*pluck* OUCH! !#@%!.... *pluck*

[GinaDouglas]

Native American berdaches, genetic males who lived as women, plucked their facial hair with their fingernails, without the benefit of mirrors.

I just shows to goya what an imperative it can be to do what has to be done to live in the right gender.

[Annwyn]

Native American berdaches, genetic males who lived as women, plucked their facial hair with their fingernails, without the benefit of mirrors.

I just shows to goya what an imperative it can be to do what has to be done to live in the right gender.

Yes.  Modern inhabitants of North America prefer to kill time watching TV nowadays.  Sure beats plucking junk off your face.

Or just read a lot like me:D


Seriously though, I don't get it.  After HRT I just told myself over and over again that I didn't want facial hair.  If I go two-three weeks it's noticeable, but other than that ever 3 days I exfoliate the skin at my chin where that stubble starts building up then put some lotion there and shave it off, the lotion works better than shaving cream.

[Ellieka]

Or it gets the hose!

ROFL!

[Suzy]

Well I tried some of those wax strips on my upper lip.  I followed the directions exactly.  (Except, that is, the part about not doing this to your upper lip).  When I yanked off the strips, I think half my skin stuck to it.  My hoped-for smooth upper lip was not to be.  Instead I sported a big scab for about a week.   I also threw the stuff away and consigned it to an especially disgusting spot in the dump next to the Nair that once scalded me silly.

Kristi

[Ellieka]

Your a braver woman then I Kristi. Waxing the upper lip.... just.... OW!

[Annwyn]

I researched this product on a whim this morning.  I hit up the forums where users were reviewing it as well as the 'official' testimonials.

Seems to be well grounded.

Have at it.

Silk'n Laser Hair Removal - Celine stops shaving after 15 weeks of use

[Ms Jessica]

I researched this product on a whim this morning.  I hit up the forums where users were reviewing it as well as the 'official' testimonials.

Seems to be well grounded.

Have at it.

IIRC, those aren't safe to use on your face.  I should confess that I didn't watch the video, but all the other similar products I've seen specifically warn against using marketed-to-home lasers on the face.  Probably something about the proximity to your eyes.  I'm not sure if it would be safer to use if you had the goggles like at the laser clinic. 
Maybe they're just afraid of people burning their faces?

[Jeneva]

IIRC, those aren't safe to use on your face.  I should confess that I didn't watch the video, but all the other similar products I've seen specifically warn against using marketed-to-home lasers on the face.  Probably something about the proximity to your eyes.  I'm not sure if it would be safer to use if you had the goggles like at the laser clinic. 
Maybe they're just afraid of people burning their faces?

I asked for opinions on the 2 main home laser (Tria and the Silk'n) like devices a while back.  I have actually used both.

I had a first gen tria.  They just released the second gen after I bought mine.  With the tria zapping (except facial/neck) was no worse than epilating.  The face/neck area REALLY REALLY HURT, but would have been bearable.  I did 2 treatments on my face and 1 on my whole body.  My wife also did 2 treatments on her legs.  Neither of us found that it did much if anything in the form of temporary shedding.  We figured if it couldn't temp shed then perm results were out of the question.  I returned it after the 30 day trial period.  It is possible that the newer model is more effective, and it is also possible that both of us are just more resistant so YMMV, but I would not be looking at it again.

Right now we are trying the Silk'n.  It doesn't hurt as bad as the tria.  It is also causing a decent amount of temp shedding.  I've hit 1 treatment all over and then 2 on my face, hands, and lower legs.  My arms have completely bare spots (I didn't account for the window properly the first time (needed to lap more)).  Of course it has the replacement bulb cost to consider.  For us, its lower pain + temp shedding is making it look like a definate keeper.  I've got decent thinning on my beard area (but nothing clear like my arms). 

[Chrissty]

I asked for opinions on the 2 main home laser (Tria and the Silk'n) like devices a while back.  I have actually used both.

