Hey there boys, girls and unicorns.

I have a question for anyone that might have tried it.  There is a product called "Finally Free Permanent Hair Removal".  It uses radio frequency to kill off the hair.  If anyone is interested their web site is http://www.nevershaveagain.com/default.aspx 

I have heard of radio frequency hair removal before, but not as a home kit.

Anyone have any thoughts or experiences with this?


Hugs and thanks,
Janet

they allege to use this
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119127021/abstract
as proof, but I personally doubt anything that isn't proven (as electro is)

edit: I doubt the claim of FDA approval too

Thanks FK.

I found this interesting

QuoteRadio frequency tweezers, direct current tweezers and needle based electrolysis all demonstrated statistically significant reductions in hair counts after 9 weeks of 60.3%, 65.8% and 55.9%, respectively. The differences between the treatments were not statistically significant. However, large differences in side effects and pain scores existed. Both tweezer type epilators induced pain rated at 13/100 on a visual analogue scale while the needle based depilator induced significant pain at 59/100. Furthermore, acute inflammation and late scarring was seen only following treatment with the electrolysis needle.

But I am still wondering.  And can they say that it is FDA approved if it isn't and does that really count for anything. 

seems like they only got the ok to *market* the product, not make claims of effectiveness
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/devicesatfda/index.cfm?db=pmn&id=K972695

edit: and for that matter, only the "one hair at a time tweezer" is part of it, not the wonky pad accessory

It got bad reviews on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Finally-Free-F-140-Ultra-Permanent-Removal/product-reviews/B000050FED/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?ie=UTF8&coliid=&showViewpoints=1&colid=&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

It looks as though its a version of the old chestnut called tweezer electrolysis. For those that don't know there are three basic types of electrolysis.

1. Galvanic - the original - which uses a DC current to cause ions from the needle and surrounding skin salts to poison the hair follicle. This is what was used almost entirely until the mid 70's

2. Shortwave Diathermy which uses shortwave radio signal delivered by the needle to cause electical burning at the follicle and kill the hair.

3. The blend - which uses a combination of both methods and is what most people who have had professional electrolysis after about 1975 will have experienced.

However in the late 80's and early 90's it was realised that IN THEORY, by boosting the power of the RF signal one could cause the hair to act as an antenna and transmit the signal which caused it's own destruction thus eliminating the needle. The hope was that by doing this risks of things like HIV and Hep C would be reduced. This became known as the tweezer method.

The only trouble is that it didn't really work very well. yes there was some effect, but as hair is a natural insulator not nearly enough to do the job properly and at best the hair follicle was merely weakened and needed many more treatments than with other methods. Consequently this method largely fell out of favour and was replaced by the laser - which has proven more successfull.

This device looks to be a home implementation of the tweezer technique and it is likely to suffer from the same problems and limitations, probably more so as the power levels at which it will operate will be even lower than in a salon.

So my advice would be save your cash.

Quote from: Janet Lynn on January 19, 2010, 12:57:36 AM
Thanks FK.

I found this interesting

But I am still wondering.  And can they say that it is FDA approved if it isn't and does that really count for anything. 

I love the way they use the FDA safety approval to suggest something works.... when all they are saying is that it's safe for home use..

Sorry Janet, I have to go with Jenny on this one having tried something similar from another manufacturer a few years back. Yes you get a tingle from the things, but that's about all... It's also common for some of them to use gels to try and get conduction down to the hair root.... but again no real effect compares to electrolysis.

Chrissty

Thank you Janet for the question, and thank you Dana Lane and others for your responses.

Darn - it looked so good - cheap and painless!

Still weighing the options.  I have spent more money on other crud.  I am also looking into laser and/or electrolysis.

I'd buy a home laser machine then.

I got one a couple of years back from a catalogue for my partner and I. It cost less than $150 and it works quite well. (mind you we are only doing the odd single hair here and there... But so far no complaints - and it certainly seems to work.)

