4th laser IPL treatment and still shaving??

[Harlow]

Not trying to be impatient here. I know it will take some time but I'm just curious if my results are in the norm.

Last time I went I had my 4th session, my tech advised she just changed the bulb and it was brand new so may seem a little stronger. Surprisingly my whole chin including the sides up to the corner of my lips just felt warm. Which makes me think that most of my hairs are gone/dieing, and I know the laser was working properly because the upper lip area was still painful. Yet I only have 2 tiny bald spots on the right side of my chin. I'm still having to shave pretty much everyday although today I noticed I really don't have to, especially since I have today off from work.

I'm wondering if from here on out the hairs that do remain are few and far between and even though I can feel stubble pretty much all over that I'm at the beginning stages of them slowly recessing and eventually dieing. Just wanted to get clarification if I'm at the stage where it plateaus and the results aren't drastic but they are slowly but consistently successful.

Thanks for any feedback, and I hope I am making sense, let me know if you need any clarification

[Evolving Beauty]

IPL is a hot mess and you can go 20 to upto 40 times you beard will still remain. It just calms down temporarily for a few weeks then returns.

NOTE there's a BIG difference between IPL and laser though you might think IPL is laser but it's a completely different thing.

The IPL DIVERGES the rays through all direction and DOESN'T hit one specific area that's why it can NEVER concentrate on the area you want it to treat.

The best way is to choose the PURE LASER which concentrates 100% on a specific area.

Google difference between IPL and laser you'll get more details how they function.

[suzifrommd]

It took about 7 or 8 treatments before I had noticeably thinned. Of course, I'm much older so I had a lot more whitish hairs, so don't know if we can really be compared.

[Jill F]

I've done 9 laser sessions and about 70 hours of electro and it's still not all completely gone.   Even when I get "cleared", some always comes back within a few weeks. 

What I've noticed:

IPL isn't as effective as a Lightsheer Duet laser.  The Lightsheer is a much more expensive device and requires a RN to operate it.

You can only "kill" a follicle during a growth phase, and only 30% or so of beard hairs are in a growth phase at any given time.  So if you think you got them all, 70% will return.

Any hairs that are blond, grey or ginger will not be "seen" by the laser.  You need electro for these.

Sometimes follicles can sprout more than one hair, so you need to hit them again.

Sometimes follicles regenerate, but the hair comes back finer.

Beard removal sucks.  I've heard 12 laser sessions and 150 hours of electro is "normal".

You look awesome.

[Harlow]

Thanks Suzie and Evolve,

I'm confused though from reading up on it I thought IPL was better than laser? Everything I read from these forums and elsewhere kept saying IPL is more effective. 

7-8 seems about right, because I am noticing a lot less maintenance as far as shaving is concerned. Just can't wait to see more bald spots and eventually be done with the dang thing!! 

EDIT:

Thank you Jill,

Luckily I have all black facial hair and no grays/whites yet! I'll look into the "Lightsheer" although if a nurse is doing it, I'm guessing it's pricey! There is a medi spa that just opened up next door to my store, I'm wondering if they have something similiar!

Takes a long time I know, and I guess that I am still relieved that at least my beard is definitely NOT what it was. No 5 O'clock shadow and barely there stubble that I closely shave is better than what I had. So I'll just have to be patient like the rest of you ladies 

Anymore feedback would be appreciated though, so post away!!

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

It completely depends on the hair, skin type, IPL machine, and how long it is.

Best to let it grow to a couple of mm before IPL. It hurts more but that's because it is soaking up more light and therefore is more effective. I get my IPL from the company that builds the machines. I have learnt a lot about IPL machines!

[immortal gypsy]

Comparing laser and ipl, laser is better and faster. By about the fourth or fifth session I started to small areas where I had no hair growth using ipl. (I have dark hair pale skin)

[Harlow]

It completely depends on the hair, skin type, IPL machine, and how long it is.

Best to let it grow to a couple of mm before IPL. It hurts more but that's because it is soaking up more light and therefore is more effective. I get my IPL from the company that builds the machines. I have learnt a lot about IPL machines!

Good to know I will not shave the day of now. I heard it was less painful, which makes sense, but I didn't think about if it was more effective or not!

I bought a package so I have 2 more sessions and am wondering if I should switch it up or stay with the same tech. She's great just wondering if different machines might work better or if I'm getting typical results 

[Missy~rmdlm]

11 laser treatments and 45 hours of electrolysis later...there are more appointments ahead. Yep you are impatient.

[Harlow]

11 laser treatments and 45 hours of electrolysis later...there are more appointments ahead. Yep you are impatient.

haha lol, thanks for being honest Missy 

[Mermaid]

I didn't even think IPL worked on male facial hair. It's fine for your arms and/or legs, but for a beard I'd just do laser, specially if your hair is dark. Make sure the laser's an "Alexandrite"... or "YAG"... those two are the best if I'm getting their names right. Nearly every beauty place does IPL... in fact, you can even do IPL at home if you buy your own thingie... it's a waste of money if you ask me. Laser's much more powerful!

[Harlow]

I didn't even think IPL worked on male facial hair. It's fine for your arms and/or legs, but for a beard I'd just do laser, specially if your hair is dark. Make sure the laser's an "Alexandrite"... or "YAG"... those two are the best if I'm getting their names right. Nearly every beauty place does IPL... in fact, you can even do IPL at home if you buy your own thingie... it's a waste of money if you ask me. Laser's much more powerful!

Thank you. It's so weird though, I'm a fast reader & typer so maybe I missed it or got it backwards, but like I said before I totally thought IPL was supposed to be way better than laser. I specifically searched for someone who had an IPL machine argh lol!

Well I have 2 more treatments left that I already paid for. So I will do more research before buying another package. I do see some results though, so at least it wasn't a complete waste