Well, I just typed a very long reply and lost it! I was doing a copy and paste, hit the wrong key.
So I will break it down into smaller replies.
After seeing these pictures, I think you can benefit from a diode laser like the Lightsheer, Soprano, or Sonata. As hair gets finer from laser treatments, the Nd:YAG laser is less effective. I have had that happen myself. My practitioner does electrolysis too (even long before laser) so I get honest feedback when it is time to switch.
My practitioner switched practices and is now using IPL and electrolysis. I sign up for demos on IPLs because I get a very good rate on them. Getting the legs done for $125-150 can’t be turned down. I have had very good results with IPL. My legs are not as hairy as yours were but I have had excellent results with the IPLs, especially the ProWave 770 and Harmony. My legs are virtually hairless. In about one week, it will be 2 months since the last IPL treatment on the lower legs. As of today there is virtually no hair on my lower legs and very little on my uppers, maybe 20% regrowth. It has been 2 months since my last upper leg treatment. It took 3 Harmony treatments to get to this point.
From my past experience, any regrowth that I have will occur within two months and then be stable after that.
I had 2 Aurora and 2 Lyra-i (Nd:YAG) treatments the last two years on my upper legs, but they did not work as well as the Harmony. The Aurora does remove white and other light color hair, and I did experience some reduction in that area. But not enough to justify continuing to use it. Plus it caused arc burns in a test spot on my lower leg.
BTW, the ProWave 770 is made by Cutera, just like the Coolglide. I have tried other IPL devices, such as the Harmony, Aurora RF/IPL, the Quadra Q4, and the Aesthera PPx. See what IPLs are available in your area. I would not be so quick to dismiss IPL now after trying some better ones. IPLs have larger spot sizes for faster treatment and deeper penetration. I think the range of wavelengths may work better with finer and lighter (brown) hairs.
Dee, how long would you estimate it would take to do his shoulders and upper arms with electrolysis? I have reached diminishing returns in this area and will need to finish with electro. Now I don’t have nearly as much hair there as he does, though I started out with a lot more than he has now. Shoulder hair sucks, and I want it all gone! Once you experience being hair free, you tend to notice the little bit that is left. I have to let it grow for a couple of weeks before it can be seen, but I can feel it before then. It gets slightly itchy.
All for now. Hope this helps.
RJC2001