Hey Everyone! Wow do I have some info to tell you guys! I know it has been a while since I have posted anything but I do have some information that you MUST know. I found out after my last treatment that the laser that the facility was using was NOT made for African American skin. Please do not go anywhere that uses an IPL laser.
Long story short I decided not to go back for more treatments and I still had quite of bit of hair on my chin. I experienced burns and everything with that laser and unfortunately you will find that some facilities would rather get your money than to tell you the truth that the IPL is not the solution for you.
I ended up getting a Groupon for another facility that had a YAG laser and honey let me tell you that laser has changed my life! After the first treatment I didn't have burns, I didn't have to put ice on my face or anything. I didn't even have to shave for four weeks after and when the hair did grow in it was really fine and you could barely see it. After my second treatment it was even better. I'm going on my 6th week without shaving. I love this laser so much that I have paid to get my full legs done.
I FEEL LIKE A NEW WOMAN!
The confidence in myself is back. No longer do I feel ashamed to look someone face to face. I will try to post picture of my now clearer than ever chin so that you to will understand the joy that I feel right now.
So my word of advice is PLEASE PLEASE make sure you know and understand what type of laser the facility is using. Ask them if it is a YAG laser which is made for darker pigmented skin.
Thank you all for being on this journey with me!
I'll be back
smooches!
Monday, December 9, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Tips for After Treatment Care
HEY Y'ALL, MY ADVICE AFTER YOU GET A LASER HAIR REMOVAL TREATMENT IS TO APPLY AN ICE PACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. FOR ME I TOOK ONE WITH ME TO MY APPOINMENT AND RIGHT AFTER IT WAS FINISHED IT APPLIED IT ON. THE COOLER YOU CAN MAKE YOUR SKIN THE LESS BUMPS YOU WILL GET. I ALSO APPLIED ALOE VERA GEL TO SPEED UP THE HEALING PROCESS. I ALSO STARTED USING 100% PURE COCOA BUTTER STICK ON MY CHIN AT NIGHT AND IT REALLY HELPS WITH THE HYPERPIGMENTATION OF THE SKIN. SO REMEMBER TO GET AN ICE PACK FOR YOUR FACE!! I'LL BE BACK WITH PICS :))
5th TREATMENT
HEY EVERYONE - HERE I AM I'VE JUST FINISHED MY 5TH TREATMENT AND I KNOW THAT I SAID I WOULD SHOW YOU GUYS ALONG THE WAY BUT I MUST SAY IT HAS BEEN A WILD EXPERIENCE. I'VE FINALLY LESSENED THE SHADOW THAT SHOWS UP AT 5 O'CLOCK BUT STILL WITH EVERY TREATMENT I DO EXPERIENCE A FEW BURNS ON MY SKIN. THE HAIR IS TAKING LONGER TO GROW BACK AND IT HAS LIGHTENED A LOT. I STILL HAVE SCARRING AND SKIN TREATMENT THAT I HAVE TO DO AFTER EVERY SESSION BUT I CAN FINALLY SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. I STILL HAVE 5 MORE TREATMENTS TO GO TO BE COMPLETELY FREE AND CLEAR OF HAIR ON MY CHIN. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO DO MAINTENANCE A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR AFTERWARD BUT THAT IS BETTER THAN SHAVING, WAXING OR PLUCKING EVERY DAY. I WILL POST PICTURES HERE SHORTLY OF MY PROGRESS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE...MUAH!!
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Two weeks after 1st Treatment
1st Treatment NIGHTMARE!!!
Hey everybody.....so let me fill you in on what happened after my first treatment, lets just say it wasn't a pleasant experience. The next morning my chin was covered in folliculitis which is inflammation of one or more hair follicles and I had pus filled bumps all over the place. The problem that I've had my whole life is if I get acne or any type of bump on my skin, I don't even have to bust it and it will leave a dark scar on my skin which is called hyperpigmentation. I just knew this wasn't gonna be good for me. At first I tried warm compresses to drain them and then I tried cold compresses to make the swelling go down. I swear I was at a loss, I didn't know what to do so I did some research and I created a regimen that was a life saver as far as the bumps were concerned.
Twice a day I would was my chin area in Selsun Blue Medicated Shampoo....yes you read it correctly Selsun Blue is the Shiznit!!! Within three days the bumps were nearly gone away. I also used aloe vera on my skin to help heal it for the first week. The second week I stopped using the Selsun Blue because the bumps were almost gone and I didn't want to use too much of it so I started washing my chin in Hibiclens and then moisturizing it with 100% Shea Buttter morning and night to start working on the hyperpigmentation that the folliculitus caused on my skin.
Here are some pics two weeks after my first treatment
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NOT MUCH IMPROVEMENT HUH?
As you can see how dark my skin has become underneath there but I am still optimistic that as the hair falls out of the damaged follicles a lot of the darkness will go away. The Shea butter has actually lightened it a lot more than it was. I'll be going for my next treatment in a couple weeks and I will continue my regimen to fight off the folliculitis. I was told that by my third treatment all of that 5 o'clock shadow would be gone so we will see.
