grade technology that require a user to stick to a strict treatment plan. This means no cutting corners if you want hairless skin.
It’s an old adage, but hair removal patience is a virtue. A complete treatment plan might feel cumbersome but without it, you’re just wasting your time and money. The good news is that most devices let users enjoy visible results within two months of use, though, it does depend on how a person’s skin reacts to the hair removal treatments.
Ignoring Directions
Each device comes with a user guide that outlines how to operate the device and treat applicable areas. You want to follow every step from operation to cleaning to make sure the hair removal device works properly and is safe for your skin. These directions are not only recommended; they are essential so treat them as such.
You can get directions from a device’s product page by scrolling to the bottom and clicking on the “HOW TO USE” tab. Or you can peruse our library of user manuals. The best advice is to familiarize yourself with a device’s directions before you begin so you know what to do and what to expect.
Not Starting a Maintenance Program
Congrats! You’ve finished a complete treatment and want to pop some champagne and hit the town to celebrate the smoothest skin you’ve ever had. Well, sorry to pump the brakes on your good time, but now is the time to plan your hair removal treatment maintenance program.
Each device has a recommended maintenance plan that should be adhered to so we recommend reviewing the FAQ section of a product page. You can also speak with one of our live chat representatives who would be happy to answer any of your questions. Simply click on the “WE’RE HERE TO HELP” tab on the side of each page on this website.
Using it on an Area with a Concentration of Tattoos, Moles or Freckles
Any part of your skin that has a saturated volume of color could make it insusceptible to device treatments. Tattoos, moles and freckles can confuse the device, directing the beam away from the hair it aims to remove. It can even cause the skin to burn and, of course, means that the targeted hair will not be treated.
People with tattoos, moles and freckles can still use a Silk’n device, however the mistake is not being careful around those areas - especially with burning – so make sure that you DO NOT use the device on these areas of your skin.
At Home Hair Removal Tips
To help you get the most out of your Silk’n hair removal treatments, here are a few tips:
- Shave the target areas prior to treatment.
- Skin should be clean and dry.
- Before your first treatment, we recommend running a spot test on a small area.
- Wait 24 hours and if there is no reaction than begin.
- Start on the lowest energy level and slowly work your way up to the maximum level tolerated by your skin.
- The higher the setting, the faster you’ll see results (making sure your skin tolerates being key).
- Combine your Silk’n treatment with professional ones.
- To mark an area after shaving, circle with a white makeup pencil so you know where to use the device even if you can’t see the hair.
Shop for a Hair Removal Device Today!
If you are new to hair removal devices, then be sure to avoid these common mistakes. On the other hand, if you have been using a device for some time and aren’t seeing the results, then there’s a chance you might be doing something wrong. Don’t worry, these errors are all fixable and with a few corrections you can experience smooth and hairless skin.
Browse the full line of Silk'n hair removal devices to see which product is right for you, or learn more about hair removal in our Hair Removal Resource Center.
