I am interested in having my beard lasered and I am starting to grey. I have read that most lasers do not work well on grey hair, I have also read that the ELOS technology used in the Aurora works on light and grey hair. Any feedback on the Aurora is welcome, TIA.
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there are 2 lasers that claim to work on light hair. IPL Aurora and diode Comet. Haven’t seen any postings about success on light hair with these lasers though. Try to get a patch test and see for yourself if you experience shedding…
I am interested in having my beard lasered and I am starting to grey. I have read that most lasers do not work well on grey hair, I have also read that the ELOS technology used in the Aurora works on light and grey hair. Any feedback on the Aurora is welcome, TIA.
Mantaray has had treatment with the Comet and was very happy with the results! Do a search for his posts. Maybe he can give you the link.
RJC2001
I don’t think Mantaray has light or grey hair removed…maybe I’m wrong?
I just had my fourth Comet treatment today. This time I sat down and talked with him before the session. He let me know what I should be expecting at this point. We both agreed that the power needed to be raised now that we’re targeting more stubborn hairs. He explained a few things:
-Arcs can occur at any RF level, but the burn is bigger at higher RF’s, like 40 or 50(max).
-Laser treatments, as a side benefit, actually can smooth out your complexion because the laser can aide in destroying or lessening surface “spider” veins, sunspots, and hyperpigmentation areas such as scars.
-The Comet doesn’t kill sweat glands. They have no pigment so the laser passes them by.
-A hair follical bulb can’t come back to life. When it’s dead, the hair will eventually fall out.
-Too high laser settings are noticed immediately, but too high RF settings can take a few hours or a day to detect. Thus, RF settings should only be increased in gradual stages that the technician knows, by your returning visit feedback, are safe.
-He was going on about the Alexandrite laser being fifteen years old, the differences between the Diode on the Comet and the Yag, and Syneron ELOS Comets costing $90,000 but I could hardly catch it all. I mean I really get him talking. He’s a great Doctor.
…Anyway, this session: Laser on 25J meaty areas, 12 across shins, RF turned up to 46. I took two Extra Strength Tylenol and distracted myself by talking to the young female Assistant holding the cold air machine, and it was somewhat bareable.
$300 for full legs, $150 for abdomen.
The next treatment in six weeks will be getting to the nitty gritty. The laser fluence will be between 25 and 30J and the RF will be maxed out at 50. Two or three sessions of that and then time for the full back, and upper chest.
So far: $550 + $550 + $450 + $450 = $2000
Do I feel it was worth it? Yes, very much
What readers should know: I’m a skin type 4 and although I am very happy with my results, a skin type 1 or 2 with dark hair will probably see better results due to the fact that the laser can be set on short pulse on those patients which is a more effective blast (same energy, but concentrated on a shorter blast time).
Have I had gray or blond hairs removed? Not really, I have some gray hairs and sunbleached hairs, but not too many, and none that I see on my legs or abdomen. The hair there is all too fresh to be bleached.
My clearance so far: Around 60% at worst (abdomen hair is stubborn), and about 90% at best (back of legs, ankles, knees cleared well). All remaining hairs are smaller and finer.
Hope everyone is doing fine and not picking at their ingrowns.
Mantaray
I just read RJC’s post about effectiveness starting at at least 25 Joules and I just wanted to share something else with those seeking Laser Hair Removal, because he’s absolutely right:
Really go in there knowing you’re going to suffer to make gains.
Why do I say this? Because the increase in laser and RF strength will greatly yield better results. You really have to push the pain barrier. I think a lot of these undertreated cases are people that react poorly to the test firings the aesthetician does before a treatment, when they gauge your pain response. Have them turn it up. They aren’t going to urge you to take more pain, you have to ask them for it, and deal with it.
My last three Syneron Comet treatments were at 20J Laser & 40RF. True, the Comet makes better use of those 20J because of the added RF component, but it’s still too low a dose. It hurt a little, but I got through it fine. No real suffering. I got some shedding at about the four week mark just as advertised, but I knew that laser system was capable of a lot more.
