I started laser hair removal for my beard around January 2016, and it's now been about a year and a half.
In conclusion, I'm glad I did it.
I will write about my experience, including what led me to do it, the process, and the advantages and disadvantages.
The reason I decided to get my beard removed
At the time, I was looking for a marriage partner, so I had quite a few opportunities to take photos of myself.
Each time, I became self-conscious about my fairly thick beard and started to dislike it, which was the trigger.
And when I asked around, I was surprised to find that there were quite a lot of men who were getting their beards removed.
So, I thought maybe I could try it a little more casually, and decided to gather information online.
How to choose a clinic
First, it's important to choose a place that's easy to get to.
Since laser hair removal for beards is a long-term commitment, it's important to choose a clinic where you can continue going without getting bored halfway through.
Personally, I think that as long as the clinic is a reasonably large chain, you don't need to be too picky.
In my case, I felt more at ease because they provided detailed explanations on their website, so I chose that company.
Furthermore, I appreciate that they don't just write about the good things, but also thoroughly explain the risks.
Most clinics offer treatment plans that cost around 50,000 to 100,000 yen and can be used for a set period or indefinitely.
Some services have a monthly fee, but you should decide based on what suits your budget.
From the first consultation until the effects become apparent
When you first come in, a test irradiation will be performed to check if there are any adverse reactions on your skin after the treatment.
If there are no problems, we will proceed with the treatment.
My biggest concern at first was how painful it would be.
The first treatment was a little painful, as expected.
To give you an analogy, it's like plucking out all the hairs in the area where the laser is being applied with tweezers.
The darker the area, the more it reacts to the laser, so the area under my nose, which was the darkest, was extremely painful.
If you are asked "Does it hurt?" and you say "Yes, it hurts," they will likely lower the joule (laser intensity), but the effect will be reduced.
After the treatment, which takes about 10 minutes, the treated area is cooled, and after waiting another 10 minutes or so, the process is complete.
After a few months' break, the process is repeated for a second, third, and subsequent sessions.
To be honest, I didn't really feel any effects until about the third time.
What I disliked was that my beard temporarily became thicker for one to two weeks after the treatment.
The hair swells and becomes thicker, but because it lacks body, it becomes difficult to shave.
You'll end up with what's commonly known as a "thief's mustache."
After about two weeks, when you wipe your face with a towel after a bath, the hairs start falling out in clumps, which feels really nice.
Subsequent developments
It's been about a year and a half since my first treatment, and I've just had my seventh session.
If you can endure the first one or two weeks after the treatment, you can enjoy comfortable skin for about two months.
However, since it's impossible to completely destroy the hair follicles, you'll need to continue treatments if the hair grows back thicker.
However, since it's getting weaker and weaker, the intervals between visits are expected to get longer and longer.
summary
This article summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of laser hair removal for facial hair.
·merit
- Saves time and money on shaving.
- You press the shaver against your skin less often, resulting in smoother skin.
- Makes you look younger and cleaner
Disadvantages
It takes some time to see results.
- Laser treatment is painful
- The color may temporarily darken after irradiation.
In summary, that's all.
From my perspective, even after considering the disadvantages, I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.