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Style and beauty

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Original poster

Who's had laser hair removal?

26 replies

2ndtime · 22/10/2006 19:10

and how was it? I'm booked in to have my eyebrow and moustache done a week on Wednesday. I say eyebrow, because left to their own devices my brows would meet in the middle and become a uni-brow!
I have plucked them since I can remember,I was about 7 or 8 I think, as I was so self conscious that all the other girls had two and I, just the one.
I have waxed,immaced, bleached etc my top lip all my adult life and I've had enough now, so lasers it must be.

My concern is that I have to cultivate my hair so they can do it. This, in itself, is horrendous as it won't take long for me to have just the one eyebrow and a moustache that the Village People would be proud of.

So, after the first treatment, how long before the hair starts to go? How much does it hurt? and how many treatments do you think it will take?(I have very dark hair).

TIA.xx

OP posts:

flack · 22/10/2006 19:32

Is it IPL? Expensive but they say it works well if you stay the course, works best for dark hair on light skin. Lousy for white hair on medium tone or darker skin.

Original poster

2ndtime · 22/10/2006 19:36

Yes it's IPL. I'm not too worried about what it costs. It's got to be worth it! I have a mortal fear of being knocked down and waking up from my coma to discover my family have disowned me because I've turned into a weir wolf!
I do have very dark hair and am quite pale at the moment.

OP posts:

horace · 22/10/2006 19:46

not had it but would be fascinated to know how you get on . how much is it costing?

Original poster

2ndtime · 22/10/2006 19:51

The lip job is £50 a session. They were very vague about how many sessions would be needed, could be between 6-10. I wasn't told about unibrow as I'm not sure they had a clue, don't think they do so many!

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twoleftfeet · 22/10/2006 19:59

Can highly recommend it! I had 6 sessions last year and it's (almost) changed my life! Gone from almost daily shaving upper lip & chin, to hardly any - just the odd stray one, which I can cope with. It's great not having to worry that other people might have noticed.... Downside - quite expensive, as you know. HTH.

Original poster

2ndtime · 22/10/2006 20:02

Sounds good twoleftfeet. How long did you have to leave between sessions? and how did you cope with the growth inbetween times?

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 22/10/2006 20:03

my sister had it on her upper lip and sideburns.

it only took 4 sessions for her hair to be GONE, but it works best on dark hair w/light skin, which is what she's got.

she thinks it was 100% worth it.

Original poster

2ndtime · 22/10/2006 20:05

WoW, expat thats amazing! Hope it's as effective for me!

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 22/10/2006 20:34

it was designed for dark hair on light skin.

she said it felt like someone snapping a rubber band on her skin, but that was it.

Original poster

2ndtime · 22/10/2006 20:40

Given my penchant for tatoos I'm sure
I can live with that.

OP posts:

twoleftfeet · 22/10/2006 21:32

I had to leave about a month to 6 weeks between sessions. There is no exact way of working out the optimal time, depends on the hair growth rate. The therapist you go to should be able to advise you on this. Shop around for a reputable business to have this done, someone you feel comforable with and ideally with lots of experience. Coping with growth between sessions was fairly easy. The hairs need to be near the surface I seem to remember. I shaved mine that morning (with electric shaver, cringe to think about it now!), and then went along to be 'zapped'. It's a lot better than waxing where you need a certain amount of surface growth.

Blossomhowl · 22/10/2006 21:41

I was told that you couldn't have eyebrows done as too near the eyes.

I had a consultation for my tash. As my hair on my top lip is quite fair you can now use a spray that works by putting the pigment back into the root. You need the colour in the root as that is what the laser zapps. You have to spray it about 40 times a day though.

Original poster

2ndtime · 01/11/2006 22:14

I went for a patch test at the hair removal place today. I was surprised how much the laser hurt actually. Maybe I've gone soft in my old age!

She zapped my eyebrows a couple of times to see how much power was needed to frazzle them and then the same on my moustache. Going back in 2 weeks to start the treatment. Costs £80 a session but she said I shouldnt need too many as I have very dark hair and pale skin.
I got a bit carried away and had my pits waxed and a crystal clear facial too. Maybe I'm having a midlife crisis. Until now I've never been in a beauty salon, never blow dry/straighten my hair,
only wear make up for high days and holidays. DH might get the wrong idea and think I'm playing away but I'm looking forward to feeling a bit better about myself.

OP posts:

twoleftfeet · 02/11/2006 10:44

Hi 2ndtime, Well done for going along for the test. Yes, the upper lip does hurt a bit doesn't it, especially the middle bit! Sorry, I forget to mention that. I remember it making my eyes water! Try having a couple of painkillers before you go along.

Facial etc sounds great - I never make time for that sort of thing either.

Original poster

2ndtime · 02/11/2006 19:38

I forgot to say, the most freaky bit that made me laugh my head off was when the pretty therapist whipped oyt an electric shaver and shaved my moustache~! quite surreal. Never thought I'd shave my face let alone have another woman do it for me!

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bobobobs · 02/11/2006 20:12

how was the crystal clear, is it like a black and decker sander?

poppynboo · 02/11/2006 20:20

Hiya, this is spooky 'cause my sister asked me to search the net for a cream that's supposed to be on the market for hair removal from upper lips.
Its not a run of the mill cream either 'cause she too has been shaving for decades (face and chest as well and the more lady like legs!).
Has anyone ever heard of it? I don't think she could afford the laser sessions.

twoleftfeet · 02/11/2006 20:30

, that does sound scary! The only comfort is knowing that they have seen it all hundreds of times before!

drosophila · 02/11/2006 20:35

I am very fair skinned. My soft hairs are very fair but the coarser ones tend to be a dark blonde. DO you think it would work on them given that my skin is so fair ?

twoleftfeet · 02/11/2006 20:42

drosophila - not really sure to be honest. Best results are with pale skin and dark hair. A therapist would be able to advise you whether your hairs are dark enough....

Original poster

2ndtime · 02/11/2006 21:05

Hello bobs. The Crystal clear was more like the little dentists hoover thingie when you have filllings. Not a relaxing session by any means. They scrape/blast/suck the top 3 layers off your skin to remove scars & blemishes etc. Not painful tho. I left looking like a big red tomato head. By this morning the redness was almost gone nad my skin looks masses better already.

OP posts:

gunpowderjaamyandplot · 02/11/2006 22:45

I've asked DH if I can have my tash lasered for Christmas. He's said yes but I don't think he (nor I) realised how much it would cost. Can you get it done really gradually over a year, say every 2 or 3 months instead of 6-8 weeks or does that lessen the effect?

Original poster

2ndtime · 03/11/2006 07:48

The girl who did mine said that the colour of your hair is crucial.Very dark hair and pale skin can be treated in as few as 3 sessions but they will not guarantee that as it may not be the case for everyone, so in theory 3 sessions on your lip at £50 a time is not bad, I think.

OP posts:

gunpowderjaamyandplot · 03/11/2006 23:09

I have dark hair and pale skin so am hoping it would work for me in just a few sessions. Only one way to find out...
I'm sure it's all worth it 2ndtime!

Original poster

2ndtime · 04/11/2006 13:36

I just think if it is done, and lasts forever (they said pregnancy/menopause can make it grow back sometimes)so I never need to worry about it ever again, it's money very well spent!
Go for it gunpowder. Even if you only have a few sessions and its not completely successful there should be a huge reduction in the number of hairs.

OP posts:

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