Fuzz Free

By: Olivia Young
Created on 09th November 2009

A desire to have hair-free skin led one woman to experiment with TRIA, an at-home laser hair removal device

Name: Kloey Penman
Age: 22
Occupation: Customer service coordinator
Treatment: Laser hair removal at home

What prompted you to have this procedure?

Having smooth, hair-free skin is very important to me. I don't even consider myself a particularly hairy woman either; I do have dark hair so it's probably a bit more noticeable.

I had considered laser hair removal. I even got as far as having test patches at a clinic and apparently I was an ideal candidate with pale skin and dark hair. The problem for me was the time investment. I have a busy job and I knew that I would miss appointments and the money I was spending (upwards of £800) would be wasted.

So when I read about a beauty device called TRIA, a laser hair removal system that can be used at home, I thought this could be the answer.

How was the experience?

TRIA is one of the very few beauty impulse buys I have made and when it arrived I was a little apprehensive as I removed what looked a bit like a travel hair dryer from its box. I decided to tackle my underarms and bikini first. I thought small areas would be the best way to start and I was right.

I shaved the areas as instructed and then turned the device to its highest intensity (it has three levels and the higher the level the more effective the treatment). I was amazed at how easy it was to use. I placed the sensors against my skin and pressed and the laser fired and off I went, moving the device over my skin, until I had completed an area.

How long did it take?

The first time I used TRIA it probably took me about 10-15 minutes to treat each underarm but now I'm an expert I'm down to about five minutes.

Was it painful?

TRIA is not exactly pain free, but it is bearable even at its highest intensity. It feels warm and there is the occasional pinging sensation, similar to being flicked with an elastic band. For the really sensitive areas I turned down the intensity for the first couple of sessions. As the hair density lessened so did the pain.

What were the immediate results?

Even after the first treatment I noticed that the hair that grew back was lighter and finer and by the third treatment there was a significant difference; the rate of hair growth was slower and I could wait longer to shave between treatments. This really gave me the incentive to stick with the regime.

Are you happy with the treatment?

I've now completed six treatments and I'm satisfied that the hair is not returning. Best of all, my ingrown hair problem has disappeared. I can happily say it has transformed my life. I'm now moving onto my legs!
CS&AM