Silk’n Infinity In-Depth Review by Estheticians: Best IPL for Dark Skin (Black & Brown Skin)

Product Overview

Video: Silk'n Infinity IPL – eHPL™ hair removal with light pulses

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Package Contents: What's in the Box? Unboxing the Silk'n Infinity

Video: Permanent Hair Removal Device – Unboxing – Set Up – How To Use

If you're buying from the official website, there are two sets you can avail of:

1. The Silk'n Infinity Hair Removal Device (Unit & Accessories only)
2. The Silk'n Infinity Hair Removal Device with Cleansing Box Bundle (Unit & Accessories with Cleansing Box)

The one we've bought for testing is just the unit, and it comes with the following:

1. Silver Beauty Case – This is a beautiful carrying case that you can use when traveling. It makes the entire system conveniently portable. It also keeps the unit safe and clean for storage as well.
2. Handheld Unit
3. Mains Power + Adaptor
4. Cleaning Cloth
5. Warranty Card
6. User Manual

The Silk'n Infinity Hair Removal Device

The Silk'n Infinity Cleansing Box

The cleansing box is an add-on you can purchase with the central unit.

It is a disinfection system that uses blue LED light to thoroughly kill any bacteria residing on the treatment surface.

Hygiene is essential here because the galvanic energy will open your pores to reach the root of your hair.

The cleansing box will also allow what all other laser hair removal brands expressly forbid you to do—share your device with someone else.

This rule is set to avoid any cross-infection.

The cleansing box is the only one of its kind in the at-home laser hair removal space.

To use, simply place the unit in the cleaning cradle for 6-7 minutes.

This system makes the cleaning process very convenient after each treatment.

Is this something you should buy, though?

That depends mainly on how many people will use the device and how you'd like to maintain it.

The standard way to clean it would be to wipe the treatment surface using a dry cloth and 70% alcohol. You then dry it before storage.

You have to be gentle when cleaning or risk damaging the skin color sensor and the flash window.

Silk'n advises not to use other abrasive liquids like acetone, as well as it will also damage your device.

If you'd like a more convenient way to clean and sanitize, the cleansing box is the way to go.

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Product Design & Our Experience Using the Silk'n Infinity

Ease of Use

When you hold the main unit in your hands, it is light and intuitive to use. It's easy to maneuver once you start using it on your arms and legs.

When you start the device, it makes a really loud sound akin to a running hairdryer. Make sure to work somewhere you can make a lot of noise.

If you try to click on the large pulse button (It's the first thing you'll do on instinct, to be honest), it won't go off because it needs to be in full contact with your skin first.

This is to check your skin tone, protect your eyes, and save you from accidentally using your flashes.

Once you start, you'll feel a slightly warm tingle before hearing a popping sound that goes off with each flash of light.

This sensation will be more prominent with darker skin, but there shouldn't be any pain.

At most, the feeling should be a light rubber band snapping.

After each flash, you can expect a mild pink color around the hairs if you have sensitive skin. This should go away after a few minutes.

It has two modes of flashing that you can use: Pulsing and Gliding.

• Pulsing is when you click on the giant pulse button to activate the flash. This mechanism gives you more control when treating small or hard-to-reach areas.
• Gliding is an automatic flashing system that goes off repeatedly every few seconds. It's a more convenient way to treat larger areas because you just “glide” the device on your skin instead of constantly pressing the pulse button. (Note that the higher the level, the longer it takes to “reload” every flash. Level 1 only takes a second, while Level 5 takes approximately 3 secs)

I did have a bit of trouble maneuvering the device using my non-dominant hand.

I had to do this to be able to treat specific areas like the opposite arm and the back of my legs.

Making sure the treatment surface is always in full contact can be tricky. When you've positioned it this way and that but it still won't flash, it can a bit annoying.

This is especially true for hard-to-reach parts like the back of your thighs or curved areas like your knees or jaw.

Reaching with the device isn't the issue per se, but passing the skin tone and contact sensors.

The skin color sensor is smaller and more manageable. Still, both sensors need to be in complete contact with your skin before anything happens.

But this is what makes the Silk'n Infinity IPL device one of the safest devices on the market, so this is a pretty minor compromise.

Once you learn how to work the device on your body with several uses, you eventually get the hang of it.

Size & Portability

The product is a great size and surprisingly light.

Easy to travel with, especially with the beauty case.

Convenient to store, it takes up very little space in the drawer or closet.

Quality & Durability – Lifetime Cartridge

I find its build quite sturdy even though it's lightweight.

