Hello, I’ve been having Laser for what feels like forever! on various places on my body with varying success. I am a woman, 27, Very dark hair and quite white skin. I believe my hair growth to be genetic as My Mum and Nan suffer from the same problem, although Ive never been tested for Hormone levels etc as the avenue of prescription drugs is not one I would want to take anyway. I started with crap IPL like aculight etc, which didnt help (although saying that it worked a little on my bikini line) I am one of the unfortunate people that seem to have developed more hair since i started (on face). About 2 yrs ago i started usind lightsheer on face and although Ive had a lot of treatments I feel that I am almost getting somewhere. Ive had my legs and bikini done with lightsheer and its worked really well, but my face is a different issue. So after all my rambling my question is this… My arms, i want them done, but Im so scared! I read that its an area that can get worse but I only see men writing this so Id like some info on any women that have had the arms done. What scares me is that my arms are very hairy and ide need to have the whole arms done so Im freaking out thinking that knowing my luck Ill end up with hairy shoulders and hairy on the soft white underside of the arm (hair grows quite far round to this bit) I’m picking up that its playing wih fire to go over areas that dont have alot of hair on and with my past experience, what do you lot think? P.s - I had the back of my neck done (which is supposed to be another place bad for inducing new growth) as i had a really low hairline - for me it worked very quickly and with great success, probably the easiest place yet??? Thanks, sorry its a long post xx
I haven’t heard of laser stimulated hair growth on a women’s upper arms, but like you have rightly pointed out, men complain of this frequently. I don’t think I would risk lasing this particular area.
As a practicing electrologist, I have seen the end results of women that have had their forerams lased. The range of outcomes vary from fabulous results to very patchy results. One teenager actually had coarse hair develop. So, no one can tell you for sure what your outcome will be.
I have said this comment many times here on hairtell and other places: You’d better have a skilled electrologist waiting in the wings to pick up the pieces to finish the job that laser cannot. That’s why it is called LASER HAIR REDUCTION.
So, specifically for you, I would hire a professional electrologist to finish up your face and start your upper arms. If you insist on laser for your forearms, that may be helpful, but a good electrologist can handle this area as well.
I remove hair from whole arms frequently. If a professional electrologist in your area has sought out the joys and advantages of computerization where he or she can use microflash thermolysis to strip an arm of all offending hair in a marathon timeframe of 2-3 hours, maybe more, depending on the amount of hair you have, then you will never need to consider another modality such as laser. Blend would be slower, but nevertheless, it is highly effective.
You have spent a lot of money and time only NOT to achieve your hair removal goals. Honestly, a good electrologist can get you what you want and more. The problem is finding a skilled electrologist that has stepped into the world of computerization so that hair removal goals are achieved faster and thus, clients are satisfied beyond their wildest dreams.
Dee
Oh poo!, i thought that would be the answer! Thanks for your reply, you are of course right, i know its time for me to move to electrolysis for the face, i keep meaning to and then i think “I’ll just have one more laser” I’m down to £60 a time for full face now as Ive been so much so its still expensive but its convenient. I mean it this time when i say one more time! Im gonna tell her its my last and get her to turn it up really high and push her to really overlap as its my last go and then Im gonna go over. Is it true that fine hairs dont work aswell with Electrolysis? As Ive been treated so much with the laser my hairs are relatively fine(ish!) now. Thing is i know it wouldnt be a massive job for Elec… either - Im on the case! Back to the arms though, thats one area where Im not looking for total removal just a reduction would be lovely, Any opposing views to the one above? Anyone had it done (preferably someone thats had the face done and can comment on how they get on with laser in general)? Come on there must be someone out there who can talk me into wasting another ton of money to get hairier!! : )
A good electrologist can get all hair: dark or light, course or fine. It does take a while to get vellus(peach fuzz) hair because there is so much of it.
Just to keep things in perspective, we treat a lot of woman’s arms and don’t have much trouble with treating them. I don’t disagree with what Dee states as far as what electrolysis can do in the hands of a competent person. Truth is I’m not really qualified to have an opinion.
But I do believe that laser hair removal can be very effective in the hands of a competent person. Just understand that the two modalities are more complementary than competitive.
