The Silk’n Flash&Go is no longer avilable.
Try the Silk’n Infinity instead.
The Silkโn Glide Xpress / Flash&Go Express is an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) device thatโs safe for home-use. The IPL disables your hair follicles so after each treatment your hair grows slower and fewer hairs grow back. Eventually hair regrowth will stop and periodic top-up treatments will keep you continuously hair free.
In the USA and Canada, itโs called the Silkโn Flash&Go Express and it has FDA clearance. In the UK and Europe, itโs called the Silkโn Glide Xpress and it conforms to EU safety standards with CE certification. The models are identical. Theyโre both manufactured by Silk’n HomeSkinovations Ltd.
If your skin tone is darker than Fitzpatrick type IV, try the Silk’n Infinity instead.
Quality & design
The packaging is professional and sturdy, with a different design and information by country.
What’s in the box?
- Express Hair Removal Device
- Deluxe Carrying Case
- Cleaning cloth
- Power Cord
- European, Asian, North American plug adaptors
- User Manual
The Express is a compact mains-powered IPL device with a long and good quality power cord that fits snug in the base of the device. You may find an extension cable comes in hand for your sessions. The white and purple styling is cute, and the materials and build quality good.
It’s lightweight but doesn’t feel flimsy. The curves fit comfy in hand and the shape tapers to the flash window. The flash window is 0.9 cm high by 3 cm long, with a smaller opening above it. That’s the skin tone sensor window. It checks your skin at the start and periodically throughout your session. It stops flashes if it detects your skin tone is too dark for safe use.
To protect your eyes, your skin must cover all the sensors around the flash window too. Itโll only flash when theyโre all covered. This means you canโt accidentally flash into open air and damage your eyes.
You get 300,000 flashes from the IPL bulb which means it’ll last for 15+ years of monthly whole-body sessions. That’s way more than you’ll need to get and maintain your smooth. The kit comes in a small sturdy fabric-covered zip-around storage case. It’s perfect to store everything in and for travel especially. It’s a nice touch. You also get a 2-year warranty too.
The controls are simple and clear, on the end of the device so you can’t accidentally alter them. Press the power button to turn it on and again to cycle up threough the 5 IPL intensity levels, and back to 1 again. There’s a large flash button on the side of the device you can press as you hold the device in a natural grip.
Before you start
Before you start, read the user manual and do a skin sensitivity test. Read the important warnings and reasons the Express may not be safe or suitable for you. Such contraindications include being pregnant, having epilepsy, taking photosensitising medications, skin conditions, on tattoos or after skin peels plus more. Learn more about general contraindications for home IPL.
IMPORTANT: With all IPL devices you must shave immediately before the treatment. But, in the UK user manual it says โBest results will be reached when you shave 3 days prior to the treatment or when the hair is 1-2 mmโ.
I checked this with the Silkโn UK support team and they acknowledge itโs an error. You must shave immediately before your treatment. The IPL will be less effective on longer hair.
For your skin sensitivity test, shave first, then use the skin tone sensor to check your skin. Then simply start at the lowest level (1) and flash your skin. If thatโs comfortable, move up a level and repeat on a different spot. Stop if it becomes uncomfortable or painful. Wait for 1 hour and if thereโs no reaction continue with your treatment at the highest level that was comfortable. Do this for each separate area you want to treat.
You start with 4 treatments at 2-week intervals (taking 6 weeks), then continue until you get your desired results. Stay hair-free with monthly top-up treatments. You may need them less frequently over time.
What’s it like to use?
First shave your hairs and make sure your skin is dry and free of lotions and potions. Get set up with an extension cable if you need extra slack. Power on the device, choose your best intensity level, and place the flash window flush against your skin. A ‘ready’ light blinks when it has good contact. then, press the flash button. The sensor checks your skin tone and flashes if it’s safe.
Then, slide the device over your skin about 1 cm (the height of the flash window) and repeat. Continue until you’ve covered all your hairy areas! You can keep the flash button pressed for continuous flashes in ‘glide’ mode.
It’s fairly quick to cover your skin in flashes, but they do slow a little as the device heats up. It’ll take around 30 minutes to flash your whole body.
The flashes are bright, so don’t look directly at them. Make sure you use it in a well-lit room, but avoid vanity mirrors that can cast shadows across your skin. Try wearing sunglasses if the flashes are too much.
Tricky bits & helpful tips
The online reviews report a few tricky bits when using the Silkโn Glide Xpress. Iโve listed them here for ease of reference.
- Thereโs no smaller treatment window for small and uneven areas. It takes a bit of practise to activate a flash on areas like shins, knees and ankles.
- Itโs awkward to position on the small upper lip area. Try blowing out your cheeks or sucking in your lips to make it easier.
- The business-end of the device is quite bulky and the flash window sits in the middle of it. So, it’s sometimes difficult to work out where the flash opening is on your skin. To get even coverage, try sliding it 1 cm at a time. This is the height of the flash window and means youโll get no gaps or overlap in the flashes.
- A few reviewers have trouble where the Flash&Go Express wonโt flash and it takes some time and effort to get it right. Silkโn advise make sure there arenโt any shadows cast on your skin which cause the sensor to disable the flashes. Avoid using it with a bright vanity mirror. Ensure youโre covering the skin tone sensor and skin contact sensors properly.
Effort and Results
Start with 4 treatments at 2 week intervals (this takes 6 weeks), then as Silkn.com suggest โtreatments should be done if hairs have re-grown or until you reach the results you desireโ. Top-up treatments will maintain your results too, as and when you see regrowth.
Silkn.com says generally most notice hair growth lessening after 4 treatments, and very good results after 6 treatments. Hair regrowth becomes slower, softer, finer and lighter than before. Eventually bald patches appear and you won’t need to shave so frequently. However, as with all at-home IPL devices results vary by individual. so, you may need more treatments or more regular top-up sessions.
Silk’n Flash & Go Express Review Summary
This is a simple, no frills at-home IPL device from Silk’n that’s safe for fair skin tones. It gives plenty flashes and fairly fast sessions, so it’s a good value choice for treating larger areas like legs.
Lamp lifetime
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More than enough of flashes to give 15 years of use for full body treatments with monthly top-up treatments. Itโs great value.
Ease of use
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A light-weight, mains-powered choice with built-in safety features for up to medium-dark skin tones. Sessions are quick but a slightly bulky design means it takes practise to activate on your upper lip and other uneven surfaces.
Effort & Results
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Do 4 treatments at 2-week intervals (taking 6 weeks), continue if you’re not yet hair-free. Then, do top-ups monthly to stay smooth.
Pros
- Fairly quick sessions so good for zapping larger areas and your whole-body
- Compact design is comfortable to hold
- Simple to operate
- Love the sturdy storage case
- Multi-plug adaptors make it a convenient travelling buddy
- FDA cleared and CE certified
- 60-day money back guarantee in the US and Canada
Cons
- Itโs sometimes difficult to flash on small, curved and uneven areas like knees and shins
- Takes practise around the upper lip
- Skin tone sensor doesnโt select your intensity level
- The Patented HPLโข Technology is not adequately explained by Silkโn
Silk’n Flash&Go deals
The Silk’n Flash&Go is no longer avilable.
Try the Silk’n Infinity instead.
