When laser hair removal doesn't work!

[Mariax]

I write this after a number of attempts at trying laser hair removal... unsuccessfuly. While I believe the problem was simply having the wrong hair type, there were several things that kept me going back. I'll write what those were for the sake of anyone else who may be considering laser but is unsure whether to spend the money on it or something else.

First off, my facial hair goes from red to blond. I figured from the beginning I would need electralisis for the lighter hair anyway, so I was ready to forge ahead and at least thin things out.

What happened? Well, to begin with, there was pinprick pain and the smell of burning hair, two positive signs. In a day or two, I also noticed the hair seemed easier to shave off. What there was not was any real removal of hair.

At first, I put this down to a weak setting. They increased it the next time. Same results. I repeated this process a few more times to no avail. Now, about six sessions in, I am calling it quits and moving on to electralisis.

I kept trying to tell myself the hairs were darker that they are, because the folical looked black, but I am now of the opinion that that is mere shadow.

I may have simply hit on a lower quality place, but I am more inclined to believe my hair color just wasn't a good match for laser... but I managed to keep deceiving myself about results.

Hopefully this will be of help to someone!

[Ms Grace]

Reddish/blonde hairs really don't go well with laser. You'll still smell the hairs burning but the laser isn't going to do anything to the root of the follicles just singe the hairs.

[Monkeymel]

I agree with Grace. I have a lot of thick white hairs - growing fast. They get plucked daily as electrolysis is slow and laser didn't work on them. Unfortunately electrolysis is a slow way forwards. On HRT many become softer and finer but still grow fast - feels like chicken skin sometimes

[Ms Grace]

Unfortunately plucking beard hairs can result in a lot of ingrowns. I was getting my beard waxed for a while - painful!!! Wasn't making much difference to the softness or persistence of hairs even being on HRT, electro was unfortunately the only option.

[Kaley]

Unfortunately plucking beard hairs can result in a lot of ingrowns. I was getting my beard waxed for a while - painful!!!

Ouch!!! I could not imagine how sore that must have been Grace!  You are definitely a trooper!

Anyways, I think laser can be hit or miss sometimes even with the most ideal skin/hair type and the very best of lasers out there due to many different variables.  During my 1st attempt at a transition, I had laser done on my arms, legs, and beard.  Arms and legs at a medispa place using the GentleMax laser and the beard at a dermatology type place using the GentleLase laser.  I found that the dermatology based office was better at more aggressively treating me  and did a more thorough job whereas the medispa was a little conservative on their settings and it seemed like they tried to get me in and out as fast as possible.  After 5 treatments on both arms and legs, I had only about a 25% reduction on the legs and almost NO reduction on my arms (although the hair did grow back much thinner).  On my beard, after only 3 treatments, I probably had close to a 45-50% reduction which was nice.

I thought I was a really good candidate for laser because I am a skin type 3ish with thick, dark black hair, but even then I didn't have super good results.  If you think you aren't getting good results due to your hair color, I would definitely suggest you find a good electrologist who is willing to work with you for long sessions because the results are more of a guarantee even though it would take a lot longer to achieve and would probably be much more expensive.

[Christine Eryn]

I tried laser a while back and was sure it didn't work. I think they used the Star Wars 9 out of 10 setting laser that hurt like hell. I have dark hair and am old enough now (sigh) to have white hairs, so I go to an electrologist.

[Allyda]

I'm having the same problem with gray/silver facial hairs. When I treat I still feel the pinprick and smell the hair burning but they still come back. I have very sensitive skin so as you can imagine especially now that my skin has softened due to my hrt how much of a problem this is becoming. Shaving hurts really bad now and though I probably only have 40% of my facial hair left (my laser had no problem ridding me of my dark hairs -those are all gone) and they are now much finer, my having to still shave leaves my skin red and very irritated in my problem areas (thank heaven for concealers and foundation or I couldn't leave my house). I also fear scarring just from still having to shave these areas.

I can't afford electrolysis done professionally. My only hope is to maybe buy the equipment second hand and with my SO's help try it DIY. It's a shame too cause I've spent a small fortune on my lasers and one IPL. I have the carbon dye for use with lasers and lighter hairs. It helps some but is very messy. I just know I have to do something because my skin is only becoming softer as my hrt progresses, and soon due to the pain and fear of scarring it's going to become near impossible for me to continue shaving these problem areas.

Ally

[warlockmaker]

Thanks to advise from this forum in the past I now offer my contribution.

Laser only works on dark hairs, it is not effective with blonde, red, white/silver. The only way to get rid of these hairs is by electrolysis. I removed my dark hairs by laser and paid a set sum to remove them regardless of the number of sessions at a top salon. I have been having electrolysis for over a year with 2 sessions a week of 40 to 60 minutes. I am going to start once a week next week as we are in tyhe clearing phase. I have not shaved since the New Year and my facial hair is 90+ pct gone, it feels great.

The pain of electrolysis is different from person to person and also the technician skill. I have used only 2 different tecnnicians and there is a very small difference between them though the one I use now is better.I prepared for the worst and was pleasently suprised, but don't get me wrong there is an element of pain both when they put the needle in the shaft, the heat, and the hair pull. But I kina go into a meditation mode. The upper lip was really sensitive and slightly more painful but near the nostrils it triggers a sneezing frenzy. I do not and have not used any numbing cream, I though I would need it but it was not necessary for me. Some have a major issue with the upper lip and use a dentist pain block. Clearing the face of hair is so important if you plan to transition and its not so bad when you can feel the benefits.

Hope this is useful

[Allyda]

Thanks to advise from this forum in the past I now offer my contribution.

Laser only works on dark hairs, it is not effective with blonde, red, white/silver. The only way to get rid of these hairs is by electrolysis. I removed my dark hairs by laser and paid a set sum to remove them regardless of the number of sessions at a top salon. I have been having electrolysis for over a year with 2 sessions a week of 40 to 60 minutes. I am going to start once a week next week as we are in tyhe clearing phase. I have not shaved since the New Year and my facial hair is 90+ pct gone, it feels great.

The pain of electrolysis is different from person to person and also the technician skill. I have used only 2 different tecnnicians and there is a very small difference between them though the one I use now is better.I prepared for the worst and was pleasently suprised, but don't get me wrong there is an element of pain both when they put the needle in the shaft, the heat, and the hair pull. But I kina go into a meditation mode. The upper lip was really sensitive and slightly more painful but near the nostrils it triggers a sneezing frenzy. I do not and have not used any numbing cream, I though I would need it but it was not necessary for me. Some have a major issue with the upper lip and use a dentist pain block. Clearing the face of hair is so important if you plan to transition and its not so bad when you can feel the benefits.

Hope this is useful

Thanks. I pretty much know in the back of my mind I'm going to need electrolysis to rid me of my remaining gray facial hair. I guess I just needed to hear it from someone else to make it real. I really don't have that much left. Only what had turned gray in the last few years due to my age. It really sucks too as I've spent a couple thousand on my lasers & IPL. I know electro won't be cheap especially where I live but if it's gotta be it's gotta be. I'll find the funds somehow. Again, thanks for the info.

Ally