Male, type III - IV, beard removal

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hi,

I’ve been searching the boards and end up somewhat confused so thought i would do a quick post.

I have always had a patchy beard, I now have a few lighter coloured hairs, which I know only eletrolisys will work on,but want to remove as much as poss before I go there.

I have had 2 IPL sessions (started 27th Dec), the 2nd one had little effect, but was a closer company.

I then ended up having 3 sessions with a SOPRANO XL laser - a cheap introductory price.

I did have some good clearance, especially on my neck. Although have just had a 7 week break due to a summer beach holiday.

Hair has definietly started to come back, which is not a suprise really.

Now, I would like to know what sort of Laser I should try and find next, since there seems to be some highly informed people on here.

Thanks for any input.
Benjer

#2

If you still have thick, dark, dense hair then you should really get yourself to a place that has a good alexandrite laser. Candela’s GentleLase gets the thumbs up quite a bit around here. It has a large spot size, so that is advantageous. If you had an electrologist that specializes in male facial hair, using the best epilators on earth with a probe that matches the hair diameter and good vision wear using the auto-sensor mode, you would not need laser at all. THe advantage of electrolysis is all hair colors, all hair structures on all colors of skin can be treated and the bothersome hair is lifted out immediately. You look pretty darn good when you leave the office. No need to wait for shedding to occur. Many hairs per hour can be treated with the above set up. If you have no one offering this service in your locale, then I can see why you are still pursuing laser hair reduction.

I would look to the the more powerful light-based devices that are right for your skin type. GentleLase is good,but you may need a GentleYag.

#3

What skin type and ethnicity are you?

How much of the hair is dense and coarse?

Where are you located?

Is all the treated hair shedding within 3 weeks? That’s how you tell whether it’s working.

The hair is not “back” after 2 treatments if everything is in fact going well. It should be new hair showing up from the next phase of growth GIVEN that the previously treated hair actually all shed like it’s supposed to.

What type of result are you looking for? It sounds like you want 100% with the help of both laser and electrolysis. I hope you realize that this isn’t going to happen permanently, forever on a male beard. You can get most of the coarse dark hair with laser and the rest with electrolysis, but you’ll still need touchups regularly for any new growth your body will produce on this area. Just want to make sure you have your expectations in order - this isn’t going to put an end to shaving for good. Also, laser only works on coarse hair, even if it’s dark. You’ll need to treat dark but finer hair with electrolysis as well.

Also please understand the committment required here. You’ll likely need 8-10 laser treamtents and then a year or two of regular electrolysis at least.

#4

I was under the impression that electrolysis can be painfull and more expensive, hence the laser route first.

I would look to the the more powerful light-based devices that are right for your skin type. GentleLase is good,but you may need a GentleYag.

Thats a good start, I can start searching for that, thankyou.

#5

I am caucasien, but I am darker than most - suggest some meditarranean routes somewhere.

How much of the hair is dense and coarse?

Where are you located?

Probably over half is dark and course, 2/8 is dark, 1/8 is light - maybe less. I am located in London, Uk so there must be somewhere decent available.

Is all the treated hair shedding within 3 weeks? That’s how you tell whether it’s working.

No never all of it has shredded, the upper lip seems very hard to shed.

The hair is not “back” after 2 treatments if everything is in fact going well. It should be new hair showing up from the next phase of growth GIVEN that the previously treated hair actually all shed like it’s supposed to.

I do understand the growth cycles, so that is fine.

What type of result are you looking for? It sounds like you want 100% with the help of both laser and electrolysis. I hope you realize that this isn’t going to happen permanently, forever on a male beard. You can get most of the coarse dark hair with laser and the rest with electrolysis, but you’ll still need touchups regularly for any new growth your body will produce on this area. Just want to make sure you have your expectations in order - this isn’t going to put an end to shaving for good. Also, laser only works on coarse hair, even if it’s dark. You’ll need to treat dark but finer hair with electrolysis as well.

I understand that as well and I do want total removal, so thats the price I will have to pay I just need to ensure I am getting the best treatment for the money. Thanks for your response.

x

Also please understand the committment required here. You’ll likely need 8-10 laser treamtents and then a year or two of regular electrolysis at least. [/quote]

#6

You need to be seeing shedding. If you’re not seeing that, something is wrong and you’re sort of wasting your money.

For your skin type, GentleYAG would be good. Please realize that you need someone who is very experienced with treating male beards in particular. Overlapping is very important, or you’ll be left with patchiness or striping.

#7

Hi again, so I had a patch done today, I was initially sceptical as I seemed to know more about the laser/IPL market than the ‘nurse’ although from this forums knowledge maybe that is not a suprise.

The machine used was a ‘cynosure elite’ which she said was an alexandrite, but there was also a YAG setting which was what I was after. I was unsure but a quick search here and maybe she was right. Have not booked yet because wanted to check here 1st.

Is this a good machine? woth £129 for a full beard - even though I have a VERY patchy beard.

thanks
ben

#8

Apogee Elite is a combo machine, so yes, it’s both an alex and a Yag. They have a choice of what to use, which is good for your situation.

Did you ask if they’ve treated male beards before? Do they know to overlap?

As mentioned above, please ask what joules and pulse width settings they’re planning to use and post here.

#9

Sorry about the delay, I actually opted to not go with the company providing the apogee as I didn’t have full confidence in them, it was in harley street - the operator didn’t seem to know the machine very well, cant say for sure just didn’t get the right vibe. I have ended up at a different place RM which others on here have suggested. Patch test was good and had first treatment today, its with a Lumenis Lightsheer, did hurt but I guess that’s to be expected on male chin and upper lip :frowning:

I’ll keep posted, hairs have already ‘jumped’ out - something I never had before. Forgot to get the settings details, which I will get next time.

#10

How has your most recent treatment worked for you?

#11

Just to finish this thread off, I ended up staying with Renew Medica (oxford circus) and am happy to say that I am almost hair free, the top lip is being stubborn but its almost empty. I may need to consider electrolysis as I have a few random white hairs, but at the moment they are very easy to pluck as they are so few.

#12

If you’re planning on getting more treatments, you shoudn’t pluck meanwhile.

#13

Just skimming through this (have the worst migraine so sorry if I missed it) which laser did you end up using? From my experience, with yag vs alex, only a yag can go deep enough for upper lip and chin. LightSheer Diode goes deeper than alex but still yag is the deepest. I have difficulty shedding in those areas as well until I switched to yag.