Rio Laser Hair Removal Kit (Single hair) Permanent Hair Remover + Free Toiletry Bag

The problem

Unwanted hair growth is a common cosmetic problem. Treatment options include shaving, tweezing, waxing and depilatories, all of which can be time-consuming, with short term results. Electrolysis offers a long lasting solution, but can be painful and requires long term treatment. Salon based laser hair removal has been around for many years, but comes at a steep price which makes it an undesirable option for most people.

The solution

Laser treatment targets the hair follicle directly with minimum discomfort, making it the most beneficial all round treatment for hair removal. Until now, laser hair removal treatment has only been available in professional salons. The Rio Salon Laser Hair Removal System is the only U.K designed and U.K safety-tested laser product for treating unwanted hair growth in the privacy of your home. You can now enjoy the benefits of permanent hair removal without paying for expensive salon treatments.

How does it work?

Laser hair removal works by sending a laser beam to the hair follicle with enough energy to destroy the root, without it affecting the surrounding area. This process is known as photothermolysis. As with all laser based systems, several treatments are required to completely clear an area of unwanted hair, however, the result is permanent. Laser is suitable for both men and women on face and body areas (do not use on very sensitive areas) and is relatively pain free - you may feel a slight "tingle sensation" when using the laser, but it is not painful. For safety reasons, the Rio laser is not as strong as salon lasers, but it still uses the same laser hair removal technology.

How often do I need to use it?

While it is recommend to use the laser every few weeks, you can use it more often - even daily - to achieve results. As with salon laser treatment, do not expect hairs to fall out immediately. Laser hair removal while being the most effective long term hair removal system on the market, still requires repeat usage to see results. With perseverance and patience, you will see results. This kit is very easy to use, and requires no extra parts or replacements. An instructional DVD is included to demonstrate how to use the laser.

NOTE: Laser hair removal treatment is only effective against hair in its active growth phase. At any point in time, each hair on your body is in either a growth phase or resting phase. Hair in resting phase cannot be destroyed using a laser. This is exactly the same for both home and salon laser systems!

The Rio Laser Hair Remover kit comes with a 2 year manufacturers guarantee.

This system can target only one hair at a time making it perfect for use on individual stray facial hairs on the upper lip and chin. If you are looking for a system that can TARGET up to 20 HAIRS then you need to look at the Rio Scanning Laser Hair Removal System.

Advantages of Laser Treatment:

• permanent hair removal
• relatively pain-free
• no expensive consumables
• targets individual hairs
• auto-timeouts.

Product Safety Features:

• security key to avoid misuse
• safe 808nm (nano-metres) diverging laser
• secure skin contact check
• hair targeting light
• digital power output control

The Rio Salon Laser Hair Removal System unit and wand comes with a UK power adapter and full instruction manuals + DVD.

Laser Hair Removal - Frequently Asked Questions

1. How should I prepare my skin for Laser Hair Removal?
   Laser Hair Removal does not require any special skin preparations, although you should always ensure your skin is clean. Laser Hair Removal is most effective on pale skin, so we recommend that you avoid sunbathing, sun beds and fake tanning if possible.
2. How should I prepare the hairs for Laser Hair Removal?
   The best results are on hairs which are only 1 - 3 mm long, we recommend that you trim the hairs before treatment. Alternatively you can shave before treatment as long as during treatment the hair is visible enough for the laser to be aimed at the root.
3. How will my skin appear after the treatment? Will I experience any side effects?
   Generally no perceptible changes will be apparent. Rarely, mild redness, slight reddening and some swelling may occur. This will fade over 24 hours. Hairs will generally be shed over the days following treatment.
4. After laser hair removal, is there anything to avoid?
   Sun exposure or deep tanning should be avoided for at least a week. If the skin is exposed use a sunscreen. Avoid using abrasive cleansers or skin peeling treatments. Avoid swimming in chlorinated water or using a hot tub for 48 hours. The chlorine in the water can result in itchiness.
5. Is there any aftercare routine I should follow?
   A slight redness after treatment may occur - this is quite normal and will disappear within 24 hours. If you wish you can apply an non-perfumed soothing lotion, an ice pack or wet towel to cool the treated area. Take care to keep the treated area particularly clean for 3 days. Ideally use an anti-bacterial soap twice daily. When treating the underarms avoid using antiperspirant deodorant for 2 -3 days. Use an anti-bacterial soap twice daily.
6. How often can I repeat laser hair removal treatment?
   As long as the hair follicle or surrounding skin is not red, sore or inflamed, treatment can be repeated after 24 hours. Most people wait 3 - 4 weeks between treatments to see which hairs have been shed and to identify new re growth. The timing for follow on treatments is not critical. Choose a time which is convenient for you. Avoid excessive treatment on the same region at one time, this may cause reddening and swelling. We suggest treating each hair only once in each session.
7. How many treatments will I need?
   Laser hair reduction is generally considered to be effective and permanent after 6 treatments. This varies from person to person and depends on the area you are treating, hair density, your hair's growth cycle and colour. Dark hair on fair skin responds to laser therapy best, but both dark and fair hair may take several treatments for long-term results. Some individuals may require more, and some fewer treatments to achieve satisfaction. Initially with each treatment you will notice a gradual thinning/reduction of hair growth in the treated area. Women who suffer excessive hair growth due to male type hormones are likely to require long term maintenance.
8. What areas can I treat?
   Most body hair can be removed using laser hair removal, the most common areas are the face, underarms, legs, chest, back and bikini line. As this is a single hair laser, it is ideally used on areas like the face (women only) or areas where you only have 1 hairs at a time to treat. We do NOT recommend using the laser hair remover on eyebrows or on men's facial areas.
   
