Facial Hair Removal Tips?

[Charleigh Dakota]

So, I went to Ideal Image today for my first Laser Hair Removal procedure and they told me that the procedure would only get rid of possibly 20% of my facial hair because my hair is too gray/white/blonde, etc. They did agree to refund my money but now I am stuck not knowing what to do about my hair....especially the shadow on my upper lip. I use great foundation but throughout the day stubble starts appearing...plus, who wants to shave their face every single day for the rest of their lives??

 

Anyone have any really good tips or advice about this?

[KatieSC]

Charlie,

 

What they told you is factual, but there is the possibility that some of your hair has dark roots, and then laser would reduce the volume of your facial hair. This thinning process may be worth a try. Depends on your funds. Getting rid of facial hair is not fun. I have had over 200 hours of electrolysis and it is painful, even with lidocaine injections to numb large areas for large volume electrolysis. The large volume electrolysis with lidocaine can be pretty expensive. There are only 4 or so places that will provide any anesthetic agents, and other medication to relax you during the procedure. 

 

Not all of the insurance companies will cover the costs. That is where things are a bit unfair. I wish it were easier. The hardest part for me was the huge increase in dysphoria while letting my beard grow out prior to electrolysis. I have had tremendous progress over the past 1 1/2 years, but I am still not done. In case you wonder, the estrogen did nothing to blunt the facial hair growth, however, the hair is much softer now. 

[Charleigh Dakota]

@KatieSC Thank for that Katie. Yea, I opted against proceeding with Laser though cause at $2600 bucks out of pocket....I figured Id rather endure the pain (financial and physical) of something more effective. 

[KatieSC]

Find a good electrologist. There are not as many as there used to be because laser bit into the market. Also check to see if you can get a prescription for Prilocaine cream for your face. That will numb the area to be treated. You may want to see if there are any dentists close to where you will get the electrolysis. The dentists can do what is known as a infraorbital nerve block on the right and left side of your face that will numb your upper lip area rather effectively allowing for a prolonged electrolysis session. The dentist can also perform a mental nerve block that will numb the lower lip and chin area. I hope this information helps.

[Betty K]

Hi @Charlie Dakota, I get two hours of electrolysis on my face every week and have done so for over a year. I use an over-the-counter lidocaine cream and, while I do find the procedure unpleasant, it's not all that painful. It's not even painful enough that I dread the sessions. I've also had a different experience from most girls here in that I don't let my facial hair grow for three days before each session; I let it grow for one day, and my electrolygist is fine with it. After 16 laser sessions (which removed most of the brown hairs) and 100 or so hours of electrolysis I can put on makeup without shaving and no-one knows I haven't shaved.

 

 

[Charleigh Dakota]

Thank you @KatieSC and @Betty K. Great tips and I will def keep all this in mind as I progress with this "hairy" situation!! **Hugs**

[Lorelei]

My electrologist said that I only need to skip shaving the day of the electrolysis. Last week she was able to do my face even though I forgot and shaved that morning. This week I am going for another laser treatment as well as the electrolysis. I am using lidocaine to help with the pain. I am focusing on my mustache area as I have a hard time shaving that area. My wife told me to start back shaving with a disposable razor instead of the electric shaver since I wind up with a five o’clock shadow with it. She has told

me that I am passing very well except for my facial hair. 

[KathyLauren]

Each electrologist will be different, depending on their skill and their equipment.  And each client will be different, depending on their growth rate.  So the important takeaway is to do what your electrologist tells you.

 

Definitely use a razor rather than an electric shaver.  An electric shaver has a metal screen between the blades and your skin, which limits how close the blades can get.  A razor has nothing between the blade and your skin.

[Charleigh Dakota]

7 hours ago, Lorelei said:

My electrologist said that I only need to skip shaving the day of the electrolysis. Last week she was able to do my face even though I forgot and shaved that morning. This week I am going for another laser treatment as well as the electrolysis. I am using lidocaine to help with the pain. I am focusing on my mustache area as I have a hard time shaving that area. My wife told me to start back shaving with a disposable razor instead of the electric shaver since I wind up with a five o’clock shadow with it. She has told

me that I am passing very well except for my facial hair. 

I opted for the 5 blade fancy disposable Gillette razors with the extra blade for trimming under the nose....works really well but I still have to shave twice...once for the bulk and then again for the stuff I missed. One razor...once a day....new razor every day I shave.

[MaeBe]

2 hours ago, Charlie Dakota said:

I opted for the 5 blade fancy disposable Gillette razors with the extra blade for trimming under the nose....works really well but I still have to shave twice...once for the bulk and then again for the stuff I missed. One razor...once a day....new razor every day I shave.

I invested in a Leaf razor. I ended up buying the single bladed Twig. I was having issues with sensitivity on my legs with multi-bladed razors, but I think it just took time for my skin to get used to the shave (as well as being diligent about exfoliation). I use it for all my shaving needs and the blades are relatively cheap. I shave most days and a blade lasts a week or so. I ran into a tip, to keep the blade from irritating the skin, from Dr. Will Powers (the Dr. Will Powers). It's pretty logical, it's silly people don't think about it.

 

Quote

To solve this, put a solo cup of rubbing alcohol in your shower. Leave your razor in that. It will keep it sterile. Then, after shaving, apply 1% hydrocortisone to the skin. This will decrease the inflammation that occurs not from bacteria, and prevent further follicular inflammation. The hydrocortisone is only necessary for some people. Simply sterilizing the razor does the job for most.

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/DrWillPowers/comments/mzov4m/how_to_prevent_razorburn_i_thought_this_was/

 

I haven't tried it yet, but seems like a pretty simple hack.

[Betty K]

9 hours ago, KathyLauren said:

So the important takeaway is to do what your electrologist tells you.

I agree, but I also think sometimes the electrologist mightn’t know exactly how these things will work out in advance. What I did was experiment, knowing we could focus the session on my chest if it turned out I had shaved too closely. By doing this I worked out that I could shave one day before electrolysis, and my electrologist agreed. But until I tried that neither of us knew that was the case.

[Ashley0616]

I have always used dollar shave club. The razors are nice and sharp and they don't get dull as quick. A razor head lasts about a week. I pay 24 for eight razor heads. I do have to shave every day otherwise it sticks out too much. 

[Jonathon]

Does anyone know where I can find someone preferably close to the Cincinnati or Dayton area that does Galvanic Electrolysis? Also, what is the recommended length of facial hair, at a maximum, is allowed for the procedure to be effective?