Help with laser and electrolysis

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hi there ! I’m a new poster, but I have been reading through hair tell forums for a while, very helpful ! I’m 21 years old, of Spanish ethnicity, dark brown hair, pale skin with light olive undertones, and I can burn, but also tan reasonably easily- my burns always turn to tan. I have dark brown-black thick body hair, so I assume that makes me a firzpatrick skin type III

I have had three sessions of terrible ipl , cannot remember the name of the machine- on my legs, it managed to get rid of the horrible ingrown hair problems I had, but I’m still very hairy. I also had three sessions of the ipl from the same clinic performed on my underarms and Brazilian area with little to no results.

I am now currently having ipl performed on my underarms and Brazilian area using the Polomar starlux machine, with pretty good results, im on my fourth session. My underarms are 90% clear, and my Brazilian area is around 70%.

I want to discontinue ipl and start laser as I know ipl is inferior and despite the results now will most likely grow back. I have spent a good amount of
Money so far and don’t want to throw more away unnecessarily. So my question is, what is the best laser, I presume I’d be looking at alexandrite. Which brand/Manufacturer is considered the best? Eg gentlelase, alexandrite, candela. If you could recommend the top two in your opinions that would be great ! Also, if you could enlighten me on strength/settings I should hopefully be treated with that would be great. I have very tolerable skin ! And it is very pale/covered with thick dark hair, so I’m not too scared of burns/pain. I wish to have my entire legs/ underarms/ Brazilian/ nostril hairs (unusual I know, but they just hang out there like a nasty forrest)/ knuckles .

My next question is in concern to my electrolysist, who is determined to deter me from having electrolysis on my upper lip, she has talked me into four sessions of ipl on my upper lip when I knew it wouldn’t work, and now she is trying to pressure me into sugaring instead, claiming that with regular treatments i’ll have permanent removal in six months. I refuse to Believe that. I have dark brown, but fine hair on upper lip, I am currently having sessions every two weeks, but she always misses atleast five to ten hairs on each side of my lip because she cannot see the follicles. She really doesn’t enjoy performing the electrolysis, and I find it very irritating as a customer to constantly have to push her to do it. I need to change ASAP. But I’m from Melbourne, Australia and although I’ve already searched these forums I can’t find any good
Recommendations. So if anyone knows of someone the can refer me to, that would be great! If not, what should I look out for? My current electrolysist uses the blend method machine. How many appointments should I have in a fortnight? On my last session my electrolysist said the hairs she was treating would grow back because even though they were sliding out and not being plucked, very few of them had a bulb at the end, is this true?

Gah ! I started with her in april this year and since she pushed my into Ipl treatments and is so unwilling with electrolysis treatments I have literally seen no
Improvements at all ! And I’ve spent atleast $800, probably more on my upper lip :frowning: I just want it treated and gone !

Thanks to everyone who replies, i really appreciate all your knowledge and expertise and think you’re doing a great thing ! If I had discovered this forum whilst I was in highschool going through puberty/growing unwanted hair, I would of saved myself alot Of heartache!

#2

My favorite laser is the Gentlelase (alexandrite)/GentleMAX (alexendrite and YAG laser), both by Candela. Because you have the olive undertones, you need to be a bit careful about going high on the alexandrite settings (you may very well be able to handle it). Don’t do laser on your face – females are prone to experiencing induced growth! You also won’t get your nostrils done. I don’t know of anyone who does laser in that area, or if laser could even do that (to my understanding, most electrologists won’t even go there!)

If your electrologist isn’t comfortable doing your upper lip, don’t force her to do it. It’s a very delicate area. I don’t know how far either of these people are from you:

  1. http://www.stgeorgeelectrolysis.com.au/

  2. Send a message to the user C O’Connell. I’m sure she will help you out!

#3

I have had 6 sessions of laser hair removal with an alex and the results so far with me is over 90% . I’ve got to go back in to get some patches of hair that they have missed and I am continueing with electrolysis ouch. I don’t think an alex would be suitable for a darker skin but probably a Nb.yag laser. Some of the other posters on this site will be able to advise you better. You need to do your research and look into this carefully.

#4

  • It’s impossible to tell your skin type from your description. You could be a type III or V or somewhere in between. It’s also not clear which areas have COARSE hair. Dark is not enough and I’m not sure what you mean by “thick” (could mean dense, but not coarse).

  • Are you getting full shedding from your current treatments? It sounds like it’s doing something, so it may be worth sticking with it. Maybe this clinic knows what they’re doing. It’s not the worst IPL.

  • For upper lip, you may need electrolysis unless you have coarse man-like growth.

  • Are you located in Spain? There is a Spanish electrologist on the forum in that section.

