Having my first laser session tomorrow...

[Jeneva]

The recommended time is 6 weeks, but I agree with MiaOhMya!.  My tech recommends 4 weeks and I have found that yes I do have growth that quickly.  It isn't really a try to get more $ tactic either since they only charge $50 after 5 treatments.

[MiaOhMya!]

The recommended time is 6 weeks, but I agree with MiaOhMya!.  My tech recommends 4 weeks and I have found that yes I do have growth that quickly.  It isn't really a try to get more $ tactic either since they only charge $50 after 5 treatments.

Right good, I'm not the only one! Its true also that as Jeneva said generally the more often you come in then the less places seem to charge. Try to make it a monthly routine amd you'll get hrmm lets see 52 divide 4= 13 sesssions per year...as opposed to what, 'round 8 if ya go every six weeks?

That is a big difference not only in results, but in mental health too. I used to put at least 3 layers of foundation to cover the beard shadow (always took 45 minutes at minimum) and now I get by with hardly one layer  (now I can look fit as a shiny horse in maybe 5 minutes!).

Oh hey Jeneva did you ever experience the "laser pimples" as I did???

[Jeneva]

Oh hey Jeneva did you ever experience the "laser pimples" as I did???

I don't get pimples, but I do get a sort of thick ridge around the hair as it sheds.  I hate that part.

[michelle666]

The recommended time is 6 weeks, but I agree with MiaOhMya!.  My tech recommends 4 weeks and I have found that yes I do have growth that quickly.  It isn't really a try to get more $ tactic either since they only charge $50 after 5 treatments.

I'm going to start going every 4 after my next appointment in a couple of weeks. I have 6 sessions already paid thanks to a groupon, I'll talk to my laser lady and see what the cost is going to be after that for monthly.

I don't get pimples, but I do get a sort of thick ridge around the hair as it sheds.  I hate that part.

I got some pimples but nothing too bad.

[michelle666]

I have my second session tonight! Hopefully there's less pain. I've had very little regrowth so I'm expecting a bit less this time around. 

[brianna]

thanks to groupon

groupon rocks! 

I would like to mention that I've been to 2 different lazer places,
the 1st one I went to hurt way more than what I was told to expect.
She, said it would feel like being popped with a rubberband, oh this
was on the front of my neck.  I compared it to a bee stinging me,
after that visit I did not return and did not go back.  That was a waste
of my groupon but, it was worth it. 
I found Athens lazer hair removal from a recommendation that was
posted here on susans place.  When I arrived and talked with the
tech, told her about my previous experience needless to say she
was in shock.. 
After going over her technique I felt at ease.  I
chose to have my underarms done.  She uses a cold air delivery
system that the lazer goes into.   When she started I was very
nervous as to what it was going to feel like.  Wow, I was amazed
it felt a lot better, and nothing like a rubberband..  Now, I've
finished my 6 sessions and I'm hair free!    I think I'll start
on my legs next..
ps.  thanks for the tips MiaOhMya

[michelle666]

groupon rocks! 

I would like to mention that I've been to 2 different lazer places,
the 1st one I went to hurt way more than what I was told to expect.
She, said it would feel like being popped with a rubberband, oh this
was on the front of my neck.  I compared it to a bee stinging me,
after that visit I did not return and did not go back.  That was a waste
of my groupon but, it was worth it. 
I found Athens lazer hair removal from a recommendation that was
posted here on susans place.  When I arrived and talked with the
tech, told her about my previous experience needless to say she
was in shock.. 
After going over her technique I felt at ease.  I
chose to have my underarms done.  She uses a cold air delivery
system that the lazer goes into.   When she started I was very
nervous as to what it was going to feel like.  Wow, I was amazed
it felt a lot better, and nothing like a rubberband..  Now, I've
finished my 6 sessions and I'm hair free!    I think I'll start
on my legs next..
ps.  thanks for the tips MiaOhMya

The place that I'm going to used a laser that has a tip that is freezing cold that goes over the area as it's treated. It works very nicely.

[Carolina1983]

I have done 4 sessions so far. I got very black hairs after the treatment but it was burnt hair, it still sucked though .


Because of the hyperpigmentation risk I stopped the treatments in March and will start again in September. But its not fun right now because the hair comes back , I was prepared for it because she said that inactive hair will start to grow so it may seem that the old hair is coming back. However I hope that she is right and that the regrowth will stop after a few more treatments.


Anyone got more experience with this regrowth thing?


I wrote this in a hurry so sorry about that 

[michelle666]

All the super black hairs that I had, fell out. Right now I'm almost totally smooth with a couple of patches here and there, but the patches are getting smaller and lighter as the days go on. I haven't had much regrowth at all. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[Carolina1983]

I will keep my fingers crossed for you too Michelle .


