I’m half-way through my 12-week trial of the Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser 4X – I’m reviewing the device in three separate posts, and also comparing it to IPL hair removal, a rival technology and one I have used previously to treat the hairs on my legs (I'm testing the Tria on my arms).
Two things I can say with certainty at this point: a) it’s imperative to stick to a two-week treatment cycle in the early stages, and b) don’t expect to see quick results. That goes for both IPL and laser.
In my opening review (here), I outlined the key differences between IPL and laser, and who it’s suitable for (neither works on dark skins and fair hair, for example). I also gave a brief overview of the Tria machine.
In this second part of my review, I’m going to talk about the treatment itself – how to use the device, what it feels like on the skin, how the experience compares to IPL and early results.
How to Use
You need to stop waxing and epilating six weeks prior to the start of treatment. It’s OK to shave as the laser is still able to detect the hair pigment - I shave and wash the skin with mild detergent just before every treatment.
Ensure the machine is fully charged, then switch it on via the green button at the top. Next, place the base of the device against your skin to unlock (this is a safety feature – the machine locks if your skin and hair type are unsuitable).
To start treatment, place the laser window flat against your skin. The device beeps and issues a beam of laser automatically. If the machine isn’t quite flush against the skin, it will emit a deeper beep and you’ll need to reposition. After every successful flash, move to the next area of skin you wish to treat, ensuring a slight overlap. Continue until you have completed the treatment.
That’s it. It’s so simple! The trickiest part is the overlap – if you don’t do this, you could end up with untreated areas! This part of the treatment involves a bit of guesswork as the laser leaves no mark on the skin – unlike my Philips machine which makes my skin go a little red (temporarily)!
How Does it Feel?
As well as being very easy to use, the Tria is quick. It takes me less than 15 minutes to treat a single arm. That’s speedier than my Philips IPL Lumea - the Philips actually has a bigger treatment window but it requires you to press a trigger to activate every flash of light (though on newer models the flash is automatic).
I also haven’t found the treatment noticeably painful, though I know thresholds vary from person-to-person. I have found, though, that where the hair grows darker and thicker the sensation is slightly more prickly. That applies if I’m wearing a hint of fake tan – my advice is DON’T (even if it’s light enough to pass the safety test, the treatment will be a little more painful)!
How does the feel of laser compare to IPL? For me there is very little difference in comfort levels – I have no problem with either and I wouldn’t say I’m particularly good at bearing pain!
The Tria has five different intensity levels. You are encouraged to choose the highest (I do) as this makes the treatment more effective, but the option is there to knock the level down if you wish. Also, in the box is a tube of calming gel to help ease any discomfort, though I haven’t needed to use it.
Early Results?
So, I’m six weeks into my 3-month trial, and I’ve conducted three rounds of treatment, spread two weeks apart. At this point I haven’t noticed any reduction in hair growth. I’m getting re-growth about two days after every treatment.
I’m not disheartened by this. In fact, this is what I was expecting. It took about 8 weeks plus before I started to see results with the Lumea. As I said in my intro, with at home laser hair removal, patience is a virtue! More on Tria Beauty laser here.
