Style :: Grooming
TRIA :: No more hair! by Jason Salzenstein
EDGE National Style & Travel EditorFriday Feb 20, 2009
A few months ago I discovered a new gadget that represents a huge leap forward in gay men’s grooming technology. Being the consummate good citizen (and endlessly modest), I decided to give the device a try- all for the benefit of my wonderful EDGE readers of course. What I found out is that not only is it easy to use, it’s effective- and in the long run can save the average gay man thousands of dollars. (And by ’average’ of course I mean fabulous!)
So what is this device? It’s called the TRIA personal laser hair removal system, from TRIA Beauty.
What is it?
The TRIA personal laser hair removal system (I’m just going to go with ’TRIA’ from here on out) is a small, cute little hand-held device that looks kind of like a small hair dryer, and allows you to get rid of body hair in the privacy of your own home. Rather than get all technical, I’ll keep it simple and just say that the device is essentially a much smaller version of the same laser hair removal devices that are used in spas and dermatologists’ offices around the country.
The TRIA is the first FDA-cleared laser hair removal device for at-home use (which means that it’s safe and effective), and having used it myself a few times I can vouch for the fact that it’s both easy-to-use and effective. It’s also a lot more comfortable than the horridly painful devices they use at laser hair centers, not to mention the fact that you can treat yourself at home, which means no embarrassment- and a lot less money.
What does it do?
The TRIA works exactly the same as the giant machines at laser hair centers, except on a smaller scale. The process is called photothermolysis, which is an insanely large word for a fairly simple process. Essentially laser light targets dark pigment in the hair shaft, where it’s transformed into heat that disables the follicle. After a few treatments, this effectively kills the follicle, and after falling out, the hair won’t grow back.
Unlike shaving, waxing, plucking, threading, etc., laser hair removal (whether with the TRIA or an expensive in-office procedure) isn’t instantaneous; because your hair grows in various cycles, it takes multiple treatments to target all of the hairs. The company recommends one treatment every other week for the first three months, then one treatment per month for five months. That way, the majority of the hair follicles will have gone through their normal growth cycle and have been treated with the laser.
Unfortunately, not everyone can use laser hair removal to get rid of body hair. Like the majority of lasers used for hair removal, the TRIA can only be used by people with light complexions, because the device works by "targeting" the dark hair shaft, in contrast to the lighter skin around it. This also means that you can’t use the TRIA (or any laser) on areas of dark skin. It’s also not for use above the neck.
How does it work?
To use the TRIA, you simply charge the device, perform a simple ’skin color test’ with a little scanner (to make sure that your skin’s not too dark for the laser to be effective), and then press the ’nose’ of the TRIA against the (freshly shaven) area on your body that you want to treat. As long as the device is making good contact, it will automatically emit a small burst of laser light. You then simply pick it up and move it a bit, repeating the process until you’ve treated the entire area.
The TRIA will hold a charge for about half an hour or so, depending on what setting you’re using; high is more effective, low is less irritating. Each charge is enough to treat an area from about the size of your fist to an entire arm, depending on your sensitivity and how quickly you want to get rid of the hair. (For full details, see the TRIA site; the explanation can get a bit long-winded.)
Does it hurt?
If you’ve ever had laser hair removal at a salon, you know that the sensation can range from nearly unnoticeable to "I want to f***ing kill you!" pain. Luckily, the TRIA is much, much closer to the easy end of the scale. Even on the high setting and treating a very small area, the discomfort level is similar to being snapped with a hot rubber band repeatedly; no, I wouldn’t want to do it for fun on a Friday night, but it’s also far from the worst pain you deal with, trust me.
Next page :: Does it work? How much does it cost? And can it get rid of hair "down there?"
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