Stayed tuned.....I love to have you guys on this journey with me.
Hey everybody.....so let me fill you in on what happened after my first treatment, lets just say it wasn't a pleasant experience. The next morning my chin was covered in folliculitis which is inflammation of one or more hair follicles and I had pus filled bumps all over the place. The problem that I've had my whole life is if I get acne or any type of bump on my skin, I don't even have to bust it and it will leave a dark scar on my skin which is called hyperpigmentation. I just knew this wasn't gonna be good for me. At first I tried warm compresses to drain them and then I tried cold compresses to make the swelling go down. I swear I was at a loss, I didn't know what to do so I did some research and I created a regimen that was a life saver as far as the bumps were concerned.
Twice a day I would was my chin area in Selsun Blue Medicated Shampoo....yes you read it correctly Selsun Blue is the Shiznit!!! Within three days the bumps were nearly gone away. I also used aloe vera on my skin to help heal it for the first week. The second week I stopped using the Selsun Blue because the bumps were almost gone and I didn't want to use too much of it so I started washing my chin in Hibiclens and then moisturizing it with 100% Shea Buttter morning and night to start working on the hyperpigmentation that the folliculitus caused on my skin.
Here are some pics two weeks after my first treatment
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NOT MUCH IMPROVEMENT HUH?
As you can see how dark my skin has become underneath there but I am still optimistic that as the hair falls out of the damaged follicles a lot of the darkness will go away. The Shea butter has actually lightened it a lot more than it was. I'll be going for my next treatment in a couple weeks and I will continue my regimen to fight off the folliculitis. I was told that by my third treatment all of that 5 o'clock shadow would be gone so we will see.
Stayed tuned.....I love to have you guys on this journey with me.
1st Treatment
Hey everybody!
So I've decided that I wanted to share my experience with the world in some sort of way. When I first realized that I wanted to do laser hair removal it was many years ago after being diagnosed with PCOS which in turn was the reason for excessive hair growth on my body. Being that I am a woman it is highly embarassing and over the years I've tried many ways to hide it.
I was reluctant to get laser hair removal because I had heard that it is not good to do on African Americans. So for many years I bypassed getting it done. After doing extensive research this year I had found out that its not the ethnicity but the skin tone that determines whether or not I would be a good candidate for laser treatments. Since I have a lighter skin tone I decided why not let's see what happens.
Here are some pictures before my first treatment.
As you can see that five o'clock shadow was starting to form. I decided that day that I was going to get the laser treatments done and I found a local spa that had them for half price so I got 5 treatments for $300. Not too bad until the very next day I saw a groupon for six treatments at another spa for $119. I was so sick behind that but what could I do, I had already paid.
Treatment Time!
So here is my experience on the treatment. It was so fast it really only took about 5 minutes to get done from start to finish. On a scale of 1 to 10 on pain I would say a 10 for sure. At first it seemed bearable but as it went along my eyes began to tear up from the shock of the little stabs it felt like. Each hair that was zapped litterally felt like little stabs lol. But I will say that it was so quick which was really good. Afterwards we applied hydrocortisone cream for the swelling.
Here are some pics after the first treatment
look at how RED and swollen my poor chin looks lol! As you can see that laser did a number on my poor skin but if I was to be hair free I would do anything!
Stay tuned for more post treatment pics....
So I've decided that I wanted to share my experience with the world in some sort of way. When I first realized that I wanted to do laser hair removal it was many years ago after being diagnosed with PCOS which in turn was the reason for excessive hair growth on my body. Being that I am a woman it is highly embarassing and over the years I've tried many ways to hide it.
I was reluctant to get laser hair removal because I had heard that it is not good to do on African Americans. So for many years I bypassed getting it done. After doing extensive research this year I had found out that its not the ethnicity but the skin tone that determines whether or not I would be a good candidate for laser treatments. Since I have a lighter skin tone I decided why not let's see what happens.
Here are some pictures before my first treatment.
As you can see that five o'clock shadow was starting to form. I decided that day that I was going to get the laser treatments done and I found a local spa that had them for half price so I got 5 treatments for $300. Not too bad until the very next day I saw a groupon for six treatments at another spa for $119. I was so sick behind that but what could I do, I had already paid.
Treatment Time!
So here is my experience on the treatment. It was so fast it really only took about 5 minutes to get done from start to finish. On a scale of 1 to 10 on pain I would say a 10 for sure. At first it seemed bearable but as it went along my eyes began to tear up from the shock of the little stabs it felt like. Each hair that was zapped litterally felt like little stabs lol. But I will say that it was so quick which was really good. Afterwards we applied hydrocortisone cream for the swelling.
Here are some pics after the first treatment
look at how RED and swollen my poor chin looks lol! As you can see that laser did a number on my poor skin but if I was to be hair free I would do anything!
Stay tuned for more post treatment pics....
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