Locally Owned Vs. National Chain?

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

I have the option to go to either one of several locally owned Laser/Electrolysis centers or a national chain like Ideal Image.

The local places offer better pricing but I don't know about their quality.

The national places offer a little higher pricing but they have company-wide standards for (supposedly) good quality.

Just curious as to what businesses you ladies have decided on and your thoughts and experiences.

[Guest Donna Jean]

Lizzie....

I go to a private Electrologist.

She has both the quality AND the pricing!

She is also a registered nurse so she can help when I pass out.....

11 years experience.

It's out of her home and I can pet the dog and listen to the radio and chat while she works....

She is at $45 an hour or $105 for 3 hours...

Since you already know the chains pricing...why don't you explore the private ones?

In my state all electrologists are registered with the state medical board so a check through there gets you lots of info such as complaints and background...

It pays to look around!

Good luck, Lizzie!

HUGGS!

Donna Jean

[Guest sarah f]

I am going to Ideal Image right now to remove my facial hair. I have been only 5 times now and all I have left is my stubborn goatee to get rid off. Each time it seems to be thining out but I am impatient and want it gone now. I would agree with Donna and check out some other places and read the reviews. I like Ideal Image but as you said it is a little pricy.

Love,

Sarah F

[Guest Donna Jean]

I am going to Ideal Image right now to remove my facial hair. I have been only 5 times now and all I have left is my stubborn goatee to get rid off. Each time it seems to be thining out but I am impatient and want it gone now. I would agree with Donna and check out some other places and read the reviews. I like Ideal Image but as you said it is a little pricy.

Love,

Sarah F

Never heard of Ideal Image.....

Thery're not around here...of course not much IS around here!

I have to drive an hour to mine!

LOVE

Donna Jean

[Sally]

I don't want to give away anyone's home location but Donna Jean is a stone's throw from the exact center of nowhere!

I had used an independent electrologist out of her house and I would like to go back to her when I can - $30 an hour and her roommate/girlfriend is a post op trans lady who bakes muffins for me.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Charlene_Leona]

I used American Laser Centers and they charged me 1200.00 for a full face clearing. Although they told me they could do all hair colors they lied because the red & white hairs were not cleared. They have a two year guarantee and I've been through 14 or 15 treatments so far. I'm having to look at alternative methods of clearing those hairs now. Watch out for these places they will tell you anything to get your business. If you have darker hair this will work for you but blond, red and grey hair will not work with laser.

Take Care

Charlene Leona

[Carolyn Marie]

Thery're not around here...of course not much IS around here!

I have to drive an hour to mine!

LOVE

Donna Jean

LOL! I keep thinking you're going to run into Daniel Boone out there in the woods some day.

He might be able to give you some help with his hatchet - I hear he keeps it pretty sharp.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Vivian]

Right now I see a local electrologist here, she charges $45 and hour. She was recommended by the local trans support group here, so I'm fairly confident in her. I do enjoy her company too. I did laser hair removal in the past from a national chain, but because of my skin tone laser didn't work too well for me. Plus got some painful burns on my neck from their laser. Luckily there wasn't permanent scaring. I stick with the local electrologist for now.

Vivian

[Guest Astro_Liz]

I have the option to go to either one of several locally owned Laser/Electrolysis centers or a national chain like Ideal Image.

The local places offer better pricing but I don't know about their quality.

The national places offer a little higher pricing but they have company-wide standards for (supposedly) good quality.

Just curious as to what businesses you ladies have decided on and your thoughts and experiences.

I meant to reply to this a while back, but I also go to Ideal Image for all my lasering needs. You know me, I do extensive research on everything, and this was no exception. I had talked to many other places that just kind of gave me a blank stare when I asked certain things, however the folks at this local Ideal Image were not only very friendly, they were incredibly knowledgeable. They never once covered up the fact that it wouldn't get rid of white or light colored hairs.

The primary reason I picked them was because they used a 755 nm alexandrite laser (Candela GentleLASE). In the long term, the laser is much better than IPL and has more permanent results. Not to mention it will fade moles and totally makes your skin look awesome in the process! However, this awesome tech does come at a price... a steep one. It is about $2200 just for my face, spread over 9 sessions, with lifetime touchups included.

Now, I spent a lot more than that because I had my entire upper body done, so I got a bit of a discount because of the bulk purchase. Don't be afraid to negotiate the price with them, I sure did and saved a little over 30% what they quoted me initially. One final bit about the laser, it hurts and it takes a while. Its about an hour per session for my face, and even with some serious prescription numbing cream, I still almost cried. The results are amazing though, and I think worth every penny. With two sessions down, I would say the growth has slowed 80% and about 70% of the dark hair is gone.

I am going to start trying a Melanin Enhancer treatment, under the supervision of a doctor and Ideal Image, to try and zap the light hairs as well. This is not something to be done on your own as it can cause serious harm and burns if done incorrectly and the nurse doesn't know about the increased levels. I'll let you know how that works out.

Hope thats plenty of good info for you!

~Liz~

[Guest Kaitlyn88]

Why does it take a hour for your face? Mine takes maybe 5 minutes if that and they never gave me anything for pain. The first time hurt but after that one I only had hair grow back on my upper lip so the pain was a lot less. It seems like everyone else has had a totally different experience then me.

[Guest Natalie Foster]

What matters is the type of laser, how old it is and the skill of the person using said laser. Don't be afraid to ask questions.