Community Chat

[SilleeMee]

At-home IPL devices (intense pulse light) do work. Just so you know an IPL device is not a laser. Lasers are single-beam devices designed to shrink single hair follicles. IPL is scattered high-intensity light designed to do the same but with less energy and effectiveness over a broad patch of skin.  Do not pluck or epilate the hair before using an IPL. Just shave it off close to the skin and then treat the area with the IPL. The root needs to be in the skin so the IPL can track it down. Also, IPL will not work if you are very dark skinned or have white, gray or light-blonde hair. It won't work on peach fuzz either, no matter what color it is. 

A decent at-home IPL should not cost more than $200 which is about the price of just one single professional IPL treatment at your local medispa and you'll need several treatments to get to your hairless goal. There are so many at-home IPL devices now. Just do a search and find one which you can afford. They all work about the same.

I own both IPL and laser removal devices. Each has it's own advantages.

[Hilery]

@SilleeMee  Will you elaborate on the laser appliance you use? Brand? Redness after treatment? Pro and con of brand? Exact area of body/face where you use it? How often do you use? Preparation before and care of area after usage? Can you use laser and IPL on same area? 

[chickenbutt]

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@Hilery wrote:

@chickenbutt , Thank you so much for all your responses. Many options to think about. How is an epilator different from a shaving appliance? I am assuming both appliances are battery operated. 

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Hi @Hilery .   Sorry so long to reply.  Having horrible day.

The main difference between epilator and shaving is that shaving just cuts the hair off at the skin and an epilator actually pulls the hair out.  You have a much smoother result, obviouusly, which is nice.  My legs, now that there is no more hair growing there, are as smooth as silk, no dryness, etc.

I have three of the 'Emjoi' brand epilators.  Two are battery op and one is plug in.   They all work just as well.   The batteries seem to last a very, very long time!

I remember, I'm thinking in the 80s, the original epilators.  I forgot the brand name but I called it the cruel shaver.  Seriously, talk about pain!  Glad they got better at it.  Plus, even way back then, they cost $80 or more!   Years after I had purchased the one, and stopped using it because it was so dreadfully painful,  I had somebody on a board I frequented back then really wanted one of those older ones so I sent it to her.    Yup, I warned her!  But she knew what she was doing and all was well.   

[SilleeMee]

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@Hilery wrote:

@SilleeMee  Will you elaborate on the laser appliance you use? Brand? Redness after treatment? Pro and con of brand? Exact area of body/face where you use it? How often do you use? Preparation before and care of area after usage? Can you use laser and IPL on same area? 

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@Hilery 

I have the Epilady Absolute Laser Pen. That is a pinpoint treatment laser device designed to target individual hairs. I have used it successfully on my brows, upper lip and around my nostrils.  The hairs I treated were almost black and somewhat coarse. Most of the hair I've treated has not grown back. Treatment feels like a light pinch and it leaves a short-lived red spot which disappears completely within an hour. Don't pluck before treatment but instead shave off the hair as close to the skin's surface as possible. It took several weeks until the hair was gone. Some hair did grow back but I continued treatment until the hair was gone. Some hair will be so light and grow back extremely slower after treatments...just depends on your hair/skin. 

My IPL device was used on my underarms and legs years ago. I have no regrowth and my IPL is collecting dust now. But if a new hair pops up I can treat it right away...that hasn't happened yet and it has been years.

[Hilery]

@SilleeMee  I use a magnifying mirror so perhaps I am seeing more of an issue then exists but my jawline and neck area under chin have growth. Not too dark but can grab the hairs on side of face and jawline. I am Caucasian with fair skin but feel the cheek and jawline hairs must go. What do women of enthnicity other than mine use? 

[SilleeMee]

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@Hilery wrote:

@SilleeMee  I use a magnifying mirror so perhaps I am seeing more of an issue then exists but my jawline and neck area under chin have growth. Not too dark but can grab the hairs on side of face and jawline. I am Caucasian with fair skin but feel the cheek and jawline hairs must go. What do women of enthnicity other than mine use? 

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@Hilery 

Sounds like you have some peach fuzz going on. Not much in the way of at-home lasers or IPL devices will get rid of that kind of hair. Your best option for peach fuzz removal is shaving. That won't make it come back thicker or darker. I've been shaving my peach fuzz for eons and it's the same as the first day I started.

Women of color can have laser hair removal but it takes a special kind of laser only used at the professional level. IPL won't work for dark skin.

[cantdrive55]

@Sooner   I used a Tria, that I bought for my legs, etc., but I'm sure there are other choices. The laser pen that @SilleeMee mentioned in her posts sounds worth looking into!

[Hilery]

@SilleeMee  Is there a particular appliance you use for shaving peach fuzz? Surely not a Bic razor🤗. I am a novice at this but willing to take the leap to fuzz free face. 

[SilleeMee]

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@Hilery wrote:

@SilleeMee  Is there a particular appliance you use for shaving peach fuzz? Surely not a Bic razor🤗. I am a novice at this but willing to take the leap to fuzz free face. 

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@Hilery 

I use this Women's Panasonic Electric Shaver, costs about $20 on amazon. It's rechargeable and you can use it in the shower. 

[SilleeMee]

@Hilery 

BTW, do you happen to use a copper peptide serum/cream on your face? The reason why I'm asking is b/c sometimes copper peptides can cause increased hair growth with some people. I had that happen to me after I started using copper peptide serum and it caused my peach fuzz to really take off growing like crazy. Copper peptides are used in certain hair growth products to stimulate growth. 

Just thought I'd ask.