Recently a new wave of products has hit the market promising laser hair removal from the comfort of your own home. These products claim to give permanent hair reduction without the hassle of going to a local clinic to have consistent treatments. The Tria Home Laser 4x is one of the most popular brands on the market - but is it any good?
The Tria Home Laser 4X is a hand-held laser designed to be used at home, saving both time and money for those who want to get rid of body hair. It's a wireless handheld device with 40 minute battery life for hair reduction suitable for most parts of the body.
Home Laser Hair Removal Devices - Consumer Warning
There are numerous home laser hair removal products on the market that don't work as claimed. With the exception of this device, and a few others, I recommend that you never buy home laser hair removal devices because they're mostly a waste of money and just don't work.
For more information about the true efficacy of home laser hair removal devices, read our article "The Truth about Home Laser/IPL Hair Removal Kits"
The type of laser used is a pulsed diode laser, with a 22 fluence and a wavelength of 810 nm. Diode lasers are:
- Meant for darker hair
- Less effective for light, fine hair
- Used for faster hair removal
- Able to penetrate more deeply into the skin
While not as strong as the lasers that are used in professional clinics, the laser is powerful enough to give strong hair removal results and safe enough for use in the home.
The laser can work without power for up to 40 minutes before needing recharging. This can be convenient if you want to do your hair removal in a place where there aren't any sockets or if you're on the move and don't want to carry around a cable in your bag.
Skin Colour Sensor
The device comes with a skin colour sensor that has to be used to unlock the device. If your skin tone is too dark for the device then the device can't be operated. Only when the colour sensor detects a safe skin tone will it unlock for use. This is just one of the safety measures that come with the device.
The laser comes with a digital display that helps you go through the laser hair removal process. A lot of useful information is displayed on the screen, including:-
- Pulse Counter
- Power indicator
- Battery Indicator
- Skin sensor indicator
- Treatment level (comfort settings)
5 Power Levels
The device allows you to choose the power level that's suitable for you. Starting low and progressing to the level that you're most comfortable with is often a comforting factor for new users.
The LED display contains a pulse container that tells you how many pulses of laser light that's been used in the current session. This is useful for following a specific treatment regime, applying the laser consistently over your treatment area and as a safety precaution to make sure that you don't overuse the laser.
Who Will it Work For?
Diode lasers are most effective for treating thick, dark hair on lighter skin types.
For those with pale skin and fine, light-coloured hair, it may not be as effective. Also those with a skin type of higher than 4 on the Fitzpatrick scale aren't a good fit for this device because of the potential burning hazards associated with laser hair removal on darker skin.
How Does it Work?
The Tria 4X uses the diode laser to target the pigment cells (melalin) in hair follicles. The bright light of the laser shines onto the pigment, burning them up and essentially disabling the hair.
When the hair cannot grow, the hair follicle begins to close down. The hair follicles actually stop growing new hairs, permanently disabling the hair follicle.
As more and more follicles are disabled, your body hair stops growing in as thick, long, or dark. You end up with thin, sparse, and light-coloured body hair.
How Long Does it Take?
The results tend to vary from person to person, but the manufacturer of the device promises visible results within 3 months.
Some users have commented that they notice significant changes in as little as 5 weeks. There are a few factors affecting the laser's effectiveness:
- Frequency of use
- Thickness and texture of hair
- Color of hair
- Color of skin
As with all laser treatments, patience will yield results with the Tria 4X.
Is It Effective?
Out of the 267 reviews on the product's Amazon page, there are 112 five-star reviews and 49 four-star reviews. Almost all of the reviews talk about the Tria 4X's effectiveness.
Of the roughly 100 middle-range to negative reviews, most of them deal with the function of the device itself, citing complaints like:
- Device failed to start after charging
- Activation code is a hassle
- Error message appearing on the screen
A few have commented on the limited reduction of hair growth, but very few. For the most part, the effectiveness of the laser hair removal device has been remarked on by many of the customers.
The safety and effectiveness of the Tria 4X has been fully approved by the FDA.
It should be mentioned that in order to get FDA approval for home laser kits, the manufacturers have user a laser that's not as strong as the lasers that are used in professional clinics. Clearly this is because clinicians have been fully trained to handle the higher power lasers in a safe, controlled environment.
The downside of the lower power level, as some people have reported, is that the results aren't always as good as those you can receive from a clinic.
The upside, however, is that the kit is very safe to use, assuming the operator doesn't completely misuse the product and follows the guidelines accordingly.
The Wheeland report, from 2012, studied the effectiveness of the Tria Home laser kit on 13 subjects and concluded statistically significant permanent hair reduction and 100% client satisfaction.
