Your opinion on GentleLase for hands/fingers?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hi, I wish I’d done something years ago, as I’ve been tormented by the unladylike hair on my hands/fingers for years, anytime someone reaches to hold my hands I mentally think “oh god did I shave recently or will they know I did by the stubble, oh god!” in 1 millisecond, and cringe usually. It’s been so awful. And hard to read others’ experiences as searching for ‘hands’ usually gets people saying “in good hands” etc…

Anyway I figure the electrolysis I successfully did for my stomach line and unibrow would be crazy tedious for so many hairs… so I want to try high power GentleLase, I want to ask your opinions whether it’ll possibly work, even if some of the hair mixed in with the brown is light.

I’m skin type 1, with dark brown hair, and the hair on my hands/fingers is long and brown but thin. While I was doing bikini/legs 9 years ago I had them do my hands 2 or 3x. I don’t think it had any effect. So my idea is to have them turn the power kind of high and see what happens.

If this matters-- I’m 29, I’m working on slightly high testosterone/low progesterone with my naturopath with herbs etc, but it takes time, and my hands have always been hairy even before I measured as having high testosterone. Though since Ive kept this secret, it might not be as badly hairy as I think of it being in my head, but im too embarrassed to ask someone their opinion. It’s def not like, wiry hair or anything like a man has, but still very evident to me.

Any input welcome, thanks so much! I’ve lurked here for like 11 years :slight_smile:

#2

I do many fingers and thumbs. Full first clearance for a woman, with electrolysis, takes about 30-60 minutes depending on amount of hair one has. I wave them off and tell them I will see them in 3 months for another clearance. Usually, 3-4 clearances spread out over 12-15 months is all that is needed. There usually are little healing dots on the digits for a couple weeks, but they subside. Hands should not take a long time to clear either, if one is doing Microflash or Picoflash thermolysis. All this is permanent - forever.

You can turn the laser power up to the moon all you want, but if your hairs are light or too thin, the laser will not affect those hairs. You are wasting your effort and money, but you are certainly free to try.

The fingers are not hormonally influenced.

#3

I completely agree with dfahey.
Go to a professional electrologist.

The outcome from laser is “maybe”:
-maybe will help reduce the amount of hair;
-maybe will do noting to your hair;
-maybe will induce more hair.

Your choice.

#4

Oh gosh, i thought only super pro-laser people would be in this section of the board. You guys seem so doubtful about using laser, I don’t want to waste time so I guess I’ll go to my electrology lady then.
Her AEA page says how she does blend and both other methods, but nothing about this PicoFlash stuff, I hope she does have it but I’ll ask. Maybe it’ll help with the tedium, as my small stomach area did take like 2 almost 3 years to fully get each hair gone :confused:

#5

astro,

It is very important that you leave the electrologist to choose the method for your treatment. He/She will consider many parameters which will help to choose the right method and settings for your skin. For your information only there are 3 electrolysis methods:

  1. Electrolysis or galvanic method.There is a constant current flowing between the probe and second electrode in contact with the skin.The final result is creating Lye which destroys the follicle.This is a chemical reaction.

  2. Thermolysis.The end of the probe inserted into the follicle works as a microwave antenna.This antenna emits high frequency (13 or 27 MHz) electromagnetic waves which kill the follicle by heating the water inside the follicle.
    Depends of how much time and how much energy is used during the process we can have many types of application of TH (thermolysis):
    -Slow TH
    -TH
    -Flash TH
    -Micro flash and Pico flash TH

The only difference between them is the application time (Slow TH is seconds and goes down to 1/1000s of second for Micro and Pico flash TH.There are even more application variation of the TH such as Multiplex and Syncro.

  1. Blend. This is combination of the firs 2.
    There are also variation of the blend application such as Omniblend , Pulsed Blend, Multy blend etc.

Hope this help.

#6

Yes

#7

pico-flash is specific to Dectro machines, it’s nothing special nor does it produce superior results to other thermolysis machines. If your electrologist hasn’t heard of the term its because she is using another brand. Your electrologist is not completely incorrect about thermolysis.
I had an electrologist work on me for a year with Dectro machine and she too would admit to me that she sees lower kill rates compared to when she started doing blend 30 years ago but was forced to switch to thermolysis because of client demand.
Now you won’t find a single electologist in my area who does proper blend.

#8

I see, it seems theres a difference of opinion on this.

Hmmm… if therm is less painful, I guess I should do that, cause I have a very low pain tolerance and I can’t handle large amounts of the other kind I’d been having :confused:

#9

Picoflash (Dectro epilators) or microflash on others, is less painful for many and you can move along to get a first, full clearance. I use an insulated probe, Laurier IBP best or Ballet insulated. Sometimes it helps to crank up the intensity to the highest percentage and then lower the timing to the smallest value that will allow the hair to release freely.

One needs a very good visual aid to see ALL the hairs, in order to make perfect insertions. Without a good set up, both the client and the electrologist will be unsatisfied with the outcome.

#10

I used Gentlelase for my arms - and had 50% reduction - however, back of my hands have zero regrowth.

In my experience, laser is more effective when nearer to the bone.

#11

I am really thinking about gentlelase, because, as I live in Mexico, there are only two electrologists and one of them completely ruined my hands. Were your hairs in your hands thick? Mines are brown, but maybe not very thick (they are not thin also). I really hope laser will help reduce them. How many sessions did you have?