How does Laser compare to other hair removal treatments I have tried?
Electrolysis for permanent hair removal
Years ago I tried electrolysis hair removal where they poke a very fine needle up the pore of the skin and then apply an electric current. It made me cry and looking back it seems really brutal. One session only removed a few hairs and it was incredibly painful; so much so that I could not go back after the first treatment.
Waxing
I used to regularly visit a beautician for waxing and would have my bikini-line and legs done. Again this was very painful, especially when I had a Brazilian and so I would often take paracetamol before going. I would have to mentally prepare for my visits! My skin was red raw for a good 6 or more hours afterwards and I now see that I have stretch marks where the wax pulled at my sensitive bits of skin and damaged it. Cost wise, it wasn’t that cheap and my skin was only hair free for about 10 days until the hair grew again.
Epliation
I bought an Epilator about 3 years ago and it took a lot of getting used to. Usually a glass of wine and an hour or two would be needed to remove the hairs from my legs and arm pits with this little machine. It has spinning rollers that pluck the hairs out a few at a time. It is a really slow process so prolongs the pain. The area you are working on numbs from the pain after a short while until you move to the next part. The backs of the knees and armpits made me wince. The hair did not grow back as thickly but it started to grow straight away so if you have a lot of fine densely populated hair like me you only get a couple of days of hair free legs, plus I get a lot of in-growing hairs. The first few times I used it I had not appreciated how long it took for my skin to calm down and I had to go to an evening event in a short dress with legs like a plucked chicken! The plucked chicken look lasted a good 24 hours and soon after the hairs started to regrow! Not the best method for someone as hairy as me.
Thermicon No! No!
No! No! is a handheld device which I would describe as something that burns the hairs away across a wire that slides across your skin. I am not really sure what the technology is but felt like a current running throught the wires which when they hit a hair it burns it off. The Thermicon technology claims to inhibit future growth, but I’m not sure how. I borrowed it from a friend. As it is quite expensive I wanted to try if first. She thought it was great, but I did not get on well with it. When I used it, it made an awful stink of burning hair which meant there was no way I could do this without everyone in the house knowing about it. I felt scared using it and like many others found it difficult to get on so was not encouraged to buy my own. There are many review saying “Don’t waste your money” . No No Reviews on Boots website. So it got a No! No! from me and got given back.
Razor Shaving
Shaving is the quick solution for hair removal but the regrowth is much thicker and stubblier. I find ladies razors are often not fit for the job (it may be my dense hair) and I often had to steal my husbands razors. Again regrowth is immediate and my legs feels stubbly within 12 hours. I have found that my legs don’t like the razor as I have ended up with what I believe is called “Strawberry Legs“. I have read that this can happen when the razor isn’t very sharp and leaves behind some residue (possibly dead skin and the skin’s natural oils, bits of hair follicle or soap) and this blocks the pores and makes them darker so your skin looks a bit spotty. I am hoping the laser will help improve this as I have had it for many years and am hopeful as I have read that lasering can help, but the proof is in the eating of the pudding, or in my case it will be at the end of the laser treatments.
Hair Removal Creams
Creams like Veet, Nair and Nads are a good way to remove thick hair quickly but you do need to stick to the instructions and be careful that it only goes where it is supposed to! Some creams can be a bit smelly but are not too bad these days but dont leave the cream on too long , it can burn! It leaves legs instantly smooth and last a few hours longer than shaved legs as the cream gets right to the base of the hair follicle. Oh and make sure you don’t leave the tube next to the toothpaste
Hair Remover Mitts
Mitts like Alida are a like very fine sandpaper that you rub across your skin until the hair falls out, with lots of dead skin. It can take a long time to do and it not that easy as you can leave yourself with skin that you have rubbed raw. If you dont have dense hair, this may be worth a try, but the hair will grow back.