The TRIA Trial: Update

Hi everyone, and sorry for the delay in posting! I have now completed my eight mandatory treatments (they are monthly now rather than fortnightly), and should by now be seeing some very good results. I am meant to continue using my tria monthly for a further six months to get the very best results.

Soooo….the results so far….hair has definitely reduced (probably by about 50%) and re-growth is both slower and softer. It probably takes three weeks for the hairs that have not been destroyed to grow back. I no longer get stubble rash and my skin is noticeably softer. However, I am a bit disappointed that after the mandatory eight treatments I am only 50% hair free.

I have carried out further research on the tria and spoken to people who have tried it. It appears the paler your skin and the darker your hair the better and quicker the results. I think that could be the problem with me, and why I have had slower results; I have pale skin but my hair is light brown. Right now I am considering whether to continue with the 50% left over the next few months, or whether to sell my tria on to someone who has the right hair for it. I would then pay for some professional treatments, where they can use a different laser to suit my hair type. This will be more costly for me, but as it is only a small area (and not legs etc) it could be done at around £100 a session (I probably won’t need the full 8 sessions again as I have made a good start). Going to mull this one over……..

PS if I decide to sell and anyone is interested in buying a tria in excellent condition, still stored in its original packaging with the guarantee let me know. I haven’t used it on large areas such as legs so it still has heaps of life in it. My only advice would be that you have dark body hair, not light brown like me (unless you are prepared to be very patient to wait for good results). It is not suitable for Asian or tanned olive skin.

The TRIA Trial: Session Six

Hi all, sorry for the delay in blog writing! I have been busy entertaining and working hard! Right, I completed session six last week. I managed to remain on the highest setting throughout (I am getting used to the odd sharp pain!). Still nothing concrete to report other than the usual i.e. slower re-growth and less re-growth but I am not yet hair free! But hey, I still have another six months or so of the full recommended treatment so I remain patient...! I am getting bored with the time it takes though...I hope it will be worth it in the end.

The TRIA Trial: Session Five

I have recently completed session five. It's still a little painful at times on the strongest setting but I once more persevered in hope of better results. I do think I have less re-growth and slower re-growth on both the bikini line and underarms. I don't have to shave as often and when I do shave the skin is much softer and smoother than before I used Tria. I am still hopeful that I may eventually be hair free and session six (after which I am meant to start seeing a noticeable difference) will be next week......

The TRIA Trial: Session Four

Last week I carried out session four, and managed the highest setting again.. Yippee! I am getting brave!! I've noticed slower re-growth but as yet still no clear signs that I am going to be hair free. I am remaining patient, and will keep going with it. I should start to see some results after three months (that will be after session six), so hopefully not long now until my work starts to pay off...... Session five will be next week (10th August).

Review: Braun Silk-epil Xpressive Pro wet/dry Epilator

I treated myself to the new epilator to attempt to get smooth legs for my holiday. I hadn't used one before and boy! They hurt! However, the good thing about the latest model is you can use it in the bath which is meant to be less painful. I did find it less painful, however, the end result wasn't as smooth as the leg I did after the bath.

I did develop a rash afterwards but it had more or less disappeared by the next day. I am going to continue using it every couple of weeks to see if I can get smooth hair-free legs, but I have to say after my first attempt only parts of my legs are smooth, despite going over the same areas again and again. I am going to put it down to the fact that maybe some of the hairs weren't long enough as I had only refrained from shaving for a few days.

Anyway. Ill persevere with it but at the moment I am not hugely impressed. A friend of mine has said that the more you use it the better the results so I will hang on in there and see how it goes!

The TRIA Trial: Session three

I completed session three last week and am pleased to say I managed to complete my treatment at the highest setting (no.5). This is the first time I managed to complete all my zapping at that level and not sure if I am just getting used to the pain, or it is indeed becoming slightly less painful. Nothing more to add at the moment, but I have noticed a little less re-growth, and it seems to be slower too. The next session will be a few days later than it should as I am now off to Canada for a week and I certainly won't be packing the Tria!!

I have experienced one disadvantage to the Tria this week. I normally like to have a waxing session before I go on holiday so that I don't have to worry about shaving my armpits or bikini line whilst on holiday; you can't do this when having Tria treatment, so I will have the hassle of packing that razor and enduring stubble!

On another subject I did treat myself to the new braun epilator last week to try on my legs so at least I won't have to shave those! Check out my new review I will be writing next on my experience using the new epilator.

Au revoir for now. Next Tria trial will be w/c 25th July.

Interim TRIA update!

I am due to complete session three in a couple of days but just wanted to provide a quick update as I have started to see some action!! I have noticed that if you try pulling some of the hairs with a tweezer some of them (probably out of a patch of hairs around 30% of them) come out really easily and they don't appear to have any 'root' or 'bulb' to them (please excuse the lack of the correct biological terms!). This is a sign it is working as your hair follicle is meant to eject the hair around a week or two after the treatment as a sign that the hair follicle has been disabled (and hopefully permanently). I am becoming hopeful now. Session three is in a couple of days........

The TRIA Trial: Session Two

Well, on Saturday I completed my second session with TRIA. I once more attempted the highest (most powerful number 5) setting but after a few minutes had to once more reduce it to the second to highest setting (number 4). I'm not sure if I am being a wimp or it just takes some getting used to! I can handle it for a while but then it just gets too uncomfortable to continue on that setting for the full treatment.