Wherever did you hear this information! Quite the opposite! Electrolysis is the ONLY permanent solution for fine hairs and light hairs. That’s why sslhr is saying that the two modalities compliment each other. When laser has done all it can within it’s limits, that’s where you need to change direction and go to a competent, professional electrologist to fine tune things. A natural even reduction can be achieved on your arms with electrolysis. That’s the advantage and beauty of using electrolysis because we see each hair as an individual and can decide whether it stays or goes.
I referred one of my clients to a laserologist for her forearms and underarms. She had her first appointment last night. She’s seeing me for facial electrolysis and will most likely need help after her prescribed laser treatments for her arms and underarms end to get the hair that laser can’t see. I witness this scenario week after week where I need to either refine areas or at worse, start over on treated areas for clients who are dubbed “laser failures”. The reason for the failure? I don’t know. Just like with electrolysis, there could be several things off that prohibits a person from reaching their intended goals.
Permanent hair removal is not easy. We are fighting a very strong enemy. If electrolysis is performed with proper skill and with proper tools, the hair cannot possibly win in the end. If laser is performed under ideal circumstances with proper tools and skill, you will get a certain percentage of reduction and either you will satisfied of you will seek out a skilled electrologist to finish the job properly.
Can you submit a picture of your full arms? What color is your skin? Name of the laser that was used on your face, etc.? Anything else of importance?
Dee
At the moment I am using the lightsheer Diode. It works very well on my legs etc but my face is different. I think i have some kind of genetic make up that means my hair just likes growing back! and i think it stimulates old peach fuzz type hair to go thicker and darker on me. On the plus side, in a way this has been a good thing (cant believe im saying that!) As i used to have alot of peach fuzz aswell as the darker hairs, as i have had so many treatments now and so many hairs have gone dark, i presume that this has worked in my favour in a way as the laser has over time been able to catch melalin from hairs that never used to have it, hence i no longer really have any peach fuzz as such ( i don recommend this method to get rid of ur peach fuzz though…its an expensive way to do it and may not happen like that for you) I count my blessings for that. I do however still have some hairs that are not particually dark like they used to be but they are darker than one would desire on you’re face! I know i can clear these up with electrolysis no probs, which i will do. I think if i were to keep going and going and going to laser i would eventually get rid of these hairs, because the laser definately gradually lightens them and thins then out (they are always weak with not much resistance but whats the good of that if they still grow in weak or not!) will this make then easier to get with electrolysis or harder??? As for the arms…there is no way id get electrolysis on them, i can handle them, but if i could get a quick fix with a bit of laser to thin them out a bit id be more than happy with that. Ill bleach and epilate them every now and then like i do now . Face is the priority, its everything you always dream about to have a clear face, so Im gonna stop messing around and get on with this now. When i cant find a single hair on my face, then i will worry (obsess!) about the other things more, but if along the way i could chip away or make a start on some other things then ill do that obviously…so to summarise…i know you’re saying it wont get rid of them all and it wont be even etc but to be honest these arnt my main concerns, all i really want to know is… If i get a cpl of laser treatment on my arms while im getting electrolysis on my face and i setting myself up for a another saga or am i just chipping away at what will one day be a hair free body??? Thanks for you’re comments by the way, Im really grateful x
Yes, your face should be your priority. I do agree with you. Laser for your arms may help you get the look you want. You will have to gamble here. Your outcome is not another’s outcome because of many variables from type of laser to skill of the technician. Relish in the fact that if laser results are less than desired, good, old steady friend electrolysis is there in the wings ready to pick up the pieces. So go for lasing your arms, since electrolysis is out of the question for you. Many people are happy with their results. The arms are not a hormonally controlled area like the face. Electrolysis is very appropriate for arms. If the electrologist is too slow or is not use to larger areas, then laser is a better choice, but keep expectations real.
As I said before, electrolysis is fantastic for fine, light hair.
It is easier to kill weak hair than thick hair that has been tweezed for twenty years, obviously. If the electrologist does not have surgical glasses with good magnification, then you are on shaky territory. One has to see the target or chances of killing the hair diminish greatly. Duh! Good tools and good skill are stressed here a lot for that very reason.
Thanks,
Dee
If the hair on your upper arms is pretty fine, I would go with electrolysis.
In terms of your face, do you know what settings are being used on LightSheer? If you’re going to have more treatments there with it, you should be using a very low pulse to target the finer hairs. I hope they’re also using compression and high joules.