Laser or Electrolysis

[Britney Johnson]

Hi Girls...Hugzzz... Ok, here it is.... Currently, I am having laser completed on many areas. I keep hearing though, that "Laser" is only temporary. This kinda scares me thinking I am continueing with a procedure that is just going to cost me more and more. I was thinking of continueing with Electrolysis on the areas that still need to be completed. I do understand that Electrolysis is still required for the lighter hair once all the dark stuff is gone, but what is everyones thoughts on what procedure gives the biggest bang for the proverbial buck...?

[Stephenie S]

Hi Girls...Hugzzz... Ok, here it is.... Currently, I am having laser completed on many areas. I keep hearing though, that "Laser" is only temporary. This kinda scares me thinking I am continueing with a procedure that is just going to cost me more and more. I was thinking of continueing with Electrolysis on the areas that still need to be completed. I do understand that Electrolysis is still required for the lighter hair once all the dark stuff is gone, but what is everyones thoughts on what procedure gives the biggest bang for the proverbial buck...?

They say that electrolysis is the only truly permanent method for hair removal. Certainly, many seem to have good luck with a combination. Laser first to get all the easy ones, especially the dark ones, and then electrolysis for all the rest.

But it seems to me that you might as well just start and finish with electrolysis. Then you know it's gone for good.

Stephie

[LisaMallon]

Depends on your hair and skin type. Laser can be as permanent as electrolysis, but might take more sessions, but since each session can cover a larger area .....

I can only talk about my research for myself. I have light fine hair. I am (and have been told) a terrible candidate for laser, since it works far better for darker hair.
So electrolysis for me. (On the plus side I can miss shaving for a day and unless you touch my face you would not know there was any hair there.)

If you have light skin and dark hair then it is definitely an option.

You need to talk to various people about the pros and cons. Sadly there are so many idiots doing this stuff so it is hard to find someone who actually knows what they are talking about.

I have rang around quite a few places and the first thing I ask is "have you had much experience with laser/electrolysis on male facial hair" if they answer "no" then that is the end of the conversation.

Good luck.

[Vickie_CDTV]

While some folks have achieved permanent hair removal with laser (permanent being it has not come back as bad as it was over a long period of time), many have not. You might spend $1000 on laser, but if it all comes back in 2 or 3 years you have nothing to show for the $1000. If you can only afford laser, you can take the $800-1000 or so you'd spend on laser and have the worst area on your face permanently cleared with electrolysis (such as your upper lip or chin.) Find a well equipped electrologist with experience with male facial hair, who is fast and has the best hairs-per-dollar cost you can find (remember the true cost of electrolysis is not dollars per hour!) and you can at least achieve a very helpful amount of permanent reduction of your facial hair.

[Pamela Kay]

I am in Dallas, TX and have been at E3000 for the last two days and will be again for awhile today getting a full facial clearing, my first one. I asked three different techs about doing laser before electrolysis and they all said it makes it harder to do the electrolysis and ends up costing you more in the end.

I had to decide like you are now and I couldn't see spending money on laser and then having to spend more on electrolysis later if it didn't work. You know it will be gone with electrolysis and this is one of the few places that do a complete clearing at one time. I didn't get started soon enough so I'm already behind the curve. I may try laser on some body areas but for the face I would say go for the electrolysis.

Like some of the others said start hair removal as soon as possible, if not yesterday.

[whowhatwhen]

While some folks have achieved permanent hair removal with laser (permanent being it has not come back as bad as it was over a long period of time), many have not. You might spend $1000 on laser, but if it all comes back in 2 or 3 years you have nothing to show for the $1000. If you can only afford laser, you can take the $800-1000 or so you'd spend on laser and have the worst area on your face permanently cleared with electrolysis (such as your upper lip or chin.) Find a well equipped electrologist with experience with male facial hair, who is fast and has the best hairs-per-dollar cost you can find (remember the true cost of electrolysis is not dollars per hour!) and you can at least achieve a very helpful amount of permanent reduction of your facial hair.

Well, that's quite a bit disheartening.
I was hoping to somehow beg/borrow/steal the ~$1k needed for one of those 6 session deals for laser, at least so I wouldn't need a trowel and a barrel of makeup to hide my thick ass facial hair.

