Laser Hair Removal

[fezbatik]

i am doing it right now with a alexandrite laser. i always see those plastic surgery shows ont v saying youll have permanant hair loss after like 4-5 treatments. they are either full of crap or i have a sh*tty aesthetician. i have to go for 1 full year and i go every 4 weeks. near the middle of 3rd week the hairs start to grow back. ive been through like 9 months so far and it still grows back but there is just less then before. i dont think laser hair removal is ever permanant. i think most places guarantee a 60% REDUCTION, but never 100% permanant.

Hair growth patterns and amounts are mostly determined by hormones - so you may never stop the hair from growing back - however, I don't think there is any reason why you should be going every 4 weeks ...
Also, look into an aesthetician who uses the "Cool Glide" laser, I believe it is a little more powerful, so the results last longer.

 

[tulip]

I highly recommend it, and results are better in legs and arms (Not sure about underarms since I didnt do that yet) than face...

I just moved to Holland, and was wondering if anyone knows where I can find a lazer removal clinic (preferably) or Salon in the netherlands? Can't seem to find any yet....

Thanks

 

[ChrissyM]

Hey, I just thought I'd revive this thread with some personal experiences since I've had both laser and electrolysis. I'm not sure how effective laser is on the upper lip since hair there is usually finer and maybe less dark than other places . . . I have been getting electrolysis on my upper lip and in other areas--lip definitely hurts the most but I have a high tolerance for pain so it's not too terrible and the results are definitely worth it.

I have gotten laser done on my bikini area where the hair is darker/coarser and the results have been really great. I think electrolysis and laser are some of the best things I've ever done--I'm of Mediterranean descent if that helps put things in perspective. Laser is definitely costly but I think the results are worth it--I'm pretty sure my woman uses a "cool glide" laser . . . i've had 5 or 6 treatments and the hair is almost completely gone, and whatever random patches remain are of much finer hair than used to be there . . . I highly recommend it. I think it becomes addictive in a way--I'll probably do more when I have more money

 

[Plastic'sWife]

thank you so much for that ChrissyM.
I have been seriously considering it and hope to do it with in the next 2 months or so.

 

[Ella]

When did they start doing lazer hair removal? I just wouldn't risk it unless I knew what the possible long term effects are, and this is relatively new isn't it? I just got freaked out when I watched a tv-show where a woman had done maybe 4-5 treatments and something went wrong and she got burnt really badly so she can expose her skin to the sun anymore... scary...

 

[ChrissyM]

You're very welcome Plastic'sWife!

To answer your question *EllaH I started doing laser over a year ago . . . I think probably December/January 03/04, and my skin never even showed any sort of irritation beyond the first treatment . . . but as I said, my skin handle's the procedure very well, and the woman has commented on that several times. I don't remember ever hearing about the burning that you saw on tv--I'm guessing the woman probably just got a botched treatment, but then again I don't know all that much about the actual process. There are settings/intensities of the electric pulse or whatever it is and a trained technician should know not to use more than what the individual's skin can handle. I was slightly apprehensive before starting everything, but the technicians make you aware of what the risks are (i don't even remember them) and you have to sign some sort of form, so you're aware of what you're getting into. I hope that helps! I personally have not heard any horror stories . . . and my sister has gotten laser done too and hers also went well.

 

[tott]

Laser hair removal for fair hair!

I've always read and heard that there are no effective lasers that target grey/blond/red hairs, but it seems there is a newish laser called "chromolite" which actually is able to target even fair hairs!

I'm very tempted to try this... If anyone has tried this laser, please feel free to share your experiences!

A random clinic link I found: http://www.theprivateclinic.co.uk/hairremoval/chromolite.htm

 

[marcy248]

I would love that. I have blond facial hair but I'd love to get rid of it.

 

[lost in kyoto]

How much are the different procedures?

 

[Party_Vixen]

What's the difference b/w laser and electrolysis? I thought they were the same thing.

 

[ChrissyM]

What's the difference b/w laser and electrolysis? I thought they were the same thing.

laser is a pulsing light treatment where you can treat a whole area in a relatively short amount of time... good for big areas like legs, armpits, bikini line etc

whereas electrolysis is an electric current that goes through a needle that is inserted into the pore of an individual hair... this is good for smaller areas where more precise hair removal is desired... like eyebrows for example... upper lip, chin, sides etc are also good places to treat with this imo...

they are DEFINITELY different, and laser is much more expensive.. though in the long run it may even out because you probably have to go in for more treatments with electrolysis..

 

[adorefaith]

most of my girlfriends have had laser hair removal and are really happy with the results....
they say they get hair re-growth here and there but it is much finer and less noticeable than before....
they have all gone for a lot of sessions, though....

my aunt had it done a few months ago and got burned terribly....
i was seriously considering laser, but after seeing the top half of her legs, i'm worried....
she went to a very reputable place.....i dont know what went wrong, and neither does she.....she got her money back, but there are discoloured patches of her skin now.....it almost looks like stretch marks??.....
she said she felt excrutiating pain.....ouchie!

 

[Irene_A]

Electrolysis hurts a lot more than laser, at least to me.

 

[Party_Vixen]

laser is a pulsing light treatment where you can treat a whole area in a relatively short amount of time... good for big areas like legs, armpits, bikini line etc

whereas electrolysis is an electric current that goes through a needle that is inserted into the pore of an individual hair... this is good for smaller areas where more precise hair removal is desired... like eyebrows for example... upper lip, chin, sides etc are also good places to treat with this imo...

they are DEFINITELY different, and laser is much more expensive.. though in the long run it may even out because you probably have to go in for more treatments with electrolysis..

Thanks! Electrolysis sounds like it would hurt more . I really want to get this done I'm just unsure which route to take, but all of ur stories and advice are really helping me .

 

[ChrissyM]

i feel like electrolysis only really hurts on very sensitive areas (like upper lip and eyebrows)

I've gotten electrolysis on other areas (like strays on the sides/sideburn area of the face) and really didn't feel anything there.. but it could depend on the person i guess

party_vixen my advice would be to go for a consultation at a place that does both and you can work out a plan of action for whatever areas you're thinking of getting done...

adorefaith I can't believe what happened to your aunt! Sounds terrible...

I've been very happy with all of my experiences... it's been over a year and a half since I got the laser done on my bikini area and things still look pretty good down there... I could probably go in for a touch up but I'm not really too concerned about it to be honest.... whatever regrowth I have is minimal and much finer/sparser than what was previously there... it's nothing I can't just quickly swipe a razor over with no irritation

 

[thepixies]

hi. is there anything you are supposed to do between sessions with laser?
can you shave or wax normally?
would anyone recommend a place to get it done in NYC?
i get a lot of ingrown hairs and i heard that laser hair removal could solve this.
i am kind of confused about the results. do you really ever stop growing hair?
thanks so much

 

[marcy248]

hi. is there anything you are supposed to do between sessions with laser?
can you shave or wax normally?
would anyone recommend a place to get it done in NYC?
i get a lot of ingrown hairs and i heard that laser hair removal could solve this.
i am kind of confused about the results. do you really ever stop growing hair?
thanks so much

My understanding is that you can shave in-between sessions but you CANNOT wax because of the increased sensitivity of the skin due to the laser treatments.

I can't recommend a place in NYC, but I can recommend a great place in the Detroit area (Troy for you locals) which is really good and extremely reasonably priced.

 

[ChrissyM]

^^ you're right you can shave but DEFINITELY not wax or pluck... not only because your skin is more sensitive but my lady told me that waxing/plucking can actually stimulate more hair growth so you would essentially be somewhat reversing your progress...

nothing is ever 100% permanent but regrowth should be minimal and easily taken care of with touch ups...

 

[SiennaInLondon]

Laser is the BEST thing I have EVER done. And I have dark skin (I am of Asian descent but when I am not tanned, I am not much darker than someone from the mediterranean but still...) and it still works. I am having everything done, even when it is fine down like on the back or arms. I just dont want to think of hair again.

I started having it done because waxing gave me ingrown hairs and horribly scarred legs. That is all gone now. Now I am addicted. Most courses at clinics are about 6 treatments but that is for reduction. To get it all gone, you need about 20 treatments. My legs have been done eight times and it is not a visual issue but a 'feel' issue. I dont want my legs to be stubbly

Oh and laser friggin kills on areas like bikini lines. I would go in drunk or stoned if I were you Underarms are fine because there isnt that much hair and the area is small. But there are A LOT of follicles in the bikini area. To avoid problems, they usually start with lower power and then increase it over the course. It is less painful if the hairs are the shortest possible -just peeking over the skin.

And you cant wax, not because of irritation, but because waxing removes the hairs from the follicles so next time you go the laser wont be able to get that hair

 

[cuteshoes215]

i'm getting laser hair removal on my bikini line..are you supposed to wear underwear during the procedure, or no?