and... this is what my hair looks like

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

After reading all the induced hair growth horror stories from people who did laser on their face, ive decided to start with electrolysis on mine. i do want permanant results and am willing to put in the time. the lady at my laser consult said the hair on my arms could never be treated with laser b/c they’re too fine, even though they are dark. i wonder if this is true?

my legs have wayyy too much hair as you can see( this is full growth, havn’t shaved in weeks, maybe months) and so im thinking i should start with laser to atleast thin it out a bit. any advice would be highly appreciated.

#2

The hair is dense but too fine and also not very dark. The lady at the consult gave good advice, which is not that common.

#3

The hair is good for electrolysis. But you need a superb electrologist to get it done for reasonable money and in reasonable time.
Look in the electrolysis section:

#4

The pictures of the legs and arms could have been mine, so I can tell you right away don’t bother with laser.

You said you are in Vancouver - I clearly remember reading are some excellent electrologists there.

#5

Please read this and consider the fact that you have a medical problem. It is ALL VERIFYABLE here on the web
The ONLY THING THAT MAKES HAIR GROW ANY PLACE ON YOUR BODY IS A HORMONE CALLED TESTOSTERONE. It is considered to be a MALE hormone but women make it in their ovaries and it is converted to estrogen, the female hormone. When women grow hair in significant quantities on areas that are considered to be MALE hair distribution, like face, chest, arms, legs, belly, all locations where men grow hair and women do not grow the same amount of hair… that is ABNORMAL. It can be removed, however, you may still grow more in other places if you do not interrupt the growing of new hair in spaces between the hair currently growing. The pictures show lots of space between each hair on the thighs and other places. The reason is… we are born with all the follicles but they are not yet functioning except for fine fuzz called vellus hair. As the hormone increase this fuzz converts to full terminal hair.

You appear young in the pictures and this hair usually (not always) starts growing when the patient starts her periods, however, many have this hair before the periods get started. As a woman matures the amount of hormone increases and as a result she usually has more symptoms than just the hair. They can be skin symptoms (acne), irregular periods, cessation of periods, scanty flow, heavy flow, weight gain that she can’t shake and more.

As her periods get fewer or more irregular she OFTEN become infertile but that tends to happen about age 24 or 25. Women tend to get married later these days and think the inability to get pregnant is due to her age when it might be the hormone imbalance that can be corrected with birth control pills but they will not correct the fact she is not ovulating. You will never know until you see a gynecologist who will order blood tests for hormones. All tests are covered by medical insurance unless you have a strange insurance but you have to get tested. I cannot give you a diagnosis because I am not a doctor, however, I sold these hormones when I was a representative for a major drug company that sold them to be used by doctors to treat problems like yours. The most common condition like this in young women is called POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN DISEASE OR SYNDROME, however, there are more conditions that can cause the same symptoms. You do not need to have all of them but it should be looked into. Do not ignore this or it will cause you much trouble later in life.

There is a web site of women with the same problem. They compare symptoms and explain what happened to them. Look up "polycystic ovarian disease.com. If you ignore this you could be making the biggest mistake in your life.

#6

Impossable…based on what you said and some others on hairtell, it seems like my arms are a no go for laser, but ive been told my leg hairs will most likely be atleast a little reduced. im having a really hard time finding reputable electrologists in vancouver. they all seem shady and someone the ones i spoke to over the phone, said they could most likely make the hair go away permanantly after 5-6 sessions? from what ive read on here, that sounds like BS.no?

Lefty2g1: i have been to an endocronologist and they did the necessary tests, but was told that there was nothing hormonally wrong with me.Are there any other tests i should ask to have?

I am 22 and ive been on birth control since i was 18. I have mild and regular periods that last for about 3-4 days. i sometimes get some cramps but they are also quite mild. i had some very mild acne when i was in my teens, but it was never more than a couple pimples here or there. i always had hair on my lower back and arms,but the hair on my legs have only gotten worse in my teeen years.my inner thighs and behind my thighs have very dense hair. i do have some scant darker hairs around my nipples and thinner hairs in between my breasts and on my tummy. the hair below my belly button is pretty coarse since ive been plucking/shaving it for so long.

do you think i should get retested?

#7

If your testosterone levels are normal, then the cause must be genetic, plus tweezing in some areas has caused some extra strenghening of the hairs. I highly recomend having a few short trial seessions, with a variety of electrologists ,in order to compare their skill, speed and the effects on your skin, especially regarding healing and recovery times. Then you can gain further advise here.

#8

@hairyhead2toe: Maybe the lower legs (below the knee), the bikini zone and underarms, if the laser specialist is good.

As far as electrologists go, this member says she had a good experience with Jade. They have 2 places in Vancouver.

Another poster mentions some other places.

Here is a thread dedicated to electrologists in Vancouver.

