*Disclaimer: All amazon links are affiliate– we may get some tiny amount if you buy through them but definitely don’t buy through them on our account because it truly is a tiny amount of money*
Several months ago my trusty Tria stopped working without warning. I don’t know if it broke or if it had finished its limited number of flashes or what (they warn you that it only has a certain number of flashes). Basically it just wouldn’t turn on even after fully charging.
I wanted to just buy a new one, but they had run out of the old version and the new version hadn’t come in yet, so that wasn’t an option.
Meanwhile, the occasional dark coarse facial hair started to pop up with increasing frequency. Finally, with no way of knowing when I could get a replacement Tria, I rage-bought a Braun laser hair remover. I don’t think this link is exactly the version I got, but I’m not going to end up recommending it anyway.
This Braun device is not great if you are trying to get rid of a single facial hair, coarse or not. It did not do what I needed. In addition, the light is extremely bright and it’s difficult to use on yourself in front of a mirror. Even with your eyes closed it has very bright flashes reflected (why stand in a mirror? So you can see where to aim!).
That said, it does do SOMETHING. It has a broad-range laser instead of a small focused one. For fun, I decided to just use it on one armpit and not the other to see if I could find a difference. And, indeed, after a couple months of use there is a difference. I still have to shave both, and neither are patchy, but there is less/lighter/thinner hair on the one I treated. So I’ve started doing the other side too. This is probably best for broad areas like under arms or legs, particularly if you don’t need them to be completely hair free– if you just want shaving to take less time. Some people on the amazon page look like they’ve had more success on these broader areas, but they also say they need to touch up every couple weeks give or take.
Fortunately for my sanity but not my wallet, Tria finally came out with its new edition and I bought it. It works just like the old one. It kills a very small area of hair and the flash is hidden. It is expensive, but as someone who tends towards a Fu Manchu beard when left untreated, the cost is well worth the amount of time I would otherwise have to pluck out coarse beard hairs. It doesn’t really get light or skinny hairs. It’s not a total solution. But it is a nice targeted solution.
I hate the patriarchy, but there’s only so much I’m willing to fight. Stupid early 20th century capitalism selling razors and depilatory agents. Stupid culture. Stupid having to shave.
How do you deal with unwanted hair? Would you spend $500 (twice!) on something that gets rid of maybe a few facial hairs at a time?
Grumpy Rumblings (of the formerly untenured) 
June 12, 2024 at 3:45 am
Yes, I spent money on professional laser hair removal. Yes it was worth it. I haven’t had to shave me legs regularly in 22 years. Some of the hair in my pits and bikini line has come back but I haven’t gone back in for touch ups out of laziness as the place I used was a couple of hours away. I used to get a 5 o’clock shadow hours after shaving. My legs were eternal porcupines. It was my wedding gift to myself.
I’d just say, if you do it, do it soon for 2 reasons. 1) to enjoy the effects longer and 2) once the hair goes grey/white the laser won’t be effective. It works best on dark hair.
I had to go multiple times because hair grows in different cycles so you can’t zap it all at once.
June 13, 2024 at 2:42 pm
I did professional once for my legs and didn’t finish even though I’d prepaid. I much prefer the in-home version even if it isn’t as efficient.
June 12, 2024 at 6:20 am
7 days left to fund this Pride Month request for furniture for an LGBT meeting space in a South Carolina high school. https://www.donorschoose.org/project/creating-an-inclusive-meeting-space-emp/8230595/
June 12, 2024 at 6:57 am
Menopause helps a lot with body hair.
June 13, 2024 at 10:08 am
Can confirm!
June 12, 2024 at 4:29 pm
I had my bikini line done several years ago and was so glad. When my daughter is a little older I’ll encourage her to do it too, just to save all those years of shaving and bumps. Grr, stupid patriarchy. I also had my upper lip and chin done but that was much less effective, not sure why. I’m considering having a larger area of my upper thigh done because I’m still getting irritation there when the hair grows back.
June 13, 2024 at 2:43 pm
Stupid patriarchy!
June 13, 2024 at 10:10 am
Would you recommend the Tria/Braun for hair-removal maintenance after professional laser removal? Asking for trans child who has had a few sessions of professional laser hair removal.
June 13, 2024 at 2:37 pm
Well… the Tria will definitely get rid of any individual coarse hair, but it only gets a very small area with each shot. If it’s coarse beard hair it is what I 100% recommend.
Neither of them are great for smaller hairs. Braun can do bigger areas but won’t get any specific hair. It is pretty terrible for use on your face because the flashes are very bright even with your eyes closed. (The flash is completely covered with Tria.) I do think it may be better for underarms and legs.
I don’t think either are any good for light moustaches. Fortunately my small (feminine?) upper lip hairs are light and my occasional dark moustache hair is coarse and responds to the Tria. Mostly.
June 14, 2024 at 8:25 am
Thank you.
June 13, 2024 at 10:26 am
I haven’t had to go down that path yet, but generational evidence says that I will, sooner or later.
For this sort of thing, I tend to rail against it and hem and haw over the decision for longer than is reasonable–up to a few years, even. And then when I decide that yes, darn it, I want it enough, I will spend the money. And in some cases, I end up feeling perfectly okay with the choice and wish I’d made the decision sooner, while others I will still be unhappy about the cost long after I’ve spent the money.
It is one of my more annoying-to-me patterns. I wouldn’t want to be a wild spender, but it would be nice to be a little closer to a middle ground.
June 13, 2024 at 2:39 pm
You and me both! Like it’s often not a problem when I rage buy something. Though I do kind of regret the Braun, but also it’s ok, it was a learning experience. And maybe it will eventually make my underarm shaving faster/easier/less irritating.
June 13, 2024 at 12:36 pm
My moustache is white/light grey, so unfortunately it will have to be plucked until I die.
June 13, 2024 at 2:39 pm
I cannot pluck my upper lip without crying. It hurts so much.
June 13, 2024 at 1:42 pm
I bought a Braun very similar to the one you’ve linked here last summer after hemming and hawing for quite a while and deciding I’d better give it a try before it’s too late and my hair all went grey/white. It’s not perfect but I have been very happy with the results. I am very hairy with a medium-lightish complexion and dark hair. It worked very well on my legs – I still have some hair, but it’s so much thinner and grows so very slowly that I hardly notice and can go without shaving very often at all. It worked less well on my thicker hair – still some armpit hair, though it’s thinner and grows more slowly and I don’t need to shave very often. I do wish it worked better on the thick chin hairs, but it has thinned them and slowed their growth. Overall I’m thrilled to have tried it, I would never take the time to do professional appointments.
June 13, 2024 at 2:40 pm
Interesting! The Tria works really well on thick hair, particularly facial hairs. Maybe I should try the Braun more on my legs. It does seem to be best for large areas away from one’s face.