Results of the Wheeland Report Study, 2012
70% reduction in hair after two treatments
73% reduction in hair one month
after the 8th treatment
100% Satisfaction levels from the 13 Participants
How Painful is the Tria 4X?
Hair removal is never quite pain-free, and this diode laser device is no exception. On the higher levels of operation (Levels 4 and 5), there will be a certain level of discomfort even on the less sensitive body parts.
It is actually recommended to avoid using it on these higher levels when treating sensitive areas (underarms, lower back, genitals, moustache).
The pain is like an elastic band repeatedly hitting your skin on the surface of the treatment area.
The good news is that you get used to the pain after a few treatments. It never really goes away, but it lessens to a more manageable level.
Tria 4X - Full Questions and Answers
Is The Device Hot When you Use it?
No - there isn't a feeling of heat on the skin when using the Tria. There is a mild sting (almost like a rubber band hitting you) but the feeling is a mild one and certainly less than anything that you feel from professional laser hair removal.
In the hand, when holding the device, you'll feel the device heat up slightly to a warm temperature - this isn't an issue and nobody has any issues with that.
Can African Americans Use this device?
The manufacturer, Tria, states that the device is safe and effective for up to IV on the FitzPatrick scale (see charts below):
Hair Color (darkest)
White or very pale
Blue, grey, green
Always burns, never tans
Pale white with beige tint
Chestnut or dark blond
Always burns, sometimes tans
Beige to light brown (olive)
Sometimes burns, always tans
Light to moderate brown
Rarely Burns, always tans
Medium to Dark Brown
Rarely burns, tans more than average
Dark brown to black
Those with darker colour skin can still take a look at the Nd:YAG laser. You should also take a look at our Truth about laser hair removal for darker skin types post.
How Does the Tria Rate Against its Competitors?
The short answer is that it's one of the best, if not the best, machine on the market. The two main competitors in this space are the Silk'n SensEpil and Boots Smoothskin (currently only ships to the UK).
We have written a full post to compare the SensEpil vs the Tria. The main differences differences between the two devices are:
- The Tria has a much smaller head size so that it's better for small areas that require precision (and slower for full body treatment)
- Over time the Tria is more cost effective because it doesn't have replacement cartridges, like the SensEpil.
Use our interactive tool below to help find the right
laser hair removal device for you:
Does the Tria 4X work on Men Too?
Simple answer: Yes. This device is safe for men to use.
Gender is not a qualifying factor. The main qualifying factors are that the user has dark hair and lighter colour skin (IV or less on the FitzPatrick scale).
Where Can I Buy Replacement Cartridges for the Tria?
You can't - the Tria 4X does not use cartridges. The device has a certain number of flashes and once the device runs out, you will need to purchase a new replacement unit at full cost.
The good news is that the unit is capable of doing around 60 full body sessions before it runs out - this is more than enough for most people.
Can I Use it on my Eyebrows?
The manufacturer recommends that you don't use the Tria 4X on the eyebrows because of its proximity to the eyes.
Can I use the device on my Legs?
You could use it for your legs, however it would take a long time because of the small head size. For larger treatment areas, you may wish to consider a device such as the Silk'n SensEpil (with a much larger head size and thus faster treatment time for large areas).
Can you use the Tria on Tattooed skin?
No. No lasers are suitable for use on tattooed skin. The dark pigment in the tattoo will absorbs the laser and can cause traumatic burns.
Does the Device have Safety Features to Prevent Children from Using It?
It's certainly recommended to keep the device out of reach of children, despite the safety features that are designed to prevent misuse.
In order to unlock the device, you must hold the power button down for 3 seconds before putting it up against your skin. If the skin colour is suitable for the device, then it will unlock. What's more, the device will only emit laser pulses if the head is pressed up against skin to ensure eye safety. It is about as safe as can be for your child, but please keep it out of reach regardless.
Does the Tria work with 240 Volts Electricity?
The charger that comes with the device says that it works in the range of 100-240 volts (in the US). This means it works with both 110 volts and 220 volts.
If you purchase a US device for use in the UK then you'll need to use with the correct adapter.
Can the Device Work with Thick and Coarse Facial Hair?
Absolutely. The darker the hair, the more melanin is present and thus the higher likelihood of good results with the Tria. The Tria instruction manual mentions that you should shave your hair first before use.
How Long Will The Results Last? - Do I need to Continually Use the Device?
Laser hair removal, whether it be at home or in a salon, always requires a number of regular treatments in order to see long term results - that's just the way it works. This means treatments every few weeks for the first few months.
After the first few months you should be able to go into a maintenance phase and use the device less while keeping the results. You will still likely require semi-regular maintenance sessions but not as often as every two weeks.
