Laser hair removal - has anyone tried it?

[Windowbasket]

Am fed up with my extreme hairiness - and wondering if I should save up and try some laser hair removal. I am quite fair with dark hair. My concern is - does it actually work ... or does the hair eventually come back. Has anyone out there had this treatment and did it work for you? If it did, how many treatments did you need?

[GuffSmuggler]

I had a few sessions on my top lip and it didn't really work. Apparently the darker and courser (sp?) the hair the better it works.

I ended up being told I would keep having to go back for about a year until it actually worked. It definitely doesn't magically work after one treatment in my experience - and it really hurts!

[shoppingbagsundereyes]

I had six treatments on my hairy chin. I had about 20 very black hairs. A year later one or two black ones are there but I don't know if they are new ones or the old ones returned. Largely I'm very pleased with the results.
Cost me about £200 and was almost unbearably painful though. I had one treatment on my upper lip and couldn't go back again. Felt like I was being ironed and flicked with a rubber band at the same time.

[EuroShaggleton]

Yes, it's brilliant. I started off with my PCOS-related hair on my chin.

I then had nips and belly line done (also hormonal).

Then I had thighs and "Non-extensive" bikini done (bearing in mind that it lasts a long time and fashions change, so I just wanted it for swimwear purposes).

The chin is the area that has worked least well actually, but they warned me that because it was hormonal hair it might not be that successful. Saying that, it must be nearly 10 years since I had the original treatment (I have had the occasional top up though) and I still have just a few hairs. The belly line hasn't come back at all. I get the occasional nip hair but not much at all. The best has been the largest area - thighs and bikini. It must be 5 years since I had that done and I reckon I have about 10 hairs that have regrown over the entire area. It's amazing. And fab on holiday not to have to think about epilation.

It works best when there is a good contrast between skin and hair (so blonde/fair or black/black are not great). I have fair skin with quite dark hair so was probably the ideal candidate. I'm going to get my arms and possibly lower legs done next. That won't leave very much at all!

I didn't find it that painful - just like an elastic band flicking against your skin. The only bits that really smarted was the area over the ligaments either side of the front of your fanny and the back of my knees.

I think I needed 4 treatments on the body and 8 on the face (cos they use the laser on a lower setting).

[Windowbasket]

Oh wow Euro - that's kind of what I wanted to hear!! What was the name of the treatment that you had done - is IPL the same as laser? Where did you have it done / how much? Sorry for all the questions, but any advice from those in the know is so helpful ...

[Walnutcakelover]

I am in the process of having my legs done, it's not IPL, it's called Soprano xl laser hair removal.
I have only had one session so far, so I can't tell if it works or not, I paid for 6 sessions, but the lady did say to me that I might need 8. I didn't find the treatment painful at all, infact it was quite relaxing, it felt like a warm stone massage, couldn't have IPL, as it seems painful.

[EuroShaggleton]

I used this place: www.harleymedical.co.uk/non-surgical-solutions/laser-hair-removal/?document_id=159 There is an online price list. It was laser rather than IPL.

[Windowbasket]

THanks Euro - I'm going to investigate!

[Tigresswoods]

Walnutcakelover give it 2 more sessions! They turn the intensity up & you'll know about it. Good luck!

[Grockle]

I've had 2 sessions on my bikini line & it was fab. I have pale skin & dark hair so am well-suited to it but after those 2 treatments, almost all the hair is gone. I could do with a couple more - I think they recommend 6 - but am thrilled with what has been done so far. When funds allow, I will have another session or 2. It's not painful but does feel a bit odd.

[Flojobunny]

I've often thought about having this but not sure where to have it, on my body I mean!

[Quodlibet]

I had 6 sessions on armpits and bikini line a year ago. It was very reduced/almost gone whilst I was having treatment but much of it has grown back since and I am still hairy! I reckon I have about 50% of the armpit hair that I did, maybe another 6 sessions would do it, or maybe not.

[Maraki]

I paid £1,400 in 2006. Best money I ever spent! I was VERY hairy, very pale skin, very dark hair, thick, curly, coarse. I paid for 6 sessions but only needed 5. I am left with very, very few hairs which are fair and thin and I only shave my legs in the summer every couple of weeks and only because the fine hairs get very long. I did full legs, bikini, tummy. Hairs have not come back. My skin looks amazing, no more ingrown hairs or spots from waxing.

