Laser hair removal on your scalp

[Blitzed]

This is a complete change in my thinking, since I have never considered doing anything to my body that is permanent, that's why I don't have any tattoos or piercings.

To expand on this a bit. I'm in my early seventies and shaved/balded my head fifteen years ago when it was still primarily a full head of hair with only temples graying-looked great, actually. Now, this many years later my hair, were I to grow it out, is white and, even if I go two or three day without shaving it, my head still looks bald. I can possibly see laser removal as a possible course to take if you're quite young and want to avoid what can be a chore and a bore. However, if you've already substantially gray and have kept most of your hair you may want to remember that, usually, gray turns white as pigmentation fails. Then you can go the silver fox route or the, preferred sly look.  Nothing wrong with using a laser but I would have serious concerns about the professional ability of the doctor/technician doing. For a time, and perhaps still, any doctor could give Botox injections and there was a rush to offer them to their patients. However when my dentist offered me a "sample" to remove a line in my forehead I changed dentists. There are risks and as many have noted, before one begins, it's best to know considerable about who is doing the procedure.

[Bald-E-1]

Hello gents,

i just thought i should share my great experience of my first laser treatment, which i've had just an hour ago.
After browsing online for a place, im really happy to of found a really good laser specialist clinic with an Alexandrite machine  in Islington, London, UK - The Angel Laser Clinic.
After a phonecall i was immediately pleased to find that i was talking to someone with experience of scalps and detailed and attentive knoledge of the treatment, much of the information on this thread was mentioned so i felt assured. I phoned Saturday and was booked in for a consultation and test patch the following day.
I was asked questions about medical history and my skin type, how it reacts to the sun etc. They then explained everything i needed to know and evaluated my skin type in order to choose the right laser, of which they have 3-4 types i believe.
I have a normal to olive skin type and dark hair so the Alexandrite machine was chosen (Italian parents, although i can get quite pasty my skin reacts well to the sun and i get a nice golden brown).
They then cleaned and shaved a patch on either side of my head for testing, a few zaps, then they applied some aloe gel and spf50.
I was told to give this test 24 hours. I managed to book a treatment for the following day, if the test went well.

Although slightly sore, i was surprised that it wasn't as red or spotty as i imagined it would be, in fact after an hour it was fine. The only thing i noticed was a slight swelling in the area.
Nonetheless, i returned today for my treatment, was examined and was assured that i have reacted well to the laser, so i went ahead with the treatment.
I was nervous on my way to the clinic, i felt since i had only discovered it this Saturday gone, i was perhaps rushing into it, although i had zero doubt that this was my best option.
However, with their professionalism and patience, i was soon calmed and felt reassured about the entire process and maintenance.

So the treatment ; the scalp was cleaned and i was then given a mirror to offer input on where exactly the laser should stop (since im not having the top done, only the sides), she then marked it with a pencil and i also suggested the line for where the beard/facial hair meets the scalp hair (sideburns) as i wanted to keep the natural meeting point.
With goggles in place she began the treatment and made sure i would inform her if i wanted her to stop or pause.

Well, it zings, theres no doubt about that lol. I would compare it to being quickly prodded with a soldering iron.
However, it is manageable. I think its mind over matter, realising that pain is only a warning that damage is being done. She helped at points by talking to me and that does distract you. Otherwise, if you just drift off into thought you'll 'miss' alot of the pain. You'll find that the coarser hairs hurt a bit more than the others so you will be in a sort of sharp pain then relief situation.
She was very thorough and it was actually over in no time at all. One thorough application of aloe gel later and i was done !
I was examined by the head practitioner and she was pleased with the results. Again, although this time it was a little red which disapeared by the time i reached home, i was surprised how normal it looked.
Right now (a couple hours later) - it looks perfectly normal, from some angles you can see it is slightly swollen in areas, but im sure by the end of today they will be further reduced.

I've been advised to avoid any products, sun exposure, sweating etc for the next 48 hours and to use a pure aloe gel and most importantly to cover up the area with a SPF50 sun lotion everyday while im having the treatments. This will help to keep an even complextion. Btw, fwiw, i was told to shave the area before the treatment and that shaving was ok following a good week or so of recovery. I will probably use a clipper anyway.

My next treatment is in a months time !

Sorry if this was a bit long winded, but i thought that some of the titbits may help somebody somewhere..

I'll also try to get some photos up a bit later, although i don't have a 'before' pic.

Anyway, i really enjoyed the experience and im now feeling really good about finally getting rid of it all.

Good luck out there

[BirdJanitor]

Hi gents -

First time poster, long time lurker.

I was glad to find this place, especially this thread.

At three treatments with the Quanta Eterna Giovinezza, skin type II to III (tans well, doesn't often burn), previously mousy brown hair, I'm delighted so far with the results.

The first treatment started with 12.  Second at 14.  Third at 16.

I'm almost 55, with fine hair and a high hairline my entire life.  No serious balding, though it thinned a little on top a few years ago.  I did an allover buzzcut at a #2 to #0, depending on mood of desired hairlessness for many years.

In truth, I really wanted to go bald for decades.

I started shaving sly a year ago after a friend said I ought to just shave it completely.  Yowza, he was right, even though he now says he was just kidding.

I decided in May to transition to permanently bald-by-choice.  Love the look, hate the process. I'm the kind of guy who likes to be out the door in 20 (shaved-showered-dressed).

The first two sessions weren't too painful and recovery took only a few hours.  I was in the sun without discomfort about four hours after the first treatment.

The third session was intense. Less so that a lot of the ink I have, so I was able to go to that place in my head to shut down the pain.  I was visibly red and swollen a few hours afterward.  This lasted a few days.

Each session has taken about 45 minutes.