I had a first gen tria.  They just released the second gen after I bought mine.  With the tria zapping (except facial/neck) was no worse than epilating.  The face/neck area REALLY REALLY HURT, but would have been bearable.  I did 2 treatments on my face and 1 on my whole body.  My wife also did 2 treatments on her legs.  Neither of us found that it did much if anything in the form of temporary shedding.  We figured if it couldn't temp shed then perm results were out of the question.  I returned it after the 30 day trial period.  It is possible that the newer model is more effective, and it is also possible that both of us are just more resistant so YMMV, but I would not be looking at it again.

Right now we are trying the Silk'n.  It doesn't hurt as bad as the tria.  It is also causing a decent amount of temp shedding.  I've hit 1 treatment all over and then 2 on my face, hands, and lower legs.  My arms have completely bare spots (I didn't account for the window properly the first time (needed to lap more)).  Of course it has the replacement bulb cost to consider.  For us, its lower pain + temp shedding is making it look like a definate keeper.  I've got decent thinning on my beard area (but nothing clear like my arms).

So the Silk'n is effectively an IPL, rather than a laser. So I guess it's going to have more effect on body hair where the follicle is closer to the surface, and could appear to cause temp shedding similar to pro-laser. That might explain why the arm treatment is working better than the face, and why the device can be higher powered over a larger area without the risk of permanent damage. Sounds like the device is working reasonably well for a home treatment, but I still doubt it will achieve the long term results of a pro-laser device on the face.

BTW I tried the Rio 60x ($400) and it stung like hell (felt like it was going to give me a tattoo) but did nothing. The device uses a really cumbersome head which makes facial work difficult, and crudely scans a dot across the skin. Difficult to see what improvements were made over their previous scanning laser, other than extending the time period to make it hurt more. 

I think you will find the reason for these devices not being used on the face is the risk of an eye damage lawsuit from mis-use like Jessica says.

Chrissty

[Ms Jessica]

I didn't know anyone had tried any of them.  The tria is the one I've seen adverts for, and all the warnings about not using it near your face. 
From my own experience with laser, it seems like even ideal candidates (light skin, dark hair) still have to have the power upped considerably for anything even close to permanent hair removal.  I would guess the for-home-use lasers just can't produce that kind of power. 

[Jeneva]

Vulpes on Hairtell did a fairly through testing of the tria and he also found a pair of glasses that will block the tria laser.  I bought a pair and did use them when I used the tria on my face.  They kind of give you a cyclops look though. 

I use my hand to block with the silk'n and wore my dark full eye riding glasses the first time.

Another warning is that if you use the tria on your face it is highly likely you will look like hamburger for a week.

Overseas the tria is cleared for higher up (just below the nose I think is the limit).  I'm sure it is all about product liability when someone gets a facial scar.

[Ms Jessica]

probably true.  without being able to adjust the power, zapping an area where you've got a freckle or mole or something will probably burn you. 
I would be interested to try something like a tria, but the price tag just seems a little high for something that doesn't really sound like it works all that well.

[Ellieka]

I may look into getting some type of home kit in the future for places like my chest and arms but for now I think I'll just stick with the pros for my face. Its ugly enough as is, I'd hate to make it worse! 

[Ms Jessica]

LOL.  I agree with you.  That's the thing, a DIY laser might be okay, but if you burn your face or something, that can take a REALLY long time to heal (if it ever does).  I think it's worth the money of an electrologist/laser operator. 
Doesn't help much if you're broke, though. 

[Ellieka]

LOL.  I agree with you. 

You agree that I'm ugly ?   

[NicholeW.]

You agree that I'm ugly ?   

yeah, I initially wondered about that too!

[Ellieka]

Ok, so I just have to ask am I? *puppydog eyes*

[NicholeW.]

Ok, so I just have to ask am I? *puppydog eyes*

OMG!! Get over it, girl. You look like Ernest Bourgnine!

You know better than that, that is one of the most shameless pleas for a compliment I have ever seen!

Ok, love the hair!

[tekla]

I always thought that one of the warning signs of adulthood is learning not to ask questions you really don't want to know the answer to.

[Princess]

i plucked all my upper lip hair off once, and it hurt like hell. i actually tried it again, but it made me cry.