Cysters,
I'm seeking success stories for laser hair removal that has been performed on African American women. So far, my luck has either been they don't have the laser for my dark skin type or time schedule conflicts between my job and their openings for the consultations. I don't want to put my skin in the hands of just any clinic that says they can perform hair removal either. The it sounds too good to be true type of clinics. We've all heard the horror stories or, at least, women who have wasted their money.
My repro endo gave me a prescription for spriolactone last month. It may takes months to work or it may not work at all. If it does slow down the facial hair growth, I still don't want to take this forever or shave forever or grow a freak beard or deal with ingrown hairs or ramble about facial hair either in print or in my thoughts. Sorry, ladies.
I'm having a "I'm tired of hearing about cocoa butter is best for black skin" day. Every black magazine preachs that black skin craves cocoa butter for every skin ailment. Yeah, well, I'm allergic to cocoa butter, so where does that leave me? Ok, temporary pity party for 1. It's over.
Any successful laser hair removal stories, treatment centers, dermatologists (sp?) specialized in African American skin in the Dallas Fort Worth area would be greatly appreciated. Thank you much.
Linda S.
__________________ GOD IS TRUE! GOD IS FAITHFUL!
GOD IS LOVE!
Beloved, I wish above all things that you prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers. 3 John: 2 NIV
Lynneanne78,
I've never ever bleached. I don't want to lightened the existening hair. I want it GONE! I'm brown-skinned & I don't personally know any African American women, who have bleached their facial hair. Not that it's a lunch table discussion. It's always somebody they know who has facial hair like their, sister-in-law, etc.
I digress, I was informed-- pray that it correct-- that bleaching & shaving was okay, but waxing & depilatories were not okay, if you were considering laser hair removal in the next 6 weeks. I have this image of attempting to bleach my facial hair & end up with blonde beard on a brown-skinned sista. That's a big fat NO!
__________________ GOD IS TRUE! GOD IS FAITHFUL!
GOD IS LOVE!
Beloved, I wish above all things that you prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers. 3 John: 2 NIV
Well I would like to know about laser and black skin/hair also. My sister has a friend who had it done and she said that it left her with with black spots everywhere the laser was applied but my sister did not know where she got it done. The local university research hospital here in memphis claims to have a really good laser treatment center and when I get about $200-500 saved up then I am going to go and check on it. But I want to see pics of black women my complexion . like you ladies I want it gone !!Right now I just shave about every 3 days. Dh laughs but it is embarassing how we fight over razors!
Ally
__________________ Exodus 23:25 You shall serve the LORD your God, and I will bless your bread and your water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of you. 26 None shall miscarry her young or be barren in your land; I will fulfil the number of your days.
my laser hair removal story What kind of laser or IPL did you get?
(please include brand name or any info. you have) Lyra the first time. Don’t remember the latest laser but will get the name.
How long ago and for what duration?
In 2003 I tried Electrolysis. This was painful and it dint last long. I would not recommend this at all. First time in 2004 I tried laser hair removal. The next treatment was March 2007. Subsequently I have had 3 treatments since then. How many actual treatments did you receive?
5-6. September 2004 Lyra (can’t remember the amount, this laser is for people with darker skin) I had chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done. March April 2007 ) I had chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done.(chest got burned bc the laser was at wrong level. I was petrified. The specialist gave me a cream that made it heal quickly.) September 2007 sideburns, mustache and chin done January 2008 chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done (thank God no burns on chest) Present- Due for a treatment, but I am waxing and shaving at that’s tiding me over. I can say I went from daily shaving to once weekly/bi-weekly on the areas that have received laser hair removal. What color is the hair that was being treated?
dark brown and course What color/shade is your skin?
dark brown Do you know what setting the technician used?
can’t remember but has decreased has the hair has decreased. Make sure your specialist adjust the setting to your specific skin color. Everyone is different. No one setting works even if you are in the same culturally group. The setting is based off the melanin in your skin. What were/are your results?
I am so happy the bumps are gone. The hair has decreased. (Remember there is no permanent fix.) The dark areas where the hair was have evened out. I would recommend to all but doing your homework. How much did it cost?
