As someone with fair, blemish-prone sensitive skin, and hair that grows quickly and sometimes subcutaneously, I’ve tried out all the hair removal and shaving methods available over the years, but with mixed results. The razor? Fast, but, above all, short-lived. Depilatory cream? Not as fast, plus the scent and consistency leave much to be desired. Electric epilators? Downright painful (even if you get used to it), aggressive on the skin and therefore synonymous with erratic regrowth. Hot or cold waxing? After a year of doing this on a regular basis, I hadn’t seen any slowing down of growth, and frankly, it’s still painful and requires a certain amount of organisation and time.
Finally, I switched to IPL technology epilators for three years. It’s wasn’t painful and had the advantage of reducing my hair growth by half… that was until the device started to malfunction and snapped between my fingers. So I decided to go back to square one, and worry a little less about temporary regrowth, until companies came up with a permanent solution that is quick, painless and adapted to my schedule and skin type: in short, something comfortable. I had heard lots of good things about CurrentBody’s laser hair removal device, so I decided to give it a go
Laser hair removal was, of course, an option I had considered at length. My hesitations were mainly down to cost and the inconvenience of having to visit the clinic several times a month. Many testimonials also point out that hormonal changes, such as pregnancy, can wipe out all these efforts. In such cases, or when the hair starts to appear naturally again after a year, the only solution is to return for additional treatments to maintain the results, or even start the process all over again. A prospect that didn’t appeal to me. The CurrentBody laser hair removal device overcomes these constraints.
The CurrentBody brand, a pioneer in the beauty tech sector (in no small part thanks to its best-selling LED masks) is adored by industry insiders and celebrities alike, and has succeeded in encapsulating laser technology in a small, easy-to-handle and precise device for treating body hair in the comfort of your home. A revolution when you consider that, until now, this highly effective process was only available to professionals in specialised clinics. What’s more, once you’ve purchased the device, you’re free to treat several areas, lend it out, and stop and start again.
Getting started
While its shape and size may surprise at first, the CurrentBody laser hair removal device is very light and easy to handle. What strikes me when I switch it on is that, unlike other devices, it is very quiet. Only the regular beep at each flash and a slight blowing noise punctuate the operation.
As with an IPL epilator, you need to shave before treatment to keep the hair as short as possible, so that the laser can get close to the root, and thus be effective. If you have hair that grows quickly, I recommend you do this a few hours beforehand. The second step is to switch on the device and place it against the skin, so that it can adapt its power to the colour of the hair and the epidermis. Then it’s time for the treatment.
The treatment
The first time I use it, I only flash a small area to perform a skin test. As there’s no reaction, I start the treatment the next day. At first, it’s hard to understand how to press the button to select the treatment, and above all, not to press it again by mistake. Despite this, I treated both half-legs in 10 minutes on my first use. The process is simple and really fast: dab it against the skin, then shift and repeat. Given the speed of execution, I decided to treat the whole length of my legs, setting the intensity to the strongest mode because I didn’t feel any pain.
I was able to integrate the device easily into my daily routine, and I used it every two or three days while watching a series or listening to a podcast – activities I would have done in any case, and which the treatment in no way disrupted. Only my shaving rhythm was a little accelerated, but nothing restrictive, since it was only a month until I noticed the first results, and I gradually found nothing to shave before the sessions. The growth cycle continued to slow down as I spaced out the treatments until it stopped altogether. There was no hair left after three months.
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Advantages
- Zero pain, even on sensitive areas such as the back of the knee, the face or the bikini line.
- An often overlooked feature that makes all the difference is the length of the power cord. This means you can get into a comfortable position and not depend on the proximity of an outlet.
- Speed and efficiency.
- Use at home with complete peace of mind, at any time that suits your schedule.
- It switches to standby mode by itself after 10 seconds.
- The device adapts to my needs and plans – a freedom that I appreciate.
Disadvantages
- You really have to stick to it and do it regularly at first. The ideal time to start is when you don’t have a vacation in the sun in the next month or two, so you can keep up with the sessions.
- It would perhaps benefit with a pouch to store and transport it more easily. I solved this problem by finding a pretty little case for it.
What’s the difference with IPL technology?
Unlike IPL epilators, the first month gives the impression that nothing much is happening. IPL produces faster results, but requires more constant maintenance. Laser technology takes longer to produce changes, but requires very little maintenance afterwards. I also found the flash much less unpleasant on the eyes. The device also features Ice Cooling technology, which maintains low temperatures on the skin and in the device. It therefore heats up less than my previous IPL epilator. Above all, the laser targets hairs more precisely than pulsed light, so it’s less aggressive on the skin and much faster and more effective. It can be used on legs, arms, bikini line, underarms, feet, hands, chest, back, stomach and facial hair.
The Vogue verdict
In my opinion, CurrentBody’s technology provides everything you’d want in a laser hair removal device. It combines comfort with hair removal (a real challenge), and is perfect for anyone who wants to get rid of their hair on their own terms, on their own schedule, and in the comfort of their own home.
