Feedback needed please!

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
1

Thanks in advance to anyone who answers my questions and sorry that this is long.

I went today for a first time laser hair removal session (I kind of acted impulsively and signed up and should have done more research).

The place certified and the equipment is FDA approved. The technician used an Alexandrite laser since I had recently tanned (I was told to lay off the tanning for awhile). They guarantee the results and said that the lasers they use will give me permanent hair removal. They also did the questionaire to find out my skin type.

They told me that I would see very minimal results after the first session. Now afterwards I was reading about “shedding” on the forums and mostly everyone experiencing that immediately. Also she used a gel (very cold!) and I also read that this is not the best type of lasering technique out there. Also there was no pain whatsoever (nothing was used to even try to prevent pain…unless the cold gel takes away from pain tremendously. I would have fallen asleep during the procedure if the gel wasn’t so cold!)

So I guess my question is did I make a mistake by using this place or am I just concerned way too much in advance and I should just wait and see what happens? It seems in reading that I see a lot of people have immediate results.

If you get the upper lip area done, is it normal for the them to shave that area? I am concerned in case the treatments don’t work.

Also IF I do get the results I want, since this is in a spa type of setting, do I tip the technician? I am having my upper lip, underarms, bikini area, and legs done. I asked her to hit the spots on the top of my foot and toes, which she gladly did, but she told me on the down low that if the front desk knows I wanted that area done they would have had a separate charge for it.

Ok and one more embarrassing question…she is doing the bikini area…not including the anus. Well I hair the hair there. How can I discreetly ask her to do that area? This place does full Brazilian lasers, but I feel embarrassed asking!

Thanks again for any feedback.

2

It takes up to 2-4 weeks before shedding usually. There are no immediate results. I don’t know where you read that. just wait and see what happens.

3

you need to read the FAQS. please do that right away.

to cover your points

  • Alexandrite laser is the most effective type. they didn’t use it BECAUSE you were tanned. It would actually be the least safe to use on tanned skin, risking burns at effective settings. However, it sounds like they used it at very low settings to prevent burns, which is not very good as they’re probably not strong enough to cause shedding or permanent distruction of the hair. If you didn’t feel much pain as you indicate, the settings were probably very low.

  • Noone can guarantee you results. this is not the type of procedure where anything can be guaranteed. they said that as a sales tactic to get you to sign up. Considering they told you you wouldn’t see anything happen after your first treatment, I don’t see how they can guarantee anything anyway.

  • All treated hair is supposed to shed 3 weeks after every treatment. If this doesn’t happen, your hair wasn’t affected, most likely due to too low settings.

  • What is your skin type? what type of hair do you have? color? coarseness? what exact brand of alexandrite did they use? were all areas shaved prior to treatment (they should have been)?

  • if you have coarse dark hair on the areas you mentioned, you should get good results but ONLY at EFFECTIVE settings on this machine. you need to make sure they use those and you need to make sure not to go in tanned because they won’t be risking burning you if you do. technically, they shouldn’t be treating you at all if you’re tanned, but looks like this clinic would rather take your money for an ineffective treatment.

  • if the hair on your upper lip is not dark and coarse, electrolysis might be a better option.

  • how far apart are your treatments spaced?

  • i would ask for a touch-up if you don’t see most of the hair shed at 3 weeks.

4

Thanks for the info. You do know your stuff! I made a mistake in what machine they used. She used a Palomar Starlux 2 (red) set at 22-20. She said in session 3 she will probably switch me over to the Alexandrite. All areas treated were shaven prior to using the laser.

My skin type falls under type 2. I am fair skinned and burn before tanning. I have dark blonde hair but my body hair is black and coarse from shaving.

I have tried electrolysis on my upper lip in the past but the hair returned. The hair on my upper lip isn’t as coarse as the hair on the rest of my body, but it is dark and noticeable, with some coarseness above the corners of my mouth.

About the guaranteed part…they did tell me I would lose the hair and it is on their web page as “all of our laser treatments are guaranteed”. Guess we will see what happens.

The treatments are for every 6 weeks. They said I would not see a lot of results after the first session, and that there are 3 cycles in the way the laser treats the hair and it’s effect on hair growth…? That is not verbatim but the way I understood it.

Thanks again for any info.

5

  • what exactly does their “guarantee” involve?

  • what is their reasoning for starting you out on Palomar? Alexandrite lasers are considered the best and ultimately best on light skin, so I don’t see the point of treating with a worse machine in the beginning.

  • electrolysis involves continuous treatments for 9-12 months to get rid of all the hair. either you didn’t do that or you didn’t use a good electrologist. or quite possibly you just haven’t done the research on hair growth cycles. the same thing applies to laser and electrolysis. you need multiple treatments because at any time at least 70% of the hair is dormant and will come in later once you treat the currently present hair. the problem with treating the type of hair you describe on the upper lip is that laser is attracted to pigment and this type of hair doesn’t have much of it. that’s why electrolysis is better for this type of hair, because it is actually easier to kill finer hair with it.

  • every 6 weeks it way too early. with proper treatments, you should have nothing to treat at 6 weeks. treatments on those areas shouldn’t need treatments more than 8-12 weeks apart. you should basically wait until enough hair grows back in after shedding occurs to go back in for treatment.

6

I believe they started with the Palomar due to tanning? I am not sure. The electrolysis I had done years ago, and I didn’t do enough of the treatments. I will wait and see what happens with the results of the laser and then consider the electrolysis again if it isn’t successful.

I Googled the place I am going to and have been coming back with really good reviews. Also they were some articles (all good) about them in local papers.

7

If I were you, I wouldn’t go in at all if you are tanned. It’s basically somewhat wasting your money on treatments that are probably not very effective. The fact that you didn’t experience much pain or feeling at all during the treatment usually indicates very low settings. Even if they use Palomar, they would need to use low settings to avoid burning you. Financially, it doesn’t make sense, but it’s up to you.

Once you’re ready for electrolysis, check out that part of this site so you can do proper research to find a good one.

8

I am going to lay off the tanning and keep the parts to be treated covered. That is easy enough, I don’t get extremely hot or sweaty in the summer so loose cotton clothes are comfortable for me. I did 2 sessons of tanning, and it mainly effected my stomach anyway. I should have done the laser hair treatments in the winter, but I rather be hairfree than tanned.

Thanks again for all of your help!