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Why didn’t I do this sooner? Laser hair removal.

10 replies

OliveTapenade · 02/03/2024 22:54

I’m very pale with dark hair. For the past few years, I’ve had excessive facial hair around my chin and down the middle of my neck.

It used to be manageable with regular waxing but then I turned 30 and it’s like my face went into full beard mode and I was constantly tweezing. Between Covid, a house move, illness, and life, I got into a bit of a vicious cycle of shaving and needing to do it constantly- no point allowing the hair to grow enough to wax as it was so very visible but then shaving isn’t taking the hair at the root so the result doesn’t last. Add to that the occasional ingrown hair from shaving and it’s tough enough to keep under control.

Over the past 18 months, the situation got much worse. If I shave at 8am, I have visible stubble by 6pm. I never leave home without a razor. I bought a Philips Lumea and it made very little difference. I’m not great at being kind to myself, for various reasons, so the idea of going to a salon to get it done terrified me.

But I bit the bullet and had my first laser session last night. It took ten minutes and today is the first day in about two years that I haven’t had to shave. My chin feels perfectly smooth. The therapist said it was likely I’d see some improvement after the first session but I wasn’t expecting such an amazing result.

I know there’ll be regrowth over the next while as new hairs emerge and I’ll have to get the razor out, but if this is a sign of things to come, I’m really excited. I’ve booked and paid for a package of sessions.

Not sure why I’m posting this- mix of shock and delight, I suppose. And also just to encourage anyone who has a similar issue and is putting off trying laser treatment.

OP posts:
Teasie123 · 02/03/2024 22:55

Oh really?? I would love to try it.

OliveTapenade · 02/03/2024 23:06

Do it. Honestly, if you can get to a salon and can afford it, you might see a difference.

I’m just hoping now that this isn’t a fluke and is a sign of how all my sessions will go and I’ll have a totally smooth chin in six months’ time.

OP posts:
IsAWindingRoad · 02/03/2024 23:08

It's wonderful, isn't it?!

I've not taken the plunge to do my face as the Lumea seems to be working but not having to deal with the armpits and bikini line (salon-zapped) I wish 14-year-old me knew this instead of bleaching for the next 20 years.

OliveTapenade · 02/03/2024 23:10

IsAWindingRoad · 02/03/2024 23:08

It's wonderful, isn't it?!

I've not taken the plunge to do my face as the Lumea seems to be working but not having to deal with the armpits and bikini line (salon-zapped) I wish 14-year-old me knew this instead of bleaching for the next 20 years.

I know! When I think of all the angst and money and time I’d saved if I had done this years ago. Kicking myself that I didn’t just put my mind to it.

Really tempted now to start doing my legs and underarms too.

OP posts:
IsAWindingRoad · 02/03/2024 23:13

I have been toying with getting a groupon or something for the legs. I know the machine they used is the Soprano Ice so I guess one needs to find a salon that uses that machine.

I have literally 4 very fine (long, it seems!) hairs on one armpit - I had 10 zappings about 4 years ago. Amazing.

SeaBlueSky · 02/03/2024 23:16

@OliveTapenade have you been investigated for (or do you have other symptoms of) PCOS? That strength of hair growth on the face is unusual.

May I ask how much it costs? And does it hurt?

I’m really hairy and I hate it. 😔

toomanyleggings · 02/03/2024 23:19

I haven’t shaved my legs or armpits properly in 20 years since I lasered mine. I also had my lower arms done. I have about 4/5 individual hairs on my legs that I shave if I’m showing my legs but I’m otherwise completely bald there. You do need lots of treatments though to get to that point and you need to get up to the high settings which are stingier than the lower starting settings. You also need to make sure they’re using a proper laser and not a light machine ( see lots of places falsely advertising this).

lunar1 · 02/03/2024 23:20

I got rid of everything below my eyes years ago, best money I've ever spent

OliveTapenade · 03/03/2024 10:22

SeaBlueSky · 02/03/2024 23:16

@OliveTapenade have you been investigated for (or do you have other symptoms of) PCOS? That strength of hair growth on the face is unusual.

May I ask how much it costs? And does it hurt?

I’m really hairy and I hate it. 😔

Yes, PCOS, but also a thyroid-based autoimmune condition where facial hair is one of the side effects.

I'm not in the UK so no idea about pricing there but I got a series of six sessions for €220 so not very expensive.

It doesn’t hurt but there’s slight discomfort. I found in some areas (key areas for me where the hair is very thick) it almost felt like a tiny elastic band being pinged off my skin. In only places I didn’t feel anything. Only lasted a split second though. Whole treatment took ten mins.

Edited to add: no chin hairs this morning! Can feel a few just below the skin on my neck/jawline but it’s a massive improvement.

OP posts:
SeaBlueSky · 03/03/2024 19:32

Thank you @OliveTapenade . Sounds amazing!!

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