Facial Hair - how do YOU deal with it?

CJ · Post by CJ » Fri Dec 12, 2003 9:53 am

Hi girls,

Gee, Beauty, it feels like ages since we heard from you!

Personally I think laser hair removal is a subject that fits right into this thread. LHR is something I'd consider, were it not for the cost of the procedure. I guess it is an investment when you think about it. You say hair grows back anyway? Do you find it's worth it then? What does LHR imply? I mean, how long is the overall treatment? How long does each session last? Is it painful? Is this something you can do elsewhere on your body? Details, please...

Love,
CJ

Cyndee · Post by **Cyndee** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 10:59 am

Hi Beauty

I certaintly would like a thread about laser hair removal for the face.

I have heard now that even white or light colored hair can now be removed.

I believe the principle of the laser is based on thae hair being colored the darker the better

Any info here by anyone would be good

Cyndee

Jessie · Post by **Jessie** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 5:03 pm

Well this does not fall completely with the laser surgery, though we run an ad at the station I work at for one, But yesterday I shaved and while leaning over the sink I dropped some shaving cream on my chest. Well I cleaned that off then thought about it and shaved, just to experiment, the hair that was slightly growing up my chest on to the lower part of my neck.

I was slightly nervous and I cut myself. I am always nervous about that ever since I first started shaving.

Jessie

CJ · Post by CJ » Fri Dec 12, 2003 7:30 pm

Hi Jessie,

Practice makes perfect, girl, practice makes perfect!

You should "accidently" drop shaving cream on your chest more often.

Love,
CJ

Charlene · Post by **Charlene** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 8:15 pm

I did look into laser hair removal but it's a little out of my range right now.

Jadeanne · Post by **Jadeanne** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 8:17 pm

Hi,

As the originator of this thread, I feel that laser hair removal is a suitable topic here. After all, it IS a way of dealing with facial hair.

Laser hair removal is not really on my femme todo list, but I do like to read of the experiences of my sisters on this and other online forums who do more than I do now. I consider this part of growing intellectually - that's right, even us bleached blondes use our brains once in a while

If this thread starts getting too cluttered or Beauty wants to start a new LHR thread, that's fine with me.

Jadeanne

Beauty · Post by **Beauty** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 11:27 am

The Tribe has spoken.

The topic stays here.

Beauty

S. Lisa Smith · Post by **S. Lisa Smith** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 11:19 am

I have relatively thick hair and it's mostly gray, except the corners of my mouth where it's still dark brown. I use a Mach 3 and shave twice. I also use just a little bit of beard cover to hide the below skin level stubble. That's the good news, the bad news is that my skin is so tender, that a day or so later I break out with little bumps. I have been using an anti bacterial lotion my doctor gave me and it helps a little. Any ideas?

Beauty · Post by **Beauty** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 3:08 pm

Hi Christina,

You asked if hair grows back anyway
Well, sort of.

New hair grows in. Since hair grows in stages (I didn't understand how much this was the case until I started laser hair removal) it seems like hair is growing after being lasered, but it's not. So yes, more hair grows, but it's not the hair that was lasered.

You asked about the cost
I've been told that electrolysis costs thousands. LHR cost me just a little over 1 thousand. I suggest you pay upfront if you can. The amount you pay per session could end up costing you hundreds over one thousand. I've heard someone who paid at least 10 thousand for electrolysis.

You said think of it as an investment
I TOTALLY agree with you there.

If you think about the money you will spend on razors and products over your lifetime, it's worth it. Then if you add the fact that you're a CD'r then it's more than worth it.

You asked how long do the treatments last
Bring coffee and an audio book it takes a very long time for each session. Oh wait... that's electrolysis.

It only takes about 20 minutes. My first session could have been a few minutes longer, but I don't think it's been over 30 minutes.

You asked is it painful
Yes and no. The stinging after the treatment lasts for about an hour after the session. During the treatments it feels like rubber band snaps that are pin prick size. If you're wearing the topical cream you can still feel a sting, but it's not even close to feeling like it does without it.

The most sensitive areas are above and below the lip.

I said "No" about pain because it's very temporary, unlike I've read about electrolysis. The burning is similar to when you shave really close and then apply after-shave. Honestly, that's what it feels like. It feels like the aftershave takes about 45 minutes to dry.