I do have pale skin and dark facial hair, is it still not worth it?
Laser is a long way off unfortunately, electrolysis is at least twice as far.

[Bree-asaurus]

Laser can be just as permanent. The difference between the two:

Laser is permanent hair REDUCTION
Electrolysis is permanent hair REMOVAL

Why is laser just reduction? Because it is not guaranteed to kill all the hairs treated... blond hairs, grey hairs, or even darker hairs if your skin tone is too dark. This is because laser targets the pigment in the follicle.

The best method of removal (if laser will work on your hair color and skin tone) is to do laser first to get rid of everything it can, and then follow up with electrolysis to clean up the lighter hairs that laser could not target. If you want to save time, you can do electrolysis in-between laser sessions to clear out the lighter hairs left behind.

My entire laser treatment costs me $600. That's the equivalent of 6 hours of electrolysis. I've had at least that much done on my upper lip and it's still not totally gone. It takes a LONG time. Electrolysis can run you 10-20,000 dollars. To me, taking a chance on laser for $600 is WELL worth the risk... especially because laser does work and work well for many people. There's always a few horror stories of hair growing back, but I've heard that about electrolysis too. But if I can save $10,000 and put that towards SRS, of course I'm going to try it!



I am in Dallas, TX and have been at E3000 for the last two days and will be again for awhile today getting a full facial clearing, my first one. I asked three different techs about doing laser before electrolysis and they all said it makes it harder to do the electrolysis and ends up costing you more in the end.

I had to decide like you are now and I couldn't see spending money on laser and then having to spend more on electrolysis later if it didn't work. You know it will be gone with electrolysis and this is one of the few places that do a complete clearing at one time. I didn't get started soon enough so I'm already behind the curve. I may try laser on some body areas but for the face I would say go for the electrolysis.

Like some of the others said start hair removal as soon as possible, if not yesterday.

There's a lot of conflicting information floating around, even from electrolysis and laser techs. And if you ask a tech what they think about their competitor, what do you think they are going to say? "Oh no... go get laser first, I don't want your wads of cash!" My electrolysis tech actually recommended a laser tech to go to because the two companies work together, sending each other business so each client can get what they need. I get both done and I've had no issues with electrolysis being harder because of laser.

---

We should really have a sticky thread about laser and electrolysis because the same threads come up all the time and the same answers are always posted.

[Traci Elizabeth]

My vote is for Electrolysis from day one.

[TxKimberly]

I had laser treatments even month for over a year. About two years later I have dark facial hair growing again and am pretty unhappy about it. It is no where near as heavy as it had been, but it is bad enough.
My suggestion is that if you have the money, do laser first to knock out the bulk, then follow up with elect. If you only have the money for one or the other and must choose, I'd go with elect if I were you.

[Bree-asaurus]

I had laser treatments even month for over a year. About two years later I have dark facial hair growing again and am pretty unhappy about it. It is no where near as heavy as it had been, but it is bad enough.
My suggestion is that if you have the money, do laser first to knock out the bulk, then follow up with elect. If you only have the money for one or the other and must choose, I'd go with elect if I were you.

That's weird. A lot of people say that it only took them a year to do laser, but my eight sessions are lasting way more than a year. Every time I have a session, I have to wait a couple weeks longer than the last time. And when they tell me I need to come back is coincidentally (or not?) right after I start getting some regrowth. I'm thinking a lot of people are getting laser done too quickly and not actually matching it with the growth cycle, but that should be your tech's job to tell you when you need to come back. I just had laser done a couple weeks ago, and my next session isn't until October... and the way things are going, I won't see any regrowth until September. I guess only time will tell though...

[Cindy M]

My laser appointments are every 2 months. I was told that spacing was to catch the growth cycles. The first 5 sessions are at 8 weeks apart, and the last 4 sessions will be 10 weeks apart to clean up what's left. I'll be doing electrolysis on the grays in between sessions. Workin so far...