It helps that Silk'n is a reputable global brand with a very long history in hair removal technology.

With defective products, companies that assert “lifetime use” won't last long.

The marketing for the U.S. and E.U. differs in this aspect.

The U.S. is branded “lifetime use,” while the E.U. is set to a specific 400,000 flashes.

Silk'n Infinity cartridges are built-in and not sold separately, unlike other devices.

Can one person use up that 400,000 flashes?

This depends on your frequency of use but probably not, especially since you're more likely to permanently reduce your hair growth before you reach that point.

However, the Silk'n Infinity Cleansing Box is packaged specifically for sharing.

Being able to replace the cartridge once the quartz lamp goes out (and it inevitably will, as all lamps do) is a more sustainable and affordable option for multiple long-term uses.

However, this is a very privileged caveat as almost all devices won't even allow sharing.

Replaceable lamp cartridges will also compromise its portability and size, so I suppose it's a fair call since most people will only use it for themselves.

Here's a graph to better understand where Silk'n Infinity laser hair removal device stands compared to other devices in terms of service life.

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Technology

Video: Silk'n laser hair removal at home – Groundbreaking eHPL technology

Energy Fluence/Density

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

IPL is one of the most common laser hair removal used in clinics.

Like traditional lasers, IPL works on the principle of selective photothermolysis.^[9] This term implies injuring only a specific area using heat or thermal energy.

We want to deactivate your hair down to its roots in laser hair removal. This process needs to happen without harming the surrounding skin.

Coarse hairs or terminal hairs have deeper roots than vellus hairs. These are your pubic hairs, axilla or underarm hair, male facial hair, leg hair, etc.

Once the root is effectively damaged, your hair will no longer be able to grow normally.

Selective thermolysis happens when the pigment in your hair absorbs optical energy from the device and transforms it to heat high enough to destroy the follicle.

Since the efficacy of this process heavily relies on pigment, too little and too much can cause issues.

If your hair is too light, it won't absorb enough optical energy.

If your hair is dark, but so is your skin—both your hair AND your skin will absorb high levels of optical energy, resulting in burns.

This principle is why IPL is most effective on dark hair and pale skin—lots of melanin on the hair with very little in the skin.

This limitation is lifted when IPL is converted to HPL™ and used in combination with galvanic energy.

HPL™ vs. IPL

HPL™ is a variation of IPL specifically for home use.

Unlike IPLs used in salons and other devices, the optical energy used in HPL™ is lower and poses less risk for you.

Silk'n built HPL™ devices with maximum safety in mind.

HPL™ is also scientifically proven to permanently reduce hair growth in the long term.^[5]

This is congruent with studies that the efficacy of lower fluence can rival the results of treatments with higher energy fluence, as long as certain conditions are met.^[5]

Galvanic Energy

Galvanic energy is a low current that passes through the device to open your pores. This component allows the optical energy of the HPL™ to penetrate the hair better.

This means you don't need high-energy IPL to effectively treat your hair. This minimizes any risk of side effects brought on by IPL.

Another form of permanent hair removal called electrolysis also uses galvanic energy.

eHPL™ (Enhanced Home Pulsed Light) Technology = HPL™ + Galvanic energy

While most laser home devices use IPL, Silk'n uses a proprietary technology called eHPL™.

eHPL™ is an innovation from Silk'n that combines galvanic energy with a low-energy IPL called HPL™.

This combination minimizes the risk of side effects brought on by high-intensity IPL, especially in the hands of non-professionals.

The Silk'n Infinity is as foolproof as a hair removal device can be.

eHPL™ has also been scientifically proven and tested to be safe and effective for long-term use.^[7]

For comparison, these are the hair removal technologies and their energy fluences used by the leading devices today:

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Output Wavelength & Depth of Penetration

I've also noticed that the Silk'n Infinity has a longer wavelength spectrum than most devices at 475-1200nm, near-infrared.

This range means it can reach roots at varying depths and deliver hair-eliminating energy where necessary.

Longer wavelengths penetrate deep into the skin and can reach even the deepest-seated hair roots, which are even out of reach by some lasers.

More importantly, it bypasses most melanin in the epidermis and only looks for color under the skin.

This means less damage absorbed by your epidermis in relation to your hair follicle and ensures a safer hair removal procedure.

For comparison, here are the top home devices and their wavelengths:

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Flash Window Size/Spot Size

The spot size on laser hair removal devices is the window where the optical energy is fired.

The smaller the spot size, the more precise the treatment. Perfect for narrow areas like the face, upper lip, etc.

However, larger spot sizes allow you to treat extensive areas like the legs much faster.