September 2004 $500.00 I had chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done. March April 2007 ) apx. $250.00 I had chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done. September 2007 $200.00 sideburns, mustache and chin done January 2008 $150.00 chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done (thank God no burns on chest) Additional treatments- price has decreased since thankfully hair has decreased. The lease hits of hair, the less the time you need treatment. The less money out your pocket. Would you do it again?
Sure. I am African-American and many women in my cultural group are not aware of the wonders of laser hair removal. Those that are do not get it for personal or financial reasons. During my senior year in college I noticed that I had chest hair in a T. It was quite annoying and didn’t bother me until some girl brought attention to it. (high school student can be so mean.) I started getting hair about my sophomore year in college on my face. Soon I noticed plucking became full shaving. By this time I had a full beard (well at least I felt like it.) I had a crap load of hair on my chin, sideburns and a light mustache. (Funny that many women, even those without PCOS) have hair growith in areas they do not want it. I started shaving and for my skin that was the worst I could have ever done. Many African-Americans have course hair. When course hair is shaved, the new hair coils up inside causing The medical term is Pseudofolliculitis barbae. From continous shaving I developed the worst reaction ever. Within months I had nasty bumps in all the areas I had hair. It was embarrassing and annoying. The bumps were also very painful. (I am happy to say that I dealt with it. I kept my head up high and focused on all the blessings in my life. I didn’t use makeup to cover the bumps. I got facials to get rid of the bumps. It helped a bit but as quick as the hair came as quick as the bumps came back. I was just treating the outside of my skin when it was really an internal problem. (Funny I wear makeup not because I enjoy the way it insinuate my beauty. I don’t use it to cover up.) In addition to the bumps I got the bad skin discoloration. The areas were hair grew became very dark (since I have dark skin the areas were a very dark brown.) To give you a visual, my little brother said it looked like the sides of my face had been burned. (This was the first time that someone actually pointed out the obvious). Others, less innocent made comments but I kept my esteem high. (What kept my head up high is that I reminded myself that there are a lot more people in the world suffering with a lot more life threatening situations.) So back to the original question. Yes I would do it again. After the 5 to 6 treatments I am happy to say the hair grows much less. (Unfortunately you will always grow new hair follicles, especially where you do not want them lol.) I think a combination of the laser hair treatment and the new hormone treatment (1500mg glumetza daily, provera, prenatal vitamin) the hair will stay under control. Luckily my hair is growing back on my head too. I started having male patterned baldness (it runs in my family too for the women) this could have been from the stress of grad school and the pcos. If you want to get rid of hair. Research it and find the best specialist for you. I have heard horror stories about people getting burned. Make sure you find someone that knows what they are doing. Make sure they show you pictures of their clients. Make sure they actually have worked on people will your skin type. Know that there is no way that the hair removal will be permanent. You just will have to receive fewer treatments down the road. (in-between treatments I shave or get waxed for the little hairs that grow.)
Did insurance cover any of it? No way! One last question! What should you expect? How does it feel? You should have a consultation with the laser hair removal specialist. This should be free. That meeting they will discuss what hair you want removed. They will look at your skin color and type and decided the setting to use. My first visit the specialist also did a test area to make sure I was a candidate. (God forbid you get your entire face done on your first visit and end up getting burned. That would be horrifying) Once you see there is no reaction from the test area then you are all set. When you arrive for the hair removal you lay down on a table. There is cool gel applied to the area where hair will be removed. Then the specialist gets to work. You can feel every time hair is zapped. It feels like a plucking a hair really hard with tweezers. It’s a bit uncomfortable at first but you get use to it. (Focus on the fact that it small price to pay to remove annoying hair.) Be aware too, you can smell the hairs burning. You don’t need to shave to have it. It’s actually good to not shave before you first meet with the specialist so that they can see your hair at its full potential lol. Use sunscreen on the areas that got hair removal (yes even people with dark skin). I used it for a couple of weeks. Stay out of direct sunlight too. Hope this helps. I can answer any questions.
Hi I am African American and very dark, I decided to just do electrolysis and I love it..Its a longer process than laser but my skin is left smooth and not discolored, and it got rid of all of them thick coarse hairs..
I just bit the bullet and got my first laser treatment today. I paid for a package of 6 and they gave me 2 free. My package includes laser for a full face (sideburns, chin, neck, cheeks and upper lip) and chest. I pray that this "investment" will be worth it in the long run. I'm tired of the ingrown hairs, dark spots and insecurity about the hair. I saved my tax money and just decided it was time to do something for "me".
