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Does Dove Visibly Smooth Deodorant Reduce Underarm Hair?

by Left Brain on September 17, 2009 · 7 comments

Vananners asks…What do the Beauty Brains think about the new Dove Visibly Smooth Deodorant that supposed to minimize hair growth? I’ve been using it about 3 weeks now and feel like I’ve noticed a difference. The hair seems to grow slower, is softer and easier to shave.

The Left Brain replies:

As I pointed out in the Forum, hair growth minimizers are more marketing than anything else.  If the product actually worked to slow down hair growth then it would be considered a drug and require much more extensive testing.  In fact, if you check the claims that Dove’s website makes about Visibly Smooth, you’ll see that they do NOT claim that it does reduces hair growth.

Dove Visibly Smooth claims

  • Conditions your underarm skin from the first time you use it
  • Minimizes the visible appearance of underarm hair over time
  • Within weeks you’ll notice hair feels softer, finer and easier to remove
  • Hair should be less noticeable between shaves and you may need to shave less often.
  • Hair growth is not slowed down

How does ProEpil Complex work?

The “reason to believe” ingredient in Visibly Smooth is Dove’s “ProEpil complex.” According to the website, the complex  is a mixture of ingredients including sunflower oil and Dove’s “1/4 translucent moisturizers” what ever that means. It sounds like these conditioners make the hair softer and less likely to “stick up” so razor stubble is less noticeable.

The Beauty Brains bottom line

Dove Visibly Smooth doesn’t claim to reduce hair growth, it only claims to make underarm hair look and feel less noticeable. How does the product accomplish this? None of the information from Dove makes this perfectly clear, but it appears to be by conditioning underarm hair.  Still, it’s not surprising that you think you notice a difference after using the product.  Marketing messages are extremely powerful persuaders.

Do YOU worry about underarm stubble? Leave a comment and share your thoughts with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

Leigh September 17, 2009 at 5:50 am

I have been wondering if you would post on this. I tried it because I liked the smell and was actually sort of nervous about what it might be doing, if it really was inhibiting hair growth. but after a full stick of it, I’ve seen no apprciable difference. good to know it’s just conditioning my stubble, because otherwise I like it. :)

Angel September 18, 2009 at 9:37 am

I know this isn’t contributing to the discussion, but the image is too cute! Hare under arm (or is it under-arm hare?). xD

Mid Brain September 19, 2009 at 9:16 am

@Angel: I’m so glad that someone got the joke with the under arm hare picture. (Left Brain wrote the post but I got to pick the picture.)

Kristen September 19, 2009 at 6:05 pm

I’ve been using this product for about a month, and haven’t really noticed any lessening of the need to shave. What I have noticed, however, is the smell. I love the wild rose smell!

Removing Underarm Hair September 25, 2009 at 5:07 am

Go for waxing or use an epilator like Braun Silk Epil. By using an epilator, you will remove the hair from the roots, leaving the area hair free longer.

Joyce October 10, 2009 at 7:16 am

Uh, just gotta say it…why are you so negative?

Who cares if these products don’t slow down hair growth. If the special conditioners in these products make stubble softer and less noticeable by possibly thinning the hair, that’s enough for some of us.

Ilusion is everything.

Alicja October 15, 2009 at 10:06 pm

Where you can buy this product I checked in few stores and it is not there?

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