Tria 4X Hair Removal Laser is the strongest on the market - after months of testing, I have thoughts

The outlook on body hair has certainly changed in recent years, and yet, the global hair removal market was worth more than $29 billion in 2025, proof that many of us are still hellbent on removing every last trace of it.

Since my teens, I’ve used everything from bleach, stinky depilatory creams and the best razors, to more painful options promising longer-lasting results - epilators, roll-on electric waxers, and in-clinic laser hair removal. Without a doubt, the latter has been the most successful, but salon appointments add up and demand time and dedication.

So when I found out Tria was launching a brand new upgraded version of their laser hair removal device, promising long-term hair reduction from the comfort and privacy of your own home, the prude in me was ecstatic.

At almost £600, it’s not cheap, but this is clinic-grade laser tech. The before and after images online are compelling, but would it work for this dark-haired girl? After testing it for the last two months, this Tria 4X Hair Removal Laser review will cover the pros, cons and those all-important results.

Our Beauty Editor’s Tria 4X Hair Removal Laser review, with before and after pictures

On first impression, this second generation of the Tria 4X Hair Removal Laser looks a lot more professional than its predecessor, which was white and a bit plastic-y. This looks slicker with a gunmetal makeover and a thicker, sturdier shell.

According to Tria, this helps to improve thermal performance, but it also helps to give the impression that this is a serious tool that will yield real results. It’s been upgraded with an LCD, which shows the battery life, the laser levels from 1-5, and a running count of laser pulses for each session.

In the box you’ll find refreshingly little - a charging cable, various plug adaptors, and some instructions, tucked neatly beneath the device. After charging, the device remains in locked mode until the sensor approves your skin tone for use. You switch it on and hold the skin sensor, located on the base of the device, against your skin. If your skin tone is compatible, the device will unlock with a beep, and you’re good to go.

How does the Tria 4X Hair Removal Laser work?

There are a lot of hair removal devices on the market, but the Tria 4X Hair Removal Laser operates at the same 810nm wavelength used in clinics. This precision diode laser technology should not be confused with IPL tools (intense pulse light), which are not as effective as laser.

In fact, the Tria laser delivers up to 233 per cent more power than some leading IPL devices, owing to deeper penetration and targeted energy delivery, so if you’re weighing up the two, I’d put my money into the laser.

The Tria 4X Hair Removal Laser targets the pigment in your hair. This melanin absorbs the laser energy and converts it to heat in the follicle to destroy the root. That’s why the most successful combination for effective treatment is lighter skin with dark hair. The device picks up the contrast more easily.

It’s also why the device is not safe on darker skin tones and is ineffective on lighter hair shades. For medium brown, dark brown and black skin tones, it’s best to visit a professional who can use specific wavelengths to safely and effectively target hairs.

As the root is destroyed, hair regrowth becomes finer and lighter. With continued treatment, you can expect to see fewer hairs reappearing, and then once the hair follicle has been deactivated, hair will not grow back at all.

How to use the Tria 4X Hair Removal Laser

First things first, you need to shave the area you wish to treat. Your razor is going to become your best friend during your relationship with the Tria 4X Hair Removal Laser. Waxing, epilating and any other treatments that drag the root kicking and screaming from its follicle will hinder the results. The laser needs the root to be in tact in order to disable it.

Skin should be clean and dry, then it’s time to get zapping. It really couldn’t be easier to use. Select your treatment level from one to five, using the highest setting you can tolerate. Obviously pain is subjective, but I’ve found it pinchy at worst with no subsequent redness, and that’s using the highest setting. However, Tria does recommend applying the Phytograph Hydrating Calm Soothing Gel before using the device to help minimise discomfort.

Once the level is set, hold the device against your skin making sure the treatment window is pressed flat until you hear two beeps - that means the pulse has worked and you can move on to the next spot.

Laser hair removal on the face is quick - I’ve found I can do my upper lip in about 60 seconds. Elsewhere, armpits have taken less than five minutes. But because of the small treatment tip, larger areas like the legs will take much longer. Tria recommends repeating the treatment every two weeks for up to three months.

Tria 4X Hair Removal Laser: my verdict

After about two months, and three treatments on my upper lip, there has been headway. I didn’t notice much change after the first session, but now I can definitely see that the hair is finer, patchier, and not quite so dark. It’s by no means bald, but I’m sufficiently buoyed by the results that I feel compelled to carry on for the six session minimum Tria recommends.

It's a big outlay for the device, and certainly in-clinic laser hair removal treatments have become more affordable over the last few years. But I really appreciate that I can use the Tria whenever, wherever. I don’t have to schlep to the clinic, or bear the embarrassment of de-robing in front of a stranger, depending on where you’re choosing to de-fuzz. For ease of use and convenience, this is a fantastic option for long-term hair reduction.