Laser hair removal

[ChaiLatteLove]

I am presently exploring the option of laser underarm hair removal instead of shaving and am considering it for a more lasting solution. I'm wondering if anyone has undergone laser hair removal. I would like to know how many sessions are usually necessary? What are the costs involved, and are the results truly permanent and dependable?

Additionally, will there be a need for further laser treatments in the future, or is it possible to completely eliminate the need for shaving or waxing after the entire treatment plan is completed?

I would greatly appreciate any insights or advice

I've used it professionally but as I have PCOS it always comes back.
I have a home kit but haven't used it in a while.

what " Home kit " you mean ?

I have a philips lumea. You use it fortnightly. I've had a huge decrease in hair. After 8 sessions my arm pits are now completely smooth.
It does depend on skin/hair colour

I had I think 7 sessions on my armpits and it was great, all clear now (save perhaps 2 really fine hairs I notice once in a blue moon) - they do say you will need top up treatments in the future, I'm 4 years in and wouldn't pay for this unless it starts regrowing, rather than a 'preventative' but safer to assume you may need occasional treatments at some point in the future.

I wasn't very hairy to begin with so not as much to remove, but conversely if you have thick/dark hair that's better for laser. I had less success in other areas but I'm quite fair.

Price-wise, it wasn't cheap, laser is meant to be better/more permanent than IPL, but it's also a lot more expensive (I was lucky in that the company I went with got bought out by Sk:n Clinics, so I'd paid less for my course than Skn charge)

i have PCOS so my hormones will affect the treatment.

i've had about 20 sessions, but i do have to book top up sessions every few years as i have gad some regrowth. overall, am pleased with the treatment.

Groupon is your friend for packages!!!

I’m currently undergoing laser hair removal on my bikini line and underarms. I pay £85 a session and have had 6 sessions since May 2023. I’m not quite finished my treatment but have barely any hair left now and I have very thick dark hair. It’s been life changing for me and would highly recommend it.

I got a home IPL, the Braun one, and just one underarm treatment significantly reduced the hair growth

I got it half price last year, mostly for my top lip and chin, Im not so bothered about leg and under arm hair as its never on show and am seriously impressed with the results

I tested on a wee patch of leg hair for example 8 weeks back, its still bald

So I worked for a clinic and there are a lot of factors to this. Firstly you want to make sure it is a laser and not an ipl machine. These are not the same. Secondly the ideal skin for this is pale with dark hair. Another factor is the laser settings. If you get treated on a low setting the machine moves quicker, the treatment is over quicker but it’s not as effective and you need more treatments. Often practitioners don’t move people up on the higher settings because it takes more time and it’s less profit because you need less treatments. The other factor is pain- the higher settings are more painful. Ideally to get the best out of treatments they should test patch you on three settings and your first treatment should be the highest of the three. After each session you should be test patched for the next highest setting and keep moving like that until you’re at the highest you can tolerate pain wise and your skin is recovering well from. This is the best chance of the hair never coming back. I did my own legs/ arms and bikini line on the highest setting possible. This was over a decade ago and still have no hair

@Upinthenightagain Thanks for the information! I have pale skin but lighter hair so I'm guessing that might affect how well the treatments work for me?Intresting to know about the differences between laser and IPL, and the importance of settings. I’ll definitely discuss the test patch process with the clinic. By the way, do you think some places might use IPL under the name of laser? Wouldn't that be misleading, or even illegal?

Some clinics definitely do say ‘laser’ when actually it’s an IPL. You just need to ask the question so you know what you’re getting. Not sure on the legalities of it. There’s some info here https://www.thevictoriancosmeticinstitute.com.au/detail/ipl-for-hair-removal/#:~:text=IPL%20produces%20a%20broad%20bandwith,types%20in%20laser%20hair%20removal.

I can't give you a cost comparison as I live in another country, but normally you should be able to go for a first appointment at a reputable place so that they explain everything to you and trial on a small area to see if there are any issues.

The place I go to uses a medical type laser. You need to shave first as otherwise it can be extremely uncomfortable, (like being pecked by a thousand hummingbirds) and the smell of singed hair can be very unpleasant.

I've had four sessions so far on the bikini area and the regrowth has really slowed down and become very patchy. I have some white hairs as I am getting on a bit. 😅 These can't be zapped unfortunately. So once I get the final treatment they will use a more direct process, almost like electrolysis on those. I make an appointment every 8 weeks to repeat the process.

I'm really happy with my results so far. There is a fan attachment to the device which cools the skin down, it usually takes no more than 15 minutes once we get going and if there are longer hair remnants that become painful they stop to give me a few seconds break to breathe.

When it's done the skin feels warm for a bit, but I have no redness or irritation. You need to be careful with the sun though, whilst in the process.

Wish I'd done it years ago to be honest, I'd have saved the cost of years of regular waxing.

I deliberately picked a place that said laser, definitely not IPL, and then when my treatment was taken over by the second business, they told me the first didn't use 'proper laser' so yes it can be misleading! Price is a good indicator, anyone offering massive discounts on sites like Groupon is almost certainly IPL.

As for the lighter hair, if you're very blonde it won't work. But it doesn't necessarily have to be thick black either. Again, the 2nd person I saw told me she would've warned me that my leg hair might be too pale, but as I'd already paid for the full course we went ahead and had good results. Not 100% clear, but what's left is pretty invisible unless you're examining closely, sparse enough that I don't bother shaving.

You'll have a consult where they look at your hair type and advise before you commit.

I had 6, it fucking hurt, and I still have to shave and I’m not very hairy. It is finer though and you can’t notice as much if I haven’t shaved, but I’d say it wasn’t worth it.