M 30 UK \ FairType 4/5 \ Black Hair \ Beard

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hello,

New to the forum :slight_smile: hello everyone!

Recently I have been thinking about getting hair removal/reduction on my face (beard area), I have quite light growth on cheeks and medium growth on my upper lip and chin area. I am getting quite tired of shaving daily and also want to get rid of the shadow. I was wondering if you could assist? I have a couple of consultations next week…however I am not sure which technology is better…Laser or IPL? One of the people I am due to see next week has been doing hair removal treatments for approximately 15 years, and thinks IPL will be fine…however she does feel that i will need at least 10-12 treatments. The second person i am due to see next week uses laser, but i dont get the same level of comfort or confidence when speaking to her. So what i am really trying to understand is if the more experienced person is the better option, despite using IPL? I am also curious to get some opinions from any guys who have had IPL on there beard and success rate?

I will try and post some pictures up later on today, so you can see what my growth looks like atm.

Thank,
Mogli

#2

IPL is much less effective, so if it does work, you will need more treatments which means way more than 10. That is IF it actually works.

Many places get IPL because it’s cheaper and there are less regulations when working with it, there are a few IPL models that are very strong and indeed can give good results but in general you don’t want to try that.

For skin type 4-5 your options are either Diode laser or Yag laser, but of course the person who’s doing the treatment has a lot of weight in the outcome of the treatments.

#3

Hi,

Thanks for the info :), so basically i should stay away from IPL. She did say her IPL machine was capable of strong settings…but i am with you, i dont think its a good idea. I have read quite a few cases of people breaking out and the like and thats something i really dont want to go through especially as my skin is quite sensitive in general, if not to sun!

In terms of practitioners, what type of things should i be looking out for in both a positive and negative way?

Also, wanted to add what type of laser should i be looking for?

Thanks,
Mogli

#4

It’s kinda hard to say really.

Your first step would be to find a place based on machines they use, and then it’s a gamble of going there and trying to feel if you like the place and the people inside.

#5

Ok cool, based on my skin type what would you recommend or would it be better if i got a posted a picture first?

Thanks again.

#6

Odi already said that skin type 4 or 5 would need a Diode or Yag laser in his first reply to you.

But I’m confused because you said “Fair” in the title but type 4/5 is NOT fair; it is quite dark. Fair skin would be 1 or 2. Would you mind clarifying which one you are?

#7

Sorry having a blind moment - doh! Re the skin scale i guess i was confused, as i have reasonably fair skin, always tan and and rarely burn. I will post some pictures when i figure out how to.

#8

Here you go, i have added some pics online:

Flickr - Before

Those pictures were taken approximately 7 hours after i shaved today. Be gentle :slight_smile:

#9

Oooh, that’s a tough one. Normally for fair skin an alex laser (GentleLASE) is the best, but you do seem a little dark for that (maybe it’s just the photos) so perhaps Odi’s recommendations would be better.

My monitor is pretty dim, so maybe someone else will be able to get a more accurate read on your skin tone (to me it looks too dark in the first photo, but slightly fair in the second)

#10

You’re a good candidate for laser. IPL is definitely not for you since your skin is relatively dark for LHR. I would lean towards a Yag based on these photos.

Be aware that you really need someone experienced with male beards specifically to avoid patchy results. This area needs more and frequent treatments and careful touchups at 3 weeks.

#11

Thanks for the replies and advice :slight_smile: i agree i think the photos are a little inconsistent, probably just my phone playing up! I think the safety first attitude is the right one, so will find a Yag laser, now i just need to find someone who can do it for me.

#12

Most popular Yags are GentleYAG or GentleMAX, Coolglide, Sciton, and Apogee Elite.

#13

IPL is not a true laser and we highly recommend going with either the LightSheer Diode Laser the first hair removal laser to be FDA approved or a Candela Laser. Also your dealing with your face, so VERY important to go to someone with at LEAST 5 years or more laser hair removal experience if not more. Like HairFacts stated above it’s very easy to get patchy or possibly have pigment issues on the face. Since your face always has some form of sun exposure and can’t be completely covered naturally like with clothing.

#14

Approval by FDA is meaningless. I don’t know if any clinics who don’t use one that is. They only approve for safety of use, not effectiveness. IPLs are also FDA approved.

Candela makes both alex and Yag lasers. LightSheer is a diode and has a wavelength between alex and Yag. What you choose should depend on your skin type and whether the person treating you knows how to use the machine that they have. YOu can botch a treatment with a good machine too.

#15

Thanks for the advice everyone, i have a consultation tomorrow with a local place that that have a Yag iirc, am going to ask loads of questions and find out all the info and will report back :).

#16

Make sure to ask what settings they will be using on you (joules, spot size, and pulse width). Feel free to use the questions we put together at the third link below.

#17

Well i had my consultation yesterday, I took my notes (thanks to the forum :slight_smile: )and went to the clinic. Turns out they only do IPL for hair removal…grrrr, that was despite what they had told me on the phone. They do have a laser (the one they told me about on the phone), its a YAG but only for treating single hairs. She repeated a number of times that they would not recommend for use on a male face. TBH, i wasnt impressed so even if they had offered the laser I would have said no. I didnt get a feeling that they knew what they were doing. So now to find another clinic…

#18

I don’t know even know what means… a “laser for treating only single hairs”. This doesn’t exist.

You should add your location to your profile.

#19

I wasnt sure, there were a number of factors that put me off and if as it seems they dont understand there laser well enough to know its capabilities thats scares me even more!

#20

Your reaction is correct. I would run too.