Biting the Bullet on Hair Removal [*updated!]

I have plunked down $660 for six sessions of laser hair removal, for full legs. I did an enormous amount of research as to type of laser, and where I wanted to have it done, eventually picking Emerge Medical Spas, because they were professional and responsive and competitively priced. They use a LightSheer laser, which is pretty much state-of-the-art, so far as I am able to sleuth. I know it's generations ahead of the laser treatment I was given, gratis, thirteen years ago, when writing about hair removal for the LA Times Magazine, two three-hour treatments that, so far as I and my waxer could tell, did nothing to reduce hair. I am hopeful this time, and am doing it not so much because the monthly constitutional of getting waxed is getting boring and expensive (though that, too), but because after 20-plus years of waxing, the hairs are getting weak and having a hard time finding their way to the surface, resulting in so many ingrowns I look as though I've been attacked by a pack of bees.

I'll start the treatments as soon as I quit tanning (the laser working best with contrast, i.e., light skin and dark hair). I'll report back as to the process and its efficacy. Here's hoping!

So, have readers tried laser hair removal? What are your experiences?

Update: So I had my first laser hair removal treatment this week at Emerge (which, if you wind up going there, please tell them I recommended you as I believe I then qualify for a discount, should I have any future treatments). I like the place a lot; it's clean and low-key and none of the employees are walking around with platypus lips and/or humongous boobs. There's also no hard-sell for any other products, though they seem to offer a buffet of skin care options. Anyway, Jennifer took me to a comfy room, and told me how it was going to work: a gel (of the sort you use with a sonogram) would be spread on the area, after which she would move the laser, which does about an inch at a time, but quickly; it's very efficient. I told her, I would probably read during the treatment; she said, I probably wouldn't; that there would be a little more pain than that. And there was, but not bad; I'd put it at about a 4 or 5 on a scale of 1 - 10. It feels like a little pin jab each time the laser hits the hair. An area with little hair, no jabs and no beeps from the laser; area with lots of hair (hello, knees!), lots of jabs and lots of beeps. She said, with dark hair and fair/olive skin, I am a perfect candidate and should, after the 6 treatments, see more than a 90% reduction; that sometimes, you can even see the hairs jump out -- I did!

I was done in 90 minutes, with very little redness or swelling. I liked it so much, I am going to get my bikini line done, as well as a few other areas. For less than $1500 total, I can get every unwanted hair on my body pretty much removed forever, or about what I'd spend in 15 months on waxing. Four days later, I can already tell some of the hair is gone, as the regrowth (you need to shave before treatment) is for sure less stubbly.

I will report back after next treatment, in mid-September.

Comments

[Jackie]

Tried it and loved it. It's permanent reduction, not permanent removal, but the difference makes life a lot easier. I'd love to have my full legs done, and the variety of bikini removal that I prefer (which offends some people, so I won't even go into it).

BTW, I was talking to my doctor recently about hirsutism, the causes, and how it can be treated. He said it's basically a genetic thing (if you're ovulating and don't have some weird hormonal crap going on), often tied to ethnicity. Even if your hair follicle is more sensitive and thus produces more, according to him there's not much that can be done to treat it apart from cosmetic solutions such as laser removal.

[Christina]

All the best Jackie, I know laser treatment is effective. I am sure you will get good results. Would love to read about your opinion after the treatment. Keep posting please.

[kate]

it is worth every cent

[cross woodfield]

all good things to say...
expensive though! worth it? i kind of like shaving my legs--makes me feel fresh and girly!

has anyone ever tried laser hair removal "down there," on her "sweetest spot?"

[Paula]

I had my underarms done about four years ago. Jackie is right- it's reduction, not removal. It's great for underarms because the hair is so fine I don't feel prickly stubble, and I go days in summer and months in winter without shaving. I wouldn't bother with legs, though, as I like a smooth leg and I'd shave anyway. Although, shaving finer hair would be easier.

[Robin]

I've done laser hair removal, and though it does not remove the hair permanently, like Jackie said, it does great reduce it. I would totally do it for my legs. Shaving can be such a pain!

[landwhale]

oooooh I've always wondered about this. I've always had a problem wiht ingrowns. Even the J sister's skilled hands always produce a couple. I am fair wiht dark dark hair so I'll be following your progress!

[Jami]

I had it done on my chin, upper lip, and the tops of my feet and out of all that - only my feet came out nearly hairless. There's still a few here and there on my right foot. But I still have to daily tweeze dark, wire-like hairs out of my chin and upper lip and wax those areas at least once a week as well. Thank God for No Tweeze and at-home waxing.

I did it through my dermatologist and maybe it just wasn't the right laser for facial hair. Or maybe it wasn't set right. All I know is it wasn't worth the $1,000 total spent. I'd only do it again if I got it for free.

[Elizabeth Dehn]

Hi Jackie! Love the blog and so jealous that you're doing your legs! To everyone else: I have had two rounds of laser hair removal on my underarms and am floored by the results. I'm fair with dark brown hair and apparently this is the ideal combination for the laser to detect hairs. It's pricey but considering the cost of waxing, laser will have paid for itself in a few years.

cheers, Bets
www.beautybets.com

[Cynthia Buck]

I am still on the fence about laser hair removal. Its not the price as much as I;m afraid to go to the office and actually go through with it!

[Nancy Rommelmann]

I didn't find the actual office experience scary at all. It's a matter of lying there and letting the gal run the zapper over you.

[Franziska]

Wow, I must be living in a totally different world but no way would I spend $1,500 to get some hairs from my legs removed. This is more than I pay rent for my flat! Maybe I need a better paid job.

[Nancy Rommelmann]

Franziska - The full-leg hair removal was $690, total. The rest is when I added on bikini, lower arms, and a little face stuff here and there. The total for it all is around $1500. For me, the price works, seeing as I have been paying between $45 and $90 a month for 25 years to have my legs and bikini waxed. Or, what I am paying to remove those two permanently (about $1000), is what I'd spend in less than a year getting waxed. Certainly I could not afford it earlier in my life. Now, I will pay for it (there's a GE Credit Care card that lets you pay monthly, no interest) and be done - Nancy

[Marissa]

I would be curious about laser hair removal for my upper lip and chin. I only started waxing my chin a year ago and now...well you know, once you start, you can't just stop. Now I get wire hairs popping out so I have to tweeze the wire hairs every few days and I have to wax weekly. I use an at home wax kit whihc has saved me quit a bit of cash but I would love to try out laser hair removal as a better alternative. Just curious as to how your sessions have been going. See a huge difference?

[Joyce - Hair Removal Specialist Chicago]

You won't regret it.