The Silk'n IPL hair removal is average amongst hair removal devices at 0.9cm x 3cm [2.7cm²].

This strikes a good balance between treating smaller areas and larger body areas.

This also means the time you'll spend during treatment shouldn't take you more or less longer than with any other brand.

For comparison, here are some home devices and their spot sizes:

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Power/Energy Levels

There are 5 energy levels you can choose from.

The level you're in can be seen through the Energy Level Indicator Lights at the back of the device. Click the Control Button in the middle to adjust levels. (It just goes up and resets to 1 once it reaches 5.)

The higher the energy level, the more powerful the optical energy AND the risk of side effects.

Always make sure to patch test first and see how it feels before going all the way.

• Those with darker skin should only go for levels 1-2 to avoid any adverse reactions.
• Those with lighter complexions can start at level 1 and gradually go up to the level you're comfortable with. Even in professional settings, the best practice is to go as high as you can tolerate with each session. The higher the energy you can use, the faster your results.

In any case, the color sensor will always let you know if the area is too dark for the power level you've chosen.

For comparison, these are the power scales of different brands:

References: Tria 4x In-Depth Review: Diode Home Laser Hair Removal

The Silk'n Infinity laser hair removal device has a minute increase in intensity as you go from level 1 to 5.

Flash Speed

After every flash or pulse, the device will need Time to “reload.”

When it does, the green warning light indicator will go off. This means the device is getting ready for the next flash.

Level 1 takes just a second to reload. The higher the energy level, the longer it takes for each flash to go off.

1. Energy level 1: 0.9 secs
2. Energy level 2: 1.1 secs
3. Energy level 3: 1.4 secs
4. Energy level 4: 1.7 secs
5. Energy level 5: 2.0 secs

It's not bothersome at first, but level 5 on your legs WILL take a while. It took me about 40 minutes to finish treating my legs.

I suggest putting on some music or a podcast, so time will fly by.

Don't watch something because you'll need to concentrate on where you're flashing.

If you miss areas, you'll likely have patches of hair when they re-grow.

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Technical Specifications

Technology:	Enhanced Home Pulsed Light™ (Optical light + Galvanic current)
Maximum Energy Fluence/Power:	2.5-4 J/cm2
Galvanic Current:	70-400 microampere (µA)
Output Wavelength:	475-1200 nm
Skin Tone Coverage:	Fitzpatrick I-VI (light to dark skin tones)
Natural Hair Color Coverage:	Naturally dark to blonde hair, as long as there is enough pigment to draw light
Skin Tone & Contact Sensors:	Yes, automatically detects skin tone at the start and throughout the session
Recommended Treatment Schedule & Results:	Treatments 1-4: Complete two weeks apart. Treatments 5-7: Complete four weeks apart. Treatments 8 +: Treat as needed, until desired results are achieved.
Lifespan/No. of Flashes:	400,000 or Unlimited flashes
Flash Window Size:	0.9cm x 3cm (2.7cm2)
Repetition rate:	1.0 Hz maximum
Power System:	Mains powered
System Weight:	225 grams
Can be used with a pre-treatment gel?	No, and not really necessary

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Safety

FDA Cleared and Approved by Health Canada, GMP & ISO Medical

Silk'n was the first company to get an FDA clearance for home IPLs way back in 2008.

Since then, they've developed and refined their tech, with the Silk'n laser hair removal machine currently being the most advanced in their line of products.

All their devices are clinically tested for major medical regulations worldwide, including the U.S.'s FDA (Food & Drug Administration), Canada's Health Canada, and international manufacturing standards GMP & ISO Certified.

These accreditations make Silk'n one of the most trusted brands in the beauty and technology industry today.

Protects the Skin

Automatic Skin Color Sensor &Recessed Flash Window

Silk'n hair removal device has an automatic sensor that assesses whether the device is safe to use for your skin tone.

It checks at the beginning of your treatment and intermittently during.

If it isn't safe, the indicator light will blink rapidly, and the device won't work.

You'll have to lower the energy level in this particular area of your body if this is the case.

This is a unique feature that most average laser hair devices lack.

This also saves you from accidentally firing and wasting a flash.

Most devices don't have this failsafe and are incapable of preventing accidents, like when flashing IPL levels you are incompatible with.

While there is always a skin color chart available, you can still burn yourself if you flash at an energy level unsuitable for your skin tone.

This is one of the best features that sets the Silk'n hair removal laser above most devices.

That said, it's unfortunately not my #1 in terms of safety.

