Athina, I’m a non-pro, and I’ve had all three types of treatments that you are asking about. I’m going to answer super, super honestly. I am not going to slant this in any way, and maybe you can benefit from my advice.
- Are you satisfied with the results? Give me a percentage on how much hair do you think was permanently removed? (I know there is no 100% permanent removal)
Laser - Not satisfied. I now feel I cheated, they clearly should have told me it was failing. I admit it, they completely ripped me off. About ten percent in some areas, but actually a slight increase in growth activity in other areas. After all five treatments at pretty high powers my skin had suffered some drying-out and I had some erythrothrombosis; a bruise-like appearance that may never go away.
Pro Electrolysis - The first blend electrologist, not really satisfied, she was somewhat slow, and she burned-in the probe frequently. It was very painful: 60%-70% of that growth cycle on the first respective pass/clearance was cleared. Hair came back, but this was a different cycle, and was about 40% to 30% of the previous hair amount.
The second Flash Electrologist: Extremely satisfied, Once a week appointments ongoing. I wish I could see her more. I think she killed off 90% of the current hair cycle. It’s only been eight weeks, so a clear judgement would be premature.
Home Electrolysis - Now, very satisfied, glad I took the time and hours learning all the basics, glad I bought good equipment. My early sessions insertion depth and angle were still unperfected. I cleared about 50% per pass/ per cycle (?). I then progressively have become better. My clearance/kill rate has greatly increased judging by the extractions, but it’s still too early to give a good number. But I will say that hairs in some areas have hovered between five hairs per square inch to absolutely none, zero.
- How much did it cost you and in what areas were you treated? Did you end paying more than they said they’d charge you?
Laser - $2,300, five sessions legs, abdomen. No rate increase, the rate stayed the same. At first they told me that six treatments would do it. When no real progress was made, they then said it would take four more, so the end price was in fact increased. I basically lost all trust in what they said, didn’t like what the laser did to my skin, hated the erythrothrombosis on my stomach, and felt like they evaded my questions.
Pro Electrolysis - About $1,340, 20 sessions, Rate with first clinic was $65/hour, with the second it was $70/hour. They never have given me a quote for the areas requested, they leave it open to progress, and how much clearance I want. You see the progress, and can estimate how long it will take. The first clearance is very slow but steady, the clearances speed up greatly after that. I’m only being treated on the back of the legs, areas I cannot get myself.
Home Electrolysis - I’ve spent about $2,200 on the machine and magnification. and an additional few hundred on lighting, supplies, cables, books, tweezers, more tweezers. I have spent more than I planned, but seeing the payoff, I clearly feel it’s money well spent. Afterall, 53 x $70 a session = $3710. So the expenditure has more than paid for itself, even if the first ten or so sessions weren’t as productive as a paid session. I would spend it again. So far, about 53 sessions all on legs/feet/around groin. I haven’t yet, but will also access full abdomen (easy, starting that next week), shoulders, underarms, arms, hands, privates, feet are difficult (and so are knees!) but I’ve done them once and let the pros get them three times. I would never, ever attempt this looking in any type of mirror, and would never ever even think about doing it to anyone else but me. the pros will get back, back of neck, back of legs.
- How long did it take for the whole process, how many treatments did you needed?
Laser - Five treatments at six weeks apart, thirty weeks total. The process was discontinued
Pro Electrolysis - Twenty pro treatments, complete first clearance of back of legs. I will probably need at least ten more hours from a pro on back of legs.
Home Electrolysis - Fifty-three sessions of my own concurrent with pro sessions. Feet, three quarters of legs cleared on my own, complete first clearing, in some areas on second and third sweep.
- If you tried laser, which one?
It was the Syneron Comet. A diode laser that also has an RF component. The diode component was turned up as high as any diode-only laser. It wasn’t a watered-down diode, it was a diode treatement at good, strong settings, long pulse.
- What’s your skin color and type of hair?
Skin type three, dark hair, normal coarseness.
I have spent thousands of dollars, am very much wiser, and have been at hair removal, in some form, for years. I plan on posting more extensively on DIY, but for now, here is my very, very best advice:
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Don’t deal with lasers. Once you understand the laser mechanism for relaying destructive energy, you see that it’s a highly inefficient way to kill hair. I don’t care what anybody says, the truth is, they age your skin. Electrolysis keeps the skin way, way more youthful.
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If you want body clearing, get treated flash-mode by someone that has a modern, computerized machine that has good skill. Don’t deal with blend on the first or second clearing. Buy some sort of pain killing topical to take the edge off the pain
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Keep your appointments, take it out of your food budget, make it part of your life. That’s the way you will live for the next year(s), and you will make real progress. Each time you shave, you will notice it gets that much easier.
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If you want to DIY:
a) It takes a lot of self-motivation and determination to be hair free.
b) For large scale body clearing, realistically and honestly, you will need a flash capable computerized machine. You will also need great magnification. The two are equally important. Cutting costs will add to frustration.
c) You need to read at least a couple books. You have to understand the science or you will not be able to troubleshoot.
d) What you are attempting is a large, time consuming project. It is not for the half-hearted. It is not for 97% of the people that attemp it. You need to be almost obsessive compulsive about it.
e) The payoff is enormous, the feeling is great, and you will get it done in a much accelerated timeline.
- And lastly, and most importantly, value highly the advice of the pros.
Mantaray
