Laser Hair Removal

Shepherdjel

I'm just curious what everyone's opinion is abut Laser Hair Removal...it's kinda appealing to me becasue i hate shaving and especially under my arms sometimes i feel like i can shave til i hit skin and it still looks as though there is stubble there and it looks horrible! What is everyone's opinion about it, have you had it, do you like it, is it safe, does it hurt, that sort of stuff. Thank You!

ylime1207

I won a laser hair removal package from a bridal show I went to last year.  I had my underarms, lower legs, and brazilian done.  If I hadn't won it, I wouldn't have done it because it is expensive. 

Does it work?  Yes and no.  It works best on dark hair on fair skin, which I have.  It is not effective on tan skin, and, in fact, can be unsafe for darker skins.  Likewise, blond hairs aren't affected by the laser either.  If you fall into the right category, it can work, sort of...  They'll tell you that, at best, it will last for a couple years.  But you have to do 6+ sessions at 5-6 weeks apart for the complete treatment.  While you're in treatment, you'll notice the hairs growing in slower, thinner, less coarse, and lighter.  The hair will grow in really uneven patches.  I'd only need to shave every couple of weeks, but then again, I don't like shave very often to begin with :P.

Did it hurt?  Yes, very much so.  I can't compare it to waxing or a tattoo because I've never done either, but it definitely hurts.  The laser only has a beam of about a square inch and it's done in pulses.  If square inch of skin you have done has to receive a pulse and each time you feel the pain.  The pain feels like rubber bands snapping on your skin.  Some areas hurt more than others, depending on how close the nerves are.  They usually use some kind of topical numbing gel, but it doesn't help too much.

I don't know how safe it is, but it comes with the risk of scarring your skin (usually on darker skins) or burning it.  While you're in treatment, they want you to avoid all exposure to sun, or if you are going out in the sun, you are supposed to wear heavy SPF.  This isn't fun if you're doing it over the summer.

I didn't like it, and I wouldn't do it again.  I didn't finish the 6 treatments because the salon I went to closed.  I had done 4 sessions and I didn't want to finish the last two because of the pain.  Once I stopped the treatments, the hair grew back to what it was before I started within only a couple months.  For me, it wasn't worth the time, money, and pain.  But maybe it worked for someone!

I hope this helps!

Jillibeans11681

Not everyone is a good candidate for laser, it's very pricey, not painless and it is NOT permanent. Only electrolysis is permanent. The best candidates for laser are those with very LIGHT skin and DARK hair. Lasers are attracted to pigment, so if skin is light, the laser is attracted to the hair. If skin AND hair are dark, the laser is attracted to the pigment in both the skin and hair. I've seem people with some pretty nasty laser burns. (I'm a licensed esthetician in Mass.) Honestly, waxing and sugaring are faaaaaaaaaaar less expensive, take less committment and work great on nearly every skin and hair type.

Shepherdjel

Thats exactly what i needed to know and was looking for..i'm going to pass on laser hair removal! Thank You Ladies for all your helpful & useful Information!!!!!!!!!!

Knittibell

I've had it done- armpits and bikini line. It's not very painful, but it's also not comfortable. The good news is, it only lasts a few seconds. It feels like someone snapping a rubber band against your skin. Certain areas don't hurt much at all and others make me want to yell OW! But if you been waxed, it's no worse than that.

it's best if you have dark hair/pale skin. It also takes a lot of treatments to get it all, and it's not cheap, but IMO, it's worth it. I always got irritation in my underarms and bikini line, so it's worth the price for me!

laurenrenee80

It was worth it for me, too. Waaaay less painful than waxing. It is uncomfortable, but I found waxing way more excruciating. I do have light skin and dark hair and it works great on me. I haven't had any scarring and I only have to go about once a year for a touch up (bikini area). However, I will say that I get mine done at a Dr.'s office. I would be wary of those med-spa places. Mine was very expensive, but it was worth it to me at the time. Not sure I'd do it if I was trying to pay for a wedding, like now!