Questions for Philips Lumea users (or similar)

[ChampagneSunshine]

Thinking of forking out but have some qs. I want to use it for my face and bikini line as I’m not too bothered about my legs but am mainly concerned about long term efficacy or obsolescence so would really appreciate knowing how it’s worked out longer term. Was mainly wondering:

1. How long it takes (for bikini line)
2. how many sessions until hair stops coming back
3. What’s the upkeep like ie do you have to redo it every few months or is it genuinely permanent removal?
4. are there a limited number of zaps so you end up having to rebuy after a few years to keep hair away?

thank you! I’m mainly wondering about 3 and 4

I bought one a couple of years ago and it's been life changing. I hid my legs for 35 years from age 15 to 50 because they were either covered in black hairs or stubble and razor burn. Now they are almost totally smooth apart from a couple of stubborn patches. So yes, I completely recommend. However, it's been been less effective on my moustache and chin.
To answer your questions:

1. Bikini line might take 10 minutes to zap, but you do need to prep first by shaving so factor that in too. My legs take a full hour to do throughly but armpits you could do in five mins.
2. I started noticing a difference after 3 or 4 sessions. They say to do it fortnightly for 2 months I think and then every month for maintenance. After 6 - 8 sessions my legs were hair free. I have been diligent to stick to the schedule but I try to do the maintenance every three weeks as it often ends up being 4 or 5 as I'm busy.
3. I have continued to do it every 3-5 weeks as I'm terrified of the hair coming back.
4. I don't know if it's life limited - but would definitely rebuy it if ran out. Wouldn't bother with cordless and a million attachments; just buy the basic model. When I do my legs it gets very hot after such a long run time and the flashes do slow down.

I have a braun model, and it's fab, but i dont use it on my face, I got it in a black friday deal, and I now use it once every two months in the summer, but it was weekly when I first got it three years ago

I used mine on my legs and armpits and the edges of my bikini line. I’ve had it for several years now and have not needed to replace the bulbs. I think it took 3 complete sessions per area.

My armpit hair never came back. I’ll sprout about 5 hairs on each leg once a year or so, so I’ll go over my legs than. I still get my Hollywood wax on my bikini line, but the hair is much diminished.

I also successfully got rid of a patch of broken capillaries on my face with it.

Most life changing appliance i ever had.

Got one early 2019 and followed the set structured sessions that first year on legs, arms, armpits and full bikini area.

Since then I do a full top up a couple times each spring. Arms and armpits have never come back at all. Bikini line and legs have the very occasional hair but whereas they were black before they are mainly translucent now.

As a dark hairy person I have just come back from two weeks in Spain wearing a bikini all day every day and didnt even pack a razor.

1. How long it takes (for bikini line) about three months of zapping every other weekend. My bikini line was quite easy
2. how many sessions until hair stops coming back legs took about a year. But they were very angry and pimply after the first level 5 zaps. Let them heal and started again on lower levels
3. What’s the upkeep like ie do you have to redo it every few months or is it genuinely permanent removal? 15 min zap in front of the TV once or twice a month
4. are there a limited number of zaps so you end up having to rebuy after a few years to keep hair away? it's still working after five years.

I think mine were so hard to zap because I'd waxed for 30 years and the hair was thick and dark. Now I have weird smooth legs.

Do they work on little hair?

So helpful, thanks!!!

didn’t know I’d have to shave bikini line first - would a close trim do? Shaving really irritates me!

Ooh I have had these questions and also - can you use them when your hair has started to go grey? I know they don't work on grey hair but I only have the occasional grey chin hair so far!

I’ve had mine for 6 years and it’s still working but I haven’t needed to use it consistently through that time as it was so good. This spring I went back to the starting routine (fortnightly) and I’ve not had to shave armpits, legs or bikini line all
summer. Absolute game changer.
I’ve just started on face, mainly because I really didn’t want to shave first. I was worried about regrowth looking like a five o’clock shadow in the fortnight between treatments. It’s been fine with a dermaplane though psychologically I really don’t like it.
I’m only on the second treatment so I don’t know yet how effective it’s going to be on my fine, lighter face hairs.