I’d really like some help with my problem back hair. I have searched the forums but haven’t seen anyone posting with my skin/hair type.
I’m a middle aged male with pale skin (I don’t tan and burn easily) and quite a bit of hair on my back that I would like to get rid of. Whereas most of the posts I see here relate to thick black hair- mine is quite varied (although it looks thick and black to me!).
I went to a consultant who advised me that my hair is medium thickness (and in places quite thin). About 70% of the total hair is actually a medium brown color with the rest varying from gray (only about 25 hairs all up)- to shades of blond (maybe 10%) to light brown (some with a dash of red in it). The hair covers all of my back and upper arms.
Where I live, normal laser isn’t an option. I can either go with IPL treatment or electrolysis. The IPL machine being used is a Palomar SLP.
I am planning on overseas travel in December or January and, ideally, I’d like to see a significant hair reduction by then.
Given my hair type and my consultants advice, I know I wont achieve 100% hair reduction and the best option in the long term seems to be electrolysis but I like the fact that laser gives ‘hairless’ periods. My consultant said to expect 60-80% reduction after 4-6 treatments with one treatment per year needed after that to ‘keep things in check’.
I am a little skeptical that I will get significant benefit from IPL on my lighter hairs but if the dark ones can be greatly reduced I’d be quite happy.
*Am I likely to get significant benefit from IPL?
*After 3-4 treatments should things be noticeably better? (for my trip)
*Does anyone advise using IPL to reduce hair (3-4 treatments) and then following up with electrolysis?
I’m happy to spend the money if I achieve a 40-50% reduction, but would be disappointed with anything less
where are you located? i am wondering why you think IPL is your only option. we may have recommendations if you provide your location.
i think it is possible for you to achieve a 50% reduction, though most of it will be on the coarse darker hair. you won’t affect the gray or the blond hair and probably not the pretty fine hair. the one that have some red pigment may be affected, it’s hard to say.
you would see a reduction after 2-4 treatments if they are done properly. how experienced is the person you’re planning on visiting? how far apart are they recommending for you to space the treatments?
have you tried the provider search at Candela’s website for GentleLASE?
I’m in Dunedin, NZ. I’ve actually been to two consultants (and spoken to another by phone). The two I spoke to were registered nurses and I don’t think had been doing this for long (though I may be wrong- they just couldn’t provide much experience with male hair).
They all suggested 6-8 weeks between treatments, though from my reading here 8-10 sounds like a better idea?
I guess I can try 2-3 treatments and see how it works out. It isn’t cheap though- about USD $450 per hour!
Four weeks on and I am getting considerable regrowth (as expected) but a fairly large chunk of my back is hair free (hair has dropped out and not regrown yet), particularly the lower back area.
It will be interesting to see how much remains clear but so far, so good (although it is still early days yet)
At four weeks, you should only be seeing hair shedding. if you feel something is growing back already, that hair was probably not affected in the first place as it’s too early for new hair to actually develop AND grow out in such a short time. can you find out what settings were used? please ask for joules and spot size numbers. also, do let us know the differences in hair coarseness on the various parts you had treated. typically, coarse dense hair gets the best results.
Will see if she has a record of the settings used (it will be a new machine next time). I am happy to take photos to track progress but I think I need a website to upload them?
I am mystified as to why so much of the hair on my lower back isn’t regrowing