  • If you’re going to consider another machine, please read the FAQs carefully. The TYPE of laser you are referring to is Alexandrite. Candela is the manufacturer. GentleLASE is the name of one model of alexandrite that Candela makes. You’re talking about one machine above. If you can find someone using GentleMAX or Apogee Elite, that would be best as they both have alex and Yag in one machine and can use whatever is more appropriate on your skin. You may not be pale enough for aggressive alex treatments.

#5

Wow! You are all ninjas in replying ! Thought I’d have to wait a few days! This is great ! Thanks everyone :slight_smile:

Alright, I’ll clarify what I was meaning in my previous post. So in terms of nostril hair, I’m not talking about right up my nose, I’m talking about my nostril rims, the area closest to the tip, due to my nose shape, mine is exposed, as with most noses- with little nostril hairs on it. I’m happy to take a photo if that’s still unclear though ! Although of you still believe this area should not be touched, I’ll avoid it.

My legs, Brazilian area and underarms have dark dark brown/black, course hair, so course the hair curls, even my leg hair. I’d describe it as being more course than dense, although there still is alot of it. My knuckles and nostrils have the same colour hair, but it is finer and less dense., the hairs do not curl My upper lip is dark brown hair but very fine. And my skintone is pale with olive undertones

No, I am not getting full shedding, about 30% sometimes up to 50% of the areas treated do not shed, my esthetocian says this is because my hair is not the anagen phase ? Should all the hair shed every session

Thanks for your information on skin types everyone, having a closer look I probably am in between III and V, I will look for a gentlemax or apogee elite.
La girl, I read through a the facts prior to posting, i should of clarified that I was taking about the one machine with it’s brand manufacturer as an example of what I was looking for in an answer- sorry for the confusion :stuck_out_tongue: but thanks for your expert opinion ! You reply was extremely helpful

Unfortunately I am located in Australia, victoria, melbourne. The website posted above is based in Sydney, a different state, but the information on it was really helpful. I am not from Spain, just Spanish ethnicity, my parents migrated to the Australia in the early 70s before I was born.

Thanks everyone !!

#6

  • All hair should be shedding, regardless of the phase. If it’s not shedding, it wasn’t affected, i.e. settings too low or missed or too fine.

  • I wouldn’t treat anything other than legs, brazilian and underarms since those are the only areas with definite coarse dense growth. That’s the only type of hair laser will work on (with good settings).

  • You should have many clinic options in Melbourne I would look around some more. If you find one with an alex laser, still go in for a consultations and have them do some test spots to see how high you can go. That’s how you will be able to tell whether you’re too dark for it and need a Yag instead.

#7

Great ! Thanks lagirl ! Theres quite a few clinics that offer good lasers in Melbourne I think. I’ve searched a few that have the gentlelase alex, but I’ll look for the gentlemax as well and maybe book three or four consolations. :slight_smile:

The big problem is finding an electrolysis to do the other finer hairs I want treated ! I think I’ve found one place who claim to have 20 year experience, so I’ll book a consult with them, any tips on what I should look out for? Is there a good way to tell that the hairs are being treated properly? I know if they’re plucked and don’t slide out it’ll be ineffective, but is it true that if there’s not a bulb present at the end of the hair when its pulled out it’s ineffective too ? My electrolysist (who is also the techinician who performs my ipl sessions) has told me so many conflicting things I’m now confused :s

Thanks again !

#8

Ghitta Zenyoun of Melbourne Hair Removal Centre is really good and she uses an apilus platinum, which is the fastest,least painful and most efficient equipment available. It is obvious that your current practitioner does not feel confident about treating fine hairs. The upper lip requires very careful treatment, and the skill of the operator is vital for a good outcome, for both the hair and your skin. Don’t worry,she will work carefully and accurately.

#9

Some advice about electrolysis on upper lip hair. I had only 3 30 min. sessions around 4 months ago and I’m still dealing with a lot of redness and whats looks like a permanent moustache. And I go to the most recommended place where I live. So please whatever you do make sure you space the sessions out and maybe only do 15 mins at a time. You would think that since they are the professionals that they would do that from the start and would know whats best but obviously some don’t. Good luck !!

#10

Check out the electrolysis forum here for all the tips on that.

#11

Thanks everyone ! I will check out the lady recommended by c’oconnell !

You’ve all been a great help, and I think I’ve found a good clinic for laser that I’m going to go with, I’ve stopped my sessions as of this week with ipl and will wait till February next year to begin my sessions with laser, to see what kind of hair growth is left to deal with. When I start I will update my progress.

As for electrolysis, I will book in a consultation next week and let you all know how it goes ! :slight_smile: