Is laser hair removal a fad or does it actually work?

[rosierose12]

Thinking about getting laser hair removal again. I started having it done last year with Laser Clinics but after success with session 1, hair grew back faster thereafter and they kept calling to cancel my appointment at short notice so I gave up.

I'm considering trying somewhere different but I'm not sure if it's worth it. I have dark hair/light skin but not sure what laser type I should be looking for, how do I know which is best? I'm googled and no further forward apart from that IPL and laser are not the same!

It didn't work for me. I signed up for the recommended "package" and got told I was the "perfect candidate" with dark hair and fair skin. Did the whole package, hair maybe reduced 50%. "That's normal" they said "sometimes you just need a few more sessions" and did the recommended extra half package. Maybe 5% less hair after the extra sessions.
"That's normal" they said "just come back once a month indefinitely and it will reduce a little every month"
I stopped going at that point. I figured they'd strung me along enough times for crap results, and I wasn't going to keep throwing good money at it. Hair is completely grown back in now, couldn't even tell I'd had it done.

Not all lasers are the same. It really does depend on the type of laser you get.

i had six sessions of IPL at a SK:N salon. It was honestly life changing. I’d spent my whole life feeling self conscious of my face, plucking, bleaching, having kids take the piss at school etc. Tried electrolysis as a teen, but not being able to pluck or wax in between was hellish.

Then 6 months of IPL treatment in my 30s
and it was gone. I could show my face in daylight without feeling the need to bow my head, or cover my mouth with my hand.

i paid for it with an unexpected tax rebate and it was honestly the best £1000 I’ve ever spent. I really wish I’d been able to do it years ago. The only regret I have is that eyebrow shapes have changed a lot since I had my treatment (whole face from hairline to neck) so if I had it done now I’d have asked to leave the brows a bit wider, but at least now they don’t join up to my hairline! Fluffy down on sideboards is gone, moustache gone, fine beginnings of a goatee gone!

Menopause did spring a couple of wiry ones on me so I bought a home IPL machine to deal with them and also did my legs and armpits at home. It takes ages to do a big area like legs, so I have definitely missed a few hairs but essentially I haven’t shaved my pits or legs for over 10 years. Means I have quite dry skin as I’m not exfoliating with a razor on the regular, so I use a loofah, but it’s so nice not having to worry about wearing shorts or vests.

I’m olive skinned with dark hair but quite pale in the winter which is when I had it done. 100% recommend to anyone to give it a go. Annoyingly it hasn’t worked so well for my DD who is pale with mid brown hair, but she didn’t give it a really good go to be fair,

I did full body around 10 or so years ago - 6 sessions at the optimal interval (I believe was every 6 weeks). 99% is gone and the very little that is left is very fine and sparse. I’d highly recommend.

Laser hair removal on my legs was worth every penny. Really effective (I have dark hair and fair skin).

On the face it is not quite as good. Hair growth on the face is tricky to eradicate completely because of hormones and age etc.

Would recommend going to a salon - research the laser they use before you commit.

I had mine done an about 15 years ago, think maybe had 8 sessions. Haven’t had any top up sessions although I know it is recommended. Have the very odd straggler now so would need to top up. From what i know the success depends very much on the machine used, they are not all made equal

I had IPL on legs and bikini line about 20 years ago. Never returned

I am like you, 5 O’clock shadow by lunch time!

I had Soprano laser on my armpits and bikini line. It needed 10-12 sessions but worked! I am pale olive with dark hair. Local salon in south East and it cost a lot.

I also have the Philips Lumea which massively reduced the legs. And the Moustache!

But now I’m doing a course of six on the legs with a clinic called Therapie and they have loads all over so have a look, you might have one? I think it is £350? I can’t report back yet as have only had one session but it has definitely slowed. It is a different laser but Google says same results as the Soprano and it was cheaper so I’m giving it a go.

