Treatment frequency and other questions

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I am reading the FAQ here saying a few weeks have to pass between treatments. But when I went for the first time, I have been told to go after 1 month again. Is that a way for them to get more money from me and do I have to wait more?

I treat:
Full beard
Underarms
Bikini
Abdomen

At another place I have been told 1.5-2 months for the face and 2-3-4 months for the body. What is the correct time?

What percentage of the hair do I have to expect to fall after the first treatment (one month after it) - I can now see between 50% and 0% removal (0% at the upper lip) - is this right and should it be 100%?

Can I treat hair in the nose too?

My skin type is 3, I think. It’s a diode laser.

A few years ago I tried to remove the hair from my legs completely. 3 full treatments - ruby laser. Partially removed, changed my mind and decided to not remove it anymore. But at the lower legs there are two areas on the two legs where the hair is completely gone. Why has this happened? Is it because probably higher intensity has been used for these areas? Now I am looking for a way to make some hair grow in these areas - is there a way for this?

#2

One month is too short, you’ll know when it’s time to go back. For me I’ve done abdomen, underarms, forearms and test patch on my neck. My results are typical of what to expect:

  • Areas treated with the laser (GentleLASE)
  • Hair appears to be growing back
  • 1.5 weeks after session hair starts to shed
  • 3 weeks after session, almost all hair has shed and area is hair free
  • 5 weeks after session, hair is in next stage and beings to grow back
  • 6 weeks after session hair is growing back, but not completely back (although on abdomen is was probably 80% back)
  • 7-8 weeks after session hair is for the most part back and so I do another session.

So based on my experience, after 1 month I’m in the smooth hair free stage. When I did my underarms, my tech called me exactly 6 weeks later to book my next session but I said it was too early, as I literally had maybe 20% of the hair grow back. It’s been 9 weeks since and I’ve only had 1 session on my underarms and I’d say only 80% is completely back. I don’t want to continue that area but if I did I’d be going back now, but I’m sure most will agree with me on here 1 month is wayyyyyy too soon.

Nose I don’t think most places would do but not sure. Your upper lip should have shed by now as well. Everything should shed by week 3, if you’re at 1 month and nothing then the settings are probably too low. I’ve never used a diode but the general consensus is that Alexandrites are better. However, I’ve also done IPL which is pretty much the worst in terms of effectiveness and I still had shedding aftre 3 weeks. Again you will be the judge of when you have to go back. You basically want to go for the session, wait, have the hair shed, wait, have the hair fully grow back, and then go. If by week 6 it has fully shed, (or at least 80%+) then you can go back then. If less than 80% has shed, then most likely the settings were too low. Hope this helps!

#3

  • Please be careful about treating the beard area. Also be aware that you can’t remove it completely. Be sure you understand what you’re getting into and risks of patchiness. It doesn’t sound like you’re getting good effective treatments with 100% shedding, so patchiness is very likely given that.

  • Everything should shed within 3 weeks. You need to ask for free touchups at 3 weeks for anything that doesn’t.

  • I would pay for all those areas just yet. Make sure you are getting results first. Do one area and see what happens.

  • What machine and settings are being used? That’s VERY important. The reason you don’t see good results from previous treatments is likely due to settings. It’s VERY important that they treat at high settings in order to actually kill the hair permanently.

  • For all of your areas, treatments should be spaced 2-3 months apart. You shouldn’t need treatments sooner than that if shedding happens since you wouldn’t have much to treat at 6 weeks.

#4

It’s interesting too because my friend and I went in together to have our beards done. I’m not expecting to never have to shave, and patchiness isn’t a huge concern for me because I have a spot on my neck and on my cheek that’s naturally just bald for some reason, so I’m patchy to begin with :slight_smile: Anyway when we went in, they always tell me they’ll call me in 6 weeks for other areas but she told us for our face she’d call us in 4 weeks to come back for another appointment. That completely doesn’t make sense, as at 4 weeks I’m usually just beginning to enjoy the smooth phase in between growth. My friend is new to laser so I’m still trying to convince him it’s wrong, but he wants to believe her since she’s the laser tech.

#5

Tell your friend to read the FAQs here. It’s not about believing someone. It’s about understanding how this process and hair growth works. If you do, you realize that having new hair in 4 weeks is not possible.