Laser hair removal

[callmemaybee]

Hi, would really like to know about how you found laser hair removal:

Does it hurt?

At the end of your sessions, did you get permanent hair removal or not?

Which areas did you get removed, how long did a session take and how much did it cost?

I’m finding it diffifult to find a practitioner as so many clinics in my area offer it! I have been 8 full body sessions advertised as being £1500-£6000 and it’s hard to figure out what the going rate is, especially as I have seen like 60% discounts flying around.

Can it be done on fair hair ?

• I find it really quite painful. I have heard alot of people compare it to being pinged with an elastic band, and say it hurts less than waxing, that isn't my experience. It almost feels like a red hot needle is being pushed where the hair follicle is where the hair is thick, finer hair not too bad.

• I have had 5 of 8 sessions have found the results great so far, almost 100% reduction in hair, but obviously cannot comment on longevity. I am particularly happy as due to COVID I haven't been able to stick to the recommended 6 week schedule, this doesn't seem to have impacted results. I do have pale skin and dark hair, which I think makes me a 'good candidate' for hair removal.

• Underarms and bikini line. Sessions take around 25 minutes in total, but this includes a small amount of form filling out, health questionnaire to make sure you are suitable, and mapping out the area with a white pencil as a guide. At most probably half of the time is actual lasering. Cost was around £850 for 8 sessions on both areas - this was a deal price with sk:n.

It depends on your hair and skin colour. Best results are on pale skin with dark hair.

I got an offer on Groupon a couple of years agi, I think it was £200 for bikini line and armpits for 6 sessions. The 6 sessions worked amazingly on my armpits, but I still had a couple of stray hairs around my bikini area (I didn't have all my hair removed, just asked for the areas that poke out the sides of a swimming costume to be removed and a bit off the top). So I had another 6 sessions and it worked perfectly.

It's lovely, as I can now go swimming without worrying about shaving or tidying up my bikini area. Zero regrets.

@LadyEloise

Can it be done on fair hair ?

I’m not sure. Apparently there are special laser machines that can work with fair hair but you might need to go to a specialist and pay a bit more

@SummaLuvin thank you for the informative response! I can imagine the bikini area being particularly painful. It’s amazing that you have seen such great results!! I have pale skin and dark hair too

@Cupidity thank you very much. That’s brilliant that you have had years of hair free skin!

One more question, did you pay for your entire laser hair removal course up front, or do you pay for each session as you have it? I’m sort of hesitant about paying several thousand up front, when there’s the risk of lockdown and appointment cancellations

@callmemaybee I'd definitely recommend shopping around online, there are normally several 90% off offers on Groupon or wowcher, etc. So it doesn't have to cost thousands.

I just bought a voucher for 6 sessions in one go,

It works really well on pale skin and dark hair in my experience. I had laser on my upper lip and chin and only now about 8 years later are some of the fine hairs starting to come back. The thicker ones seem to have permanently gone. It cost around £500 at Skn clinics, there was an offer on at the time. It was painful but as it was a small area it was over quickly and the pain was less each time, even though they turned the strength of the laser up. I think I had 8 sessions.

A couple of years ago I used an 80%-off groupon code and had 6 sessions on my bikini line and 'intimate areas'. At £80 it was an absolute bargain. I did do my research and check the clinic's reviews beforehand, it turned out to be a really nice place. I wasn't prepared for how painful it was for the first couple of sessions, but it did get a bit better after that. I recommend not going on your period and taking paracetamol beforehand. The results have been amazing - two years later about 80% of the hair is gone which is what I had been told to expect. It was very painful the first couple of times however. The thing about the pain though is you only feel it the second they actually zap the hair, it disappears immediately after that so you can ask them to go slower or to take breaks.

They tell you you won't get 100% permanent removal with 6 or 8 sessions, so I think you'd have to go back for more if you wanted that. The results have exceeded my expectations. I have had some fine hairs come back on my bikini line but it takes about a second to glide over them with a razor now compared to contending with lots of thick hair before. Life changing!

I'm part way through a course of medical grade laser at the moment on my underarms and bikini line, and I've found it cheap, painless and effective. I paid £172 ish for a course of 6 sessions (massive discount at a chain salon - offer still available i believe) and that's underarm and full bikini. I find it much less painful than waxing - it's just hot. And i have dark hair, pale skin and I think I have a very low pain threshold. So i think probably everyone experiences this differently tbh.

After 5 sessions, I'm practically bald. I have another session to go in my original course and I've since bought a top up of another three sessions for £72ish.

Very happy with this at the moment. Pretty life changing actually.

Ooh also, this may be just my experience, but every groupon or wowcher deal I've ever seen is for IPL. Make sure you get medical grade laser - not IPL.

I had the lot done in around 2006 - full legs then underarm and brazilian. Cost about £1500 at sk:n in London. I have pale skin and dark hair and didn’t find it at all painful. Couple of painkillers before the Brazilian and it was fine.

15 years on (yikes) and having had a child I have very few hairs still, easily managed with a home IPL device.

I had full legs done last year and results have been amazing. I’d say 80% reduction. I used to have lots of dark hair and pale skin, so even when I shaved you could see the follicle and I’m be stubbly by the evening if I shave in the morning.

It’s life changing - I can shave my legs a couple of times a week and throw on a dress without spending 30 mins shaving first.

I’ve bought myself a Philips Lumea to keep it topped up at home and it seems to be working really well.

My 4 year old daughter has been complaining that she has pain in her belly button. It has been around 4 months now, however, for the first 3 months it was on and off (three times a month) so I didn't really think anything of it. Since the past two weeks she has been very lethargic, won't eat much and is in pain every day on and off. She does go to the toilet to pass stool daily so I know she isn't constipated. I took her to the GP today and the GP straight away said they would like to give her laxatives to treat any constipation and this will be for 3 weeks. If the pain is still there, then I should take her back. Is this normal protocol? I feel like she found the easy way out. Any advice would be really appreciated please. If anyone has experienced the same with their child?