[celeste26]

So much of the cost is reflected in the area you live in. I live in a mainly rural area and there just are not many electrologists to choose from, whereas there are many laser people, I really dont want to travel 50+ miles for my sessions which restricted my choice even more. But I am about 1/2way through and slowing the process down due to budget contraints

[Nicole Brown]

I am one of the girls that laser has worked well for. I have my 8th, and hopefully final, treatment in about 6 weeks. My 7th treatment was performed about 4 weeks ago and I have absolutely no dark hairs visible anywhere on my face or neck right now. Here in New Jersey, laser treatments must be performed by a licensed doctor, not just a technician. From the very start of my treatments, I had been instructed to use a combination of laser and electrolysis for the fastest and most cost effective method of hair removal.
Laser was only able to handle about 30% of my facial hair as the remainder is a combination of blonde and gray hair which laser cannot handle. I am currently interviewing to identify the proper person to perform electrolysis for me. I realize that this will be a costly endever, but a totally smooth hairless face is worth it to me.

[Vickie_CDTV]

I do have pale skin and dark facial hair, is it still not worth it?
Laser is a long way off unfortunately, electrolysis is at least twice as far.

It increases your odds laser might be truly permanent, but it is far from a guarantee. I had light skin and dark hair, and my laser treatments were very painful (with a thick layer of specially compounded topical anesthetic left on for 40 min) and it still came back after 2 1/2 years. I am not the only one, in fact I had someone on my table over the weekend who had laser 3 years ago, and a few months ago had no dark hair outside of her muzzle area. A few months later, black hairs are growing where there were none a few months ago and now she is frustrated; time to a full facial clearance per treatment is now actually increasing because the hair treated by laser are now growing back. :(

[Stephanie-L]

I had a series of laser sessions on my face, about 8 in all, which cost me about $600. The laser reduced the growth by about half, but what's left is grey or white. So, I have started electrolysis. One of the first questions my electrologist asked was if I had done laser, because she recommends it first when working on large areas, with electrolysis to get what is left. I have had two 30 minute sessions and she has cleared an area about 3-4 square inches, costing $100 total. After a week I have had no regrowth, and I am hoping it is minimal. I am going to up my sessions to 60 minutes twice a week and hope to be done with my face in six months. As for pain, neither is very painful, except the upper lip area, but laser definately hurt more.......Stephanie

[Eryn]

I've completed seven rounds of facial laser and have now started electrolysis.

One thing that I have found is that most laser people don't know diddly about electrolysis. When I was doing laser the techs and front office people acted as if electrolysis didn't exist! They had the product they were selling and that was it!

I finished with the laser and I liked the results. It markedly reduced the number of dark hairs on my face and I went from having to use lots of beard color correction and shave twice a day while dressed to using no color correction and having makeup last a full day and still look good at the end. That in itself made the laser treatments worth it. The level of discomfort for laser is unfortunately proportional to its effectiveness. What you are feeling is the follicles heating up to boiling temperature and that is what kills them. I used numbing gel for laser and the tech explained that the gel doesn't so much reduce pain as allow the use of higher power settings with the same level of discomfort. Laser treatments are quicker so you'll have to put up with the pain for a shorter time.

Of course, the limitation of laser is that it only gets dark hairs on a pale face. The other limitation is that it is a "shotgun approach." It attacks the hairs that happen to be dark, actively growing, and which are hit correctly by the laser pulse. Other hairs get missed and you have to wait a month between treatments to allow another whole set of hairs to enter their growth phase. As you kill more and more of the hairs the number of hairs available to kill goes down and you get diminishing returns. The tech still has to zap your whole face, but they might only be getting a few dozen actively growing hairs and they will likely never get them all.

So, having killed as many hairs as I could with the shotgun approach, I switched to electrolysis. It attacks specific hairs, and since I don't shave for a couple of days before I see the electrologist she can focus only on actively growing hairs so they are more likely to be permanently killed. As hairs come into their growth cycle they are targeted in turn, but eventually they'll all be taken care of. You are also able to see the electrologist much more often as hair is always coming into its growth cycle so there will be plenty for her to do, even if the visits are weekly. Electrolysis is also a bit painful, but my experience is that it is a low-level series of stings that pretty soon recede into the background as the electrologist continues to work. They aren't nearly as intense as laser zaps, but of course they last quite a lot longer.

