Is this leg hair a good option for laser?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I’ve waxed. I’ve plucked. I shave in the morning and have stubble by night. The growth shown in these pictures is after I didn’t shave at all for a few months.

I currently use an epilator to keep on top of the constant growth, because shaving frequently enough to make me feel confident causes such awful razor burn that it is impossible to continue to shave daily.

I’m a full time working single parent, so I don’t have the money or time for electrolysis. I don’t need to have 100% hair free legs. Hell, I’d settle for less hair that I can at least shave a couple times a week and not feel like a brush bristle by the end of the day. I don’t care if I have to maintain with the laser a couple times a year. I would just like a major reduction and a major change in hair texture, because currently every last hair removal method I’ve tried either causes stubble or awful ingrowns or razor burn. I don’t want to do it anymore. It all hurts.

I’d really prefer to DIY this, is possible, see above note about not having loads of money. :slight_smile:

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#2

I would encourage laser for you.

Laser reduction is costly, too, but you will spend less time on the table. So you better have thousands of dollars available before you start. They usually want you to buy a package up front.

I would seek out a laser specialist with a an alexandrite laser and punch away at all that hair. You will probably have the best results below the knee, but you will get a certain percentage of reduction on the thighs. The thighs typically don’t respond as well as the lower leg hair does.

#3

They usually want you to buy a package up front.

It’s best to avoid doing this. Many places that do these package deals keep the settings low.

OP, which area are you located in? In SoCal, there are places that use very good settings with no package deals that are $350/full legs. California tends to be more expensive than the rest of the country, so I’d wager you can find a good place for possibly less

#4

Why do you think this? I’m not disagreeing, just curious.

#5

Why do you think this? I’m not disagreeing, just curious.

Most places that do groupon deals or packaged deals tend to be these med spas which keep settings low because (a) people don’t want to spend money at a place that causes pain despite it being necessary for effective hair removal, and more importantly (b) there’s a fair question about how many of these spas are operating within the legal guidelines (see for example: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-legislation-aims-to-crack-down-on-illegal-medical--2012jul11-htmlstory.html). If the settings are low, then no adverse reactions should occur which means people aren’t suing them.

I personally got mine done at a dermatologist’s office, and as a whole, have had much better luck with dermatologists willing to crank up to higher settings. That might be due to stronger malpractice protections or something else with legal reasons.

#6

I’m in south eastern PA.

I’ve had laser before (full face, American Laser Center, made everything WAAAAAAYYYYY worse :frowning: ), and I’ve had probably 15 hours of electrolysis on my face as well (to clean up the mess that laser made worse, I had to stop before I was finished, but it’s way better than it used to be), so I know about discomfort. I’m fine with it.

#7

I know people have really discouraged a lot of the home devices, but a friend of mine with similar leg and skin tone has gotten great results with the Bellaflash Silkn’ from Costcon(yes, I think it is an IPL device and not a true laser device). She did for a while, hasn’t done it since the winter and hasn’t really had any noticeable regrowth. If there’s a chance it would at least give me some decent reduction, I’d be willing to invest the $200 it costs.

#8

I always say, “try it”! If you don’t mind being out the money and perhaps stunning the hair not to grow for awhile, it may be a perfect choice.

Likewise, I always advise the consumer to to google ’ consumer reviews of laser home devices’, or something close to that, and get a feel for what others are saying. Use your best instincts when reading the reviews.

#9

How much extra would you say you pay to have treatments at derm office vs. med spa place?

#10

[quote=“joben”]

How much extra would you say you pay to have treatments at derm office vs. med spa place? [/quote]

Honestly, depends how diligently you do research and find a place. The place I go to now, I’d say on a per treatment basis is actually pretty close in price. In general for legs, I’d guess I’d expect an extra $100-150/treatment. That’s a pretty rough estimate since so many places charge different amounts