I took a close look at my beard today after letting it grow out for a few days. Either I had a lot more white whiskers than I thought, or some of 'em went white after the first treatment. (I'm betting on the first possibility, though. Too bad I couldn't do this fifteen years ago, when I didn't have any white hairs.)

I'd say about 75% of the whiskers left on my face are completely white. There are several sizable areas in which I have no dark whiskers at all.

I'm kind of bummed about the number of white whiskers, since the laser can't remove them, but there are a couple of upsides to it. First, since my skin is light, they are a LOT less noticeable than the dark whiskers, so even though I'll probably have to keep trimming them, I'll look a lot more clean-shaven with just a trim than I did before. Second, the white whiskers are a lot less wiry and twisty, so hopefully they'll be less likely to get ingrown. I will not go shaving-free (unless I want to get the remaining whiskers electrolyzed -- ouch) which is kind of a bummer, but this is a distinct improvement, and it looks like I might need a lot fewer treatments than I originally expected.

I haven't scheduled my second laser treatment yet, but it'll probably be after Labor Day.

Re: face lasering update

There are 19 messages in this thread, displayed in the order they were posted.

Brad 9/1/2005 9:52:19 AM Pacific

Is it possible to dye the white hairs dark (as in the 'Just for Men' commercials) and have them re-lasered? Just a thought?

Jerry Kindall

9/1/2005 9:56:54 AM Pacific

Nah, that won't dye 'em down to the roots.

Zed	9/1/2005 8:49:33 PM Pacific

Why doesn't it work on white hair? Does the lack of color make the difference that they don't heat up enough to kill the follicle?

Jerry Kindall

9/1/2005 10:56:55 PM Pacific

Yes. If the laser won't burn your skin (and it won't, if it's light enough) then it certainly won't burn white hair. The laser is near infrared (IIRC) and whatever you want it to burn must not reflect in the red/infrared.

Steve

9/23/2005 6:57:00 AM Pacific

Jerry thanks for sharing. I am going to try it for the first time next wednesday. Thick black beard, white skin. Tired of the hassle/time involved in looking clean. 400.00 per treatment, with touchup included.
My concern is it working badly - i.e., my having a patchy, strange beard, instead of a "thinned out" one. I think that would be worse than not doing the laser at all!
I haven't seen much information or photos on this.

Kurt

1/16/2006 8:37:47 AM Pacific

Hi Jerry! How is the beard now, months later? Any regrowth? Any skin damage? Was/is the "patching" effect pronounced enough that people will make fun of me at work, lol? I'm seriously considering/researching this for myself, which is how I found your site. I can't thank you enough for posting about your experience.

k west

3/20/2006 1:36:26 AM Pacific

White hairs are do'able
Check this..http://www.meladine.com/
You need to prepare about two weeks in advance i believe.

Tim

4/10/2006 8:12:58 AM Pacific

I have had eleven treatments at American Laser Center in New York. I am an "ideal candidate" dark hair and light skin. (Although, being only 24--I think--has contributed to significant regrowth since I still have increasing amounts of testosterone.) As of now my beard is reduced to perhaps a quarter of what is was. However the thinning of the hair is NOT UNIFORM. There is PATCHINESS. Some areas are completely bald while others have less course and dense hair. Two little patches under my nostrils still have the same density as my original beard. The mustache and goatee area are the hardest to remove and have significant regrowth. I noticed a lot more hair loss in the last few treatments when the center stopped using an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) machine (i.e. the "Aurora") and switched to a Diode Laser with combined RF radio technology (the "Comet"). The treatments are the most painful thing I have ever experienced. In the last few treatments I was not allowed to use numbing cream since they now consider it a risk for heart attack (Lidocaine). This is not such a big deal since the .05 % cream hardly made a difference anyway. I also experienced some small spots of hypopigmentation (loss of color) which aren't really noticeable probably except to me, but they are there. I would not advise having this procedure. It is painful, time consuming, irritating to your skin (yes I broke-out after every treatment and had ingrown hairs from dead hairs that didnt exfoliate) and the effectiveness largely depends on the technique and skill of the tech performing the procedure. Most of the time these techs are in a rush and seem not to care about making sure to overlap the laser (which reduces the patchiness). I haven't had one tech that could really explain to me how the laser worked and why I had to wait so long in between treatments--the stock answer is that the hair grows in cycles of 6 weeks and must be in the active growing phase to be treated. This is obviously not true for beard hair which is in the growing phase for years at a time, it also doesnt explain why some hairs are so resistant, dont fall out, but continue right on growing. I guess all I can tell you is that this is not an exact science and it is being performed by unskilled and uncaring people who will take your money and leave you left with disfigured facial hair that will, ironically, make you have to shave twice a day in order to look normal.

Leo

4/20/2006 1:19:47 AM Pacific

Hey Jerry, thank you for sharing these information. I am also considering going to the same clinic you go to. How was your 2nd treatment? I hope you get the expect result. I look forward to see your posting.

jimmy

7/21/2006 11:12:33 AM Pacific

there is no long term clinical data (1+ years) on laser hair removal.
personally it did not work on my beard. it just made the hair patchy.
it eventually all grew back.
be patient tim. it took me about 2 years after my last laser treatment to have it completely fill in.