My electrologist said that laser is a good prelude to electrolysis. She said that the combination of around six laser treatments and subsequent electrolysis seems to yield the best "bang for the buck" if you are well-suited for laser. Of course the down side of this that you will spend six months doing the laser before you ever get to electrolysis, so the overall time will be longer. For someone in transition this might not be acceptable so they would be better served with the "zap-a-thon" approach without preliminary laser.

When I approached my electrologist she was very forthright about the time needed to do a good clearing job. She volunteered that she had TS clients (no names of course!) and described the time and progression of beard removal. She also mentioned that the measure of quality in electrolysis is hairs per dollar, not dollars per hour and she does work along at a pretty good clip, one hair every second or two.

Another point she made was that some beards are easier to work on than others. She said that I was lucky that my hairs grew straight out because she could work much faster than she could with curly hairs or hairs that come out flatter to the skin.

[AudreyTN]

i just had my first treatment done on the 18th. my next treatment isn't until the 14th of July. That said, 2 weeks after my first treatment, I can't believe what a significant difference just one treatment made. I just had the sideburns, cheeks and jawline done but wow. it doesn't grow back nearly as dense, or as fast. It hurt like hell, but the results were worth it, and now that I have some extra money, I can throw in $135 cash on top of my coupon deal I used, and they do the chin, upper lip and neck and start on the rest of the face too, so I'm gonna suck it up and get that started when I go in on the 14th, plus I have a $100 off coupon as well, so in 2 weeks, it'll only cost me $35. then in august it'll be $135 again, and again in september.


the trick on keeping regrowth is to not use the IPL LASERS. they are a sham laser pretty much, they stop things for a while, but it all comes back. I will find out the name of the laser they are using at the Nashville Laser Spa, and several people who went years ago said they haven't had to shave since, and only occassionally go in for a very very minor touch up here or there in select spots which only takes one appointment.

[Vickie_CDTV]

One thing that I have found is that most laser people don't know diddly about electrolysis. When I was doing laser the techs and front office people acted as if electrolysis didn't exist! They had the product they were selling and that was it!


The really appalling thing is that so many doctors don't know about electrolysis, even some dermatologists! So many folks with hair issues could be helped if only their doctor knew about electrolysis and could point them in their right direction, especially those folks with hair problems in areas where laser is not suitable (such as GG lips, male shoulders and near the eyes); this is especially true of women with PCOS who suffer from unwanted facial hair that laser is not appropriate for.

[Pamela Kay]

There's a lot of conflicting information floating around, even from electrolysis and laser techs. And if you ask a tech what they think about their competitor, what do you think they are going to say? "Oh no... go get laser first, I don't want your wads of cash!" My electrolysis tech actually recommended a laser tech to go to because the two companies work together, sending each other business so each client can get what they need. I get both done and I've had no issues with electrolysis being harder because of laser.

Bree, I didn't say electrolysis couldn't be done after laser, I just said the techs said it makes it harder for them. When I'm at a business that specializes in a task and you ask different techs, in different rooms, on different days, the same question and you get the same answer then it's probably a decent bet that it's true. I wasn't interested in getting in a "what's best" or "who's tech is best" argument, I just put information out for a question asked.

I chose electrolysis because laser isn't always permanent and electrolysis is. I'm going to try laser on some other areas but on my face I want it gone and with my luck I figured I would be the one that laser wasn't permanent on and I would have to get electrolysis anyway. Since this would end up being more expensive in the long run I decided to go with electrolysis first and since I'm within driving distance, chose a business that specializes in transwomen like me.

Like so many things we deal with in transition, everyone's body is different and what works for one may not work the same for someone else. All I can do is share my thoughts and everyone can chose to take it or leave it.

[jennifer24]

I have had 4 sessions of Lazer and I have noticed a big differance, my dark hair is only coming back in patches so I know its doing the job, maybe It will come back in a couple years, dont know, like Pamela said, everybodys face-body is differant, what works for one might not work for others, you just have to find what works for you. 4 more sessions of Lazer and I am ready to start Electro to get rid if all these gray hairs.