This last time I went in there, I had him dial it up to 25J laser & 46 RF. These doses stung, they really did. But the difference I’m seing in results is awesome. I’ve already got shedding at just seven days after treatment, and I have had a jump in overall increase of skin smoothness level. Probably the biggest singlehanded gain I’ve made since starting. With this last treatment, the state of Hairlessness actually seems within reach. The dose increase hurts like hell, but if you can suffer through the hour, you’ll be completely thankful you did. It’s completely renewed my excitement for the technology. Next time I go in there. I’m just gonna take three extra strength tylenol and just suffer through an hour of 30J & 50RF settings, arcs or no arcs, because the gains at the higher levels are just so clear. It seems that’s what the machine is made for, like this is the power needed for true, thorough clearance. I’ll probably be jumping off the table with each zap, but if I get even smoother than this? It’s worth it.
Mantaray
-Arcs can occur at any RF level, but the burn is bigger at higher RF’s, like 40 or 50(max).
I had a few burns at 20J RF on the Aurora, so maybe the ND:YAG will prove to be a better choice for me.
-Laser treatments, as a side benefit, actually can smooth out your complexion because the laser can aide in destroying or lessening surface “spider” veins, sunspots, and hyperpigmentation areas such as scars.
I find after laser that my tan gets darker in the summer, and for me that’s a plus.
-He was going on about the Alexandrite laser being fifteen years old, the differences between the Diode on the Comet and the Yag, and Syneron ELOS Comets costing $90,000 but I could hardly catch it all. I mean I really get him talking. He’s a great Doctor.
How did he compare the Comet to the YAG?
…Anyway, this session: Laser on 25J meaty areas, 12 across shins, RF turned up to 46. I took two Extra Strength Tylenol and distracted myself by talking to the young female Assistant holding the cold air machine, and it was somewhat bareable.
The Aurora test spot caused a burn near my ankle at only 20J/20J. Maybe the IPL does worse in combination with RF than diode laser. Maybe the synergy is different.
The next treatment in six weeks will be getting to the nitty gritty. The laser fluence will be between 25 and 30J and the RF will be maxed out at 50. Two or three sessions of that and then time for the full back, and upper chest.
So far: $550 + $550 + $450 + $450 = $2000
Do I feel it was worth it? Yes, very much.
No pain, no gain!
What readers should know: I’m a skin type 4 and although I am very happy with my results, a skin type 1 or 2 with dark hair will probably see better results due to the fact that the laser can be set on short pulse on those patients which is a more effective blast (same energy, but concentrated on a shorter blast time).
Have I had gray or blond hairs removed? Not really, I have some gray hairs and sunbleached hairs, but not too many, and none that I see on my legs or abdomen. The hair there is all too fresh to be bleached.
I am disappointed to hear that. I was hoping the Comet would be the ultimate solution for removing light colored hairs. Looks like electrolysis is the only way to go for that.
My clearance so far: Around 60% at worst (abdomen hair is stubborn), and about 90% at best (back of legs, ankles, knees cleared well). All remaining hairs are smaller and finer.
Although it didn’t get any light color hair, you did have very good results for type IV skin!
RJC2001
what about the yag laser with the coolglide system…does anyone know if this one works on black fine hairs that’s sort of like peach fuzz…but all over the stomache area…i probably already know the answer to this question but if anyone has any positive experiences with the coolglide laser system please let me know…they’re dark hairs, black, on brown colored skin…i know i heard something about how some sort of laser is supposed to work on fine hairs that are blonde and fine so maybe…let me know…and everyone good luck with your own problems … <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I am having treatment with a Coolglide Xeo. I have had 2 treatments so far, I see a good visible reduction. Which I’m very pleased with!
However, I am still rather pessimistic on long term results and weather I am wasting my money or not. Only time will tell. In terms of experience with finer hairs, most of the hairs treated on my chest and abs area were thick and dark. The regrowth is considerably finer. I am 4 weeks post second treatment.
I am considering getting electroylsis done on my shoulders and back area, where there the hairs are finer and not as dense, and I want to be 100% they will be removed permanently. It seems from what I’ve read electroylsis has a greater chance than laser at giving that, if performed properly. Once again, only time will tell.
