Tell me all about laser hair removal

akmackay · October 2010

Does it hurt? What area did you get done? There are a bunch of Groupons today for it and I've been wanting to try it (starting with my underarms- if that goes well, I'd move on to bikiki). I'm terrified of the pain though. I had a different type of treatment done on my face and it was like a terrible pinching over and over- I'd assume the laser hair removal is the same?

Please tell me it's worth it- no matter what the pain.

uppereastgirl · October 2010

I'll be honest -- it hurts a lot. More than a bikini wax because it takes longer and is really a strange, uncomfortable pain. Pinching is probably right. It gets better as you go along because fewer follicles are there to be burned. Advil and numbing cream help.

But it was SOOOO worth it. I'm really happy with the results. Particularly on my underarms.

I'd do a lot of research on a place before buying a package. Some lasers are less effective than others, some may not be good for your hair type, and a bad technician can do more harm than good. So I probably wouldn't jump at a Groupon? Or at least I'd look around for opinions before you do.

Danes983 · October 2010

My dermetologist and I just spoke about this. He said people with dark hair lighter skin are perfect candidates. But they kept talking about touchups. It doesnt remove the hair for good. So you will have to go back. Which turns me off because its not cheap.

akmackay · October 2010

UEG- I know. i've been doing my research for some time. I'm looking and researching all these companies that are on it. I would never just buy something like this without looking into it first haha that could be baaad

leah2b · October 2010

Had it done a couple of years ago and it works well. You need to have the area done at least 5 times. I don't think it is totally permanent though - may need to go back over time for additional sessions. I had it done on my lower legs and it really didn't hurt that bad. I have heard the bikini hurts much more. Its so nice to not have to shave my legs every day.

I've noticed that some hair has grown back but it is sparse and definitely not as coarse. I'll prob go back for another session.

ahhndrea · October 2010

I've had mixed results - I did a good deal of research on the lasers ahead of time and you need to go to the places and get a "test" done as part of your consult so you know what it feels like and get to see the staff/cleanliness of facilities. This is not something that I would do with a coupon nor would I look for the cheapest deal out there.

I have light skin, dark hair and the bikini area did hurt a bit, but nothing like waxing and now I dont have to worry about it at all. They also did my legs and underarms and my legs I only shave maybe once a week, but there are only a few patches that still grow in. I feel like I have to shave my underarms more often though which is frustrating.

I went 12 times over 3 years (that was my package) and it is a major time commitment, not to mention, you need to stay out of the sun during treatment, so its not a quick process either.

All that aside, it was worth it in the end.

felicia220 · October 2010

I liked it when I was doing them. I really didn't find it that painful, not as much as a bikini wax, but I think that everyone processes pain differently. I haven't done it in a while so the hair has grown back. But I think that if you stick with it and go when your suppose to (which most of the time I didn't haha) It works really well. I have friends that haven't shaved in years and virtually have no hair on their legs, I just wasn't that dedicated.

akmackay · October 2010

Felicia- how many times did you go and is the hair growing back like it used to, or is it more sparse/thinner?

felicia220 · October 2010

Allie, I did the laser on the bottom half of my leg and my Bikini. I was suppose to go about every 8 weeks or so. Sometimes I wouldn't be able to make it and end up waiting 3 months instead. You certainly have to commit to it if you going to do it. I am a huge fan of it because when I was doing it, the hair takes a long time to grow back and comes in so fine. My Bikini area took to the laser so much more than my legs did and while my legs are kind of back to normal (I haven't done it in maybe 9 months) my bikini is still taking to it. I was never able to shave because it would irritate the skin so much that I also had to get waxed, but now I can shave no problem and I really don't have to do it often at all. The hair takes so long to grow back and super fine that I can wear a bikini without shaving you would never know that there was hair there. I don't know if that completely answered your question, sorry my Brain is just working very slowly today......hahaha

akmackay · October 2010

lol how many times did you go for each part?

felicia220 · October 2010

I want to say that I did 4 or 5 sessions on my Bikini and maybe one more than that on my legs. I started it a while ago so I don't remember exactly.

[Deleted User] · October 2010

I'm really pale with really thick dark hair - lucky me huh? I went for my legs and still have 1 more session to go - i have NOTHING on my legs - NOTHING!! this coming from a girl that had prickly legs the same day she shaved them!!

is it painful? yes - but it lasts only about 20 mins all together and if your tech talks to you throughout the process you forget all about it. i've been told that people cry a lot of times but i agree that it's sooooo worth it in the end.

i wouldn't trust the groupon discount places that much. i looked into a lot of the places they offer discounts at and many of them have bad reviews. i go to romeo juliet laser in nyc - i love them, i believe the owner is the head of the laser assoc. or something like that.

[Deleted User] · October 2010

by the way - from what i understand legs hurt the most - bikini and underarm hurt much less.....all three of the mentioned areas have the best results

aprilfresh11 · October 2010

According to my asthetician (Ivana @Chappaqua Wellness Center), the only permanent way to remove hair is by electrolosis. She explained the technical reason why, but I can't remember anymore. It is a bit painful at first, but you get used to it. You can also apply a numbing gel if you can't deal. I like to think of it as more of a routine than a commitment. And soooo worth it-I'll never have to shave my underarms again, and my eyebrows will still look good when I'm an old lady in a nursing home

Tell me all about laser hair removal

Re: Tell me all about laser hair removal

Choose Another Board

Search Boards