[Britney Johnson]

Ladies...Thank you so much for your input. I should have added what I am currently, for the past year, having these areas completed; face and neck, arms, under arms, hands, legs and feet. Currently, I go every 10-12 weeks for treatments and it all seems to be working well. My hair is dark, so that is a plus. Luckily there is not much grey... Before I started, I had completed a large amount of research to try and make an educated decision on what was best for me, but then in a spree of the moment I thru down the gauntlet and ran into a well known establishment, originally just for a consult, and ended up walking out with my treatment plan. Good SA...LOL. My question for the forum was due to what seems to repeatedly said to me, that laser will come back after a few years. That kinda scared me due to the cost of this procedure. I had never before asked any experienced girls how their results have been. It is so important for me to decide after I am completed with these treatments to decide on how I will proceed in the future. Your comments have been so appreciated and thru your comments, think that I can finally be comfortable with whatever decision I may make. Laser is quick, and it totally hurts like hell. They turn it up a little each time to ensure that they get all the stubborn hair. I just want it gone. I was also told that I should get off HRT while completing treatments, since it minimizes hair growth as well. That is probably a decision that I can not make logically, especially since I have wanted to make this change for SOOO long. It would literally leave an empty space inside of me. Before I begin to get emotional and all, I just wanted to say again, Thank You for all the comments. Keep them coming. You are all such wonderful people. Hugz n Love to each...

[TxKimberly]

I agree - there is a huge amount conflicting opinions out there, and that is why I posted a thread about my laser experience detailing the results of each treatment. There is no question that the laser process helped clear my face for quit some time, but there is also no question that even as I type this I am sporting a beard shadow, so it is not permanent.
I am not going to offer an opinion, I am offering you the unambiguous and unbiased results of my experience and you may draw your own conclusion.

[whowhatwhen]

I was also told that I should get off HRT while completing treatments, since it minimizes hair growth as well.

Does off actually == on here or do you really need to stop HRT to get hair removal?
O_o

[morgan51]

All good questions. I feel each person reacts differently as each has different hair. texture color etc. I tried laser for 4 sessions or so mabey 6 I really can't remember they were 200 per session or a package for 600 I chose the 200 per.session. Then I met my electrologist and have stayed with that since. She feels laser makes her job more difficult but who knows. Its a conflict of interest so I can't say for sure I do feel she is being honest with me but have no proof. I have had my moustache cleared completly now 5 times and will see how much comes back this time it slow and uncomfortable but not unbearable. I can go 2 days between shaving with little showing at thast time. I do know growth cycles vary for most. Mine seem to be about 6 to 8 weeks.

[Vickie_CDTV]

Does off actually == on here or do you really need to stop HRT to get hair removal?
O_o

It doesn't matter, HRT or not anyone can have hair removal. Some claim it makes the hair a bit less robust and easier to treat and it was better to start after HRT, and some say after HRT it makes them more sensitive to pain and they wish they had done their electro before HRT. From my experience, a majority of folks say it didn't matter, or claim it made the process a bit more painful.

[Eryn]

The really appalling thing is that so many doctors don't know about electrolysis, even some dermatologists!

Vickie, I'm not sure how it is where you live, but here in California laser has to be done in a "under medical supervision" and the laser operator has to be a RN or MD. Therefore, the dermatologists have the business pretty much sewn up even though I didn't see any MDs at all during my treatment and the "Med-Spa" doesn't resemble a medical office at all. The consultant and operators were all RNs in the employ of the "umbrella" med-spa group who pretty much did nothing other than laser treatments.

OTOH, electrology is an older field, and in California is covered by a separate regulatory structure. A person can get certified as an electrologist and hang out their own shingle without being associated with an MD. The irony is that electrolysis is a much higher-skilled field with a longer and more specialized training regimen.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see why the laser clinics here don't even have the word "electrolysis" in their vocabulary. They don't want to admit that laser can't really get rid of *all* the hair and they don't want to acknowledge that there is an alternative method of hair removal. Since most of their market is GGs who only might only want a few dozen or hundred hairs removed, electrolysis becomes viable competition. If the laser clinic were to refer a client to an electrologist that client might well find out that electrolysis was more suited to what she needed to have done and might (gad!) recommend a friend skip laser and go directly to electrolysis.