Wish me luck!
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To zphisticatedLady,Please, if you don't mine telling, How much did you pay for that package? I had it done once before and pay like over $700 for up to 6 treatments using the Light Sheer Diode laser by Lumenis in the state of Michigan this was in mid 2007. now all the hair has come back but worst and the hairs now covered most of my whole chin and partial neck. It is crazy and so depressing. I have to have this done since trying to go back to school and don't want people looking at me like that looks so disgusting. I moved to the state of Virginia and I thought the prices where going down since so many advances but to get all that done with what most of what you stated minus the cheeks and chest area the technician quoted to me $1200 dollars, I was like whoa!! so, i said i just want the chin and neck area since that is the one that is so dreadful and it still around the price I paid in 2007 $650 not including a free touch up. So, please if you can be ever so kind to let me know price and what kind of laser they'll be using, because I also researched and found it said that if the laser does not have enough nanometers like over 850 the lasers can cause hair growth. I see you have Washington DC is the area your from and I'm in Virginia so prices should be relatively similar. Well, thanks in advance for any info. on your treatments and pricing. God bless, oh and I'm also 31 who is going through the symptoms of PCOS but doctor haven't officially diagnosed me since hormone levels are fine since I've taken the saw palmetto which I'm sure helped to be fine because previously 3-4 doctors stated I had the symptoms of it with weight,hair growth, hair loss and especially the missed periods for several months @ a time. It's a trip any ways thanks and godspeed on your treatments!
Last edited by pressedtash; 07-31-2009 at 07:16 AM.
i'm new to this board, first off...just wanted to say that and introduce myself. i'm a 27 year old African American woman living in south GA. well, first off, i've had facial hair issues for...too long. i think i first noticed it back in 2002. i've used everything from epil stop (don't know if anyone remembers that) to waxing to plain old every day shaving (which is what i do now). it's the WORST for my skin, but the only thing that is effective, however, of course my skin has turned a couple shades darker in the area where i shave. the depilatories i've used only remove a couple hairs...it doesn't do what it says it's going to do on the bottle. go figure.
nonetheless, i had a consultation with a cosmetic dermatologist this past week. for 6 treatments, i was quoted $2150. i'm astonished that some of you are paying significantly LESS than that. i know that the cost varies from area to area, but i thought $2150 was a bit steep. i was well prepared to pay about $250 per session. i'm getting the lip, chin area, and a little of my neck done. also, the dermatologist i consulted wants me to pay the full $2150 up front. i think that's a little absurd because there is not guarantee that i'll need all 6 sessions. i may be hair free by session 4 or 5. one never knows. besides, i'd be more comfortable paying per session. $2150 is a lot to come out of the pocket with for procedures that may or may not be effective on me. nonetheless, i have another appointment with a different cosmetic dermatologist/plastic surgeon tomorrow and i'm going to see what she has to say. i'm aslo going to ask MORE questions of her than i asked of the first doctor. i didn't ask him if he'd done the procedure on African Americans before or to see photos of his work. i may just pop by his office tomorrow afternoon and see if i can get the answers to those questions and maybe see some photos. i will be sure to also ask both doctors what kind of laser do they use for my skin type.
i'll do my best to keep you posted on my progress. also, after the laser hair removal (if it's as effective as i pray it is), i intend to have something called 'laser resurfacing', which basically can get rid of the discoloration from shaving. it will basically "sloth" off the old skin and skin cells and reveal the "new" skin underneath and give your skin the soft feel it had pre shaving days.
Hi. I just saw your posting re laser hair removal. I just wanted to see how it is going. I am just learning that they can do this for African-Americans now. (I first looked into it years ago, when there were no good lasers and never looked into it again.) I hope it is going well!
African American women and laser hair removal 
whoa! 
i'm a 27 year old African American woman living in south GA. well, first off, i've had facial hair issues for...too long. i think i first noticed it back in 2002. i've used everything from epil stop (don't know if anyone remembers that) to waxing to plain old every day shaving (which is what i do now). it's the WORST for my skin, but the only thing that is effective, however, of course my skin has turned a couple shades darker in the area where i shave. the depilatories i've used only remove a couple hairs...it doesn't do what it says it's going to do on the bottle. go figure.