This should give you some starting points. At the end, getting a test patch will help you a lot more with your decision than a recommendation from someone else.

Most electrologists needs about 5 clearances. Some need only 3 clearances but I think they live rather far from your location.

I doubt there is anything wrong with your hormone levels, too. I’m the same way.

#9

@ imossable: WOW, totally had blocked this out for some reason but I just remembered that due to a family emergency, which caused us to have to move during the time I was going in for testing, I didn’t actually do the 24 hour urine collection, and so I guess my tests were never completly finished. I think I did blood work, but nothing else. I should proabably request to have the rest of the testing done before I start with any hair removal for now right?

In regards to the electrolysis, thank you so much for digging that info up for me, I guess I was doing my searches wrong on here. I will definitely be checking out those recommendations.

Do you think considering that I just realized I havn’t completely finished my testing, it would be worth it to start doing the test patches now, so I atleast will know the difference between the clinics and methods used?

#10

Yes, I’d go ahead and get the test patches anyway, because you need some time to assess the treatment - in fact the more time the better.

Even if you do have higher testosterone levels, the present hair can still be killed, it only means you’ll get treatment to help prevent new hairs from sprouting in the future.

#11

Ok,thanks impossable :slight_smile: I have a consult tomorrow for electrolysis, and I will update about how it goe. I’m planning on going to at least 3 different places to see if any one will stick out to me. I cant wait to start seeing results!!!

#12

Sorry havn’t posted for a while, life has been hectic as of late.

Just a little update: After the first disasterous experience with electrolysis on my face, where I had lots of scabbing and what seemed to be lots of little breakouts, I got a little discouraged. After I did alot more research, I found a promising office that only did electrolysis; this was a big plus for me.

I had my consult on the 5th of December. The office was sooo much better than the first one I had gone too. Everything looked clean and sterile yet inviting. The lady was very warm and understanding to my needs,explained her method and told me her expectations for how long my case may take. She said I would start to see real results after 3 months, and that she guaranteed her work and would refund my money if I didn’t see results!

She had me lay down on the table to start my free 15 minute session, which went really well. She uses the Apilus cleo, and disposable gold plated needles. I didn’t feel any of the insertions, unlike the other clinic. She cleared a good amount in that time on my sideburns and I was very happy with my skins reaction after the fact.

One week later, I went in for my first actual treatment session. She said it would take 1 hour to clear my sideburns, a little on the cheek and my whole chin/neck area. She hammered away for nearly two hours which had me slightly worried for the cost. When it came time to pay, she said it would only be 70$ which is her one hour rate. shocked… I said but you worked for nearly two hours, I’ll pay for the work you did! She said that because she had quoted me for one hour and I was a student and it’s christmas time, she’d only charge me the one hour! I thanked her profusely and left very satisfied with her work.

My skin was only lightly red and had very few breakouts. I even went to work 2 hours later and noone noticed I had done anything!

I am scheduled to go in for the 27th for my second clearing which is booked for 1 hour,I will update with pictures soon!!

Also, Is the apilus cleo a good machine?

#13

Is the Apilus Cleo a good machine? Let’s put it this way, it is almost impossible to tell the difference between a Mercedes A-Class and a Honda Fit (the A-Class has looked like that since the 90’s) but the A-Class is still a Mercedes.

Sure, people riding around in their S-Class and CLK’s and AMG’s will look down their noses, but most other people will still say, “You have a Mercedes?” :smiley:

#14

Haha, James. Sigh, the UK electrologists I’ve come across that claim to have Apilus machines, have the Cleo.

#15

James, your analogy sort of flew over my head… hehe.Are you saying the apilus cleo is not very good? My electrologist sort of let me know it wasnt the best or most expensive machine out there, but that its all about the technique and skill of the the electrologist

#16

This is a starter unit. It is simple and upgradable, so one can add other functions anytime. There are two different versions of this epilator. There is flash thermolysis unit at 1/100 timing, which is not as comfortable as 1/1000 timing. There is a blend version of the Cleo that offers flash thermolysis, a simplified Blend and cataphoresis for aftercare.

You will obtain permanent hair removal. Personally, I need a different set up for my clientele. This epilator does not offer the modalities that I desire to have in my arsenal. It is a very basic unit and I am not content with it’s basic features for the many difficult cases I encounter. Again, you will obtain permanent hair removal with your very skilled electrologist. We all have our preferences and we all have our strategies.

Here is a chartthat maybe helpful to you: http://www.dectro.com/en/images/stories/pdf/tableau_comparatif.pdf

#17

hairyhead2toe: First of all your electrologist sounds awesome!

I’m a DIYr who ended up with a Cleo after I bought and paid what I thought was an Apilus Junior. As James said, it’s the smallest of the Mercedes of electrolysis machines, but I’m happy to report that all hairs which were properly removed have not grown back.

You’ll be just fine. :slight_smile: