Click here to visit the Beauty Brains blog.
Welcome to the new Forum. Please feel free to start a new discussion.
Dove Visibly Smooth Deodorant
  • vananners
    What do the brains think about the new Dove Visibly Smooth Deodorant that supposed to minimize hair growth?

    How about everyone else? What's your opinion? 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.
  • Left BrainLeft Brain
    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.  (check the claims, they probably don't say it does reduce hair growth)
    It's not surprising that you think you notice a difference.  Marketing messages are extremely powerful persuaders.  Whether there is a real difference or not is the question.
  • JamiSingsJamiSings
    As long as we're on the subject, LB, I have a question about them too. I heard a lot of those lotions and such that claim to slow hair growth really just have the same chemicals you find in products like Nair, but in much lower doses and without the smell. That they don't really slow hair growth but rather make the hair thinner the same way Nair removes it completely. Is that true? And if it is how do they keep the irritation at bay? I find products like Nair, while I like the results, always leave me with a painful rash for an hour or so afterwards.
  • Left BrainLeft Brain
    We previously wrote about hair minimizing lotions.
    It is not true that they have the same ingredient in them that products like Nair use (potassium thiogycolate).  Mostly, these products are good moisturizers that use the story to help convince people that they need to shave less.  If you're using a product to reduce hair growth, you're more likely to believe that it's working. 
    Remember, the decision to shave (for most people) is arbitrary.  So, it's easy to convince people that they don't need to shave even if there is not really much difference.
  • bluecatbaby
    I personally have not used any hair growth minimizing products. But, if I wanted to find out if they worked I would use the hair minimizing product on one armpit, or leg, and a non-minimizing product on the other side, for how ever long it takes to get results. I think I would be able to tell if there was a difference, especially on the legs, since I could look at my legs for a side by side comparison.
  • Left BrainLeft Brain
    @bluecatbaby - a very good plan.  Although it would work better if you made the following modifications.
    1.  Don't rely on your own evaluation.  Have someone else (who doesn't know which product was used on which leg) do the evaluation of whether you need to shave or not.  Since you know what your testing for, you might be unconciously influenced.
    2.  Blind the samples.  You should put the products in a similar bottle and mark them with labels like sample A and sample B.  Have someone else fill the bottles and don't reveal the identities until after you made your evaluation.
    These are simple controls and won't guarantee perfect results but they are much better than just trying samples on one leg and the other.
  • JamiSingsJamiSings
    LB - Thanks. I didn't know about your older article. I read this several months ago on another site when looking up that Van-whatever that's suppose to reduce facial hair. They said the same thing about that stuff as well.
Add a Comment