Happy Halloween, friends! In celebration of the spookiest day of the year, I thought I’d start telling you about the beauty treatment I’ve been undergoing lately that used to have me more terrified than anything I’ve ever tried: laser hair removal. Because, hello, lasers aimed at my body? Also because, with me – particularly, but by no means exclusively, when it comes to beauty – nothing is easy. My skin is incredibly sensitive, my expectations are incredibly high, and I’m not willing to start slow…it was bikini line or bust, my friends.
Yep, that’s right – I’m talking about my bikini line on the internet. Told you this post was scary.
If you’ve been even semi-conscious over the last two years or so, since this treatment has really gone mainstream, you can’t tell me you haven’t fantasized. A life free of razors and waxing? It’s the dream, right? But kind of nerve-wracking too…I mean, there are just places you don’t want experimental laser treatments, and this is one of them. Plus, holy expensive, Batman – prices for treatments usually start at $150 each, and you need about 6 treatments for permanent removal. Talk about painful.
So, I kept on going for my (too infrequent) wax appointments, dreaming of the day I’d laser it all away. I even tried a few at-home kits. (Yes, at-home laser hair removal. Picture that, if you will.) Shockingly, the at-home versions were less than perfect. Eventually, bargain options started to appear in my inbox – via Groupon, mostly. But I loathe Groupon’s spa deals for the most part – you end up at a spa you don’t want to be at, being treated by people you don’t know, in an atmosphere so overcrowded with people who don’t know how to act in a spa that the whole experience is ruined. And I’m not letting just any idiot with a laser near my parts.
Finally, finally, the clouds parted – a Groupon deal at my favorite spa, Portland Spa and Boutique! I could see my regular aesthetician, Brynndle (who is ah-mazing)! I could try their super fancy Soprano laser system she’d been telling me about for ages! And the price was great. Not so great I wondered if it was all a hoax, but just great enough that I could take the plunge.
(As it turns out, I didn’t need the Groupon to get a great price – much like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I had but to ask. Like most spas, if you’re a loyal customer, Portland Spa will put you on an email list and you’ll get all sorts of specials and deals…like for example, 30% off laser hair removal).
I was a little nervous about my first treatment (see above, in re extremely sensitive, pain-prone skin, etc.). But truthfully, it hurts much less than a wax. More like how it feels when the hot wax first goes on your skin: warm, and occasionally a little more warm than you’d like. But, there’s no painful ripping of hair after the warmth, so for me, that’s a major improvement.
After my first treatment, I noticed maybe a 30% (I’m totally making these numbers up, incidentally) reduction in growth – a major improvement, and so exciting! After my second, it’s more like 40% – a little less exciting, but still headed in the right direction. I’m headed off for treatment #3 this week, and I’ll let you know how it goes.
In the meantime, if you’re in the market, my best advice is to call your favorite spa and ask them about it. Chances are, they’ll tell you about a special coming up, or put you on an email list to get offers (these are offers you want, friends!). If you’re in Portland, immediately sign yourself up for the list at Portland Spa & Boutique. Besides deals on laser hair removal, you’ll get notices about last-minute massage appointments as low as half price. I watch for those emails like a spa-addicted hawk.
Of course, you can also just call, ask to talk with my darling girl Brynndle, and I know she’ll take excellent care of you 🙂 In fact, I’ll check with her this week to see if she has any new deals cooking, and will update you when I hear.
So, friends – am I the only laser guinea pig out there, or are others of you giving it a try? Are you still too nervous to give it a go? I’d love to hear what you think!
Oh, you brave woman!
When I was living in Japan, I finally decided that I had to take advantage of the laser hair removal prices there. (I paid something like $400 for a set of 4 treatments). I would have continued to get more treatments, but I had to leave the country and return home. (They do one treatment every 2 months there). The last treatment was over a year ago, and I still have a definite reduction of hair there. It’s not completely eliminated, but, then again, I didn’t do all the treatments.
Given my modest level of Japanese ability, it was a little awkward, but the women were completely friendly and the atmosphere was amazing. As you mention, it didn’t really hurt much (I actually had a little more than just the bikini line done, so some parts were a little more sensitive than others). But, seriously, one of my best investments!
Consequently, I also had my underarms done (at a different place — $100 for 6 treatment set…they use it like an introductory offer to try to hook you for the rest of your body). I was able to complete 5 out of the 6 treatments before I had to leave, and I often go without shaving at all (although I do have a few thin stragglers left).
I can’t wait until I can afford to get more laser hair removal here — it’s definitely worth it in my book!
Loved laser hair removal but I have to warn you — the growth comes back! I had my treatments done about 5 – 10 years ago and it was wonderful….until the hair follicles started spitting out newbies. It’s not anywhere near what was there before and it was totally worth it. OH — one big big big tip for you — purchase & use whatever numbing cream they sell to go with the treatments. You get more sensitive to the treatments as you go. At first, I was chatting with the girl having a great time. Later on (4th appt or so), I forgot the numbing cream (you have to apply it a few hours before your treatment and wrap your treated area with Saran wrap….yea, I’m serious….you’re a little…crinkly but so worth it) and I thought I’d come up off the table when she started. Soooo painful! Good luck — you will love it!