Bree, I didn't say electrolysis couldn't be done after laser, I just said the techs said it makes it harder for them. When I'm at a business that specializes in a task and you ask different techs, in different rooms, on different days, the same question and you get the same answer then it's probably a decent bet that it's true. I wasn't interested in getting in a "what's best" or "who's tech is best" argument, I just put information out for a question asked.

I think that opinions vary both with the electrologist and how well the electrologist's business is going. My electrologist said that a few rounds of laser is a good way to get started, to get rid of the "low hanging fruit" so to speak. Her appointment book is pretty full so I don't think that she has any economic reason to push one method over the other. She can afford the luxury of being objective. :)

[Princess Jen]

I had about 3 years or about 24 laser treatments for my face and 2 years or about 18 treatments for my legs. This was pre HRT by the way, and I wonder how much of an effect that could have had on it.

The treatments were done by a specialty laser hair removal clinic with a Candela GentleLase laser. The results after the treatment were fantastic, I like to think of it as being a preview of what it would be like with zero facial hair. However, the hairs on my face always came back between visits. And if I had a before and after picture set, I doubt anyone would be able to see a difference. It did do a pretty decent job on my legs though, I was pretty happy with how they turned out.

I wish I would have started with electrolysis, It will likely cost more but it is more effective. However, even with electrolysis, I wasn't seeing much progress pre HRT. And my electrologist said that if a patient had just finished with laser hair removal sessions, she would not preform electrolysis on them for at least 6 months, to prevent damaging the skin. Now I don't know if that is absolutely necessary or not but I just thought I'd throw that out there for anyone who's in a rush to deal their hair problems.

Now that I'm getting close to 2 years on HRT and 2 years of electrolysis, the end is finally in sight. I have had about 120 hours worth of electrolysis on my face at a current cost of about $7k. I would estimate that I have about 30 hours more to go before I'm finished.

Now in my case, I've had it in my mind that I have to finish this before I go full-time. So I wish I would have started electrolysis instead of laser. But since that was about 3 years before starting HRT, and was sort of a concession to keep me away from HRT and an actual transition in the first place, I doubt things would have gone much better, all things considered. :doh:

[Vickie_CDTV]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see why the laser clinics here don't even have the word "electrolysis" in their vocabulary. They don't want to admit that laser can't really get rid of *all* the hair and they don't want to acknowledge that there is an alternative method of hair removal. Since most of their market is GGs who only might only want a few dozen or hundred hairs removed, electrolysis becomes viable competition. If the laser clinic were to refer a client to an electrologist that client might well find out that electrolysis was more suited to what she needed to have done and might (gad!) recommend a friend skip laser and go directly to electrolysis.

I wasn't thinking of doctors that offer laser, but other doctors in general (especially primary care doctors, who are often the first ones patients talk to about unwanted hair.) To give an example, my primary care doctor has a trans patient who discussed her transition with him and when she asked him about electrolysis he didn't even know what electrolysis was; I know this because that person is a client of mine and told me about it.

[AudreyTN]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see why the laser clinics here don't even have the word "electrolysis" in their vocabulary. They don't want to admit that laser can't really get rid of *all* the hair and they don't want to acknowledge that there is an alternative method of hair removal.

this statement is just rubbish. The doctor at Nashville Laser Spa told me right up front during my consultation that laser would not get ALL of the hairs and recommended I get electrolysis on the lighter, finer hairs after my final treatment on my face, to be totally and permanently hair free. They know their lasers don't get it all, it doesn't benefit them to lie about it or not tell anyone that. If that is happening, then those places are operating unethically and improperly.

[Gina Rose]

I have heard similar thing about laser vs electro. Im planning to start my transition next year and i want to start hair removal before doing so. I was going to start with electro. since i have full facial hair and want it gone. Would this be ok?

[Badtranny]

They know their lasers don't get it all, it doesn't benefit them to lie about it or not tell anyone that.

