Finally went in...

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I have a really bad hair problem. Yes, I’m female (my name might make it hard to tell). It’s probably from the fact I’m Armenian. Yay, for genetics! I have thick hair just about everywhere, toes, legs, arms, nipples, stomache, lower back, butt.

Warning: this paragraph a lot of background/personal problems related to hair, you can skip it if you like. I just wanted to hear any commentary if anyone wanted to give any.

Anyways, this hair issue is keeping me from dating long term. I mean I will keep up with upkeep for a while, then get tired of it so I’ll be forced to break up with someone. I remember one time a guy (tried to ask nicely too, which made it worse) why I didn’t shave my butt… I get hit on quite a bit, but I feel like I live a lie. Cuz without a lot of makeup (hiding my mustache area) and a lot of shaving through out my body I’d look like an ogre. My hair problem is keeping me from doing a lot of things I want to, like going away to college (20 years old, did a year at community college), because I’m scared of roommates seeing my problem. It’s kind of sad to say any suicidal thought’s I went through were hair related. Not wanting to go out, not dating, not being able to follow any of my dreams cuz one thing was holding me back, just simple things like going to the beach with my friends. I’m just tired of being alone, but even if anyone were to accept me, I would never be able to feel completely comfortable around them cuz of the hair. Dating or not, severe hair growth impacts so many aspects of one’s life. I recently found a job at an upscale lingerie store downtown, and it sucks the amount of effort it takes for me to be presentable at this job. It’s also kind of depressing to help people try on corsets and lingerie, see how hairless they are and just help them out in complete jealousy. I’m not even a jealous person by nature, but everywhere I go I stare at people’s arms and realize there’s only ever rarely do I see someone hairier then myself.

So, I finally went into a laser consultation. I’ve thought about it for a long time, but couldn’t afford it, because I was having a hard time finding a job. Half my paycheck from my job will probably be going towards laser for months, so I need treatments that will work. So, I went in the first place I scheduled a consult for. Apparently, I’m a skin type IV, so she used the GentleYag on me. The settings used were 18 mm, 24 jcw, 10 ms, something about 40/20, I had her write down the settings for me. It didn’t hurt at all, so I assume I was very undertreated… She did a test spot on my arms, where I had completely shaved. She also did some near my ankles, I had shaved a few days earlier, so some hairs were popping out already and she laser around that area. The hairs she laser didn’t pop out or anything. Anyways it’s been two days since my consult and the the short hairs that got lasered didn’t pop out or anythign… I have really thick/dark hair so I would think it would just be slding out. This is one of the more affordable laser places that uses a GentleYag and it got some good reviews online on another hair forum… I don’t know htough, for how thick my hair is, I feel like I should have been near tears with the laser.

#2

Well for one thing, the hair won’t fall out for around 7-10 days so you shouldn’t expect any results. Usually you should feel it, I can’t remember the settings on GentleMAX, LAGirl or someone here can comment if those are low.

#3

Someone else who has been treated with the GentleYag will probably be able to help you in regards to settings.

In regards the hair “shedding” doesn’t happen for about 2-3 weeks. The area is shaved, treated, then it looks like it is growing back from shaving albeit very slowly for about 2 weeks, then you will start noticing that it is falling out.

I’m type IV and I got this kind of shedding. My sister is type V with a severe hair problem; she has very thick and dark hair over most of her body. She recently had some laser test patches but on her arms the hair did not shed but nor did it grow, it just seems ‘stuck’ in its shaved state - apparently this is another typical reaction. But they will come out eventually.

I find the test patches don’t hurt as much as full treatment (as they are just a few zaps) but you should have felt something bordering on pain.

#4

Anyways I forgot to say, I’m getting my full legs, half arms, underarm, brazilian, butt, lower back, and lower stomache done, after student discount and multiple area it would come out to 950 a session. I don’t want to do a package deal, but otherwise it would be cheaper if I were to do it.

#5

Don’t start with a package deal until you’re sure you like the clinic. Get a cheap area treated first (underarms are usually really cheap for example), and wait to see if it sheds well. I got locked into a package with a place that tends to miss huge patches (and refuses to go in and touch-up the missed spots), and it was beyond frustrating.

I wish I could help you with settings, but I don’t use a yag. I am a little concerned that you felt no pain (I found the ankles to be one of the more painful spots personally, especially if you have a day or two of regrowth).

#6

I 100% agree with MPK.

I have had pretty much all what you are thinking of having done, except the tummy and back.

I started off with just the underarms (and per treatment), when I was confident it was going well and could see a reduction from one treatment to the next, I started the bikini and so on.

I actually only needed 3 treatments on my bikini and lower legs, so it’s a good thing that I did pre buy a course of 6!

I’m also not sure if you should have it all done during one treatment. After an hour, it can get a bit much. And the treated areas are red and tender for a while and need to be taken care of; you wouldn’t want multiple areas like this.

I also agree about the ankles. Even though I did not have as much hair around there, it probably was the most painful area of the lower leg.

#7

Start with only one area. Do one treatment on underarms. It’s cheap and a small area. See how it goes.

Those settings are decent. Just make sure the hair you’re treating is COARSE. Bikini, underarms, and legs will be fine. Just make sure the rest of coarse enough.