Laser hair removal- is it worth it?

[auntdeputyinvasion]

I have dark hair on my chin and jawline, I have patches just below my jawline. I absolutely hate it. I currently shave it every day but it looks awful. I’m very fair-skinned so it’s very noticeable. I’ve booked in for a consultation for laser hair removal at my local sk:n clinic - has anyone else done this, is it worth the ££££?

IME: absolutely. It's expensive, it can take quite a few sessions, but I did my underarms and it was life changing. So worth the money.

Same as PP, worth it for me.

I have now had 7 of 8 sessions on bikini and underarms have found the results great, almost 100% reduction in hair and major difference from quite early on. I obviously cannot comment on longevity of the effects. 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 badly. I do have pale skin and dark hair, which I think makes me a 'good candidate' for hair removal.

I have also gone with sk:n and been very happy with them. Worth noting though that they almost always have discount offers, so try and use one of those rather than paying full price.

I have had electrolysis on my face and chin. It has been expensive but so so worth it! I'm amazed at the results. I only started in May!

Worth remembering lazer is not permanent. Only electrolysis is permanent. Id look into prices for this, see if you can afford it.

Some people find hair grown back worse after lazer. For others it works very well.

@IceLace100

I have had electrolysis on my face and chin. It has been expensive but so so worth it! I'm amazed at the results. I only started in May!

Worth remembering lazer is not permanent. Only electrolysis is permanent. Id look into prices for this, see if you can afford it.

Some people find hair grown back worse after lazer. For others it works very well.

Amazing that anyone still does electrolysis. I've done both and found laser faster, less painful and more effective.

@revampneeded, electrolysis is really good if, like me, you have fair hair (the hair on my chin and jaw is light but thick like wire - I hate it). Laser is great but only if you have enough color contrast between skin and hair.

"Amazing that anyone still does electrolysis. I've done both and found laser faster, less painful and more effective."

I wouldn't say it was "amazing". It's an alternative service for people whose needs aren't identical to yours

@Ruthietuthie gotcha - I see your point. I do have more of a colour contrast. (I have these memories of 45 minute sessions in the '90s with the electrolysis lady droning on about her love life while jamming in the needle. 😆)

For me electrolysis worked best with light hair but can take forever and is painful. I had ££££s worth of electrolysis for years and after a while I stopped seeing a difference with continued treatments. I was extra hairy to start with but ended up with lighter, patchier coverage. They needed to turn the treatment level to maximum as my hairs were thicker. I ended up being a reduced price customer for the trainees to practise on. I then volunteered at a local college and paid very low prices.

I didn't have much of a facial hair issue at the time so was plucking and waxing it. I've been using laser on my face now for a few years and it's not having much effect.

Laser seems to work much faster on the rest of my body but doesn't work brilliantly on light, finer hair.

I would get some cheaper laser treatments done then get rid of the remaining hairs with electrolysis.

Laser is absolutely worth it and with fair skin and dark hair you should be a good candidate.

They always have either 50% or 60% off at sk:n so make sure you get a good deal, as a PP mentioned.

I've had laser on legs, bikini and underarm. Unfortunately like another PP I'm doing electrolysis on my chin area as the hair is light but THICK 😳🙄 I would love to be able to do laser on that area instead as I'm finding the results sooo slow with electrolysis but you'll probably get a significant reduction from laser straight away. But again, as already mentioned it's sadly not permanent,but my results have lasted a good few years so far.

Thank you all very much, sk:n have already offered me a good deal. I feel a lot more confident about it now!

@auntdeputyinvasion

I have dark hair on my chin and jawline, I have patches just below my jawline. I absolutely hate it. I currently shave it every day but it looks awful. I’m very fair-skinned so it’s very noticeable. I’ve booked in for a consultation for laser hair removal at my local sk:n clinic - has anyone else done this, is it worth the ££££?

If it is on your chin, so not a lot of hairs then look into electrolysis, laser hair removal is good, but electrolysis is the golden standard!

Also, you would be better plucking than shaving, shaving will give you stubble, plucking will mean no hair for weeks.

Also, you would be better plucking than shaving, shaving will give you stubble, plucking will mean no hair for weeks.

This is true normally, but I have been told for the duration of my laser process to only remove hair via shaving - nothing that removes it from the root: epilating, waxing, plucking... as it can adversely impact results. OP - just check what the rules are with your treatment to be sure

I went to Sk:n and the branch near me were excellent. I have an adrenal disorder and at puberty started with male pattern hair growth on my face and neck as well as my body. This was before laser treatment was a thing and it blighted my life till I had my first course of laser in my 30s. I needed masses of treatments but it was so worth it. I had 20 clear years till my hormones went crazy pre-menopause. I needed a lot of treatments to clear the sides of my face, jaw, neck and top lip but always booked courses when they had offers on, which they do very often. I’ve been hair free again for about 8 years and if it started up again I’d do it again. To not be having to pluck/shave/bleach and be self conscious is so liberating. I think it’s a shame that women with medical conditions that cause hirsutism seem to end up having to pay for private laser themselves.

I agree re plucking. The instructions from Sk:n said to shave but not pluck.

Yes it absolutely is worth the ££££. I had it on chin, throat, side burn and top lip 10 years ago. Very very little regrowth but I’ve had a couple of top up sessions every now and again.

I'm 5 sessions into a course of 8 with Skn. Like you OP I had dark hair on my jawline and as I'm fair it was quite noticeable. I'm astounded by the improvement. the hair is all but gone I have a few fine, light hairs but I can deal with them. Would definitely recommend.

I had laser treatments years ago and they didn't work. I bought a Philips Lumea a few years ago and although it's not permanent I no longer have to shave my legs and just do a few sessions on underarms and bikini each year. It's the best purchase ever.

Almost finished a course of laser on bikini and underarms and it’s already the best thing I’ve ever spent money on. I was never able to shave bikini area due to painful itchy regrowth so this is just life changing.
I was in between going to skn or therapie (both national chains offering medical grade laser) but ended up with Therapie due to very good price and the deals ever since have been pretty good. I only paid £174 for a course of six treatments for bikini and underarm which I think is really reasonable and they do a referral scheme too where you get £30 worth of laser credit if someone refers you. Next up I’m planning to get my legs done!

I should also say that if you’re considering laser, best not to delay. As others have pointed out, for this to work properly you need a good contrast in colour to effectively blast the hair, so best go before you get any white / grey hairs which won’t be targeted!