laser/electrolysis help

[Billie97470]

Can someone give me a idea of what I should be looking for when starting facial hair removal.  I don't live in a big city, with a ton of options.  I just want to know besides a consult and treatment plan are laser and electrologists possibly going to try to keep me away from each other should I only see a laser specialist to thin it out first then electrology.  Any kind of help would be appreciated this is kind of convoluted...

[Dana88]

Heya! Different people have different opinions. Laser works best on people with light skin and dark hair (contrast in tone is key). I'm doing laser first and then electrolysis on whatever is left. So far, after only three laser sessions, I have almost no hair on my cheeks and neck, and the goatee area is noticeably thinner. My facial hair used to be so thick that if I didn't shave for two days I had a beard. Now it takes two days before I even have noticeable shadow. That said I do have pale skin and dark brown hair so I'm a good laser candidate.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Squircle]

You would either need to do laser then electrolysis or just go straight for electrolysis, it does depend on your hair colour. I'm pale and had mostly dark hair so I was told to go for laser first, but despite picking a very posh city centre clinic who were using one or the best machines, 6 laser sessions had no long term impact for me, it was only a temporary reduction. I do think that's just my experience though because a lot of girls here have had good success with it.

When it comes to electrolysis there is an institute/association in the uk that all the best practitioners are a member of, so it might be worth seeing if there's anything similar wherever you are. Make sure you pick someone nice, because you'll be spending a lot of time with them! The lady who does mine works at her home and was recommended to me by other trans women. There are a few different types of electrolysis, galvanic, thermolysis or blend (which is a blend of the two). From my understanding blend is effective and less painful but slow, whereas galvanic, which is what I have, is fast, more like a little zap, but doesn't have quite as high a kill rate. Might be muddled on that though

[Billie97470]

I am not exactly pale I would say i am average fair complexion with dark hair that being said trying laser first how do you know if a laser center is any good I mean would you say stay away from like a salon that does it vs a dermatology and laser hair removal place in assuming the salon would be cheaper not that I called and asked yet.  We do have a accredited of some sort of electrologist nearby with better reviews than any others in the nearby big cities so electrolysis later on will be simple to choose from.

[Jenna Marie]

I decided to do laser first and then electro... and after 6 sessions of laser the hair is 99.99% gone, so I haven't bothered getting electro after all for the dozen or so hairs that left.  But I was a great candidate for laser, with very pale skin and very dark hair.

[alexbb]

"So far, after only three laser sessions, I have almost no hair on my cheeks and neck, and the goatee area is noticeably thinner. My facial hair used to be so thick that if I didn't shave for two days I had a beard. Now it takes two days before I even have noticeable shadow."

ugh that sounds so great. an you look absolutely amazing. 2 days not shaving i look like abe lincoln in drag!! im definitely getting involved in some of this laser goodness.
how much do you pay per sesh?

[Billie97470]

"So far, after only three laser sessions, I have almost no hair on my cheeks and neck, and the goatee area is noticeably thinner. My facial hair used to be so thick that if I didn't shave for two days I had a beard. Now it takes two days before I even have noticeable shadow."

ugh that sounds so great. an you look absolutely amazing. 2 days not shaving i look like abe lincoln in drag!! im definitely getting involved in some of this laser goodness.
how much do you pay per sesh?

Lmao agreed how much is this laser anyways...

[Dana88]

"So far, after only three laser sessions, I have almost no hair on my cheeks and neck, and the goatee area is noticeably thinner. My facial hair used to be so thick that if I didn't shave for two days I had a beard. Now it takes two days before I even have noticeable shadow."

ugh that sounds so great. an you look absolutely amazing. 2 days not shaving i look like abe lincoln in drag!! im definitely getting involved in some of this laser goodness.
how much do you pay per sesh?

I pay $120 a session. I live on LI, and this is a place right in town that is super reasonable and has the best laser you can possibly get. So I hit the jackpot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dana88]

Oh and PS I'm good with beard cover with my makeup :-P. There's visible shadow in my goatee area when I don't have makeup on ;-). So don't judge by the profile pic :-).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Samantha6string]

The first place i had lazer i had six sessions and it was all nearly a complete waste of money, time and pain. They didnt have the settings up high enough and therefore didnt get enough heat into the skin to kill the follicles,  they also randomly switched me to ipl for the ladt two sessions. I'm now seeing a specialist who only does lazer and electro, the results are incredibly better. She really knows what shes doing and how to get the best results. The hair falls out when i have a shower the night of my treatment day. My skin is what people would call "olive skin" and my facial hair is pretty much black.

[Emjay]

I'm now seeing a specialist who only does lazer and electro, the results are incredibly better. She really knows what shes doing and how to get the best results. The hair falls out when i have a shower the night of my treatment day. My skin is what people would call "olive skin" and my facial hair is pretty much black.

I'm doing 100% electrolysis but I kinda wish that the person I use did both laser and electro.  I'm 42 hours in and my chin and cheeks are getting pretty clear, she's currently working mostly on the underside of my chin.  The good news is that what's getting zapped is staying zapped, the bad news is I have 42 hours under the needle and I'm still nowhere near being done  It's definitely a process!

I chose this route because of it's permanency and the fact that I have a lot of red and some grey in my beard so I knew it would work versus laser not being guaranteed to be permanent and it only works on darker hair. 

The reason I would have liked someone who does both is that even though I have a lot of red and some grey there is also quite a bit of darker stuff mixed in there too and it might have been nice (and quicker) to start with a few laser sessions to get a jump start on it, but then again at least this way I know that it won't be coming back.

[Tori]

It is stuff like this that makes it worth seeking out and going to trans support groups if one is near. You can share trade secrets with each other.

I got my laser for $50 per full face session (normally $300 in Honolulu), because someone at the LGBT center knew a laser tech who wanted to help Trans women by giving them a nice discount.

Use your community resources. They often surprise you.

You don't have to be depressed or anything, you just might meet someone who learned some tricks and wants to share them.

[Rachel]

I did laser, 3 sessions, and now am doing electrolysis (7 hours in).


Electrolysis
I have a lot of gray hair which I was told is more difficult in general to remove. However my hair is easy to remove as per the technician. That may be because I am almost 20 months on hormones. Curley hair is difficult to remove and tends to grow back. I have had 1 curly hair and she spent more time on it. Afterwards the location was tender. 

In the USA technicians are certified. Make sure the tech is certified. Also, I went with a tech that was recommended by my PA-C from my Primary Care which is LGBT (very  very heavy on the T). At my primary they did the laser but recommended the tech for the electrolysis. The tech I go to does a lot of trans and is super friendly, shares experiences other trans had and uses my preferred name.

At group we have shared facts and recommendations about laser and electrolysis.