The girl who did my laser actually told me I was going to need electrolysis to finish but the laser should get all the darker hairs which would be a good start. I asked her if Laser was permanent and she said for people "my age" it can usually be considered permanent. Thanks Sandy (you may have seen her on last season's Amazing Race)

I'm just about 2 years into electrolysis and I probably have a good six months left of weekly 2 hour sessions. It kinda sucks because I'm already full time and I have to let it grow out for the sessions. On the plus side, you can't actually see the hairs anymore (spacing is too far) but you can definitely feel it. So nobody touches my face on Wednesdays, got it! ;-)

[ReineD]

How many hours for you in total do you think, Melissa? And once the hair is zapped through electrolysis, is there any way it can come back?

[Badtranny]

How many hours for you in total do you think, Melissa? And once the hair is zapped through electrolysis, is there any way it can come back?

oh gosh, I think I listed when I started on my blog but I'm pretty sure I'm coming up on two years. The first few months were only one hour sessions, but it's been 2 hours a week since then. I would say at least 150 hours though.

The rule of thumb is 200 hours or so, and I think that's probably about right. I'm told that once the follicle is killed (electrocuted to death) then it will never be resurrected. Except for the odd Higgs Hair, which is also known as the God Follicle.

[Tammy V]

I tried one laser treatment and it just did not work for me, my skin had a very bad reaction after the procedure. I am only 10 hours into electrolysis and trying to do an hour a week. I think my hair is sparce enough that 100 hours will finish it but it could end up being closer to 200 hours but I do see quite a difference so far and that is encouraging. As its been said here electrolysis is the only proven method of permanent hair removal but it might take several zaps per hair follicle to kill it for good.

[whowhatwhen]

The girl who did my laser actually told me I was going to need electrolysis to finish but the laser should get all the darker hairs which would be a good start. I asked her if Laser was permanent and she said for people "my age" it can usually be considered permanent. Thanks Sandy (you may have seen her on last season's Amazing Race)

I'm just about 2 years into electrolysis and I probably have a good six months left of weekly 2 hour sessions. It kinda sucks because I'm already full time and I have to let it grow out for the sessions. On the plus side, you can't actually see the hairs anymore (spacing is too far) but you can definitely feel it. So nobody touches my face on Wednesdays, got it! ;-)

So you switched from laser to electrolysis?
Was the laser enough to make a noticeable difference?

I'm curious since I've identified that permanent facial hair removal is something that I 100% have to do, but I'm conflicted between cost vs speed vs results.

[Badtranny]

So you switched from laser to electrolysis?
Was the laser enough to make a noticeable difference?

I'm curious since I've identified that permanent facial hair removal is something that I 100% have to do, but I'm conflicted between cost vs speed vs results.


After about 8 sessions of Laser my beard shadow was gone, but I could still grow a beard. Laser works great on the darker hairs but the white, err blonde ones needed a bit more convincing.

Cost? Speed? Results? Well, get the speed out of your head because 8 laser sessions took about a year to complete. Then I started electrolysis and that's been about 2 years so far so I got roughly 3 years of regular hair removal and I still have to shave at least every other day. Keep in mind that my hair is practically invisible now, but putting on makeup after 3 days of not shaving would be rough.

There's a reason they call facial hair removal a Right of Passage. There is no shortcut and it takes freakin' forever plus one week.

[ReineD]

except for the odd higgs hair, which is also known as the god follicle.

lol :)
................

[whowhatwhen]

There's a reason they call facial hair removal a Right of Passage. There is no shortcut and it takes freakin' forever plus one week.

Ah, so it's definitely one of those things to be done in parallel with other things.
How long was it before dealing with facial hair was less horrible?

The shadow is the most important thing, in all honesty I'd rather try to get away with using as little makeup as possible.

[Eryn]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see why the laser clinics here don't even have the word "electrolysis" in their vocabulary. They don't want to admit that laser can't really get rid of *all* the hair and they don't want to acknowledge that there is an alternative method of hair removal.

this statement is just rubbish. The doctor at Nashville Laser Spa told me right up front during my consultation that laser would not get ALL of the hairs and recommended I get electrolysis on the lighter, finer hairs after my final treatment on my face, to be totally and permanently hair free. They know their lasers don't get it all, it doesn't benefit them to lie about it or not tell anyone that. If that is happening, then those places are operating unethically and improperly.