[jenny99]

I am midway through what seems like a much longer course than I anticipated.

I'm having my underarms and bikini line done.

I've had a session approx every 6/7 weeks since July. It is now 5 weeks since my last treatment and I have no re growth at all under my arms which is amazing. It has been great there and only grows back very finely.

My bikini line is 'ok'. It is much sparser and slower to regrow but def still there and I would need to wax/shave/whatever if I wanted to wear a bikini today. Having said that it takes a good 4 weeks to regrow so if I went on holiday for a month the day after a treatment I wouldn't need to do anything the whole time.

The lady who owns the salon says it is amazing and the hair will eventually stop growing (she wants to sell the sessions!!). The lady who does my treatments says it is an efficient hair management method and I need to be realistic because it won't make parts of the body completely bald generally.

As others say I think it really depends on the type of skin/hair etc.

Good luck....

[Walnutcakelover]

tigresswoods Oh god, I was enjoying the fact that it was pain free, gonna have to grin and bear it, yikes.

[SarahJ783]

I have recently been here www.londonpremierlaser.co.uk for my laser hair removal. I have only had one treatment so far but was very happy with how welcome I felt and how comfortable I was. Before going I was in two minds whether to cancel my appointment as I am a very nervous person and was scared about how painful it was going to be. I did feel a mild discomfort but I was talking and laughing with the clinician all the way through the treatment so it couldnt have been that bad. I Can already see a difference - cant wait to see the finished results :) x

[MrsKoala]

i had 6 sessions on my very dark haired arms (i have very pale skin - so good contrast). it was drastically reduced but not eliminated completely. i couldn't afford any more so left it and just skimmed a razor over once a week. That was 4 years ago and i have noticed them getting hairier again, so i think i may have a few more sessions.

i had mine done at the harley med centre too. you can get quite a few groupon vouchers for other places tho. i had 2 sessions on my thighs, but the got pregnant so had to leave it, there was no change tho. if your hair is very resistant you may need 8 or more sessions.

i did find it quite painful tho. i have rashy, sensitive skin and it was very angry for a couple of days after each session.

on balance tho, defo worth it. i have just booked 6 underarm sessions thru groupon at cosmedoctor.

[Mewsical]

Window - I used the Harley Medical Group also, had 12 sessions and it didn't work...at all. Celtic colouring - pale skin, dark hair.
Different clinics have different machines so make sure you do your research. Even if they say you don't need a patch test I would insist on one as I was apparently deemed a good candidate.
A huge waste of time and money for me and a lot of time spent on the phone complaining.

As a real last ditch attempt I bought a Philips home machine...and it's working well so far.

[SofiaRoberts]

Laser hair removal is the best option to get rid of unwanted hair. It is a long lasting solution and after 4-6 treatment you can get the desired results of it. The only thing you need to take care about while choosing the surgeon for it. So do some research while choosing the clinic for this treatment.

[Eastpoint]

I had it done in 2006 - fantastic results. I have fair skin & brown hair. I had armpits, bikini, ½ leg, upper lip & feet done. The bikini area I had treated has 3 or 4 rogue hairs which I shave off periodically, the same for my feet & legs. My upper lip was the least successful but I haven't had to bleach it since it was done. I started my treatment in the winter when my skin was at its palest. While you are having treatment you have to avoid the sun.

[ELR]

I have just paid to have mine done went for patch test yesterday and then got first app on Thursday. I'm having the works under arm, bikini, legs and face.

[PrivateBenjamin]

I had 4 sessions in 2011. While I was having them my hair looked sparser and I was really happy but as soon as I stopped going all my hair grew back. Now I am exactly as hairy as I was before. I am very pale with brown hair so thought it would work.

I went to a medical place too and received the treatments from a Doctor, it wasn't a small salon where you'd assumd they'd have a cheap or badly maintained laser.

[JennySense]

I'm on my 13th session for chin/lip. It's not been quick for me - I have dark hair light skin. I have some light coarse hairs left but its now patchy overall.

[Mary31711]

Hair Removal Cream - www.stopgrow.com/ct/99781
This product has really helped in my fight against hair!

[MrsDavidBowie]

I had my legs and bikini line done 3 years ago. Course of 6...£600
No hairs have grown back...fantastic
It didn't hurt at all..just quite time consuming.

One of the best things I ever did.