My therapist has taken care each time to carefully mark the transition from scalp to beard because I want to maintain the option of full facial hair (I wear a scruffy goatee currently).

Currently, I'm visibly bald on top and both sides, with no discernible hairline.  The skin tone on the top of my head exactly matches my forehead.  I haven't started shedding from the third treatment, and I'm still visibly patchy in back.

I'd start this all over again in a heartbeat.  I've wanted to be bald my entire adult life and it took finding this place to give me the confidence to go for it.

Jef

[fewef]

I went through 2 sessions and one touch-up, and it's almost there. I have left 10% of hair, and only a fraction of it's growing. I'm really really happy with results and I don't need to shave it every other day. I can just see how my beard hair is growing, and I hate imagining shaving the head also. Every other session is 50% less painful. But I guess it depends on how dense your hair is and how fast it goes away.

[InTroubleNow]

Hi Gents,

i'm very glad to have found this place!

Has anyone here experiences concerning removing transplanted hair via laser? I'm planning to shave my head to the bone and afraid how will it look like, when the transplanted hairs will grow back and will be visible.

As I have very thin blonde hairs. My Dermatologist told me, that there would possibly be no chance to kill them via laser. Has anyone had success with laser ans blonde hairs?

[derekpschoen]

Hi everyone, I've been shaving my head for about 17 years and I'm a long time lurker on this forum.  I'm wondering if those who have gone through with the laser treatments can comment on how their hair is now.  Does it grow at all?  Is it 100% completely gone?  Is it just peach fuzz?  Is it nearly the same as it was before the treatments but it just grows much slower?  Thanks for any input.  I really appreciate it.

[Baldstu]

Hi gents -

First time poster, long time lurker.

I was glad to find this place, especially this thread.

At three treatments with the Quanta Eterna Giovinezza, skin type II to III (tans well, doesn't often burn), previously mousy brown hair, I'm delighted so far with the results.

The first treatment started with 12.  Second at 14.  Third at 16.

I'm almost 55, with fine hair and a high hairline my entire life.  No serious balding, though it thinned a little on top a few years ago.  I did an allover buzzcut at a #2 to #0, depending on mood of desired hairlessness for many years.

In truth, I really wanted to go bald for decades.

I started shaving sly a year ago after a friend said I ought to just shave it completely.  Yowza, he was right, even though he now says he was just kidding.

I decided in May to transition to permanently bald-by-choice.  Love the look, hate the process. I'm the kind of guy who likes to be out the door in 20 (shaved-showered-dressed).

The first two sessions weren't too painful and recovery took only a few hours.  I was in the sun without discomfort about four hours after the first treatment.

The third session was intense. Less so that a lot of the ink I have, so I was able to go to that place in my head to shut down the pain.  I was visibly red and swollen a few hours afterward.  This lasted a few days.

Each session has taken about 45 minutes.

My therapist has taken care each time to carefully mark the transition from scalp to beard because I want to maintain the option of full facial hair (I wear a scruffy goatee currently).

Currently, I'm visibly bald on top and both sides, with no discernible hairline.  The skin tone on the top of my head exactly matches my forehead.  I haven't started shedding from the third treatment, and I'm still visibly patchy in back.

I'd start this all over again in a heartbeat.  I've wanted to be bald my entire adult life and it took finding this place to give me the confidence to go for it.

Jef

[San Cisco]

Hi everyone, I've been shaving my head for about 17 years and I'm a long time lurker on this forum.  I'm wondering if those who have gone through with the laser treatments can comment on how their hair is now.  Does it grow at all?  Is it 100% completely gone?  Is it just peach fuzz?  Is it nearly the same as it was before the treatments but it just grows much slower?  Thanks for any input.  I really appreciate it.

Here's what I wrote almost 3 months ago:

3 Weeks have passed since my 8/9th treatment.

Here's my overall experience:

Be prepared for 1 year of embarassing moments (wearing a cap to cover the patches).

But today, I can finally say that have absolutely zero shadow. 

It seems to me it was one of the best decisions of my life!


I will stay around to help anyone who is still on the fence and looking for help!

Have a great weekend!

Its really cool not having the embarassing shadow anymore (Im still in my 20's).

Anyway, I will have another session next week, so you can see that the process is quite long..

Since last week, I started shaving every other day because some of the hair is starting to grow back.. Obviously is really thin and most of it is light coloured so unless you rub my head, you wouldnt really notice it.

I might need 2 more sessions in order to get the results Im looking for.

Cheers

[Baldstu]

I investigated this place in The Angel , quite reasonable and I would do it if I had the dosh £685 for 6sessions

[Mr Jules]

I investigated this place in The Angel , quite reasonable and I would do it if I had the dosh £685 for 6sessions

You serious ?

[isleepinthebuff]

why? surely shaving is enough?

[Baldstu]

Yeah if it works , saves shaving it

[San Cisco]

Disclaimer:
Laser hair removal does NOT REPLACE Shaving.

The point is that now I can shave in less than 5 min, and the shadow is gone (the only hair I have left is very thin and light).


Any of you guys have decided to go undergo this procedure?

[Baldstu]

Many thanks San Cisco for your wordsof wisdom

[San Cisco]

Just had my 10th Session! I feel like freakin Superman 
The power was set to 20 (Candela Alexandrite 18mm), and boy it hurts.


One piece of advice I just found out:
Shave your head just before each session. It hurts a lot less and it is a lot more effective!


Finally, for the guys still on the fence:
One year from now, you will wish you had started today!
I am very, Very, happy I had the guts to do it, and not be embarassed with my hair anymore.
Its up to you now.

Please enjoy your day!


P.S. I have been asked several times how much do I pay for each session: I am paying 75$ a pop.