Hair removal options

[Balerie]

What are the differences between hair removal by electrosys and laser? Are there any advantages to using one over the other? Also, what are the costs approximately? I'd like to start doing some research so I can get started.


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[ImagineKate]

Laser targets pigment in the hair so it will not work with light hair. It is also not approved as hair removal only reduction by the FDA. It works for a lot of people though. It can be faster and cheaper than electrolysis.

Electrolysis is more effective on all hair and skin types and is permanent. However it is more expensive. It is slower however.

Costs vary but generally laser is cheaper.


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[Jill F]

Your options are as follows: razors, lasers and tasers.  LOL

Seriously, lasers work best on lighter skin and darker hairs.  It's about $125-$175 a session, which lasts about 15 mins and it works better with something like a LightSheer Duet than a IPL.  They do grow back a lot of the time, esp if your T levels are higher.  I stopped after 12 sessions over 20 months.  I can probably count the remaining dark ones on my fingers now.

Electro is $60 - $120 per hour.  You will need it for blond, red and grey hairs.. I found the multi-probe galvanic was more effective and less painful than single probe methods.  (Yes, I've been aound the block a few times)  They do come back, and most people seem to need to go in for touch-ups after all is cleared.  Fortunately, the sessions get shorter and spread further apart when you're toward the end.  I'm not quite there yet.  The upper lip hairs are the worst, and I still have some fine ones left that I will need numbing cream for.

[Balerie]

I need to look at the various Groupon prices I've see for laser then. A bunch of them are 50% or more off and include several sessions.


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[suzifrommd]

What are the differences between hair removal by electrosys and laser? Are there any advantages to using one over the other? Also, what are the costs approximately? I'd like to start doing some research so I can get started.

Laser works well with light skin and dark hair. If you're hair is light, doesn't work as well.

Electrolysis is painstaking and expensive. You're paying by the hair.

No one knows for sure whether laser is permanent or not. I've had good luck with my face, not so good with my throat.

I used Laser to remove the dark hairs (cost was about $2000). Now I'm having electro to get rid of the rest. I've been at it a year (100 hours, cost = about $7000) and nowhere near finished. I'm 53, though, so I have a lot of white hairs on my face.

Both hurt, but electrolysis had more intense pain.

Does this help?

[Balerie]

Thank you all for your answers. I have a better viewpoint of what this entails now that I understand it better.

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[Christine Eryn]

In my lengthy transition, more times than not, I have taken the sure thing. Electrolysis is a pain in more ways than one, but it's effective if you keep on it as much as possible.

[teamkp]

The success of laser is dependent on your skin pigmentation, genetics, and hair color.  I find laser to be less painful, but either way, hair free, minus removing the locks on top, is a great feeling

[TSJasmine]

I pluck my mustache lol That's the only thing that grows. Haven't done it in like a week though & I haven't even noticed. Might get electro one day. I think my skin is too dark for laser.

[Emjay]

I pluck my mustache lol

OW! OW! OWW!   

I do full electrolysis, it is expensive, painful and a very slooowwww process but I have a lot of red and gray hair on my face so it's my best option.

[Alexis2107]

I have pale skin and dark hair... my first laser session, it just made hair stop growing as fast....

my second session, my 5 o'clock shadow is gone on my chin... but still exist on my upper lip...

my third session... well, we'll have to see what happens in December when I go back.  I am going to tell him to crank the machine as powerful as it can go on my upper lips... want them suckers... DEAD.. DEAD.. DEAD!!! lol

But, I still shave even my chin... just to have it smoother... I figure one or two more sessions, I won't have to shave my chin anymore... but the 5 o'clock is gone on my chin area all together... and HRT starting to take its effect, which is awesome... my best friend even said today my face is getting more feminine features since I been on HRT, so has my boyfriend xD

[TSJasmine]

OW! OW! OWW!   

I do full electrolysis, it is expensive, painful and a very slooowwww process but I have a lot of red and gray hair on my face so it's my best option.

It really doesn't hurt all that bad anymore lol There's not much hair there to begin with & it's thin. Plus, I've been plucking it for years. I don't like shaving it cause I feel like it leaves the area darker.

[Balerie]

It really doesn't hurt all that bad anymore lol There's not much hair there to begin with & it's thin. Plus, I've been plucking it for years. I don't like shaving it cause I feel like it leaves the area darker.

I pluck mine as well but as I get to the center it hurts a lot. I was never able to pluck my entire mustache because of pain and bleeding some times. So when I start to pluck I still end with a dark patch at the center of the lip. I wish I could pluck the whole thing because it would get rid of that horrid shadow under makeup. It doesn't help that my face starts growing out shortly after shaving. I think I might be able to last 8 hours before I feel stubble on my face.


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[ImagineKate]

I use vaniqa and electrolysis. Regrowth is there but it's finer and slower. When I start HRT it will probably slow more.

[Cindy Stephens]

I have think that you might want to be careful about plucking.  I have been told that it can cause hairs to grow back in at really odd angles.  That then requires your electrologist to spend extra time finding the hair shaft and getting the probe to the root.  I do not know if it has any effect on laser results.  I was lucky enough to have a really light beard to begin with.  I really couldn't grow (I tried) a beard or mustache when I turned 40, before any removal attempts.  Have had both laser and mostly electrolysis.  Blend type.  Anyone else remember zapping those hairs right below the septum of the nose? Put me right into "brain freeze," like drinking a slushie too fast.
 

[Rafiki]

It would be nice to have an option but if one is as grey as I, then electrolysis is the only one available.
The problem with any hair removal is the length of time that is needed - I've had sessions at roughly twice a month over the past year and still ned to shave daily to maintain a smooth beard area.  It is worth remembering that each hair follicle has a three stage cycle of birth, death and rest, so if one works out the number of hairs that have to be removed, then multiply by three and work out how many hairs are removed in a one hour session, it's a long task!
However, at least we can get eight sessions off the NHS - not much, but any savings are welcome.