Home laser hair removal

[Lucy61]

Does it work? I have lots of i growing hairs on my legs which look like black spots all over my calves. I heard that laser would get rid of them once and for all but the salon treatments are so expensive! You can buy laser hair removers to use at home but are they worth it? Has anyone tried them?

My experience of stuff like this available for home use is not as powerful as the commercial stuff. (Memories of home electrolysis kit just being a waste of money).

I LOVE my Phillips lumea, it is expensive but for me soooo worth it. I ummmed and Ahhhhrd about buying it for literally years and really wish had bought it sooner!

It does take a bit of time initially, but now about five or six weeks in I can really see a difference and hardly have to shave at all. I have used it on my lower legs, bikini line and underarms.

I've got theBoots home IPL machine (older version, current one looks even better), and I think it's fantastic. You need pale skin and dark hair for best results though.

Sorry you probably want more specifics: you're supposed to use it weekly for 12 weeks (I ink I managed 8-10), then monthly for maintenance. I got mine just over a year ago, and probably zap every 6 weeks or so, and barely need to shave in between. I went on holiday over Easter, shaved legs armpits and bikini before I went (but didn't zap), and didn't need to shave the whole time I was there.

Wow, this sounds great. I have hair on my neck and moustache which really bothers me. I either bleach or pluck and was thinking of doing electrolysis, would a home kit work for this kind of thing ? (Sorry to hijack)

It works. It bloody works! I have the Remington IPL. It's cheaper than the Lumea and you can buy bulb refills. Not suitable for the face though.

I'm sold on this! Now need to decide which one to get. They are so much cheaper on eBay but don't know if I can bare to use something that may have been used for private parts etc.

You don't want to get a second hand one because the "bulbs" (for want of a better word) only have a finite life and you have no truthful idea whether someone has used one religiously for a couple of years or have tried it once, ended up with a rash and no visible sign of improvement and given up on it.

I have a Lumea Essentials which I'm using to get rid of the luscious black growth I get on my lower legs. I've used it 3 times and I am seeing an improvement already. Last time I shaved, it had taken a week to get to the state I normally reach in less than 2 days.

IfInDoubt - you need to look at something like the Lumea Precision - and at someone willing to help you with the bits of your neck you can't see!

Thanks, I'm off to google

I've just bought the Smoothskin Gold IPL. Can't tell how well it works yet but fingers crossed as I am so over shaving!

Love my lumea. Had it a year. Worth every penny

I have this and it actually works! The advantage buying here is that you have a 90 day home trial and can return for a full refund if it doesn't work with your colouring.

Oh yes, good point re returns. My salonsilk has a 12 week return policy from boots

Another person here adding an extra vote to the "bloody marvellousness" of the lumea. I have way too much body hair including nipples, chin and chest hair. After ONE use, the confidence-sapping chest hair has gone and nipple hair has been almost, but not quite, disappeared. After TWO uses my legs are stubbleless 3-days post shaving. As someone who had 5 o'clock shadow during the summer, I find this amazing. The downside is that I am having to shave my tasche and chin. The tasche was no problem after two weeks but the chin is less receptive. I have been plucking a handful of hairs on my chin for nearly 20 years. Turns out that it is a lot more than a handful and I may have buggered up the roots with so much plucking. Still it has only been three weeks since I bought it so will carry on for how ever long it takes. The relief of not having to systematically plan hair removal/disguisal in the summer is already fantastic, even though we are only still in april. At 400 quid it is eye-watering ly expensive, but worth every last penny. Hair marys like me will understand that completely :-)