hair removal (merged)

spork_2

I'm seeing a lot of comments where people clearly are not doing their research, and are even throwing money away on treatments that are known to be ineffective. So, I'd just like to clarify a few things having done a fair bit of research myself:

ONE - IPL is NOT laser!! Most serious laser treatment-users consider it to be just short of a scam. It is NOT the best for all types of skin - each individual will have a different reaction and if you have skin 4-6 type skin (eg. Mediterannean, South Asian, and African/Caribbean skin tones), I would advise you to not use it. Also with diodes - if your skin can handle it a high setting without hyper-pigmentation and burning, then it may be suitable for you. IPL targets the surrounding skin tissue and I believe diode lasers do too - so they are not confined to affecting just the hair! Even if you're white/Caucasian, invest in something that's more likely to work and won't give you additional skin colouring problems

TWO - Home laser/electrolysis kits do not work. Simple as that. You're wasting your money and if you've purchased one without doing adequate research then more fool you, but hopefully that's a lesson learnt

THREE - Blonde and ginger hairs most likely will not work. As with IPL, laser targets pigments, and thus darker hair works best. You're better off getting electrolysis

FOUR - You should really wait at least 8 weeks before getting another course of treatment. 4 weeks is definitely not enough. Your hair won't be in the right stage in the hair growth cycle. Most recommend between 8 - 12 weeks. What should happen is after getting laser treatment, for around 2 weeks or so you will see pepper spots and lots of shedding. By 6-8 weeks, you should see full re-growth in the area that was treated. This is NEW hair that was not treated by the laser, so you should wait for full regrowth (around 8-12 week for underarms, legs should take around 12 weeks as the hair has a slower growth cycle). T

he aim of laser treatment is to treat new hair at every new growth cycle, and therefore ensure that at some stage every follicle has been zapped. Otherwise, if you get your treatment every 2-6 weeks, you are not targeting any new hair and so your treatment will be drawn out much longer in the long-term and you will be paying far more because of those unneccessary additional treatments. Plus, think about it this way: you get to save up for 2 months, rather than 1, to pay towards a more effective treatment!

FIVE - Nd:Yag lasers work best for Asian/black skin tones. You are automatically at least a skin type 4 if you're South Asian and skin type V if you are Afro-Caribbean. Even if you have very light skin and are Asian (and maybe this applies for Mediterranean people), it's not the actual lightness/darkness of your skin that determines your skin type, but how it reacts to laser/sunlight as you have a natural disposition to tanning & are more insensitive to the sun than white Caucasians (you may thank melanin for that). For skin types 4+, I would suggest using GentleYag out of the ND:Yag types. Cynosure Apogee elite is a 2-in-1 machine as it contains both an ND:Yag & an Alexanderite (I believe this is suitable enough for lighter skin types upto skin type III. Skin type IV shoul should go for nd:yag not an alexanderite), so it can treat skin types1 - 6.

SIX - Do NOT get laser hair removal on the following areas: face, arms, thighs, shoulders, and backs. There is a VERY high likelihood of there being laser-induced hair growth, so you will have spent all of that money only to end up with more noticable hair! Good areas to get laser hair surgery: anywhere with coarse, thick, long, dark hair! That includes: underarms, lower legs and bikini lines. For any other body part, try electrolysis! If you get full clearance with electrolysis the first time around, then your treatment will be complete for that area within 12-18 months if you do regular maintenance sessions. Electrolysis flash thermolysis is really good for clearing hair quickly.

I hope that helps.

sec79

I just wondered if anyone can recommend any products/brands for ladies which can be used to remove facial hair? I tried a boots own make, and the wax just got stuck to my face, and removed no hair at all. Mine can be rather coarse, so need a good prpduct.

I have tried electrolysis (painful, expensive and not that effective).

Many thanks

carbbit

I have my eyebrows and upper lip threaded and the result is fantastic; much better than waxing. It's chemical free too :T. The beautician uses a piece of cotton thread to remove the hairs.

minerva_windsong

I just get it waxed at a salon every three weeks - expensive I know but plucking takes too long and I am too much of a wuss to wax it myself. I am planning to save up for IPL treatment at some point when I can afford it though.

If it has been bad for a long time I would go and see your doctor as it could be polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

shykins

after a recommendation on here i bought an epicare, when it arrrived i was like huh how can a spring with a bit of rubber either end work but it does!!
ok they arent cheap initially (around £14) but its great u just roll it over your face and voila nice and smooth and hair free
hth

brook2jack

silkimiz £1.99 from superdrug. Looks like sandpaper but actually works on "moustach" hair. Rub 4 times one way then four the other ahd hair is gone. Then I just plck chin hair.

sonee2405

Threading is best for upper lips and easy to learn too-have a look at you tube threading tutorials. Salons charges for threading are expensive but usually asian salons are cheaper-£4 for eyebrows,£2.50 for upper lip and £12 for full face &eyebrows is acceptable though.
If you would prefer waxing then go to poundland or bodycare and get the epilcare wax strips.They are the best and so cheap-smell lovely, easy to use and perfect results.Just cut them in half to make it a bit easier and then wipe over face with baby lotion afterwards to soothe.I definately think these are far better than the branded facial hair remover products.

SecretIdentity

Another vote for threading here - least painful, best results of all.

shelly

shykins wrote: »

after a recommendation on here i bought an epicare, when it arrrived i was like huh how can a spring with a bit of rubber either end work but it does!!
ok they arent cheap initially (around £14) but its great u just roll it over your face and voila nice and smooth and hair free
hth

I just googled epicare as I had never heard of it. Can you tell me if its good for all over face and body or are there places you wouldn't use it?

thanks

Mrs_Ryan

I have severe PCOS so have somewhat of a facial hair problem and I use a Gillette Venus Breeze razor - its fantastic. I've tried everything and thats the only thing that seems to work :rolleyes: