By Laura
Updated: August 30, 2024
6 minutes
Like many other women who fantasized about having smooth hair-free skin, I also wanted it badly. For this, I started saving for laser hair removal to finally achieve my dream skin and never worry about unwanted facial and body hair ever again.
I booked my first laser hair removal session and was thrilled to take my first step towards hairlessness. However, laser hair removal was not the ideal hair removal method I imagined it to be.
With subsequent sessions, my disappointment in laser hair removal increased and I started regretting my choice. Today, I will share why do I regret my laser hair removal so that my fellow women might avoid the same regrets.
1. Why Did I Decide to Go for Laser Hair Removal?
Below are the reasons why I wanted laser hair removal and excitedly booked my appointment at a well-known laser hair removal spa.
1. To Get Rid of My Thick Dark Hair Painlessly
Having a South Asian ethnicity, I have thick black hair both on my face and body. You might already know if you remove facial hair the thicker the hair, the more difficult and painful it is to get rid of them.
As laser hair removal is considered a foolproof method for dark hair, I decided to go for it to say goodbye to my annoying unwanted hair painlessly.
2. To Make My Acne-Prone Skin Clearer and Smoother
With the unwanted hair on the face, comes acne, especially on my acne-prone skin. Unwanted facial hair increases acne because hair strands make the face sweaty, increase the production of oils, and house bacteria.
I thought removing the facial hair from the roots would help me avoid acne and make my skin textureless.
3. To Avoid Shaving Every Other Day
Waxing my face and legs was too painful to bear because of the thick hair. So, I used to shave every single day or on alternate days. However, shaving gave my skin stubble ingrown hair, and rashes.
I wanted to avoid shaving frequently by getting long-lasting hair removal through laser. Also, I assumed I wouldn’t get stubble and ingrown hair if I got a laser.
4. It Seemed like a 1-Time Investment
I did my math before getting laser hair removal or should I say girl’s math. Well, I calculated the cost of laser hair removal and the money I was spending on waxing and shaving over the years.
It seemed like laser hair removal would be a 1-time investment as I wouldn’t ever have to buy shaving and waxing products in my whole life.
5. To Boost My Confidence
Being brown with dark hair and living in the United States, my confidence always hit rock bottom because I could see hair on my skin a few hours after shaving.
Additionally, my makeup application was never smooth. Therefore, having no hair on my face and body meant I could wear whatever I liked and have flawless makeup which would boost my confidence.
2. Why Do I Regret My Laser Hair Removal?
I am as excited as I was to get laser hair removal and as disappointed as I am right now. Here are the reasons for it.
1. Need of Too Many Sessions
First of all, the laser hair removal expert told me that it takes 3 to 9 sessions to achieve desired results with 6 on average. So, I booked 6 sessions.
Even after those 6 sessions, I could only achieve 50% of the results which meant I would have to go for another 6 or more sessions. More sessions, more pain, and more expenses.
2. Requires Time for My Time-Consuming Appointments
As I was getting my face and legs done, the laser expert took around half an hour on the face and around 2 hours. Not to mention the 30 minutes I had to spend to travel.
Making 3 to 4 hours a day every month was not my cup of tea as I was too busy at work and wanted to have a relaxing time at home rather than spending it in the salon.
3. More Expensive Than I Expected
The average cost of a single laser hair removal session on the face was around $250 and for legs, it was $500. The cost is even more if you get laser hair removal at a clinic.
I prepared myself for 6 sessions but had to get 12 sessions in total. It meant I had to spend the money I had saved for difficult times on laser.
4. Uncomfortable and Painful
Every laser aesthetician you meet will say that laser hair removal is painless and comfortable. Let’s make it clear that they are telling lies.
When I got my laser hair removal session, it was both painful and uncomfortable. The laser hair removal expert applied an anesthetic gel to reduce the pain but the I had to bear the discomfort.
5. Not Permanent
Unlike I assumed, laser hair removal is not permanent. This is my worst regret about laser hair removal. I had to go for 1 year of laser sessions and I saw some hair strands coming back within a year after my treatment.
Searching about it further, I came to know that the results of laser are not permanent and I have to get follow-up sessions once or twice every year.
6. Makes Skin Red, Irritated, and Swollen
I have sensitive skin and I was told that laser is suitable for sensitive skin. Yes, it might be suitable for sensitive skin but no one told me that I’d have to experience such severe skin redness, irritation, and swelling.
3. The few hours after laser hair removal are a painful experience.
1. Futile for Conditions with Hormonal Imbalance
Before laser, clinicians often ask for a USG to see if you have conditions like PCOS. This is because it is not the strong hair follicles that are causing increased hair growth. Rather it is the imbalance of the hormones.
So, laser hair removal has temporary results in conditions including hirsutism, endocrine diseases, and PCOS.
2. Might Cause Paradoxical Hypertrichosis
Some people have experienced laser hair removal not reducing unwanted hair on their bodies. Rather, they experienced an increase in hair growth. This condition is called paradoxical hypertrichosis.
3. Inconsistent Results
As laser hair removal requires multiple sessions depending upon the hair growth cycle, the hair grows in patches in between the sessions.
Furthermore, hair grows back in patches when the hormonal levels fluctuate. So, if you want clear skin with consistent results, laser hair removal might prove a regretful choice.
4. Which Other Hair Removal Method Should I Try and Why?
The hair on my body and face are coming back and I do not want to spend that much amount on laser hair removal. So, I decided to buy Ulike Air 10 IPL hair removal devices for the following reasons.
1. Relatively Economical
In contrast to thousands I spent on laser hair removal, Ulike Air 10 only costs $399. Not to mention that I got it at a discount which further reduced the price. Now, I do not have to worry about booking expensive follow-ups.
Furthermore, I am using it to treat the hair on other parts of my body like underarms, chest, arms, and back in addition to my face and legs.
2. Does not Consume as Much Time
As I said earlier, laser hair removal on a single part of the body requires an hour or more. Imagine getting laser on full body. Too much time consumption, right?
In contrast, IPL hair removal treatment with Ulike only takes 10 to 20 minutes on the full body. So, it is a perfect hair removal option for someone as busy as I.
3. Liberty to Do Follow-Ups at Home
With the availability of Ulike device at hand, I’m free to do my follow-ups as required. Although the results of IPL treatments only last for 6 months, the liberty to do follow-up sessions within a few minutes makes IPL a much better option.
4. Comfortable Experience
In comparison to the burning pain I felt with laser hair removal, the pain I felt during IPL hair removal was minimal. I only felt a slight discomfort at first which was also relieved after a few sessions when I became used to it.
5. Faster Results
With 1 session every month and 3 to 6 sessions needed to notice reduced hair growth, I had to wait for 6 months to see the results with laser. However, the results of Ulike Air 10 were apparent in only 3 weeks.
So, if you are looking for fast results, Ulike Air 10 IPL hair removal handset is the way to go.
Conclusion
Laser hair removal is one of the good hair removal methods to get rid of thick and coarse hair. However, it is definitely not the best method out there. I got a laser and regret it because of its cost, experience, need for follow-ups, and after-effects.
After laser hair removal, I switched to IPL hair removal and I’ve been happy ever since. This is because of the affordability, comfort, and convenience associated with IPL.
