I shaved and got ingrown hairs. Waxed and felt like I was going through shock treatment. By the time I hit the beaches in Jamaica, I had to shave again and got the worst razor burn of my short lived life. Can anyone relate? I’ve always been curious about laser hair removal: Is it really permanent? How many treatments does it take? What is the cost? After dropping about $400 over the course of ten months getting bikini waxes, and ending up with deep ingrown hairs—a common side effect—I figured it couldn’t cost much more to try laser treatment. There was no going back to shaving and there had to be a better way to deal with my delima—there’s nothing like having a pro clean up an area that’s not easy to see. I was going forward and high-tech.
I did my homework and found that clinics’ prices vary widely. I consulted with one place before choosing the clinic my doctor recommended, Rejuvenation Partners. It was a better fit for me—less clinical, with a friendly staff and a technician with whom I felt comfortable. Rachel Delzer explained the procedure to me without trying to sell it and kept me updated on my progress for the next six months. After my first bikini treatment, I even decided to splurge for my underarms.
But here’s the big question: How badly does it hurt? I prepared myself for the worst and was gloriously surprised when it was much less painful than waxing. Most clinics say each laser pulse feels like a rubber band snap. I thought it felt much weaker than that. The pain factor greatly depends on the laser and I am a girl with a low tolerance for pain—for instance, how long are the wavelengths emitted and the laser pulses? My technician used a laser with a cold tip, so my skin was cooled immediately before the hot laser pulses.
I had better results on my bikini line than on my underarms, which require touch-up shaving about every other week. I’m planning to see Rachel again soon for a touch-up laser zap—and maybe a consultation on leg hair.
TIMING: Start now. It’s already March and bikini season is approximately 2 months away. Patients with light skin and dark hair have the best success and require fewer treatments. People with dark/tan skin and lighter hair risk staining and more trips to the clinic. Talk to your technician about any concerns you have. Depending on the clinic, your appointments will be scheduled one to two months apart, and depending on your hair, you’ll probably need five to six treatments, making the winter months the perfect time to get ready for bikini season.
PRICING: Buy a package. Most clinics charge $75 to $300 per treatment, depending on which body area you’re having treated. For six treatments on my bikini line and underarms, I paid about $900.
RESULTS: It’s not permanent, but it’s close. Expect to have occasional stray hairs. Most technicians say you’ll need a follow-up session every year or two after the first five or six sessions. (Spot treatments cost about $50 per area.) Results vary according to hair thickness, skin pigmentation, and, of course, the laser.
Good Luck girls!
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