It's also a little unpredictable which zaps will hurt - on some you don't feel anything then when you least expect it you get a painful zap! Apparently the closer you shave the less it hurts so I think for my third session I will shave over and over until its as smooth as I can get it!!

Anyway, I completed session two on my bikini line and armpits again and will now need to wait another two weeks for session three. According to the instructions, after session three you start to see results. I can safely say I can't see any visible difference after the first two sessions but I am a patient girl so will hang on in there. I will mention though that despite me finding the sensation a little uncomfortable I am left with no rash or after effects.

If you have any questions or comments at this stage please post them, otherwise I will write about session three in two weeks.......

Trial Two: Keratase Densitive Tablets

I started a three month trial yesterday of a hair redensifying food supplement: Keratase Densitive. These twice daily tablets work from within the body to help maintain scalp microcirculation and encourage thick, dense and shiny hair after three months. For someone with baby soft fine flat hair like me I am hoping these potential magic pills will give me the mane I have always wanted!! :-) These tablets can be purchased from good hair shops such as 'Shear Beauty' or online for around £25 for one months supply. They are currently on offer for £18.98 at http://www.luxuryhaircare.co.uk/

I will report back in six weeks (end of July) which will be halfway through my trial, and then again at the end of the three months (mid September).

Newsflash - Products soon to be reviewed......

Hi all

Alongside the Tria, which will be an ongoing review posted regularly, I am also reviewing the following products in the next couple of weeks:
Keratase Densitive tablets (take for a minimum of three months to see shiny, strong and fuller hair); Nivea Goodbye Cellulite Serum; Biotherm Celluli D Laser cream (cellulite reduction); Clarins Delectable Self Tanning Mousse; Susan Lucci - Youthful Essence Microdermabrasion System

As well as many more....watch this space!

The TRIA Trial: Session one

My Tria has finally arrived! Here is feedback after session one completed on 12 June 2010:

How am I going to use it:

I am going to trial it on both my armpits and bikini line over the next eight months. If it is successful I will then trial it on my legs.

How often will I use it:

According to the instructions I will use it every fortnight for the first three months, followed by a monthly treatment for 3 - 5 months. Apparently I should start seeing visible results after my third treatment if not before.

My concerns:

I opted for the Tria over other more well-known and cheaper devices such as the Phillips Lumea or Boots Smooth Skin due to the fact that it uses the same laser technology as the professionals, is cordless (unlike Boots Smooth Skin), doesn't require messy gels (unlike Boots Smooth Skin) and claims to be remove hair permanently (unlike the Phillips Lumea which only claims a possible permanent reduction not removal). My only concern with the Tria is whether I will have the ideal skin tone and hair colour for successful permanent results. Tria claims it works well if you have pale to medium skin with dark brown or black hair. I have the pale skin but my hair is more light to medium brown. I did enquire with the Tria team (www.triabeauty.com) whether it could be successful and if I could have a refund pas the 30 day refund rule if it doesn't appear to work. The team confirmed to me that they have themselves had success with my colouring so I am feeling more hopeful! For those who are interested I do believe the Phillips Lumea and Boots Smooth Skin devices can be used on lighter brown or dark blonde hair as it uses a different type of laser, but none of the devices will work on blonde, red or white hair.

Session one:

After doing a patch test 24 hours prior to treatment with no ill-effects I excitedly settled down in front of the TV for my first session. during the patch test you need to start by using teh lowest of the 5 heat settings and work your way up to the highest as long as it is tolerable. on the lowest setting I didn't feel a thing but as I went up I experienced a stinging type sensation - however, in my opinion is it far more comfortable than waxing or using an epilator. You hold it on the area of skin for a couple of seconds until you hear two beeps before moving it along to the next part of your skin. To start with on my bikini line I used the highest setting but as I went on I eventually turned it down to the medium high setting (number 4), as it felt a little more uncomfortable. This is however meant to get less and less painful the more you use it so I will stop being a wimp on my second session and switch it up to high! I did find the armpit area a little more sensitive so remained again on setting 4 (high medium). The full treatment took about thirty minutes.

My next session will be in two weeks (26th June) so I will keep you posted. I should start to see results, according to the leaflet, after my third session. In the meantime I welcome any comments, questions etc. Lets hope I am on the way to having beautifully smooth skin forever!!

First Trial and Review: The Tria Laser Hair Removal Device!!

The first device I am planning to review is the Tria Laser Hair Removal machine. I ordered it on Tuesday and am eagerly waiting for it to arrive! For those of you who haven't heard of Tria before, it is a laser device designed for home use that claims it can leave you hair-free within eight months of starting treatment. After researching a number of similar (but cheaper) devices such as Philips Lumea or Boots Smooth Skin, the Tria device (although more expensive at £575) appeared to be the only one that uses the same laser technologies as the professionals which then states to have the same successful results, which are more likely to be permanent.

The likelihood of it working is apparently down to having the most suitable skin tone and hair colour. The ideal skin would be pale (and free of a tan or fake tan) with black or brown hairs. This is because the laser works by targeting dark pigment that disables the hair follicle, causing the hair to fall out and stop growing back. Apparently the Tria is not recommended for Dark tanned, Asian or Afro-Caribbean skin, nor for body hair that is ginger, blond or white.

I am going to trial this device over the next year providing regular updates on progress along the way. Watch this space for the details of my first session. Here's hoping I will be hair free by next summer!!

Clare