Shaving my face for laser hair removal

[faceitup]

I have just started 10 sessions to have my facial hair around my top lip and chin removed. I have to shave before each treatment (around 4 weeks apart) and if I want to get rid of hair in-between.

It's awful. Awful. I have bought some facial razors. I am having to do it every 2 days. I have lots of dark hair appearing in between. It is visibly noticeable. I also have lots of fair hairs (which the laser treatment will leave) which are becoming more and more prominent as they are shaved. I have only done 1 laser treatment session. I can't see how I am going to be able to face (!) doing this 3 or 4 times a week for the next 9 months.

I hate the shaving, it makes me feel shit. And then literally the hairs reappear the next day. I used to pluck, every day, and just hadn't realised how hairy I was. My skins seems ok at the moment but surely shaving it every day is going to hurt it?

Can anyone reassure me that this is going to get better? I have only had one session so I know not to expect all the hair to magically fall out but at the moment it's worse than ever - more obvious etc. When can I expect to look at my face and think, oh, I don't need to shave it for a while?

Any advice welcome, thank you.

It really sucks and I completely feel your pain. I did IPL with a Phillips lumea at home and was shaving in between and had really obvious dark stubble patches it was embarrassing and depressing and I had to layer on the makeup quite heavily to try and hide it (it didn’t really work but made me feel a bit better). Now I have nothing at all and it is so fantastic not to be worrying about it anymore. I can’t comment on how long before you notice a difference as I was doing it myself at home but hang in there it will be worth it.

Thank you so much @ILoveMyMonkey for replying. Maybe I have just been naive in not realising what the treatment meant. Glad that it has made such a positive difference to you.

It will work. I had x6 laser sessions on my face 10 years ago and have only just started to need top ups, so I got a lumea.

I use one of those Perfect Touch battery razors, and it's really good at getting rid of it - I did it for a few weeks before I started the laser treatment. I have had 8 sessions but have had to buy another course, because it's still not all gone. It's better than it was, though. I still use the perfect touch thing in between, but it's more manageable now - at first it was daily, and I found it kind of irritating on my skin, but now it's only after 2-3 weeks since the previous treatment, and only every 2-3 days then in some patches.

it's a little battery powered razor, the size of a lipstick, with a kind of rotating head on it a bit like bigger electric razors - really easy to use and less irritating that a blade and you can't cut yourself! I got mine at Wilco for about £20

It will work, I promise you.
This was me last year. I have waxed and plucked my face for 15 plus years. Having to start shaving in anticipation of laser, was really traumatic for me. I had to shave daily.
I’m now 9 months and 7 sessions in. It has been life changing. I think two more sessions will do it. I haven’t shaved for 6 months!

I have had to shave my upper lip for years. I can’t bear to pluck, wax or thread.

I use a man’s blade razor, wash face with gentle cleanser, apply hot flannel, apply shaving oil, and shave. Men’s razors are much sharper and closer shaving than women’s and a good oil and warm skin really helps.

Also, shaving my upper lip hasn’t damaged my skin at all. Forgot to say get the razor warm too. Good luck, OP.

Same here. The results were worth it- well worth the short-term pain.
Mens razors and non disposibles are so much better