The only thing that scares my about lasers is that you can burn yourself or scar yourself badly.  I have some areas in the ole beard area that need to be attended to.  And I was trying to get by cheaply.  But I did find a place here that is reasonable in price for electrolysis.

I just don't like the idea of having to grow out the area to be worked on.

I really wouldn't worry too much about scarring. If you follow the instructions there's no real danger, and to be honest I know of people who have been quite badly scarred by bad electolysis too. So it's really not that different.

Janet.

I know you're stuck away in the colonies so this place probably won't be available to you.

However, you might be interested in the reviews of the product.

Argos is a sort of general household appliance store where you collect your stuff from a central desk. It's quite large, with branches throughout the UK. They do occasionally sell a duff product but that usually results in a quick recall.

The long and short is that I would say it is unlikely the reviews are false. I can't see a store like Argos risking the bad publicity by allowing fraud of that kind, especially with such a cosmetic orientated product.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4420435/c_1/1%7Ccat_14418350%7CHair+removal+and+waxing%7C14418449/Trail/searchtext%3ELASER.htm?storeId=10001&referredURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argos.co.uk%2Fstatic%2FProduct%2FpartNumber%2F4420435%2Fc_1%2F1%7Ccat_14418350%7CHair%2Bremoval%2Band%2Bwaxing%7C14418449%2FTrail%2Fsearchtext%3ELASER.htm&jspStoreDir=argos&referrer=COJUN&cmpid=COJUN

yes indeed - or this one... which is cheaper and is what I've got. They do indeed work safely.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4428107.htm

Yeah. But it doesn't have quite so many reviews and I was really trying to help Janet get some information on home laser treatments.

But the fact that you use that one is a pretty good recommendation in itself.

Most of the home laser units specifically state not to use on the face, which is why I am trying to find something at home.  Ok I am a cheap lady and a DIYer.

I've seen two laser models that 'looked' promising but one is very expensive (for those of us on a tight budget) and the other got overwhelmingly negative reviews. Right now I'll just have to shave & pluck, pluck & shave, shave & pluck. Seems like I never get finished-it just keeps on going on & on & on & ... you get the picture. Oh how I long for the day that I don't have to shave to have smooth skin. 

Understand Janet.

But the ones on the links seem to be recommended for the face.

rejennyrated has experience with one model which she says is safe.

Since I last wrote here, and after rejennyrated's post, I did a search and found the manufacturer's site.

Hopefully you can look into it.

http://www.riolaserhair.com/

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Post Merge: January 21, 2010, 06:22:53 PM

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A more closer look indicates the manufacturers are based in England.

they claim worldwide sales.

QuoteOur products are used and enjoyed throughout Europe as well as in Japan, America, Australia, South Africa and many other countries too. The enthusiasm and support for Rio has enabled the company to develop a range of complementary products each offering something different to the user.

http://www.riolaserhair.com/pages/About_Rio.html

For the odd straggler, I use my "one touch" electrolysis unit.  It is slow, can be painful, and if you are not cautious, can leave the skin red and swollen.  It takes about 40 seconds per hair, so is not good if you intend to do large areas.  I have done maybe 30 at most during one session over a 1.5 hour period with, I believe, a good kill ratio.  Over a 1-2 year period I have zapped maybe 1500 total.  I have no  terminus (male) hair left, but a few that have grown back finer.  I have rigorously checked  regrowth and it works.   I started re-using it after getting ripped off at several local electrolysis places.  Note, I have had laser and extensive professional electrolysis by a very competent operator, so I know what to expect for speed and pain level.  Some operators take advantage of us and will give a very expensive plucking for a lot of loot. I hate being treated like a schmuck by people taking advantage of us.  The units are on e-bay, run $25, and until you get the rhythm, you will blow through a few needles at 2 for 5$ I think.  It uses 9 volt batteries. The stylus enters the hair follicle and descends to the root, just like a pro, but as I said it takes practice and time. 

From all the feedback on that home laser kit, the key here is patience.

Those that reported poor results seem to be impatient. One of the successful respondents said it takes time.