Coolglide is a Yag, so meant for darker skins and not as effective on finer hair. So, on dark skin, since high settings needed to kill fine hair can’t be used, electrolysis is probably your best option.
malee, do you have darker skin, is that why you are using a Yag? It’s cost-effective to get laser treatments and then finish off with electrolysis for any remaining hairs. Laser will be a lot faster and cheaper on any dark coarse hair than electrolysis.
I don’t have very dark skin. However, I am of olive complexion. I am using yag because that is the type of laser they have. The place is very professional and my tech is very good. I looked around at a few other places, yet this one to me seemed the best. I have considered using laser on my back, and last treatment I had a certain patch done, however seeing I am only 4 weeks and new growth will be coming through soon that will give me a better guide.
The hair on my shoulders and back is rather fine, and can only be seen close up and on certain angles apart from the lower back where it is darker, which eventually I’ll be lasering. As for the rest of my back which has a few patches and is not dense, I thought it would b best to fix that with electrolysis. While the hair is darkish, I have a feeling it will be too fine for laser. Also, I have heard numerous stories on this board regarding people getting laser on back and having more growth than before. I am still young early 20’s, seeing electroylsis is a progressive treatment and takes over a couple of years to complete. I figure that the majority of my hair will develop if I am to have more over that period of time.
Edit - LAgirl I am probably a type 3 skin, however it varies on different parts of my body, some are lighter than others. Are you saying I would get ALOT better results with a diode laser? or maybe moderately better?
with a type 3, it can go either way. I believe RC2001 is a type 3 or 4 and he had good results with LightSheer at high settings on finer hair. He’s used both LightSheer and a few Yags, so I think at that point it depends on the tech. As long as they know what they are doing and using high enough settings, you should be fine for coarse hair. If you feel you have some finer hairs that are not going away after a few Yag treatments, you can try to get a diode treatment at high settings to get rid of those.
When I say not really, I only mean, I don’t have any gray hairs in that area. The laser has been effective in making the few gray hairs that I have noticed shed. To me, it seems as the best choice for light and fine hairs. As you know, the RF hits the entire area, regardless of color and and size. That’s the Comet’s huge benefit, but those RF 50 blasts are pretty stinging. It may be out of some people’s pain threshold. And the arcs at those levels are something most people wouldn’t want to feel twice.
Me? I don’t really mind, the pain I feel at the higher levels with the increased fluence and RF, it kind of numbed my skin’s ability to really feel the full shock of the arcs. He arc’d just left of my left kneecap. He kind of looked at me and paused, I just said, “Proceed” in a way that let him know it was no big deal. It didn’t really leave much of a mark, and he became much more confident of treating me at the higher levels.
I think these aestheticians are very wary of putting their clients in any real pain. They want the business, and wouldn’t like the client to tell others of the awful experience they have had by recieving too much pain. People have to just ask for it, it’s a painful experience getting the really effective blasts. It’s on par with the first time I used an epilator. I’m sure a 30J-50RF trigger pull next time I go in will make me cringe. And others should note: seperately 30Joules hurts, seperately 50RF hurts, put the two together -it hurts like hell. But, like I say, I’m happy about this last session’s shedding (which is still in process). I can see clear “shed tracks” that I never saw before. You know, inch-wide trails of almost complete hairlessness. I guess I could feel bitter about spending money on past sessions that could’ve been far more effective had I known about higher power pain/results, but I’m not. So I have to pay maybe a thousand more, so what, these are very real gains I’m getting. In the big picture, It’s worth it. Maybe me posting this will save others the time and money I spent being kind of a “type-4 skin pioneer” with the Comet.
A test blast on the ankle is kind of treacherous. That’s a boney area and is bound to be more sensitive. Me, I can really feel the RF waves far stronger on the shallow boney areas than the laser. Where the laser hurts more than the RF is on the abdomen. You should go back and experiment a little more. I would. I would also consider flying or driving to a different city every six weeks to get a superblast from a laser system that may be better.
I still want to try getting some of the treatments that you had results with in the near future. Who knows, maybe I’ll get more shedding. Hey later RJC, learn to shave in the shower like the rest of us! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Mantaray