To Declare War On My Beard

[LadyDeGrump]

I'm 32. We've had an uneasy relationship since Beard first appeared on the scene, way back in 2005. I tried laser for six sessions back then - high street clinic, probs not brilliant - and if anything that made it worse.

Since then I have perfected a shave and moisturise and foundation routine which has sufficiently fooled people that even close girlfriends squeel when I tell them.

Now I am feckin sick of it. Sick of getting off 17 hour flights and my first thought when baggage is delayed is shit how long is my beard going to be when I get out of here. Also I suspect I am getting more of a five o clock shadow.

Eleven years of uneasy truce with this rebel force is coming to an end. The Empire will strike back and win.

I have an appointment for electrolysis tomorrow but don't know if I can keep that up because if I can't shave between visits I am stuffed for work. I don't have the kind of work friendly to the rebel forces of a lady beard.

It is dark and my skin is pale. No PCOS.

Has lazer improved at all?

Like lottie I had laser treatments with sk:n. I got a special offer, there's always discounts, just negotiate with customer service and sign up to their emails. My last session was 2 years ago and only now are they starting to grow back. So I might need a top up. But i found them to be brill abs later to be very effective.

And

And laser to be very effective. Sorry for typos

journey they do recommend the odd single top up treatment if you feel you need it. I

Thanks for this thread OP! I need to wage war on my beard too, it is AWFUL! I spend such a long time tweezing and shaving daily. Think I might put a lumea on my Christmas list.

Hiya 19lottie yes totally recommend a top up here and there. If the hair is linked to hormones they might start coming back, thin at first but slowly thickening up. The odd session slows that down. But it took at least 18 months after my last treatment to see regrowth and even then not much

Assam does your Tinkle work? (Loved asking that btw lol)

Would I lose an eyebrow or are they a bit rubbish and only to be used on fine hairs like the reviews say?

Hello fellow beardy!

I'm 42 and like you I do the shaving thing every day (and sometimes twice a day esp if I'm going out or think I'm going to get lucky with DH that night). I've been doing this for 10 years and am rapidly losing patience with it too. It's got worse over the years and I can't think what the hell I'm going to look like if it continues the rate of growth for 10 years.

Laser clinics did not work for me. I had a high street course a few years ago which didn't work. Then after I cried at the doctors, I got an NHS course which has higher frequencies apparently. It didn't work either.

I was thinking about electrolysis next too, but after the posts on this thread I think I'll get one of those home IPL thingies to try to beat the worst of the bastards and then go for electrolysis for the real stubborn buggers.

On the plus side though, all my friends have been shocked when I've told them too so it's probably not as noticeable as we think. I try to be upbeat about it (there's worse things could happen etc) but it still gets me down sometimes.

Ladybeards are just one of those things that will never be in fashion.

I'm 33 and have developed chin bristles.

I pluck the thickest buggers out (the ones you can feel with your fingers when they emerge)

Once a week I shave and then use my boots smooth skin IPL on my sideburns, lip and chin. I have the light skin and dark hair it works well with.

For a special occasion, I get threaded as my face is so smooth afterwards!! But it makes me cry real tears, the pain!

I have suspected slight PCOS. Like a PP said, being diagnosed with it is neither here nor there as the "treatment" is the same whether you have it or not. Ie there is not a hell of a lot the doctors can do.

There is a cream (Vaniqua?) that slows down hair growth but apparently gives you spots.

I believe a low-sugar diet is helpful for PCOS in general.

As per another of my threads, I want scientists to give up searching for ET and instead focus on solving the problem of hair!

YADNBU - death to the lady beard!

I do have pcos but my "male pattern hirsutism" got worse and worse after my second child was born. It's a bit of a bugger that you started shaving - it really does only make it worse (although I completely understand why you do).

Mine was so bad that I got referred for an NHS course of laser at a private clinic - I'd really really recommend it. The course was 12 treatments, which was once a month to start with and at increasing intervals. If you don't do it often (although not necessarily at a fixed x-weekly rate) you don't get the different hairs that are at different stages in their maturity cycle. It works best on dark hairs on pale skin (my white ones are still there), and even when you've stopped the full course you have to go back every three months for a top-up because it isn't permanent. In between treatments you can wax or sugar or thread but not shave or pluck (it's something to do with what happens to the follicle). I still have to wax in between times, but I've gone from waxing every fortnight to once every couple of months. Going to get your laser done with very short hairs is ideal because they're easier to nuke.

It smells of burning hair when you go and it hurts far worse than buggery, but it's definitely worth it.

If you want someone reputable and you don't want to live through the indignity of medical photography (oh that was fun) to get an NHS course then your local private hospital will probably have someone doing private laser (they'll be a dermatologist) and can put you on their list - you can self refer - it won't be cheap but at least you'll know that the person who's messing about with your face is competent and insured - not something you can be sure of with a beauty practitioner.