HairFire: Electrolysis At It’s Hottest

Q: Is there an age restriction with laser hair removal?

A: Don’t treat girls until 2 years after period has begun. Laser hair removal is more sensitive when on period. Don’t treat pregnant women.

Q: Are there areas that can’t be worked on using laser hair removal?

A: Tan areas, active infections, herpes/cold sores, tattoos, and areas that have used photo-sensitizing medication (Accutane, etc).

Q: Does laser hair removal hurt?

A: It can hurt if hair isn’t shaved well enough. It can burst, burn, or singe hair, but it doesn’t really hurt. It can feel like a sunburn afterward.

Q: Why does a physician need to be responsible for the laser hair removal procedure?

A: Insurance purposes. Also, if any complications occur, the physician is the first contact.

Q: Is laser hair removal safe?

A: It is very safe on light skin. You must wear eye protection because it can cause damage to the eyes.

Tonight I had my first laser hair consultation.

This is what I learned:

1. The underarms are the most effective area. You will see results within 3 treatments, and they should be completed, on average, within 5 treatments.

2. It takes about 2 minutes to complete an underarm.

3. The clinic can only guarantee a 75-90% reduction.

4. Shave the area 24 hours before the appointment. If stubble appears, it will not burn the skin because the laser will focus most of it’s energy at the base of the hair. If there are longer hairs, they will be shaved prior to treatment.

5. IPL should not to be used for hair removal. IPL is normally used for sun damage, spider vains, skin treatments, etc. If you find cheaper prices on hair removal, most likely they are using IPL, which is not as effective as diode or yag laser machines. These other machines are meant for hair removal.

6. Only shave between appointments. Treated hairs will naturally come out of the follicle.

7. Within 6-8 weeks, new hairs will begin to break through the skin. Schedule your next laser appointment within 8-10 weeks of the previous appointment.

8. Laser machines do not work on red, grey, or blonde hair.

9. With this company, I would be able to treat 1 underarm for $75. Multiply that by 5 treatments, and it totals to $375. (Normally it would cost $180 to treat both underarms. I was given a discount because I am doing research.)

10. At the National Laser Institute, the cost was $50 for both underarms.

Should I do some more shopping…or make a decision? What do you think?

Q: What type of skin/hair works/doesn’t work?

A: It only works on hair with pigment. Laser does not work on blonde, red, or gray hair. It also doesn’t work on vellus hair. It works best on Fitzpatrick I-III skin type (very fair, fair, or medium skin), not the best on IV-VI (darker skin types).

Just a comment: I heard from the grapevine that there are some lasers that will work on red or gray hair. I don’t know if this is true or not, but if you do know, please feel free to leave a comment.

Q: How do I need to prepare for my laser hair removal appointment?

A: You must shave the area. You must also avoid the sun, tanning beds, and creams for 3 weeks prior to appointment.

I asked my friend, and laser hair technician, where she would go if she wanted to get her hair removed. She replied by saying, “the National Laser Institute med spa.”

I asked her why, and she told me it’s much cheaper when students perform the treatment. I’m all about saving money. But, my main concern was, “Could I trust these new students?”

I ask this because when I went to school, I really didn’t have the confidence and ability to know if I was treating properly. I found out later that we never had the current high enough, so a lot of our work was glorified tweezing! I feel bad about it, but I never knew how to really treat until I left school and worked on my own.

Anyway, she told me she trusts them because the instructor is there the whole time.

I decided to call them up. I found out that this student rate is available only 1 week a month. The rate for is $50 for the first area and $45 for the second area, if interested. I should have clarified, but it sounds like this is the going rate for all areas, not only underarms.

Then I asked my next question, “Would I be able to only have 1 underarm done at half the rate?” Of course I got the response, “Why would you want to do that!?”

I told her I am an Electrologist, and I would like to test one underarm with electrolysis and the other with laser.

She said that I could do 1 underarm, but it would be at the same rate.

Now I have some thinking to do. I never would have thought I’d have to pay full price for half the work. What should I do? Well, all I can think of at this time is to ask other laser clinics/med spas what they are willing to do for me. I’m all about comparison shopping!

It’s official! I have an appointment for my first laser hair removal consulation. It’s next week! I’ll let you know how it goes.