The NoNo Pro is a handheld personal hair removal device that promises to zap away unwanted follicles, from peach fuzz to dense growth, on every skin type and tone under the sun.
On the market since 2004, it has gone through several evolutions but the basic principles remain the same: the no!no! uses patented properties to remove your hair, and claims that repeated use will result in long-term hair removal.
With over 6 million units sold to customers in 55+ countries, it’s obvious that consumers want to believe there’s a better way to remove their unwanted hair. So much so that they’re willing to bite, despite the steep price. And who blames them?
The alternatives for hair removal are awful: lasers, razors, hot wax, plucking… half of which aren’t even in the privacy of your home (and that’s just dealing with standard hair growth, not the mustache fuzz variety).
But the online consensus can give would-be buyers pause: there seems to be one glowing review for every ten that bemoan the product’s failures. That’s quite a gamble! We’ll take a look at all the facts to see how it works, and, more importantly, if it could work for you.
What You Need to Know to Use no!no!
When using the device, it’s important to start with clean, dry skin, and choose a Thermicon tip that’s appropriate to the size area you’ll be treating. Once the unit is turned on, press the tip to your skin and glide in smooth, steady sweeps.
If you’re using the no!no! correctly, a blue signal light will appear. A red signal light means you need to adjust your pressure or speed.
It’s important to go in the opposite direction of your hair’s growth, so the no!no! can reach as close to the root as possible. Also, if your hair is long enough to curl slightly, you may need to trim it down some, but be careful not to shave completely, as some hair still needs to be present.
After use, the NoNo Pro will leave you with a burnt smell and an arm, leg, chin, or upper lip full of stiff stubble. This is the result of your hair being “crystallized” and requires buffing with the included pad to achieve the smoothest results.
To see a long-term difference in hair thickness and density requires that a user treats each area with the no!no! 2-3 times every week, for a minimum of 4-6 weeks. You must continue using the no!no! to maintain any hair removal results.
Buyers should also be aware that the unit tips burn out, and need to be replaced about twice a year. This costs $7 per tip, or bulk packs of three offer one for free, and should be factored in when considering the purchase.
“How it Works” vs. How it Actually Works
The NoNo Pro device sends electrical pulses through a thin, coated wire. When each hair makes contact with the wire, it delivers a small shock down the hair shaft and into the follicle.
That heat pulse results in the burning smell you’ll often read about in user reviews. It also can have an effect on the hair follicle over time, which we’ll talk about in a minute.
In the How it Works section of the no!no! site, this process is said to occur with the patented “Thermicon” heating element, which “works using the scientific principles of thermal technology.”
Their site also uses the word “thermodynamic” often, which makes the product sounds more like something NASA had originally developed to fly rockets.
In reality, thermodynamics is just the branch of physics that’s concerned with how heat relates to energy, and how that can make stuff work. So sure, it can mean fancy-pants inventions that take us into space. But you know what else uses thermodynamics? Your stove.
So how does the no!no! actually remove your unwanted hair? The folks at no!no! call what happens to your hair “crystallization,” but mostly leaves this process to the reader’s imagination.
However, research shows that hair growth can only be stopped by destroying the follicle, and the no!no! claims to do this with heat, unlike lasers that use light. Treating each hair shaft explains the rough, stubbly feeling, and is also why the area must be buffed to achieve the desired smoothness.
Buying Options & Cost
When purchasing the NoNo Pro directly from the website, you have two purchase options available:
- You can pay in full with one upfront cost of $249.95 which includes free shipping
- Pay $14.95, which covers the shipping portion, and then 3 monthly installments of $83.33 charged in 30-day increments. This will bring your total to $264.94
It's important to note that should you chose the payment installment option, the credit card which you use to pay the initial $14.95 will be charged 30 days after the original purchase date in the amount of $83.33.
Each device also comes with one narrow tip and one wide, a large buffer, a tip cleaning brush, charger, user manual CD, and a quick guide to get you up and going. Each unit comes in three available colors: pink, blue, and platinum.
Is no!no! Worth the Investment?
The NoNo Pro promises both short and long-term hair removal, so we’ll address the results in two stages:
After personal use of the product on my arm, I found the area to have noticeably less hair but was not pleased with the resulting texture. Much like the result of singing a thread to prevent unraveling, no!no! use left my arm smelling like something overcooked and feeling rough with stubble even immediately after treatment.
Long-term use is reported to cause a noticeable reduction in hair density by customers who spoke about their experience with the product, both on HighYa’s previous no!no! review and YouTube videos found by searching the product’s name. These reviews all emphasize dedicated use over a long period, and only some were pleased with their results.
What Do Other Consumers Have to Say About the NoNo Pro
The no!no! catches a lot of heat online because their marketing message promises faster, professional-level hair removal; but even in the positive reviews that report actual hair removal, the results don’t match the marketing hype.
While there were reported results of thinned hair and satisfied customers, it’s difficult to find a review that claims this product removed their hair completely. It’s important to remember that you must continue using the no!no! to maintain hair reduction or removal.
The most positive reviews state that some who stuck to their routine past the several months reported a thinning of hair. One positive review on our website states that it has drastically improved her appearance, and she very happy with the result.
The individuals who report the highest level of satisfaction with their purchase tend to be those who struggled the most with a combination of unwanted hair (typically facial) and sensitive skin prior to using.
Concerns raised in reviews focused on the claim that hair removal results would be seen in just a 4-6 week time frame. Many reviewers expressed disappointment in the lack of reduced hair after regular use during this initial window and were dissatisfied enough with their purchase to return the product.
Another common complaint is that the NoNo Pro is not contoured properly to be useful on the chin or underarms.
NoNo Pro’s Return Policy
Finally, there are enough reviews to raise an eyebrow regarding the no!no!'s return policy: the site promises a money-back guarantee (minus the cost of shipping) if you're not satisfied within 30 days from the date your no!no! is received.
However, they require you call their customer service for a return authorization number (RMA) before mailing it back.
According to the company website, everyone can take advantage of NoNo Pro's 30-day triple guarantee. That means you can return your product for a full refund within 30 days of initial purchase and the company will cover the cost to ship it back and reimburse you for the original shipping costs.
Additionally, the company claims that each NoNo Pro unit comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty. Should something happen with your unit as a result of a manufacturer's defect within the first year, they will either fix your current unit or send you a free replacement.
In our opinion, this is subject to question in order to determine what types of issues qualify as a manufacturers defect or normal wear-and-tear.
In order to be eligible for this return policy and one-year warranty, the unit itself has to have been purchased from NoNo Pro's website directly.
To initiate this process, you need to call (800) 985-6730 and provide your original invoice.
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that this product takes some serious commitment: Users who reported the best results claimed to have dedicated 30+ minutes per body area, 2-3 times a week for up to one year.
So if you already spend several hours struggling with unwanted hair each week, but aren’t in the market for laser treatments, this product may be for you. For everyone else, it seems a little too steep an investment to be satisfied with the minimal results.