One exception does not render my statement "rubbish," Audrey. You were lucky enough to have a consultant who was willing to give you some honest information up front. In my case they didn't volunteer the bad news, but I already knew better so I didn't worry about it.

I do disagree with your statement that "...it doesn't benefit them to lie about it or not tell anyone that...." These businesses want to get customers in the chair and they aren't going to do that by being brutally frank about their own work. They're unlikely to lie, but they're also unlikely to say anything negative unless asked directly. They let the fine-print cover that disclosure.

Now, if their schedule is full, like that of my electrologist, they can afford more candor. In that case they don't want to deal with dilettantes.

In any case, a smart customer informs themselves from sources outside the business itself, which of course is the purpose of threads like this.

[StephanieC]

Except for the odd Higgs Hair, which is also known as the God Follicle.

Very cute...made me laugh
-stephani

[Vickie_CDTV]

How many hours for you in total do you think, Melissa? And once the hair is zapped through electrolysis, is there any way it can come back?

If the structures required to grow a hair inside the follicle are completely destroyed, no. It is like cutting off a finger, it cannot grow back. However, some new hair might grow in the future. Since only a small percentage of follicles someone has are actually growing hair, it is possible some of those dormant follicles can be stimulated and start growing new hair (many reasons including certain medications, stress, weight, age, hormonal changes and other factors.)

On a mild to moderate beard, electrolysis can be finished in well less than 200 hours, if one has the time and can afford to do full clearances each time 3-4 weeks apart. Unfortunately, due to the time and very high upfront cost it usually takes about 200+ (and I know this from personal experience.) This won't help everyone, but if one does have time resources to do it, it can be completed in under 200 hours and within 18 months.

[CharleneT]

There's a reason they call facial hair removal a Right of Passage. There is no shortcut and it takes freakin' forever plus one week.

Yuppers, that is a very good way to put it !



... also love your God follicle, :lol:


Folks, you should all be listening to Vicki here, trust me, she knows what she is talking about !!

[Stephanie-L]

I guess I have been lucky in my hair removal process, at least somewhat. My laser tech was honest with me and said I would eventually need electrolysis, which I do. I think laser got rid of about half of my beard, mostly the dark ones, but of course left the light ones. Now I am doing electro and she is working starting from a patch on my chin outward, I do between one and two hours a week, more what she can fit to her schedule than anything, she is very busy. So far, after about 5 hours, I have a patch about 4 square inches that is clear, and no regrowth at 3 1/2 weeks. I am hopeful she can at least clear my face in the next year......Stephanie

[Jorja]

Now couldn't you see yourself doing laser and electrolysis 25-30 years ago? Back then there was no laser. It hadn't been invented as yet. Electrolysis Was done by going outside and taking the live 220v wires from the pole and touching the area you wanted burnt, I mean hair removed. You all have it made today!

[CharleneT]

I guess I have been lucky in my hair removal process, at least somewhat. My laser tech was honest with me and said I would eventually need electrolysis, which I do. I think laser got rid of about half of my beard, mostly the dark ones, but of course left the light ones. Now I am doing electro and she is working starting from a patch on my chin outward, I do between one and two hours a week, more what she can fit to her schedule than anything, she is very busy. So far, after about 5 hours, I have a patch about 4 square inches that is clear, and no regrowth at 3 1/2 weeks. I am hopeful she can at least clear my face in the next year......Stephanie

Not to throw cold water or anything like that ... but the re-growth is likely to take longer than 3.5 weeks to show up. As well, there is often some re-growth from laser treatments. I had 5 sessions of laser and about 40% of it came back over the next two years**.

The big prob with all the facial hair removal methods is time and money ... too much of BOTH :doh:



** after the laser it appeared I had no dark hairs left at all.

[MarieTS]

I had legs and arms lasered 23 months ago. The lower legs and feet, and the entire arms remain hair-free. There is some noticeable but moderate regrowth on the thighs. This just means I get to occassionaly enjoy a bath with my Venus razor, just as every gal is entitled to! :-)