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