Is There a Warranty?
The device is protected by a 90 day money back guarantee. You're also protected by a 1 year repair warranty, should the device break down in the first year.
This warranty stands if you purchase directly from the manufacturer or through an authorised partner, such as Amazon.
Do You Need Safety Googles to Protect the Eyes While Using this Device?
The Tria does not come with protective glasses and you don't need them. Here are the two main reasons why:-
- The device will not fire unless it is pressed up against skin - this is one of the safety features built into the Tria that helped it attain FDA approval. It's not possible to point it, like a gun, and fire laser beams at others.
- There is a lot of evidence to suggest that even if the device omitted a laser beam into someone's eye then there wouldn't be any risk to eye health anyway. Of course, this is definitely not recommended and should be avoided regardless.
Where is the Device Made?
The device is made in Thailand (we confirmed this by phoning Tria up directly).
Can The Device be Used for Anti-Aging?
No, it's not safe to use this type of laser device for light therapy. The machine is built specifically for hair removal and is at a different wavelength and stronger fluence (power) than machines that are built for anti-aging.
Can I Use the Device on the Face?
Yes, many customers are using the device to clear areas such as the chin, moustache and cheeks. The only area of caution is to be very careful to the areas around the eyes (Tria say that the device should not be used anywhere near the eyes).
Can I Use the Device on Larger Treatment Areas?
The device is effective on all areas - large or small. It's also safe on both large and small areas. However, remember that the head size of the Tria is quite small. As long as you are prepared to spend the time, then the Tria will be fine.
However, if you're tight for time and want to keep treatment times down to a minimum then you may find that an alternative home laser with a larger spot size. The obvious choice would be the Silk'n SensEpil (the fastest per cm2) or the slightly slower Remington (slightly slower than the SensEpil, but over twice as fast as the Tria).
Can I Use the Device on the Bikini area?
Yes - many customers are using the Tria for the upper thighs and bikini area without any problems and great results.
How Many Sessions Before the Device Needs Replacing?
When we spoke to the manufacturer, Tria, they claimed that the device lasts for around 600 sessions before it needs replacing. The device has a life span of around 90,000 flashes, which is equivalent to 60 full body sessions or 600 average use sessions (most people will not use the Tria for their entire body!).
Can the Device Be Used on Skin with Moles?
We couldn't find anything about this in the literature so we phoned Tria up directly to ask them this question. The lady confirmed that the device is not suitable for use on skin with moles or tattoos.
(Quick note: I was very impressed by the customer service. Within a few moments of calling, I was put through to a representative who was very helpful in answering all the questions that we had to ensure that the information we've presented here is correct).
How Long Does the Tria 4X Take to Fully Charge?
The device takes 2-3 hours to fully charge.
If you're looking at purchasing home laser hair removal apparatus, then this is one of the best on the market. While results can't be guaranteed (for a small number of people, the reduction in hair is not significant), this is the most clinically backed up and effective device in the home laser hair removal vertical. By purchasing this device you are likely to achieve substantial hair reduction.
The initial outlay, while significant, is easily recouped in the medium to long term as cost savings of avoiding professional laser treatment accrue. Ease of use and safety have clearly been given close attention by Tria, the manufacturer and its portability with the wireless feature is a nice benefit.
The limited battery life is really only a minor concern given that most laser sessions won't typically last longer than 20-30 minutes. The relatively slow speed of large treatment areas is worth noting although not substantial enough to make treating such areas infeasible - it's really just a minor complaint.
If laser hair removal from home is the path you'd like to go down, then this product is one of two on the market that are most likely to give you positive results. It gets a seal of approval and recommendation from us.
Things we Liked
- It's cheap compared to visiting a salon -- Compared to the $12,000 or so you'd spend on total body laser hair removal, the $450 price tag on this device is cheap. For less than $500, you can remove your own hair at home.
- It's easy to use -- Designed to be as user-friendly as possible, this device is one that pretty much anyone can use.
- It's effective -- proven to be effective at hair reduction after consistent use in the majority of cases
- Safety First-- The locking feature and skin tone detector is a nice additional layer of safety
- Wireless-- Gives you the freedom to operate the device from wherever you choose
- Good for Smaller Areas - The TRIA has a relatively small laser head which makes it good for treating smaller areas that require some precision.
- 5 strength settings - so you can pick the right level for you
- Backed up by clinical studies -- The Tria is backed up by numerous clinical studies and has been cleared by the FDA
Things we didn't Like
- Slow for large treatment areas-- Given the small head size, it can take quite a long time to treat larger treatment areas
- Limited battery life--The battery only lasts for 30 minutes without charging