9. Can I use laser hair removal on sensitive skin?
   Yes, the laser reacts with the hair, so the surrounding skin will not be affected.
10. What does it feel like?
    Most people don't feel anything, although a mild 'pin prick' sensation, lasting less than a second, may be felt.
11. Can I use other hair removal methods between treatments?
    Because the laser hair remover needs a hair to be present in the follicle, hair removal methods which pluck the hair, such as waxing, epilators and tweezing are NOT suitable for use between treatments. Bleaching hairs is also NOT suitable as it removes the pigment and renders the laser ineffective. Shaving, micro-dermabrasion discs and cream depilatories are ideal for use between treatments.
12. Which part of the hair should I aim at?
    It is essential to aim at the root of the hair, this is much easier if the hairs are only 1 - 2 mm long. Most hairs grow at an angle, so the root is not necessarily in line with the base of the hair above the skin, this is quite difficult to see if the hairs are too long. Initially, you may find there is a knack to targeting the hair root/follicle and you may wish to ask a friend to help with the treatment of hard to reach areas such as underarm hair.
13. Is it safe to use the laser hair during pregnancy?
    It is common knowledge that women suffer an excess of hair growth during pregnancy, most of which will fall out once the baby has arrived. Whilst it is safe to use the laser hair during pregnancy, we recommend that you avoid the breast and abdomen areas during the last trimester.
14. How big is the Rio Laser?
    The dimensions in centimetres are approximately as follows. The unit measures: 19.5(w) x 19(l) x 6 (h)
    The laser wand measures: 14.5cm(l)
    The laser head measure: 4.6cm (l) x 3.5cm (w)
15. What parts of the body is laser hair removal unsuitable for?
    Most body hair can be removed using Laser Hair Removal. The most common areas are the face, underarms, legs, chest, back and bikini line. We do NOT recommend using the Laser Hair Remover on eyebrows. Do NOT treat the following areas: Tattoos, permanent make-up, pimples, warts, hair grown on black spots, skin disease, birth marks, burns, lips, nipples, genital or anal areas, eczema, eyelashes, eyebrows, near the eyes, nasal or ear hair.
16. Why choose the Rio Laser?
    The Rio laser hair removal kit is made in the UK where it is necessary to pass stringent safety requirements to obtain a CE marking. The Rio laser hair removal units have earned CE certification for conformity with the essential health and safety requirements set out in European Directives. The CE marking refers to the safety of a product and CE certification is another major endorsement of the Rio brand.
    
    

    Top Tips:

    Trim (don't shave) in between sessions. Trimming is less aggressive to the skin than shaving and the re-growth will not appear as thick as when shaving. The most versatile hair trimmer we have found on the market is the Shavy Trimmer.

    To treat and repair any soft skin tissue after lasering, we highly recommend applying a layer of Bob Norburn Cream to the area. Bob Norburn Cream is a unique shave & moisturiser cream which contains highly effective grape seed oil to soothe and repair the skin.

    To maximise hair reduction, apply a hair inhibitor cream like Kalo or Skin Doctors after each laser treatment. These products work after hair removal to further weaken / reduce hair growth.

