Post # 1
Member
131 posts
Blushing bee
Recenty after a bad thyroid during pregnancy, I unfortunately started to grow a lot of excess hair on my face. These hairs seem to be much coarser in texture than the regular fine hairs that were already there. I heard from a friend that they have good deals on groupon all the time for it so i went on the site and purchased a groupon package which included 6 treatments. I went Monday for my first appointment and boy did it burn. I mean, it literally sizzled at points where the hair was dense. Other spots with less hair, it seemed pretty comfortable. Its only been a couple of days but my friend said the hairs began to fall out the next day or so and mine are still sitting strong. It does seem as though it has stopped growing, it just is not shedding.
Any bees out there ever laser hair removal? what were the results? How long for the hair to shed?
Post # 2
Member
692 posts
Busy bee
jeansaprincess: i had a completely different experience. the doc told me to shave the area before i came in so it would hurt less. and if i missed spots he would get them in the office… i mean he never ever lasered an area that had long hair on it. after the sessions the hair would barely grow back. i did not get the laser on my face though. however, my cousin is in the process of getting on her face and the doc told her to buzz the hair before she comes in.
after each session, the hair would grown back softer and much slower and then after the like 8th session… the hair only grew in some random spots. after like 2 years, the hair is starting to come back but it’s still a lot less then i ever had before and it’s not nearly as course.
It did sting in certain spots… but it wasn’t unbearable. and as soon as the laser passed those spots the stinging would stop.
Post # 3
Member
4037 posts
Honey bee
It didn’t work at all for me; I’m a redhead. 🙁
Post # 4
Member
131 posts
Blushing bee
ashleearielle:
thanks for the input. I did get a consultation and ‘sample treatment’ before at another center and they did ask that i shave. here she did not ask for me to shave but the hair was pretty short. it hurt like hell and was a bit swollen for a day.
Post # 5
Member
1624 posts
Bumble bee
jeansaprincess: They should have told you to shave before you get a treatment. You want to get the hairs in the growing cycle. It won’t work for everyone, unfortunately hormonal hair growth is the most resisitant. Also keep in mind that there are many different lasers out there for hair removal and some work better than others. If you are getting an amazing deal on hair removal, I’d be a little wary about the results.
And yeah, it does burn. Ask for numbing cream to apply 30 to an hour beforehand.
Post # 6
Member
1017 posts
Bumble bee
You need to shave before your laser session. If you don’t, the energy of the laser gets wasted on the hair above your skin when it should all be going to the follicle. It can also take a week for the hair to fall out, and not all will fall out at once, it depends on the growth phase of the hair.
Did you have a consultation beforehand? I’m surprised you weren’t told all this before your first session.
I’m getting laser done for armpits and full monty and so far I’m happy with it, the growth is slower and finer but I still need more treatments
Post # 7
Member
206 posts
Helper bee
Yes, you are supposed to shave beforehand! I did it but didn’t finish all of the sessions since I was doing that in Brazil and ended up moving here, but I went to 3 sessions and I have a lot less hair growing in the spot where I had it done. 🙂 I think it’s harder to work on some people than others though. And it does burn, the laser pretty much “explodes” the hair from root until it dies and the hair won’t ever grow again, at least that’s what I was told!
Post # 8
Member
773 posts
Busy bee
jeansaprincess: It all depends on your skin and hair coloring. I am fair skinned with brown (auburn-ish) hair and it did not work at all. I think I did 4 or 5 treatments with zero reduction in hair growth.
A friend of mine is peruvian though and it worked great for her.
Post # 9
Member
1 posts
Wannabee
jeansaprincess: I got laser hair removal and after 10 treatments I no longer grow hair in the areas i did the treatment and love the results.
Post # 10
Member
2968 posts
Sugar bee
It really depends on the place and the type of machine.
I bought a groupon for laser hair removal and after 3 sessions of not feeling anything (it was literally a light flash like a camera), not seeing ANY of kind of results AT ALL, and being shaken down for a tip, I contacted Groupon and left the company a really nasty Yelp review where I also came across a bunch of other similar reviews- they didn’t even have 1 positive review. Groupon got back to me and gave me just over 50% of my money back which is okay, but not great. I haven’t bought anything beauty related services off of Groupon since.
Second time I contacted Ideal Image after hearing about them on the radio. I went for a consultation and signed up the same day. It was realllllly pricey (about $3,000 for 9 sessions for sideburns, chin and upper lip and and under arms). They have very powerful lasers and you feel a quick/ hot snap followed by a cool burst and I saw significant reduction in hair growth after the first session. Since then I have had 4 more sessions and I am at about 70% reduction. I have very stubborn, thick hair and this is working for me.
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This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by
MissJulianna.
Post # 11
Member
553 posts
Busy bee
I got laser hair removal and wish it had been available 20 years ago. I hope to pay for my daughter to have it when she is old enough! I got it on my chin, upper lip (didn’t need it as much as other areas), feet, legs, underarms. It may depend on skin and hair coloring, but I am VERY fair and have dark hair, and it worked great. It is not 100% but certainly close. If I had to choose one area to get done, it would be the underarms. Really, I feel so much cleaner, too, lol.
Post # 12
Member
2051 posts
Buzzing bee
I had 6 treatments done on my bikini area. I have fair skin with medium brown hair and it did not work for me at all. =T
Post # 13
Member
2445 posts
Buzzing bee
I was never told to shave beforehand. I have dark hair on tan skin and it was very effective for me. I had 4-5 sessions on my underarms, lower legs, upper lip and bikini area. Originally I wanted to do a full brazilian but it was just so painful. I am happy with how far I got and hair growth since then (over 2 years) is very fine and sparse in all areas. I just pluck every now and then to get rid of strays.
Post # 14
Member
860 posts
Busy bee
It sounds like where you’re going doesn’t know what they’re doing.
They should have had you shave before! Thats essential, otherwise they’re just burning the external hair instead of the follicle.
Unfortunately there are a lot of “laser hair clinics” popping up all over the place and they don’t know what they’re doing. They don’t know the right lasers or energies for different skin types, they don’t use enough energy, they don’t overlap treatments.
I had one bad treatement with very poor patchy results, then did a little more reading and went to a dermatologist office where they had an RN who did it. Much better understanding of what was going on. 6 treatments and I had almost no hair whatsoever. Plus I found treatments to be very comfortable.
I would find a new place and make sure you ask them questions before doing another treatment.
Post # 15
Member
131 posts
Blushing bee
I am medium toned and have dark brown hair and , trust me, i felt every single prick. I will give it a couple of more sessions and then, i’ll contact groupon with a complaint but i just wondered if the hair was supposed to fall out quickly. it still hasn’t been a week. I really need this stuff gone.