Topic: Has laser worked for anyone with blonde facial hair, fair skin?

[bibilinda]

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Hi!

I can't afford electrolysis, but I can laser, that's why I'm asking this!

Looks like HRT and my recent orchie got already rid of about 60-80% of my arm, leg and torso hair... I only need to shave every 1-2 weeks... But my face is a different story... I don't have too much facial hair, but it's enough to ruin my face the 2nd day after shaving, specially when touching it...

Right now, I have several different hair colors on my face:

Sideburns, mustache and under chin: Medium/dark brown.
Chin, neck and lip sides: Blonde.
Scattered hairs everywhere else: Blonde and medium brown.

My skin is fair, not milky but Caucasian/Mediterranean white (I'm white, medium-dark brown hair, green eyes).

Anyone with similar hair/skin features as mine, has been successful with facial laser? If so, how many sessions did you need to finally achieve a soft hairless face?

Love

Bibi

[Caith]

Laser won't touch blonde, gray, or white hairs AT ALL.  It doesn't work so well on red or very light brown hairs, either.  Laser hair removal targets the melanin (pigment) in the hair roots, and relies on darker roots to work.  My beard was always a mixture of black, brown, red, blonde, and later, gray.  Laser wasn't available in the days when my beard was mostly black and brown, so I'm now having electrolysis.   Something recommended by many people is to use laser first, and get as much hair removed as possible using that method.  When you have a stable reduction from the laser treatments, then start electrolysis to remove the remaining hairs.  It's a very effective strategy for getting the best results with the least expense.  Laser excels at treating larger areas (like the size of a quarter) quicker, while electrolysis treats individual hair follicles.  Laser is faster, but electrolysis is definitely permanent, no matter what the size or color of the hairs.

For more detailed experiences, check out the HairTell.com forums for laser hair removal and professional electrolysis.  There are some great professionals there who offer really good advice, free of charge.

[Skyanne]

There are some more modern lasers that are supposed to be effective on light and even blonde hair.

I dunno about outside the UK, but a number of clinics here offer hair removal for blonde hair, including:

http://www.harleymedical.co.uk/non-surgical-solutions/laser-hair-removal/

I have hair similar to what you described and I just started laser hair removal, according to the technician it's going well, and I've noticed reduction in my facial hair already.

[AmySmiles]

Nope, I don't think so.

I have dark hairs around my mouth and chin, but everywhere else is blonde.  I couldn't even feel the laser when she zapped a few scattered dark hairs in the blonde area.  None of the blonde hairs ever shed afterward either.

[Miss_Anthropic]

Nope, I don't think so.

I have dark hairs around my mouth and chin, but everywhere else is blonde.  I couldn't even feel the laser when she zapped a few scattered dark hairs in the blonde area.  None of the blonde hairs ever shed afterward either.

Truth.

I'm a natural blonde and it did work on some of the dark blonde hairs, but by in large my facial hair was/is black. I now have only blonde hairs left on my chin. Doesn't sound like laser would be all that good for you, I will be in the same boat before long... short electro sessions when and if I can afford them.

~Sara

[superkitty036]

i have had my face lasered like 5 times, it is all gone except the blonde (ok gray) hairs. The way she explained it was that the laser uses the dark pigmented hait as like a conduit for the laser top reach the folicle......electrolysis is the only way for gray and light blonde hairs to disappear! You know, i am baffled that we can perform brain surgery, do heart transplants, build vessels that go into outer space, but we can seem to find a quick and easy way to rid us of unwanted hair..good lluck to you!

[Miss_Anthropic]

Here's an idea: Even though I would feel lousy going like that, what about going to the Laser place in boy mode without shaving for some 3 days, so they can see what they can and they can't do for me? I could shave in there before the session... My sideburns and below my chin have very dark ugly hairs, as well as the very ridiculous amount of upper lip hair I have... If I got rid of that at least, I'd be 50% or even a bit happier than now! Does that make any sense?

This is totally what I do

[Cindy.]

I've had three face lasers and they have been very successful. But it is not touching white or grey hair. Fortunately they are a minimum on my face. Interestingly may chest hair went after two sessions, except for white hairs. My techs have both said laser will have no effect on blonde or white.

Cindy

[Carlita]

Bibi ... Two things ...

1. Going in boy mode i a smart idea, if you can stand it

2. LOVE your new picture!! So nice to see you smile! IT totally transforms you - happier, prettier, girlier ... an all round win-win-win! 

[bibilinda]

Thanks to everybody who answered this!
Carlita, thanks for your opinion on my avatar pic! I crack myself up many times a day, and I like  watching comedy, so I laugh a lot and get an abdominal workout without intending to! I.E. I love watching Seinfeld re-runs, Kramer and George really crack me up!
Back to the issue: In conclusion, I have mixed feelings about both laser and electrolysis. Before I started HRT, I had 13 laser sessions on my face. I'd say that got rid of approximately 50% of my facial hair. Then for more than a year I got the left out hairs waxed and plucked every week by a cosmetologist, until I got tired of seeing no results. Now I shave every 3-4 days. When I take progesterone it seems I grow more hair everywhere, so I think I'll stop progesterone.
Here's an interesting thread on several women's opinions about both electrolysis and laser. It's not the first time I've read electrolysis wasn't the solution for eliminating facial hair.
http://askville.amazon.com/crack-lot/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=65534019
And I was amazed to find out even genetic women do grow facial hair in areas other than upper lip (mustache). I am yet to find a drug or natural supplement which would totally prevent the adrenal glands from producing testosterone, since spiro doesn't seem to do the trick for me and I totally hate the leg cramps I get when I take it, and cyproterone acetate is just too dangerous for my health because I have diabetes, so I'd rather have ugly body hair to shave, than risk getting diabetes-related complications... Even us without testes ARE NOT free from producing testosterone, because of such glands... Bummer!
Love
Bibi 

[Caith]

Bibi, repeated plucking and/or waxing can cause finer hairs to become stronger and thicker.  It's possible what dark hair was too fine for the laser to treat previously is now dense enough for the laser to treat successfully.   If that's not successful, electrolysis is definitely the solution, unless you're content to shave it after several days.  Unlike plucking/waxing, shaving will NOT stimulate the hair to become stronger and thicker.  Only time and hormones will eventually cause that.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do! 

[cynthialee]

I had alot of red and dark blond hairs. Most was black but I did have a number of lighter hairs.
Now the only thing left is the gray. All the blond, red and black ones are history.

One thing about laser, you will be going in for touch ups. The laser isn't 100% but it sure does make passing alot easier when the shadow is gone.