In my opinion, that goes to another brand with the most advanced technology—the Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 IPL.

Braun's proprietary SensoAdapt™ continuously reads skin tone at 80x per second and automatically adapts the light intensity to your skin.

That gives it a two-in-one edge:

1. higher frequency in reading skin tone means it literally checks your skin tone before every flash
2. automatically adjusts to the most optimal power level according to your body area

The main drawback of these other devices is that they can only cater to the limited color range compared to Silk'n Infinity‘s complete Fitzpatrick I-VI.

Protects the Eyes

Skin Contact Sensor

The device will only flash when it is in full contact with your skin.

This, in conjunction with its recessed window, means no stray light that can damage your eyes.

However, making complete contact in curved areas like the knees and smaller areas on the face can be challenging.

You'll have to cleverly maneuver the device for it to work, and it takes way too long in the beginning.

To be honest, it's a pain at times, especially since it almost always takes several tries for it to work.

My advice is to note what position you're in when it works, so you don't struggle with it every time.

There are also IPL safety glasses available for extra eye protection.

The IPL used here is proven to be safe, but you can always wear one if it makes you more comfortable.

I also find it easier to look at what I'm doing when I have safety glasses on.

Brand Reputation

With many low-end and off-brand devices flooding the market, there is value and security in buying from a trusted name.

Silk'n is a global beauty brand that has been operating for over a decade.

Their hair removal line includes light-based devices and tools for epilation and trimming.

Their HPL™ line of devices has eight iterations, with the Silk'n Infinity being their latest and most cutting-edge.

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Drawbacks

Time & Effort

While they have gone above and beyond on safety, it may have come at the expense of time.

A typical full hair cycle growth spans about 18-24 months.

Below is the recommended treatment time when using the device:

• Treatments 1-4: Complete two weeks apart.
• Treatments 5-7: Complete four weeks apart.
• Treatments 8 +: Do as needed until desired results are achieved.

Fitzpatrick Skin Type	Hair Color	Area of the Body2	Average Number of Treatments1
I-IV	Light brown to brown	Legs, Arms, Bikini Line, Underarms	Sessions 10-12, approximately 4 weeks apart.
I-IV	Brown to black	Legs, Arms, Bikini Line, Underarms	Sessions 8-10, approximately 4 weeks apart.

While 8-12 sessions are longer than most professional hair removal, it lags behind its competitors.

Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser 4X and ViQure EpiPro treatments are every other week for 3-6 months, while the Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 IPL and DEES 3-in-1 Permanent Hair Removal System are once a week for 12 weeks.

I'm not sure why this is, especially with their use of eHPL.

I think once a week is entirely reasonable.

I'm extrapolating here, but it might look bad on paper if you go weekly and wait that long for results.

This is likely because of its low average light fluence that root damage takes a very long time to accumulate.

This commitment has to be emphasized early on to re-adjust people's expectations. If you've looked at other devices, you'll likely be conditioned for treatments that take a few months.

And if you don't see quick results, it's easy to assume the device isn't working.

My advice, take advantage of those unlimited flashes and do it once a week.

If you go at this frequency, you'll catch hair at its most vulnerable, the anagen phase.

(Don't bother with anything sooner like every other day, that's not enough time for the follicles to transition from active to resting.)

In any case, you'll need to be patient and persistent with this.

Keep in mind that this is what it takes to ensure safety for high-risk skin tones and light hair that's out of range in every other at-home hair removal device.

Bluetooth on App doesn't work

It also comes with a scheduling app that you can supposedly connect via Bluetooth on your phone.

Unfortunately, I cannot make it work for the life of me.

I just ended up scheduling it on my calendar.

The device gets hot beyond 30-40 minutes of usage

All IPL devices use some form of quartz lamp to produce optical energy.

And like any lamp, it accumulates heat over Time.

If the room temperature is at 20°C / 68F above, you'll be able to use the device for about 30-40 mins before it reaches an uncomfortable heat.

If you're in a cooler environment, it may last longer.

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Customer Service, Support, Insurance, Warranty, Return Policy

The Silk'n Infinity warranty depends on where you make your purchase.

• Silk'n US — 1-year warranty. 60-day money-back guarantee. Free shipping to the U.S. 0% interest installments via Afterpay.
• Silk'n Canada — Extended warranty for full 2-year coverage. 60-day money-back guarantee. Free shipping to Canada. Interest-free installments via Afterpay.

They also have excellent customer service.

There have been some inquiries on defective devices that stopped working after a certain period. They cover a replacement unit in their warranty.

Cover claims are for one (1) year after purchase.