System features:

• Two treatment modes, treats individual hairs or scans larger areas treating up to 20 hairs* at a time
• Safe 808nm diverging laser
• 500 MW (milliwatt) maximum power output
• Digital power output control
• Clinically proven
• Hair targeting light
• Security key to avoid misuse
• Laser hair removal works by sending a laser beam to the hair follicle with enough energy to destroy the root without affecting the surrounding area
• DVD + instruction leaflet included
• 2 years manufacturers warranty

How do lasers work?

Lasers deliver an intense beam of light which are made up of a single wavelength or colour. Skin is essentially transparent to light in the wavelength range of 600 - 1100nm (nano meters), while melanin containing structures will absorb laser energy of this wavelength. It is therefore possible to target the hair follicle which has a concentration of melanin without affecting the surrounding area.

The light energy absorbed by the melanin pigment results in the rapid heating up of the hair follicle. This heat destroys the cells (papilla) responsible for hair growth. If adequate heating is achieved, then the follicle is permanently disabled resulting in a permanent reduction in hair growth.

   

Suitable Skin Types

Melanin in the epidermis also absorbs the energy and limits the depth of penetration of the laser light into the skin. Using a light wavelength of 808nm enables treatment of relatively dark skin as well as fair-skinned types. However, laser hair treatment is not suitable for Afro Caribbean or black skin complexions. Laser treatment is also ineffective in removal of white or grey hair. Electrolysis should be considered as an alternative treatment.

As a guide skin colours are classified by the Fitzpatrick skin prototypes. The classification is as follows:

Why is a series of treatments required?

Everyone's hair grows differently, depending on age, weight, metabolism, hormones, ethnicity, medications and other factors. But all hair goes through three distinct growth phases:

Active growth phase (called the anagen phase), which lasts between 2 and 7 years. During this phase the dermal papilla actively produces cells which form the hair shaft. In certain areas of the body, such as the scalp, the majority (83%) of the hairs are in this phase. During the anagen phase the hair has an abundance of melanin.

Degradation phase (catagen phase), which lasts between 10 and 20 days, during which the hair stops growing but is not yet shed. About 3-4% of our body hair is in this phase at any given time. The hair follicle shrinks at this time as the hair is prepared for eviction.

Resting phase (telogen phase), which can last for several months, during which the hair falls out and a new hair begins to form. The hair follicle is not treatable during this time.

Laser treatment is only effective when the hair is in the active growth phase. Hairs or hair follicles in the Degradation or Resting phase need to progress to the active phase before treatment will be beneficial. Therefore, multiple treatments are required for long term, permanent hair reduction.

Also, in a single treatment, not all of the hair follicles in the active phase will be destroyed. Some follicles are destroyed, others may be miniaturised into vellus hairs (light, fine hairs), and some enter prolonged dormancy. The initial treatment should be repeated to take care of active hair follicles that were not effectively treated in the first session as new hair growth is observed, this will typically be some 2 to 4 weeks later depending on where the treatment area is. Further treatments should be planned at regular intervals to clear hairs that are coming out of the resting phase and into the active growth phase. Given the number of hair follicles in the resting phase at any given time, this new hair re-growth can be significant.

Any follicles without a target hair within will simply grow again and can be treated next time round.

Rio laser hair removal: Hair Growth Cycle

It is important to understand the normal hair growth cycle to understand how the Salon Laser Hair Removal System works. The hair follicle is an anatomical structure which evolved to produce and extrude (push out) a hair shaft. Hair is made up of proteins called keratins. Human hair grows in a continuous cyclic pattern of growth and rest known as the "hair growth cycle".

Periods of growth (anagen) between two and seven years, are followed by a period in which the follicle is totally degraded (catagen). The resting phase (telogen) then begins and lasts between six weeks and six months. Shedding of the hair occurs only after the next growth cycle (anagen) begins and a new hair shaft begins to emerge. On average 50 - 100 telogen hairs are shed every day. This is normal hair loss and accounts for the hair loss seen every day in the shower and with hair combing. These hairs will regrow. The percentage of follicles in the resting phase (telogen) will vary at any time depending on the body area. It is also important to note that a variety of factors can affect the hair growth cycle and cause temporary or permanent hair loss (alopecia) including medication, radiation,chemotherapy, exposure to chemicals, hormonal and nutritional factors, thyroid disease, generalised or local skin disease and stress.

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Rio Manufacturer User Instructions ( Adobe PDF Document )

Rio Manufacturer Manual ( Adobe PDF Document )