Sasha

9/22/2006 9:27:59 PM Pacific

Hi I'm a dark skinned woman with dark hair. I have a question, I had laser removal on my face, this was about my 5th treatment. It was the highest setting ever, I have seen no results thus far, but after this treatment, with the high setting, my skin is burned and has darkened. I really need to know if its going to go away! I didn't want to do this, because I was so scared about the skin on my face! Pls help

Will

2/12/2007 8:35:17 AM Pacific

What about IPL (intense pulsed light)? I can't find any message board discussing this hair removal method, yet I find tons of commercial sites advertising it as vastly superior to either laser or electrolysis. Does anyone have experience with IPL, particularly on the beard?

Maddy

5/14/2007 11:19:02 AM Pacific

I have had 4 treatments so far. I am 28 and of North Indian origin and have an olive skin/dark beard. After 4 days of treatment,I get white acne spots allover my chin,moustache area and some in neck. I should say,I have never had acne problems before. But,after laser removal,those white acne spots are there for a few days.It is disgusting. I hope it does atleast a partial job.

RUN FROM ALC

5/24/2007 7:26:56 PM Pacific

ANYONE WHO HAS GONE TO AMERICAN LASER CENTER (ALC) NEEDS TO JUST STOP AND GET YOUR MONEY BACK....BET THEY WON'T LET YOU! THEY HAVE A NO REFUND POLICY! WHY IS THAT? I MEAN THEY ARE THE LARGEST IN THE INDUSTRY RIGHT? WHY IS IT THAT THERE ARE NO DOCTORS ON SITE? EVER!??? WHY IS IT THAT 75% OF THE TECHNICIANS ARE AS YOUNG AS 19 OR EVEN 22? HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE IS THAT WHEN THEY HAVE A LAZER TO YOUR FACE THAT COULD BURN YOU? DO YOU KNOW THAT EVEN IF YOU GET BURNED ALC WILL NOT GIVE YOU A REFUND? DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PATIENT WHO HAS HAD 6 TREATMENTS AND HAS WALKED AWAY HAPPY? NEVER! DON'T LET THEM "UPSELL" YOU THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT YOUR MONEY! SORRY TO SAY IF YOU GO TO ALC YOUR STUCK THERE FOR AT LEAST 3 YEARS...THAT'S RIGHT "3"! (6 TREATMENTS IS APPROX 1 YEAR, YOUR HAIR WON'T BE GONE BY THEN THAT'S WHY THEY GIVE YOU 2 MORE YEARS....EVEN THEN IT STILL WON'T BE GONE COMPLETELY. THEY WILL TRY TO SELL YOU ANOTHER PACKAGE AT THE END OF THE 3 YEARS AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE) AND IF YOUR TRYING TO GET RID OF HAIR ON THE FACE WELL MY FRIEND THE FACE TAKES TWICE AS LONG. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME ASK THEM TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING IN WRITTING THAT YOUR HAIR WILL BE GONE COMPLETELY AFTER THE 2 YEAR GUARANTEE..THEY WONT! THE 2 YEAR GUARANTEE IS ONLY STATING THAT IF YOU CONTINUE TO GROW HAIR AFTER YOUR 6TH TREATMENT YOU CAN CONTINUE TREATMENTS FOR 2 YEARS WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY. WHAT HAPPENS IF IT'S NOT GONE? THINK ABOUT THIS WITHIN THOSE 2 YEARS IF YOU GET SUN EXPOSURE, ARE ON ANTI-BIOTICS, GET PREGNANT THE TECHNICIAN WILL NOT TREAT YOU!!!! AND IF YOU ARE TAKING ANY HORMONE/STEROID MEDS YOUR GUARANTEE IS WORTHLESS. MOST TECHNICIANS DO NOT HAVE THEIR ESTHETICIAN LICENSE. THEY MAY HAVE WENT TO SCHOOL AND PUT THEIR HOURS IN BUT THEY NEVER TOOK THEIR STATE BOARD EXAM TO GET LICENCED. ASK FOR IT! TECHNICIANS ONLY ARE TRAINED FOR 2-3 DAYS AT CORPORATE FOR ABOUT 7 HOURS A DAY. WOW! AFTER 21 HOURS OF TRAINING AT THE AGE OF 19-22 THEASE GIRLS ARE PROFESSIONALS. AND IS EVERYTHING GETTING STERILIZED? I ALREADY READ ON THE SITE ABOUT ALC'S DR.MOODY AND HOW THEY WILL PUT A LASER ON YOUR UPPER-LIP THAT WAS JUST ON SOMEONE'S GENITALS!<A>www.medicalspamd.com/the-blog/2007/3/16/american-laser-clinics-part-1-armed-guards-threats.html

