I've wanted laser hair removal for a really long time. I hate shaving. I have sensitive skin and fast growing hair. By the time my razor bumps go away, I have stubble. My legs are always uncomfortable after shaving with a razor. I got a nice wet/dry electric shaver for about $70 that worked well without irritating my legs, but broke within a month of purchase.
I've tried waxing and epilating (ouch!) and both gave me horrible ingrown hair. I get ingrown hairs from shaving too.
I've tried the lotions, which will remove hair in patches and are messy. The best lotion I've found is a thick cream from Sally Beauty Supply, but I rarely find I have enough time to committ to using lotion for hair removal. I'm a busy lady.
I've tried "Hair Off Mittens" which are like very fine sandpaper mitts you use to rub the hair off. I actually really like the way these make my legs feel, but it takes a really loooooong time and a ton of mitts to actually get anything accomplished. I tried this hair remover appliance from Conair which works on the same principle as the "Hair Off Mittens" but has rotating fine sandpaper-like discs that you replace on it. Again, I liked the way my skin felt, and it did remove the hair a lot faster than the "Hair Off Mittens" but the discs are only really effective when they are brand new. I felt that the discs didn't even last adequately for one time removal of leg hair from both legs. The only place I could find replacement discs was drugstore.com and the discs are way too expensive for how fast they wear out.
Under my navel, I've tried shaving (razor & personal groomer), lotions, epilating, tweezing, and "Hair Off Mittens". The mitts don't work well here. Shaving with a razor, epilating, and tweezing results in ingrown hair. Lotions are time consuming and unreliable. I'm using a personal groomer currently, but even after, I can see my dark hair just underneath my light skin.
I've used all that stuff on my bikini line too. My bikini line is even more sensitive than my legs. Right now I use razors, get razor bumps, and I can see dark hair just under the surface of my skin. Bikini Zone cream helps with the bumps, but I still get irritated skin.
I've done a bit of research on the internet on laser hair removal. I'm not going to go into what I've found, because you can do your own internet research on laser hair removal. Info is really easy to find. I've been an almost perfect candidate for laser hair removal throughout the many years that I've wanted it. Even when it was a newer technology that only really worked for pale people with dark hair. I'm a pale person with dark hair! I say "almost" perfect candidate because I was a pale person with dark hair and with no money. Now I have a good job. Yay! I asked my dermatologist (who I've been seeing for many years about my acne) and she gave me the name of another local dermatologist who does laser hair removal. I also talked to a friend who recently had her first few treatments on her upper lip at Hair Today Gone Tomorrow. I compared the websites of Hair Today Gone Tomorrow and the local dermatologist. HTGT's website had a lot more information about the technology (IPL - Intense Pulsed Light) and the prices were way cheaper. My friend also told me that HTGT's prices go down when you buy multiple treatments. I decided to go with HTGT.
I filled out the form on their website and they called me to schedule an appointment for a consultation. My friend told me that at her first consultation, they did a test spot about the size of a quarter. I had my consultation on June 9th.
I drove across town for the consultation and filled out the forms with medical questions. Then I sat on the treatment table in the treatment room while the technician explained the process to me, discussed costs (multi treatment discounts & summer specials) and scheduled my first treatment. I also discussed with her exactly what area "bikini line" covered. Basically, they'll remove bikini hair, but they stop short of the inner thigh, as that is a separate treatment area. She told me she didn't need to do a test area because my skin is so light that they will be able to test in the first few moments of the first treatment. Only darker skin needs more time to look at after the test area. My friend who had a few treatments is Hispanic, so she needed to get a test area. The consultation appointment was really short.
My first treatment will be July 14th. The first treatment must be done with the doctor in the office and the doctor's vacation dates and my schedule forced my appointment to wait for over a month. I bought six treatments each for my navel and bikini line. Legs were a bit pricey, but I'll probably end up getting the legs done eventually. Total costs was a bit over $800 and I had to pay the entire costs at my consultation appointment. I was instructed to shave my bikini line in the shape I would like it four days before my treatment and not shave after that, the technician who performs the treatment will use that as a guideline for the removal. I'm also supposed to not take my antibiotics (perscribed for my acne) a couple days before the treatment because antibiotics make your skin photosensitive.
They told me that the hair will slowly fall out after that, but in the meantime after the treatments, I will be able to shave.
I got a follow up call from HTGT a few days after the consultation asking me how it went. They also offered an earlier first treatment appointment (June 28th) which I was unable to take due to my own schedule.
So, I'm really excited about not having to shave my bikini line anymore. I decided to start this blog because I didn't see a lot of detailed user testimonials online. I'll try to remember to update this blog, like I've said, I'm a busy lady. Hopefully, I'll take some of the time I'm not spending shaving and use it to update this blog.
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