Five o'clock Shadow

[dina_hastings]

Okay, my beard is starting to drive me nuts: I was thinking about laser hair removal, but then I heard it was going to run $8000-$12000 (Canadian) instead of the $3000-$4000 I was expecting to pay.
So has anyone here ever tried waxing their face? What were their experiences?
Any other suggestions would also be appreciated.

[Flan]

Laser hair reduction shouldn't be even close to that cost, as 6 sessions of "full face" laser (not officially including neck but it's partly done anyways in my case) cost me $1700 USD ($2,065.33 CAD)

[dina_hastings]

Was that with electrolysis as well?

[Flan]

Was that with electrolysis as well?

Nope, electro goes typically for 60-80 USD an hour, (72.88 to 97.17 CAD) and depending on the number of hairs to be removed, can require 200 hours. (more or less)

[Nicky]

I have had 12 sessions of laser. Still need a little more on my upper lip and a couple other little patches. I don't have a lot of hair left. When I started I had heaps - like I had 5 oclock shadow the moment I stepped out of the bathroom. All up it has cost just under $3000NZ (about $1800 american). I think I was particulalry 'blessed' with a multitude of hair. Perhaps that is why it has taken so many sessions. I go every 6 weeks or so.

The amount you are quoting sounds excessive, maybe you heard wrong?

I would not recommend waxing your face. The hair is so dense and the skin so thin I think you might do some damage. 

I have heard there is a hair growth retarding cream you can buy. A few people on this site use it and I hear it works really well. You just have to keep putting it on everyday.

[placeholdername]

Waxing is a bad idea... If you're really desperate you can go with tweezers.  Either way you're going to end up with some painful (and ugly!) in-grown hairs, so I don't recommend it.

The hair-growth stopping stuff is Vaniqa (I think), but it's a bit of a hamster wheel because as soon as you stop using it your hair grows back like normal, and it's like 30-60 USD per bottle (which I hear lasts about a month), so you're basically throwing money down the drain -- best to invest in laser/electro.  Hopefully I can start laser soon myself, I too am afflicted with the shadow-before-I'm-done-shaving problem.