Only once did I have some swelling and it lasted until the next morning. The area was 2/3 the size of a dime. I haven't ever gone to sleep after a treatment and still felt the tingling or burning.

You asked can it be done in other places
When I'm in the waiting room, the women coming out have usually come from having their legs done. I was told of one woman who had her legs done before she went to Africa because she knew there would be no way to shave there. She reported she hasn't shaved in over a year.

Now for stuff you didn't ask
I consistently hear that electrolysis takes years. Laser is simpler, less expensive and more convenient and takes a fraction of the time.

I would also like to tell you all I haven't shaved in over a week and it looks like I shaved this afternoon. I have had a total of five treatments. I doubt that I'll have more than 7.

Thanks for asking these questions Christina.

I beg of anyone to ask questions. It can only help those who are considering this for themselves.

Beauty

CJ · Post by CJ » Sun Dec 14, 2003 4:33 pm

Thanks muchly for your answers, Beauty.

They've helped me understand some aspects of LHR. You'd mentioned before that you don't have to shave as often. I'm still unclear as to whether or not a time will come for you when you won't shave at all. In other words, will it be as permanent as electrolysis is reputed to be?

Love,
CJ

Cyndee · Post by **Cyndee** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 7:05 pm

Beauty and others

Is there any good source of info of what laser can really accomplish in terms of longevity and in particular effectiveness for light colored hair?

I am under the impression laser is not permanent like electro.Ture or false?

Any help with these quetions would be most helpful

Cyndee

Beauty · Post by **Beauty** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 8:10 pm

Hi Christina,

Yes, I did mention that I don't have to shave as often.

:note:
When getting laser it's like running a mop over a white floor. It's hard to tell what is missed until it dries.

After the first treatment there were areas that she missed.
The second visit was kind of the same, except she got more than the first time.
The third visit was getting new growth and areas she missed.
The fourth treatment was getting areas she still hadn't gotten and getting new growth.
The last visit was pretty much all new growth.

After the first visit. You could literally see where she'd missed because of the way the hair she didn't get grew in. The hair that was lasered was no longer growing, so the hair that was missed was obvious because it grew like normal. It was kind of funny and cool because I could see the laser was working.

After the second visit, I didn't shave for about two weeks to see how many areas were missed. She'd done really well. I shaved but it wasn't like shaving before.

After the third visit, I shaved after a few days, but only because my mom visited and it didn't look right having hairs growing here and there.

She ruined my experiment!!!

The fourth visit I didn't shave for over 2 weeks. I only shaved again because there was new growth that hadn't ever felt the permanent goodbye feeling of the laser. So it looked funny since there was no other hair on my face than a sparce patch here or there. New growth appeared in the 4th week (the week that I got lasered). It was definitely not hair that had seen daylight in a while because it was super soft. The tops hadn't been clipped. When they were lasered they came right on out.

The fifth visit has been the most productive so far and that's why I think there's no way I'll go past 7 because there won't be anything to laser really.

:about permanent removal:
In my post I referenced the woman who went to Africa and hasn't shaved her legs in over a year.

I can say that no hair that was lasered has grown back since July.

I haven't had to shave either facial cheek in over 2 months. The chin is where the majority of the new growth has been. It makes sense too because there were times when I'd pluck hairs in my chin (before laser) and those take a long time to grow out.

Hope this helps. Again, please feel free to ask as many questions as you like.

Beauty

Beauty · Post by **Beauty** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 8:33 pm

Hi Cyndee,

There was a time when laser wasn't permanent, but these days the lasers are proving to be permanent. However, the powers that be haven't reviewed the newer lasers out there so for now it's still said to not be permanent.

I feel the science shows how the hair is killed at the root and prevents more hair from growing, but until the FDA says it's permanent, I guess it's not.

They will be reviewing it again in a year or two and then things will change. The lasers of the 90's were not permanent. Today's lasers have a different technology and are.

:: putting soapbox away ::

Beauty

RikkiOfLA · Post by **RikkiOfLA** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 10:58 pm

Hi Beauty,

How much is laser costing you?

Thanks in advance!

Beauty · Post by **Beauty** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 11:13 pm

Hi Rikki,

Laser cost me a fraction over 1k. I think it was was 1,250.00, but it could be 1,100.00.

Beauty