Looking for HRT guidance

[LexiDreamer]

There are many different approaches to electrolysis and a couple for laser. For me, I started with laser buying a package of six sessions. Each session had the technician mark off grid lines on my face and systematically zap me, move a quarter of an inch and zap again. This continued until my entire face was clear. My preparation was to shave and use some numbing cream. Some areas felt a twinge with each zap, some areas really stung (upper lip and jaw line were worst for me). Dead black hairs fell out right away and some worked their way out over a day or three.

This is interesting, as I did full body laser and what you describe was not my experience at all. There was no grid drawing or drawing of any kind involved.
She just squirted the cooling gel on my body parts and started sliding the wand back and forth over the area. The laser would flash at about half second intervals as she passed back and forth over the area she was treating.
Furthermore, it was completely painless. It just felt like a warm sensation wherever the "wand" moved, as the gel was already cold on my body. The whole body process, took less than an hour.
What you had done really sounds more like IPL (Intense Pulsed Light). Iv'e used the home type version and your experience sounds very similar.

For you women out there looking for laser, I'd suggest you ask/shop around for the best options. Clearly there seem to be better methods then some.

I have very fair skin and light hair. I did 3 sessions of the full body laser and stopped after that. It zapped all of the darker hairs on my body, but unfortunately the majority of my hair is blond. I also have some red beard hair on my face that didn't seem to be affected either.

I envy you women with the darker body and facial hair. I am doomed to lots and lots of electrolysis.

I've actually started my own home electrolysis setup for my face, as I really don't have the money and time required for professional sessions. It is a bit tedious, but the pain is quite bearable, I can do it on my own time and I get better at it with each session.

[AnneK]

This is interesting, as I did full body laser and what you describe was not my experience at all. There was no grid drawing or drawing of any kind involved

When I had laser, the operator drew lines on me with an eye liner pencil to guide her.

[LexiDreamer]

When I had laser, the operator drew lines on me with an eye liner pencil to guide her.

I had heard some horror stories about laser from a friend of mine, especially how painful it was.
The place I went to was recommended by some other trans women I met and they stressed how painless it was.
My friend who had the painful kind has since moved to the other clinic and tells me the difference is night and day.

The type of laser they used is called "Soprano XL". I'd suggest any woman looking for laser hair removal treatments look for a clinic that uses that type.

[AnneK]

I had heard some horror stories about laser from a friend of mine, especially how painful it was.

The only places I found it painful was where the bone is close to the surface, such as knees, shins & ankles.  Beyond that, it was certainly noticeable, but not uncomfortably painful.  Also, I was advised to take acetaminophen before the sessions.