I was pretty much hairless besides around my chin and overlip. So its a bit depressing that the hairfree patches are almost not visible anymore .


I hate beard, I hate hate hate hate. Its so stubborn being there and looking icky =/. Why cant it understand that I dont want it .

[Cindy]

The hair grows in about 6 week cycles, the reason for the multiple sessions is to cover the cycles and then you just need touch ups. It is a waste of time having a repeat until the next cycle of hair grows. Remember to shave before the session for laser, you want to zap the root not burn the hair.

I go for a ten minute touch up, mainly the upper lip every 3 months or so.

The effect has been stunning. It has totally made me a different woman. A big confidence booster and just fantastic. I put on light foundation every day and my skin looks, and feels great.

Cindy

[meia]

its great to be hair free

it never seems to go as much as you like though

[MiaOhMya!]

its great to be hair free

it never seems to go as much as you like though

I'm with you there. Lots of areas on my face have zero visible hair growth, but I can still feel the stubble a couple days later.  Its that less visible white vellus hair, but I've not let it grow out a proper length because I have conditioned myself to believe that ANY hair on my face is bad. I alsoshave my remaining patches, so its easy to give the razor a swipe over that invisible stubble aswell. Meh I really need to back off and let that hair grow...

[NotThereYet]

Hello everybody,

I have done my first laser session two weeks ago and some areas are great, but others, like the upper lip, I still see stuff.... Yet, the hair does not seem to grow.... It is like stuck...

How much hair did y'all have two weeks after your first session? My neck is completely hair free though. :-)

thanks in advance for any answer!
Andrea

[ShawnaB]

After 8 regular monthly sessions everything is basically gone.  The growth cycle isn't completely lined up for every hair, so the overlap cycle seems to have worked well enough I also have dark hair and light skin so am an ideal laser candidate.

I'm now doing maintenance sessions every 2 months and a week shy of my next session there's enough growth the bother me but is easily managed. It's all young thin whispy stuff that's not hugely noticeable, except to me I still have a number of white mature hairs that laser didn't catch but tweezing those is quick and easy.

IIRC ten days or so after my first session is when loads and loads of hair pretty much fell out and it was great I think I had about a 75% reduction just from that first session, and all subsequent sessions were to catch the rest. Each session after that it just got thinner and thinner. Having a good sweaty workout at about that time after a session was great as sweaty pores just kinda pushed the hair out and I could just wipe it all off.

[NotThereYet]

Hi Shawna,

Thanks for your response! :-)

Say, is having sessions 4 weeks or so apart the best possible way to get rid of as many hairs as possible? I keep reading different stuff on the internet: some people say you should wait 6-8 weeks from one session to the next, but then most people seem to have them 4 weeks apart. My tech also recommended to have them 4 weeks apart...

Cheers,
Andrea

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

Use a good moisturizer with a high SPF.  One to keep your skin light for the laser, and two, your skin will be sensitive to the sun.

[MiaOhMya!]

Use a good moisturizer with a high SPF.  One to keep your skin light for the laser, and two, your skin will be sensitive to the sun.

This is very good advice!!! Sun exposure is baddd, and tanning is RIGHT OUT. Apparently tanning after laser can promoye hyperpigmentation...as in permanent dark splotches on the skin.You also want to remain as fair as possible to keep the contrast between hair and skin as great as possible. You'd be keen to avoid the sun alltogether...that goes for anyone really as the sun is proven time and again to be the worst thing for aging as it is.
.

[rachl]

It's SO important to find people who know what they're doing. After four treatments at one spa clinic (through Groupon), I haven't seen the sort of results that I should be. They were using a LightSheer, and I don't think that the techs were well trained.

I just had a treatment from a really experienced aesthetician (friend of my bff), and holy s#*% what a difference!

She used a http://www.opusmed.com/f1laser.html and the difference is amazing. It was the most painful thing I've ever experienced (and I have a very high pain tolerance), but I can easily tell that the results will be drastic.

[ShawnaB]

She used a http://www.opusmed.com/f1laser.html and the difference is amazing. It was the most painful thing I've ever experienced (and I have a very high pain tolerance), but I can easily tell that the results will be drastic.

As long as you're not getting burned by it!  My first session really hurt and I remember trying to rub as much aloe vera gel into my face as I could for about the next 6-8 hours.  Each session after that was less intense but could definitely feel it each time.  In the last few sessions, my tech has changed the aperture to increase the intensity on the laser and it's back to the higher pain levels but she's nuking the little buggers that refused to die before.

Now in maintenance mode, there is more growth than I'd like to see but it's not dense at all. Since laser, I haven't had to use foundation or concealer regularly but I keep a little concealer around at the end of the day just in case.  Eventually I'll get electro for whatever's left at the end of this maintenance round of laser.