Laser Hair Removal

[Albertan mom]

I am thinking of getting laser hair removal on my armpits and um, bikini line.

Has anyone here done it?

Does it hurt?
How many sessions did you need?
Does any hair grow back at all?

I heard it works better on brunettes, because brown hair is coarser--does anyone know if that is true? (I am a brunette.)

Any other info, suggestions, comments would be great, thanks!!

 

[chasbos]

Does it hurt - yes! It is not a constant pain but more like being snapped by an elastic a hundred times in a very short period of time!

I had my armpits and bikini area done a few years ago.

My SIL did it with me - moral support!! And we had to go every 8 weeks for 6 times. I just had to go and get my armpits touched up but that was a much quicker process.

Dark hair is way better than light hair - the laser only senses dark things. You will be amazed at the amount of fine white hairs you have!

I would recommend getting it done but remember, the area you are getting laseres cannot be suntanned. I am going to get my legs done but cannot start until the fall so that the color is gone out them.

 

[Albertan mom]

Did you get like a cream on something on them as an anestetic to help with the pain?

What hurt more, the bikini area or armpits?

Do you shave the area you want done, or let the hair grow longer, so they can see it?

When you get it done, does the hair 'fall off' or do you shave it off after? (KWIM??)

 

[chasbos]

I have had it done at 2 places - they did not do it close to home when I first started.

The first place I went they put ice packs on the area to numb it and then use an ultrasound gel while lasering. A cream is applied after to keep the swelling down.

The last place I went did not do anything and there was no pain difference.

The bikini area hurt way, way more - but I did a large area of the bikini area!

The first time you go make sure you have some hair growth - they like to rate your hair on its courseness when they set the laser for it strength in zaps!

You will still have to shave afterward but not very often and not very much. It is a shedding process, so once you have shed that hair it will not grow back. But the hair under that hair will and that is why you have to go so many times.

We had it explained to us and something like every hair has 3 stages - so you kill off the first hair and another is ready to grow in its place, when you keep lasering the area, the hairs eventually are gone and nothing is left to grow back.

 

[NikP]

I went for a consulation and they told me I would have to grow the hair for 6 weeks before my first treatment. I didn't think I could go 6 weeks without shaving, so I didn't get it done. Maybe in the winter sometime, but it will be one hairy winter. After growing my hair for 6 weeks, I was to shave it off right before the appointment. Maybe this is to get all the hair at the same stage? Not sure. Also the laser is successful for some and not for others. You will not know till after your first session and follow up if you will be hair free for life.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

I went for a consulation and they told me I would have to grow the hair for 6 weeks before my first treatment. I didn't think I could go 6 weeks without shaving, so I didn't get it done. Maybe in the winter sometime, but it will be one hairy winter. After growing my hair for 6 weeks, I was to shave it off right before the appointment. Maybe this is to get all the hair at the same stage? Not sure. Also the laser is successful for some and not for others. You will not know till after your first session and follow up if you will be hair free for life.

I was never told that I had to grow out the hair for 6 weeks and I have had my underarm and bikini (brazilian) done. I also have always had a tan on my bikini line and I have had no problems getting it lasered so that is not an issue (as stated by another post).

 

[ChisJo]

My sister had this done to her arms - she literally has VERY hairy arms, more than some hairy men (yikes!!). She went for 3 treatments to each arm before her wedding, and literally, it did NOTHING for her. The hair is just as thick and there is still just as much of it as there was before. She is SO angry that she wasted that much time and money to see NO results. I am fortunate enough to not have that much hair, and besides, I wax my arms, legs and bikini line, and the hair is half what is used to be. I was thinking of getting the laser treatment done, but not after what I saw my sister go through.

 

[Limmer]

You can get a laser Brazilian? How, umm , complete is it? As complete as waxing?

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

It can be as complete as you want it to be!
I just left a tiny bit in the front and thats it!

 

[palmickey2005]

Any one have laser hair removal on their upper lip? I'm thinking of doing this cause I hate waxing. My hair is light brown though almost a dark blonde.

Would this work ?

 

[NikP]

Any one have laser hair removal on their upper lip? I'm thinking of doing this cause I hate waxing. My hair is light brown though almost a dark blonde.

Would this work ?

I would think that it will not work. The laser targets pigment. If the hair doesn't have pigment it will not be affected. The hair has to be dark. On fair haired people, most facial hair is light with only a few dark hairs here and there. So you will likely be only eliminating a tiny percentage of hair with the laser. You will still have to wax those blonde hairs. I am in the same boat. Maybe in a few years, they will find a way for all of us to be hair free. Haaaaaa.

 

[jeannief]

Yes it HURTS.
All lasers are not created equal. You want a level 4 medical grade laser, that does not mean a doctor needs to do it. It affects different people differently. I had 5 underarm treatments then went to touch ups. My sister had 8 before touchups.
Emla numbing cream is great, but pricey. Costco is the best price I've found and it is totally worth the $$.
Upper lips may be one of the factial areas that cannot be done by laser, as the laser will stimulate the growth there. At least that's what I remember, I could be getting it wrong and maybe it is cheeks..... I don't do that area. But I can tell you for what I've used it for.... well worth every $$$$$$.

 

[Albertan mom]

Thank you all so much for all your advice.

I am nervous about it, but am going to go check into it this week! I think it would be worth the pain. I hate shaving my armpits. It actually makes me nauseous!!! (weird eh!!)
And when I shave my bikini area, I always get red bumps. Doesn't matter what cream I use, what razor, I always get them.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a Brazilian?

 

[Limmer]

A much more "complete" bikini wax. Removes all the hair, or you can leave just a bit at the front.

 

[Albertan mom]

A much more "complete" bikini wax. Removes all the hair, or you can leave just a bit at the front.

Ooooh, okay...., thanks.......

 

[palmickey2005]

I would think that it will not work. The laser targets pigment. If the hair doesn't have pigment it will not be affected. The hair has to be dark. On fair haired people, most facial hair is light with only a few dark hairs here and there. So you will likely be only eliminating a tiny percentage of hair with the laser. You will still have to wax those blonde hairs. I am in the same boat. Maybe in a few years, they will find a way for all of us to be hair free. Haaaaaa.

Thanks NikP,

I hope they do come up with something too!

 

[Candid]

Yes it HURTS.
All lasers are not created equal. You want a level 4 medical grade laser, that does not mean a doctor needs to do it. It affects different people differently. I had 5 underarm treatments then went to touch ups. My sister had 8 before touchups.
Emla numbing cream is great, but pricey. Costco is the best price I've found and it is totally worth the $$.
Upper lips may be one of the factial areas that cannot be done by laser, as the laser will stimulate the growth there. At least that's what I remember, I could be getting it wrong and maybe it is cheeks..... I don't do that area. But I can tell you for what I've used it for.... well worth every $$$$$$.

I've had my upper lip done no problem! I've also had stray hairs on my cheeks done so that can't be it either. As for a PP stating that they told her that you can't shave for 6 weeks, I think maybe you should ask someone else at the laser clinic. The only time I didn't shave was before the initial appointment so that they could rate the courseness of the hair. After that, I shaved as usual. The only hair removal you shouldn't do for 6-8 weeks prior to laser is anything that removes the root of the hair (like plucking or waxing). I found that it wasn't permanent, I do have to go in every couple of months for a touch-up but it's much better then having to shave all the time. (I have male pattern hair growth due to PCOS on my throat, lip and chin)