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It’s been a couple of weeks since I did my first session of laser hair removal. Prior to laser, I was a regular waxer. It was working well for me but I decided I wanted a more permanent solution to hair removal. I found that waxing slowed down the growth of my body hair but I still had to wax after a couple of months. I’d like to get to a point where I can have hairless skin without the maintenance, and laser promises that eventually.

Please note – this review is not in any way designed to glorify bodily hair removal. I believe everyone has autonomy over their body and should make choices that align with their desires and preferences.

     

Arriving at my session

By definition, Laser Hair Removal is a cosmetic procedure that destroys hair follicles over time so reduces and eventually stops hair growth. I’ve been thinking about laser for a few months and finally made an appointment in mid-October. I was mostly worried about the pain because I’d heard mixed reviews.

     

The treatment room (L) and me wearing goggles to protect my eyes from the laser beams (R)

Process

  1. I arrived for my session and filled a client information form with contact and medical details
  2. Welcomed into a private room where I undressed and lay on a bed.
  3. The clinician entered the room and explained the procedure to me. She said it would take 1.5 to 2 hours in total for bikini and legs (that’s the service I was getting)
  4. She shaved the hair on the areas that were being lasered (bikini area and legs)
  5. I wore goggles and the treatment began. She spread a cold gel on the areas and used the laser beams across the skin. The clinician re-applied gel when it would reduce and it greatly eased the pain. It was honestly not very painful. I almost slept through the process.
  6. After about 1 hour 45 minutes, the process was done. She applied aloe vera gel to the treated areas to soothe the skin.

Post-session – the gel felt really good on the skin

Aftercare

After the treatment, I was advised to not go in the sun for a couple of days and to apply sunscreen on my skin (which I already do diligently). In between sessions, if hair grows, I can shave until the next session. It’s not advised to wax if you’ve started laser because it affects the hair follicles and hence the effectiveness of the treatment.

Q&A

What inspired your choice to do it?

  • I’m tired of the maintenance of waxing. I’d like to have permanent (or semi-permanent, at the least), hair removal.

Does it work? 

  • I’ll have a conclusive answer after a few sessions!

How many times does one have to go for laser and approximate time between appointments?

  • Number of sessions is subjective because it depends on how your hair follicles responds to the treatment. I’m due to go back for my next appointment in 4-5 weeks.

How much did it cost?

  • For the first session, I paid Kshs 10,000 for legs and Kshs 10,000 for Brazilian Bikini Wax. It’s expensive but saves you much more in the long-term.

How did you decide on Adara as your select choice for the removal process? 

  • A few years ago I remember Patricia Kihoro speaking about some of the treatments at Adara. So when I was thinking about laser, they were the first to come to mind.

Is it forever (last)?

  • Over time, your hair follicles are destroyed which means hair growth is significantly reduced or eliminated.

Any safety concerns? 

  • Some of the risks include – swelling, blisters, redness and scarring. I had no side effects, my skin felt a little sensitive for a short while after.

Hi! About the Brazilian, do they remove hair everywhere? Even between the ass cheeks?

  • Yes!

How many sessions do I have to do? 

  • The clinician advised that I’d probably need 2-3, based on the way my hair grows. It will vary from person to person.

Is it painful?

  • Not as painful as waxing. Waxing pain is a 8/10; Laser is 3/10 at most. You can feel the sting very slightly but the cooling gel eases the pain.

I have eczema and both shaving and waxing irritate my skin. Is laser a better alternative?

  • Oof, I have no idea.

Is it a one time procedure? How many more visits are left?

  • No, you need multiple sessions, but the exact number is subjective.

Can it be done when pregnant? 

  • I don’t think so, but please check before you get it done.

I hope that review was helpful. So far, I’m happy with my decision. I still need a few more sessions to gauge whether it works for me. I’ll certainly keep you updated on how it goes over time. Anything I haven’t covered in this review? Please let me know in the comments below.

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6 Comments

  1. Wow, thanks for the information Terembe

    • You’re very welcome!

  2. I’ve also been on a similar journey. My area of focus was bikini and underarm. The pain was progressive as they increase the heat for each session, however it was bearable. My sessions were spaced between 4 to 6 weeks initially, but the gap increased with reduced hair growth. I had about 12 sessions.

    • Omg, the pain was progressive?! Meaning it’s going to get more painful? Loollll, let me brace myself. Thank you so much for sharing! I’m glad to see it was worth it.

  3. This is so insightful. I already enjoy your blogs

    • I’m so glad 🙂


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