Chad 5/26/2007 7:45:00 AM Pacific

Hey, I am a 19 year old male, pale skin, black beard. Around 15 or so the beard was just unmanageable. I'm not very hairy, but for some reason my genetics decided I needed a very thick beard. I couldn't shave up, only in a downward motion and it would be painful. So I shaved carefully (time consuming everyday) or used an electric razor, but I always had a super dark shadow that made me look a lot older than I was. And my neck area was full of ingrow hairs. So I was very happy to start my laser treatments. I didn't want to get rid of the beard all together, just enough to let me have a clean shave when needed.
I got my first treatment when I was 17. I didn't have numbing cream at that point, so the feeling wasn't that great. My face was red but surely enough that went away and a few weeks later the hair fell out. Whats great is that under the chin, the neck area, never grew back! That area never really see's sunlight, so the results there are great. I do have a few "lines" of beard there, but that will go away with more treatments. It is a big improvement, and the little patches are easy to shave not noticable.
So far I've had 4 treatments, and it is a noticeable difference. They become less painful each time (the numbing cream helps big time). The hardest area for me to treat is the chin. I know it is possible, but it just takes paitence and multiple treatments. There is some patchyness, but its not as bad as people think. For me the patches are really small, and mixed with the "thinning out" of hair, its easier to shave.
One thing to watch out for is sunlight. One of my treatments, I went to the beach a week or so before ( I don't know what I was thinking ) and it made my treatment uneffective, and my skin absorbed the laser, making my face rather dark/blueish. It went away in a few weeks but one person asked me if I dyed my chin blue. So yea, try to avoid the sun.
I reccomend finding a good deal or discount before hand. I'm getting it done at a salon/spa and it is much cheaper than the major chains. I also found a coupon before I started the treatments, so I would look around for good deals.

andre

6/1/2007 8:09:02 AM Pacific

Hi chad, would you be able to get in contact with me, i am 19 ears old and am also thinking of getting my beard laser'ed just to thin it out, and if it is ok i would just like to ask a few questions? email me back at kh-786@hotmail.co.uk

andre

6/1/2007 11:17:12 AM Pacific

Hi chad, would you be able to get in contact with me, i am 19 ears old and am also thinking of getting my beard laser'ed just to thin it out, and if it is ok i would just like to ask a few questions? email me back at kh-786@hotmail.co.uk

Svetlana Frolova

1/23/2008 7:15:20 PM Pacific

I went to American Laser Centerin Austin, TX yesterday (Austin American Laser Center located on 630 W. 34th St., Suite 205, Austin, Texas 78705) for a "free" consultation after I �won� $300! (I actually have "won" it before three times but I did not bother to call them since I knew how these things work).
So I just wanted to get a quote for bikini hair removal.
Anyway I got sucked into signing bunch of papers, all of a sudden they got me in a room doing my extended bikini, even though I said that I do not want to do it, they basically pressured me. (Now I know why - because if you get at least one service you can not get your money back!). That I found out later when I googled "Austin Laser Center Reviews" - what have I done!!!! I feel like it is the worst mistake of my life, I feel, stupid, humiliated and used! I did not want to sign the papers in the first place � I still do not understand how it all happened).
After I got the quote (it was $1,055 with 20% off and my Prize of $300) I thanked the clinic manager Heidi for her time and told her that I would go home, do my research and come back.
Oh of course she knew that after doing a research no one comes back. The internet is flooded with angry reviews, helpless, pissed off clients. This is awful! I am originally from Russia and I can see that kind of thing happen in Russia. But in the US? How come that they are still allowed to be in business?
Needless to say I did not sleep all night after �googling�. Next day I decided to go to the clinic and talk to Heidi in person. When she saw me she started blubbering again about how her back is killing her, and that her donut exploded in the microwave � how funny! The whole place is so disorganized - no receptionist, forms are all over the place, they never answer the phone.
Of course, as I expected, she promised to email her regional manager. Yehh, right�
This is the most unethical company, so I am not going to wait for the regional to call me back � because that will never happen.
So I am going to call American Express and try to dispute the charge, if that does not help I will go to the court.
I am so thankful that I did not apply for their MediCare loan (with 0% interest), then I would be really screwed up (and let me tell you - Heidi -the manager - seemed kind of frustrated with me because I refused to apply the loan - at least one good thing.
I want to help other people by warning them about this place!
How can we reach more people? Is government going to do something about it?

David

3/1/2008 3:36:05 PM Pacific

Im 23 male, light skin and dark beard.. I almost went to amercian laser but when I seen there prices and stuff I was like hell no.. anyways theres this place in bedford michigan where you only pay per a treatment and thats it, no contract, they only make money by you being happy cause if your hair doesnt start disappearing your not going to want to come back.. I would suggest a place like this because one they are cheaper.. I think its like 60$ a treatment for full face and it takes about 5 or 6 treatments. I did one treatment on my neck and I noticed it almost disappear a week later.. So my suggestion for anyone thinking about doing this, goto a local place that cares about your skin and you, not some place that makes you sign a bunch of papers like amercian laser because they are in it for the money and them things you sign are contracts. Oh and the reason you guys get white spots and stuff is because the heat from the laser heats u p the sebum in your skin and cause it to come out like a pimple , they go away. Anyways thought I would put my input and if anyone of you are having treatments done and wanna share something with me send me a message on msn : candylandman_@hotmail.com because I am going to have my whole face done because I dont look right with a beard especially since its so dark

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Re: face lasering update