Kamarate's thread on epilation reminded me that I've been meaning to enquire here on the ef about intense pulsed light hair removal.. I just kept forgetting to start a thread about it.

A couple of weeks ago I was having a look at the epilators in the EKZ shop and the sales lady suggested I look into intense pulsed light hair removal.

They sell the little devices for home use in stores now and I was wondering if any of you have tried them at all. I believe they are a little bit uncomfortable to use as far as pain goes and that one may not have dark skin due to pigmentation problems arising. I have also read that it's perhaps something that should rather been done by a professional.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

this is the last time I google something relating to hair removal..

ughh

I didnt use one myself but i read a review in an english magazine. It was very good. I would seriously consider getting one myself if there is no pain involved

No pain and long-lasting hair removal are not really ever going to go together.

I don't really trust the idea of a home device, as you could potentially burn yourself. The Philips device only promises to slow/reduce growth, and considering how long it takes to do with the tiny flash area, I'm not sure it's worth it. I've tried both laser and IPL at salons and even with the stronger professional devices, it's taking more than the six to eight treatments that are usually mentioned...

I would not do it yourself. Either pay and get it done professionally or stick to your old method.

Home lasering is slow and results are not really guaranteed. You will find it a chore.

Have anyone tried the electrical way? or in German Haarentfernung mit der Nadel / Pinzette???

Any places in ZRH that you can recommend?

Thanks,
Newinhere

Nope, never tried it.

This thread has got me MEGA wincing - YEEOOUCH x a million !!

I know, I'm sorry.. I just wish there was a pain free way of permanent hair removal... is that too much to ask for?

But the laser is less painful than that epilater thing! I'd like to try this gadget but I keep reading it doesn't work. Best to just invest in getting it done professionally with the newer more effective lasers.

LOL! I know, I know *BIG sigh* . . . the things we girlies put ourselves through at times for the sake of looking and feeling goooooood. but necessary

The more I read about this thing, the more I feel exactly the same way as you do.

That just explains the whole female psyche in a nutshell doesn't it?!

Expression in French,

Il faut souffrir pour être belle!

You must suffer to be pretty!

Who is the jerk who did say that?

Oh my mother told me those words from the very first knot in my hair and still repeats them to me today!

I bet it must have been a guy who said that

Also, with laser treatment, if your hair isn't dark, it won't work.

Certainly not with this gadget. I believe the new lasers can handle some combinations of lighter hair/light skin. I think the problem with lasers is the contract between the hair color and the color of skin. I think dark hair & dark skin can also be a problem for the laser. Don't remember exactly. Things to look into though.

Have been through it all. Paid much money over the years and I would definitely say the following:

Don't waste your money on laser, it hurts like hell and it's not permanent and it doesn't work well on dark skin, light hair

Needle epilation is really only suitable for small areas like the odd straggler on the chin etc. I did a bit more than that and am suffering a little on the face. No more details necessary in a public forum...

IPL is the impulse light thingy and the negatives are pain and also the darker skin, lighter hair issue is yet again a problem.

There is something new though, called PTF. I tried this a few times myself under the arms. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to continue what was necessary BUT talk about slowing the growth!! Flippin amazing after only 2 times... it came back, but as I said, I didn't continue the treatment. I think that would have been about 8 - 10 times.

It's not cheap but as far as I can see it's effective, doesn't hurt and works on lighter hair, red hair, etc etc. Super machiine. It is called the "next generation to IPL"

Unfortunately not many are offering this and the two places who do I don't want to go to. One smells bad and the other place is run my waaaaankers... so they won't get my business.

If by chance I win the Euro millions this week, then I will buy a machine myself, it costs only CHF 30'000,- Peanuts!!!

http://www.haarentfernung-zuerich.com/

Just came up with this in Zurich. Not familiar with the place though.

When I am in the money again, which is hopefully soon, I shall continue this and be hair free by next summer... YESSSSSSSS!!

More precisely, for this to work well you need very light skin, very dark hair, many rounds of treatment, and relatively wimpy hair follicles.

Laser hair removal is based on a very basic physical principle that dark things absorb light and light things do not. If you have pale skin and dark hair, a strong pulse of laser light will be absorbed by the hair and not the skin surrounding it: so in layman's terms, the hair will get fried and the skin will escape relatively unscathed. After a few rounds of this treatment the hair follicles (i.e. roots) become so damaged that hair won't grow anymore. But it does take a few rounds of treatment to damage the follicle enough so that your hair won't regrow, so results are definitely not immediate with one treatment, although they can be permanent and irreversible given enough rounds of laser hair removal treatment. (Although it is not guaranteed.)

With light hair and light skin, or dark hair and dark skin, there is no differential absorption of light, i.e. everything gets evenly toasted and hair will continue to grow from the follicle as normal as blasting your skin with a laser doesn't confer any significant amount of damage to the root.

It's certainly an effective technique when used on a certain type of of person with the right skin/hair type combination, but even if I had dark hair and light skin (as opposed to my very-fair-hair and so-pale-it's-practically-translucent skin) I'd certainly not try it at home due to the risk of burns.

Heather
(who isn't just talking fluff, but actually knows a bit more about all this biophysics stuff than the average bunny)