Laser doesn’t work for me, anyone used electrolysis??

[HairyMaclary19]

Looking for advice on what seems to be a problem for very few people. Had 6 sessions on bikini, armpits and legs on a very high quality laser (not IPL) machine with a reputable clinician. Am fair skinned, very dark, coarse hair, have only shaved not waxed, treatments every 6 weeks. On paper, it should have worked. Have had about 20-25% reduction. Advice seems to be that maybe I have a hormonal issue. Have always pretty hairy in the ‘wrong’ places (nipples, quite far down inner thighs etc). Was on anti-androgen pill for years when younger but had to come off when trying to conceive. Hair didn’t get a whole lot worse when I came off the those pills but has definitely got worse since staring peri-menopause, so possibly is hormonal. 25 years ago I had one session of electrolysis. It worked perfectly and there are still hair free patches on my bikini line where I had it done. So now I’m thinking this is what I need to go back to remove all the other hair. But it seems to have fallen out of fashion. I guess because laser works so well for most people? Has anyone on here had it done in recent years and what is their experience. Any helpful advice as I am sooooo done with all my hairiness!! Please advise if you can, thank you!

I’m stunned that the electrolysis worked so quickly for you - that’s amazing!! Definitely sounds worth trying again. I’ve got a couple of places within a mile of me that offer it, alongside waxing, facials, etc. Like you, i’d assumed that electrolysis was a dying art, but when I last bought a course of laser, they actually recommended that I used electrolysis for hairs on my chin as they were sporadic coarse ones rather than eg downy cheeks that people get. It’s taking well over a year to deal with my chin though, I started out every 5 days, got it to a week, then 2 weeks between sessions. Occasionally I can stretch to 3 weeks. Way fewer hairs each time now. I think that some of us just have 5 hairs growing where other people get 1, maybe that’s what our hormones have given us, so every approach takes longer. I think you should try electrolysis for your nipple area first as it is small and manageable and persevere with another course of laser, if you can afford it, meanwhile for the larger areas. I’ve had 3 or 4 courses of laser in my time, never as brilliant results as some might get, but my first goal (no more ingrowing hairs) got met, and over the years I think i’ve got to the stage of being more like the average woman which is good enough for me! In fact, my armpits are better than that.... not a single hair there and about 3 months since my last laser session. Good luck with it all, I think that you and I are just some of the unlucky ones who have to dedicate far more time and resources than most women to keep it in line. Get them to turn up the laser setting too, assuming you can tolerate it!

6 sessions isn't that much for 'resistant' hair and it's obviously working quite well if there is a 25% reduction if hair. Can you have more sessions or a different type of laser?

Thanks both so much for the advice. Good to hear from someone who has used electrolysis. Yes, I also have a few with several hairs coming from the same follicle, so gross! As for laser, also reassuring to hear from someone who sounds like they know what they are talking about to know that resistant hair is a ‘thing’. I can’t really afford to keep going with laser indefinitely. As I’ve heard that, for some people, even when they finally get the results they want, it comes back much faster than for most. So I think at least electrolysis is definitely permanent so any results won’t have to be repeated! So anyone else with electrolysis experience out there, I’d still love to hear about it. Thank you!