Which region are you in? I bet there is a Therapie near you.
https://therapieclinic.com/locations

No you can’t shave or pluck it in between it’s actually quite annoying but it works long term. I had a full beard and now I have a few strays, it was worth it

That's what I'm worried about! There are so many and I don't know the difference, google doesn't help! I think I'm happy to pay if they're reputable but I'm scared of wasting it. How do I know which is best? Also anyone recommend a clinic on the south coast?

I use an at home one. I haven’t shaved my armpits in weeks now!! Leg hair is mostly gone apart from bits on my knees that just won’t go, and bikini line nearly gone.

Can I ask which one you use please? Some of them appear to cost several hundred pounds 😳

Lumea Prestige IPL hair removal device
BRI953/0

But! I wouldn't bother getting cordless unless it's absolutely essential for where you use it. Corded flashes a lot quicker than when it's on battery so it takes less time. And don't worry about all the different heads. Basically really you only need the big one, and maybe a little one (face) at a push, if you're planning on doing that area. Using the big head gets it done quicker.

It could work perfectly and also be a fad.

I had my legs, armpits, bikini done and 95% gone. Best investment ever. Every couple of years I have a hair finding session before the summer, job done.

Listen to this, it might help clear things up for you!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002vcb2

Hi op my bikini line good. Lip area felt it grew back. Somebody said therapie machines are old now so am not sure.. it alot of money for re growth. That was my experience

Did you go to a professional or do it yourself?

It worked for me. Thick black body hair, and 15 years later I only have a few sparse hairs wherever I was zapped.

It doesn’t stop menopause coming along and recarpeting you, but comparing my body/facial hair to various relatives I’d say I’m still much better off.

Six hairs in one armpit, eight in the other. I was thatched before.

Proper laser is pro only. IPL isn’t the same thing at all.

I’m the exact same. Biggest waste of money I’ve spent. I’m decaying the Philips remover. Can anyone recommend which one you sent for as there are a few, 7000, 8000?! X

Yes it’s very important to stress this. IPL done at home is no where near as powerful as professional lasers. They are two entirely different systems.

And then on top of that, there are different types of laser machines. I have light olive skin and very dark body hair. As I mentioned further up thread, I did soprano on my arms and there was no difference. I then did ND YAG full body and I’m still hair free 10 years later (I had some regrowth in the Hollywood area whilst pregnant and still have hairs on my face but it’s a huge improvement compared to when I had actual side burns).

Some stores will advertise IPL as laser, and some stores will do laser but use one of the not so good machines, or not use the right frequency for tone and hair (hence why many posters above who have spent a fortune on laser have had poor results). It’s really important to do your research on whether the professional you choose has the right machine for you.

I had it done 18 or so years ago. Post kids and especially now I am on HRT bits have grown back but still so much less hair than before. I am now having laser top ups. And I have dark hair and olive skin so am not ideal candidate. I only had five sessions before and it’s lasted really well. Genuinely one of the best things I have done for myself as saves time and effort and self consciousness. Have offered to my DC but legal limit is 18 years or older and not quite there yet.

I had laser on my bikini and underarms approx 6 years ago and was massively successful. They did stress at the time that it’s never going to 100% remove hair and a yearly top up is usually recommended. I got it done in Thérapie and they state they use medical grade lasers. I have olive skin ahd dark hair and took 6 underarm and 10 bikini treatments to be hair free but best thing I ever did. My underarms has never grown back but bikini definitely needed a top up every 6-12 months. They did explain that due to hormones it can be stubborn. When I say grows back it was far finer and lighter than the Brillo bush I had prior to starting. So the minute a few hairs started to pop up I’d book a top up.

So I decided this year rather than continue to spend the money going to the clinic I’d buy a cheapie IPL machine and see how I get on. It was less than €100 on Amazon and it’s phenomenal. I’ve done my arms, legs, face and bikini and am now completely hair free. I now do the whole body once every few weeks. Probably takes 15 mins but less time that I’d spend driving to the clinic

Update: I went to a professional clinic who used soprano trio4 laser for a test patch but I didn’t feel anything. She tried different settings and just said I had a high pain threshold (!?). Wondering whether I should pay for the block or try another laser? Everything else appeared good but not sure if it’ll be effective.