Had my 3rd full 1 hour session of electrolysis today.  This session like in others past, there were some hairs she had to zap more than once before it was ready to come out. At one point she asked me if I had ever tried Laser. When I told her no, she explained that she has been using the highest intensity setting on her machine and but that some of my hair is so strongly rooted that it's taking multiple shots to kill them off. She was thinking out loud to me that laser probably wouldn't work for me because of this.

So I'm curious if anyone else has heard anything similar.  It's kind of funny that she mentioned this today because while I've not said anything to her, I've recently been debating whether I should maybe try laser first and then just come back and get the stragglers and any new growth with Electro. So based on her comments it sounds like that might not be a good plan.  Anyone have thoughts or experience on this?

On the bright side, today she spent more time on the cataphoresis and I did a better job icing afterwards and that seems to have greatly lessened the amount of hyperpigmentation I'm seeing afterward.

Well, she is an electrologist.  So I'm not sure she is a totally unbiased source of information on the effectiveness of laser hair removal.

Precisely, that's why I'm asking.  Not sure if she's blowing fluff or if this is actually true. Either way, the news that she's been on the highest setting explains why I've been having some issues with hyper-pigmentation.

My electrologist is always saying how bad laser is and it's not really permanent and yadda, yadda, yadda.
But I personally know people that it works well on.

I go to a place that does both laser and electrolysis. I've been told that the combo of laser and electrolysis at the same time is by far the most effective both in terms of time as well as money.

I am just a year into the hair removal process – probably around 70 hours of electrolysis and eight laser sessions for the face. I am about 95% complete. I still go in every couple of weeks for two hours... Though we are mostly working on a schedule shot of fine dark hairs and velous blonde hairs. I am no longer shaving and about 60 minutes of that two hour session is spent on my chest.

My technician has been performing laser and electrolysis since the mid-1980s. I was told that is long as there is a huge patches of dark hairs to continue with laser, this was about nine months for me. My typical schedule was to get laser on the face every 8–10 weeks (to match the growth cycle of the follicle). I would then wait two weeks while the hair follicles are purged, and then continue with electrolysis until the next growth cycle.

Laser hair removal is FDA approved for permanent hair reduction, and electrolysis is FDA approved for permanent hair removal.

My technician has also mentioned the resistance amongst other electrolysis technicians to advocate for laser before/along with electrolysis. I was told this is because most electrolysis technicians are afraid of losing their clients, not that it is actually in the best interest for their clients.

If you want more information just let me know :-)


~Brooke~

My Electrologist bangs on about having both at the same time...no issues, as she feels they a complimentary...I agree, do some laser and if it works it will at least help reduce your beard hair in the short term, which may help you in other ways...The results are usually visible straight away and shedding within 2 weeks so you don't have to wait that long...that must have really hurt to do multiple zaps at high intensity in the same spot...ouch!!

So long as you are aware of what you are getting and it is medical grade laser then hopefully you will have a good result...Knowing how the hair grows helps to understand why you get the results you do as well as explaining what the difference between regrowth and new growth is.

Liz

Quote from: ElizabethK on April 19, 2017, 12:38:38 AM
My Electrologist bangs on about having both at the same time...no issues, as she feels they a complimentary...I agree, do some laser and if it works it will at least help reduce your beard hair in the short term, which may help you in other ways...The results are usually visible straight away and shedding within 2 weeks so you don't have to wait that long...that must have really hurt to do multiple zaps at high intensity in the same spot...ouch!!

So long as you are aware of what you are getting and it is medical grade laser then hopefully you will have a good result...Knowing how the hair grows helps to understand why you get the results you do as well as explaining what the difference between regrowth and new growth is.

Liz

My electrologist also recommended I try laser for the dark hairs to help speed things along. She has been telling me that she was thinking of learning laser so she could offer both. 

I had 4 sessions of laser and do not see much dark hair left when I have to grow it for electrolysis so am done with laser for now.  I'll go for more if electrolysis hasn't removed enough of them if they grow back.

Of course there may be other factors for  each individual,  but in general if you have light enough skin and enough dark hairs, laser appears to be worth a try.
 

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Well heck you ladies are inspiring me to look at this again.  Unfortunately I can't seem to find anyone around me that offers both but I'll have to check in with one of the local laser clinics and see if maybe that could speed up this process (and reduce some of the pain). I guess if my electrolygist has any problem with me doing that, it's time to find a new one anyway

If your facial hair is dark, it stands a better chance of taking. But it is not permanent. My electrologist said twenty percent of my hairs will return but will disappear after the second zapping. Whereas Laser will reduce but not eliminate. However it's probably not as painful. My hair is all grey so I have to use electrolysis. I know it's painful. That's why I lather up with lidocaine.

Laser is very useful in conjunction with electrolysis if you have a salt-and-pepper beard.  My electrologist often used both in the same session.  Laser works by thermolysis of the root bulb, just like thermolysis by an electrode. It does not matter if the energy is imparted by photons or radio waves.  I had my whole face cleared in 60 hours over two years using this approach. Yes, it does take multiple clearings to be "permanent", no matter which technique is used.

Just my experience,

Terri

I did 3 laser sessions than switched to combined electrolysis. I have a lot of gray hair.