Laser Hair Removal Experience

Growing up, my mom always believed that shaving my hair would only make it grow back thicker, which I have always been told by others to be a myth.

Well as far as my upper lip hair, I would get it threaded.  The first time for that is always the most painful.  Getting it threaded in the US was decently expensive (I think around $15-$25 for the whole face), but it is cleaner because no hands ever touch your face and the hairs are being pulled from the roots, which prevent it from growing back right away.

In college a roommate introduced me to a device that did the same thing as threading, but you can do it yourself.  It called an Epi Roller and basically is a spring that catches your hair and pulls it out as you roll is on your face.  Sasa.com has one that works well for your upper lips.

Ok, so onto my actual laser hair removal experience.  After getting my first job, I decided that having to shave all the time was such a pain, and I would still get ingrown hairs (hair growing under the skin), which became painful.  Groupon and LivingSocial constantly have deals for laser hair removal, so one day I decided to splurge and get myself a deal for my under arms and my full legs.  My advice, is make an appointment as soon as you can for these deals!  Their appointments always fill up so quickly.

Things to know:

• Usually people get 5-6 treatments for each area.  Sometimes more depending on the area.
• Each treatment is 6-8 weeks apart. 
• Hair grows in cycles, and cycles are usually between 6-8 weeks
• Treatment works better if you have light skin and dark hair
• 4 Weeks Before: You need to avoid sun and stop plucking or waxing at least 4 weeks before the treatment starts.  
• Before: The day before each treatment you need to shave so that the laser kills the root and doesn't just singe your hair growth.  
• Day of: Don't wear any products on the area you are getting treatment for.
• After: You are suppose to avoid sun exposure for long periods of time, but if you must, than wear a high SPF sunscreen (50+).
• Over the course of the couple week after the treatment, your hairs will slowly fall out on its own.  So there is no need to go messing with it!

I've had used both the painless laser hair removal and the more painful methods before:

• The painless laser hair removal method is newer technology and instead of using a laser that covers a larger area at full blast, the laser is at a smaller strength and scattered over an area that the nurse goes over several times.  The heat builds up over the session, but its nothing unbearable.
• The more painful method is the original technology, which concentrates the laser at a quarter sized area, and it feels like your skin is being burned a little, where your roots are being killed.  But instead of going over the area several times, the nurse will only go over an area once.  For larger treatment areas, you can get it numbed before starting the treatment

Under Arms

The nurses have told me that underarms usually respond the best to the laser treatments, so if you are just trying it out, it is probably one of the cheaper areas and easiest to take care of areas.  

These treatments sessions take about 10-15 minutes.

I have used both laser methods for this area, and pain wise, it is about the same.

So far my under arm hair has definitely been reduced and there are only a few stray hairs now after 5 treatments.  Hopefully my 6th and final treatment will get rid of the last bit.  

Full Legs

These treatments sessions take about 45-60 minutes.

I have only used the painless method for my legs.

I am half way through my treatments for my full legs, and (I know its gross) I let my legs go unshaven for a little bit just to see if the treatment was working.  And it really is!  My legs are patchy with ares of my leg that have no hair growth!  I suggest wearing a dress to these appointments, which you can easily just lift up.  The gel the use for the treatment kind of gets everywhere and putting jeans on doesn't feel super pleasant.

I hope this post is helpful to you guys!


All pictures were taken from FreeDigitalPhotos.net