Let me start off by introducing myself. My name is Guinevere and I’m a twenty-something woman, born and raised in Montana. After a brief hiatus to experience the big ol’ world (Nebraska… yeah… I know) I’m back in Big Sky country, navigating life and working at Billings Clinic as a consultant in the Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgery department. I’m a lover of lazy Sunday mornings, a connoisseur of mac and cheese and I often find myself in situations that make my mother laugh and say, “what am I going to do with you.” I previously struggled to find articles about topics I was interested in, for example laser hair removal, that were fun to read, down to earth and informative. Somewhere along the fruitless journey of wandering the Internet I figured, why not just start experiencing the things I want and write about it for others. Thus, I bring you my experience with laser hair removal. Let’s do this!
Laser hair removal is available for any part of the body, but I went for the underarms. I was sick of having Chewbacca’s beard sprout free from my armpits. I would shave and those pesky dark brown hairs would continue to stare back at me in the mirror, mocking me, singing me the song of their people. Finally, I’d had enough of waging war on the furry beasts I called my underarms. It was time to call in the heavy artillery: the laser.
Unlike the lasers we see in Hollywood movies, this laser isn’t going to melt your face off or come in pretty colors. Instead, it’s a tech savvy machine about the size of a small filing cabinet. Don’t let size fool you though….. that little guy packs a real punch which makes sense considering laser hair removal works using large amounts of energy. The laser is placed on the skin and energy is converted to heat which is taken up by the hair bulb, destroying it and prohibiting future hair growth.
I approached the day I received laser hair removal like I was preparing for battle. I carb loaded, limbered up and repeated the mantra “treat yourself.” My underarms, still a second cousin twice removed from Chewbacca’s family, were ready for a good zapping and my session did not disappoint. Not only did I get a good zapping, but I got a few good laughs too.
Nothing I read prior to my appointment said whether or not I should shave, so I went with the al’ natural look and let the pits grow for a few days. The nurse took one look, gave me a smile and said she’d be right back. She came back, electric trimmer in hand… that’s right, she had to shave my armpits. Therefore, if you’re thinking about getting laser hair removal, don’t pluck, but shave your armpits beforehand. It may save you from rosy cheeks of embarrassment. Although, I know I shouldn’t have been embarrassed because the registered nurses here are some of the most kind, well-trained and competent people I’ve met and those are definitely qualities I want in someone who’s about to come at me with a laser.
Next, the nurse “administered” topical numbing cream. It sounded so glamorous before she started rubbing white cream into my armpits. It was at this point I praised my sister for her slightly traumatic childhood tickle fights that brought me to tears then, but now left me immune to this previous form of torture.
Next, I was given large green goggles to protect my eyes. If you envision an SNL spoof of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s then you have a pretty good idea of how stylish I was looking. Bug eyed Instagram selfie? Yes, please. Ultrasound gel was then spread around the whole area of my underarm to ensure the laser made complete contact with the skin. The nurse started off easy, giving me a tester zap towards the outer edge of my underarm. Relief swept over me, IT WASN’T THAT BAD! I proceeded to give her a slight nod of the head telling her I was good to go. She continued and moved closer to the center of my underarm, where the hair is often more dense and wow, every fiber of my being tensed. It was not all rainbows and roses, but it didn’t last long.
Once the session was over, I was able to relax. My abs felt as if they’d performed the equivalent of 1000 crunches. Move over personal trainers….. girl’s got a new workout that’ll rock your world. The nurse then gave me two ice packs to help cool down my tingling underarms and I was done. I put my boots to the floor and left the office a champion and survivor of laser hair removal.
Following the treatment my underarms were tender for a couple of days and a few little red bumps emerged, both positive signs that the laser did its job. I started seeing result after about a week. Chewy had now transformed into a soft golden retriever puppy. Win, win! I’ve only had one treatment, but it’s wild how much hair is already gone. To be completely fur free it usually takes about six sessions spaced out during 8 to 10 weeks. This is because the laser works on 20% of the hairs that are actively growing at a given time. The sessions may seem spread apart, but then you can’t rush re-growth.
I can’t wait for my next session of laser hair removal; at this rate I’ll have naked underarms in time for summer! Sure, laser hair removal doesn’t feel great when it’s happening, but it’s nothing that a shot of coffee and a little “Eye of the Tiger” pump up jam can’t handle.
