Laser hair removal in Los Angeles?
September 29, 2016 2:03 AM Subscribe
I'm ready to jump into laser hair removal. Can you recommend an excellent place in Los Angeles?
I've been researching my options on yelp and I'm feeling a bit nervous to jump in based on those reviews. There's usually a few people who have a nightmare story to tell or claim the reviews are bogus, and given the nature of the service, I'm nervous to make an expensive choice that ends with ineffective results or a lot of pain. Have you had a great experience with laser hair removal in LA?
I've been researching my options on yelp and I'm feeling a bit nervous to jump in based on those reviews. There's usually a few people who have a nightmare story to tell or claim the reviews are bogus, and given the nature of the service, I'm nervous to make an expensive choice that ends with ineffective results or a lot of pain. Have you had a great experience with laser hair removal in LA?
East coaster here without any personal experience in LA. But hear me out.
A few years ago, I had lots and lots of laser hair removal, done at over six different places. The first place I went, I meticulously researched based on reviews. The others, I used Groupon, Living Social and another local deal site. I regularly counsel friends away from the high-priced "subscription" or "package" models, in favor of the highly competitive Groupon market.
Yes, I get that some people are worried about a potentially skeevy salon, and I suppose in LA a "high end" Beverly Hills medspa experience could be a luxury-type purchase. But if what you care about are the results, the machines are generally the same. You may (or may not) care about the difference between alexandrite, YAG and IPL machines, and the meticulousness of the technician does matter (a little). But you'll need to be going back for "missed" hairs anyway.
The way your hair will react to the laser (and the way you will react to the pain) is going to be something that Yelp reviews aren't really helpful for. If you are really concerned about it, pick a salon and ask them to do a test zap on someplace innocuous. I did that with my first purchase, but then didn't bother afterwards when I was buying new Groupons at new place.
Caveat: I have black hair that reacts excellently to the lasers.
posted by QuantumMeruit at 7:53 AM on September 29, 2016
A few years ago, I had lots and lots of laser hair removal, done at over six different places. The first place I went, I meticulously researched based on reviews. The others, I used Groupon, Living Social and another local deal site. I regularly counsel friends away from the high-priced "subscription" or "package" models, in favor of the highly competitive Groupon market.
Yes, I get that some people are worried about a potentially skeevy salon, and I suppose in LA a "high end" Beverly Hills medspa experience could be a luxury-type purchase. But if what you care about are the results, the machines are generally the same. You may (or may not) care about the difference between alexandrite, YAG and IPL machines, and the meticulousness of the technician does matter (a little). But you'll need to be going back for "missed" hairs anyway.
The way your hair will react to the laser (and the way you will react to the pain) is going to be something that Yelp reviews aren't really helpful for. If you are really concerned about it, pick a salon and ask them to do a test zap on someplace innocuous. I did that with my first purchase, but then didn't bother afterwards when I was buying new Groupons at new place.
Caveat: I have black hair that reacts excellently to the lasers.
posted by QuantumMeruit at 7:53 AM on September 29, 2016
You probably know that laser works by using colour contrast to target where the laser energy goes. So if you have white skin and dark hair, the laser can easily find your hairs, and that means that the kind of laser doesn't matter as much- they'll all work.
On the other hand, if you have tan, brown, or black skin- which means lower colour contrast between your brown skin and black hair, you'll likely have the best results with a YAG laser- for some reason that kind often works better on darker skin (anecdata point- I know two women with very similar colouring- brown skin and black hair- and the one who used Yag had quicker and less painful results than the one who used diode).
Nd:YAG is the full name of this kind of laser, and it's branded with different names like CoolGlide, GentleYAG, Laser Genesis, CoolTouch, etc. So if this affects you, call the salon and find out what machines they have. Sometimes the technicians will only know the laser brand name, not the type of laser- but someone in their chain of command will know- or else you can just get the brand name and Google it yourself.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 11:41 AM on September 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
On the other hand, if you have tan, brown, or black skin- which means lower colour contrast between your brown skin and black hair, you'll likely have the best results with a YAG laser- for some reason that kind often works better on darker skin (anecdata point- I know two women with very similar colouring- brown skin and black hair- and the one who used Yag had quicker and less painful results than the one who used diode).
Nd:YAG is the full name of this kind of laser, and it's branded with different names like CoolGlide, GentleYAG, Laser Genesis, CoolTouch, etc. So if this affects you, call the salon and find out what machines they have. Sometimes the technicians will only know the laser brand name, not the type of laser- but someone in their chain of command will know- or else you can just get the brand name and Google it yourself.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 11:41 AM on September 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
« Older Week-long pre-wedding camping/festival... | Need to find a lawyer about a sublet and renter's... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by 41swans at 5:39 AM on September 29, 2016